DekoBug

Countertops and sinks: Smart, affordable upgrades that remake your kitchen

(ARA) – Kitchen remodel – two words that when strung together often evoke images of a gutted room, endless dust, a major investment, not to mention overdosing on takeout while the cooking space is out of commission. Such experiences may be a part of a major kitchen renovation, but smart updates can create a big impact with less money, time, and drama. Just one or two significant changes paired with smaller enhancements can give your space a fresh look.

Replace the countertop and sink

Have your dingy countertops and sink seen better days? This is an easy fix for the time- and budget-conscious. Modern countertop options abound, from timeless granite to the industrial allure of stainless steel, and durable standbys of cement or quartz.

Once you’ve committed to countertop replacement, shop around for a new sink. Some countertop merchants may offer you a new sink with your purchase. While freebies are appealing, ask yourself if the sink given gratis matches the vision for your space. Your sink should be in sync with your lifestyle, so keep the following points in mind:

The depth, shape and number of bowls should depend on how you work in your kitchen. If you hand wash bulky pots and pans, opt for the popular single-basin sink with deep dimensions. Multi-taskers will appreciate multiple bowls. Some newer styles offer three bowls – two standard-sized basins and a smaller third one to accommodate a disposal.

Utilitarian as the sink may be, its design is a big contributor to the kitchen’s aesthetic, so weigh this factor carefully. Apron-front sinks, also known as farmhouse sinks, can evoke a period-style look with their panel design. Until recently, installation required removing the countertop and building custom cabinetry below to accommodate the new sink’s dimensions. The KOHLER Whitehaven self-trimming apron-front kitchen sink makes installation much easier. It’s available in two apron sizes: A conventional 9-inch apron model (requiring a custom base cabinet), and a 7-inch apron, an ideal retrofit option for homeowners wanting the farmhouse look and the roomy 9-inch-deep basin without the cabinetry replacement.

Made of durable Kohler Enameled Cast Iron, the sink is available in 16 colors, including much-loved neutrals and bold designer hues. Visit www.kohler.com to learn more.

When it comes to updating your kitchen for a fraction of the cost of a full renovation, toss out the old adage of doing “everything but the kitchen sink.” Start with the sink and countertops, and you’ll achieve a whole new look for an affordable cost.

Tags: affordable upgrades that remake your kitchen, countertops, Countertops and sinks: Smart, kitchen decor, kitchen renovation, sinks

Vanity sanity: Organize wisely to bring style and space to your bathroom

(ARA) – It’s the room where you start and end your day, so it should be one of the most enjoyable places in your home. But, most of the time, your bathroom is not the relaxing retreat you hoped it would be. Whether it is overrun with towels and toiletries – or is tough to keep clean with smudged mirrors and faucets – today’s bathrooms are in need of some serious updates and organization. Luckily, a few simple tips and tricks can bring style and sanity to your bathroom vanity in no time.

Furniture fix
Furniture pieces can add style, color, warmth, and most importantly, a place to store your bathroom necessities out of sight. Even if your bathroom is small, you may still be able to find room for a small shelf or chest. Large bathrooms have the luxury of added storage space offered by a stylish cupboard, shelving unit or armoire. Lowe’s has a variety of linen and storage cabinets that you can browse to find the best fit for your bathroom’s dimensions.

Fancy faucets
Haven’t updated your bathroom fixtures in a while? The new Boardwalk bath collection from Moen can take your faucets from drab to fab with their glamorous vintage looks. Available exclusively at Lowe’s, Boardwalk centerset and widespread faucets are certified to meet WaterSense criteria, reducing water usage by up to 32 percent. The best part is that they feature Moen’s new Spot Resist finish that does just what it says – resists fingerprints and water spots. Now you can add style to the bath since you won’t waste time cleaning.

Organize odds and ends
Have your bathroom drawers become a catch-all for hotel samples and unused cosmetics? Then it’s time to sort, purge and organize. Once you’ve decided what you cannot live without, find a spot for everything. Try gathering your bathroom cleaning supplies and store them together in a handled tote under your sink or in an upper cupboard. For smaller items, Containerstore.com offers a host of drawer organizers and bins to hold your bathroom essentials.

Store items in style
Don’t have much wall space? According to an online consumer survey conducted by Moen Incorporated, 19 percent of men and 22 percent of women state that leaving dirty clothes on the bathroom floor is a top annoyance in the bath. Freeing the floor can be simple. Store your items in style by installing racks, towel bars and robe hooks to hang extra towels, clothes or bathrobes. The back of the door is an often overlooked area to install these essentials.

And don’t forget about your countertop. Soap, bath salts, and other bathroom essentials that you need to keep within reach can also quickly create unwanted clutter. Organize these items in style by incorporating glass bath accessories into your decor. For small spaces, place the canisters on a decorative wall shelf or just arrange by the sink for a chic and simple look.

For an updated bathroom, minus the mess, these quick tips will help you keep your sanity and organize your vanity.

Tags: bathroom organization, bathroom vanity, fancy faucets, furniture fix, vanity, Vanity sanity: Organize wisely to bring style and space to your bathroom, wall paper

Four ways to achieve a luxurious look with an affordable price tag

(ARA) – It’s not uncommon for homeowners to get the itch to move when they’ve been in their house awhile. While just picking up and moving isn’t an option for most of us, there’s another approach that people are taking: Refreshing their house to create a high-impact, high-style look, but doing it in a way that’s cost effective.

You don’t need to be an interior design expert to pull this off, either. A little creativity, adaptive reuse and the right focal point can give your home a luxurious look at a reasonable price, according to top experts who specialize in fabulous on a budget.

“Affordable luxury means achieving comfort and a high level of style for a price point that is not going to break the bank,” affordable-luxury designer Sarah Barnard says.

Here are a few ways to achieve a high-end look at a low-end cost for your next indoor and outdoor project.

* Use materials that are timeless and classic.

“Mix the old with the new,” says Blanche Garcia, interior designer and contestant on HGTV’s “Design Star.” “It’s about finding a balance between interjecting something really beautiful with a flea market find.”

She recommends starting with something simple – like a great desk – as an anchor piece and fill in around it. Use large pieces you already have that can endure quality and aesthetics but will not look dated or need to be replaced. Add trims around living room windows and doors to create a timeless feel.

* Keep textures warm and beautiful

“Somehow, we are missing the warmth in new homes,” Blanche says. “You can change that feeling by using lines that are classic and clean.”

The simple yet elegant look of wood, such as Western Red Cedar, instantly adds a glow and beauty to any room. This versatile material holds a finish for an extended period of time and weathers beautifully naturally, making it a lasting choice inside and out for siding, wall boards, trim, posts or beams.

* Create visual accents

Simple details can add a luxurious feel to your home, and accents, such as antique lamps, artwork and fresh flowers, can spark visual interest. Garcia recommends adding pops of yellow for a more vibrant look, as an easy way to add spice at a low price. To create a more dramatic effect, consider adding blinds or shutters – inside or out – in warm natural red cedar for additional function.

* Think green.

It’s easy to get an affordable luxury look using elements that are also eco-friendly, including locally-sourced products or natural materials. Barnard recommends looking at what’s available and what can be reused for a fraction of the price. Consider using salvaged material by re-inventing old furniture, cupboards or light fixtures.

“It’s about moving toward not just affordable luxury, but responsible luxury,” says Barnard. “Instead of industrial manufactured materials, think natural materials. They’re better for your family.”

Make use of sustainably-harvested materials like red cedar that require minimal processing while reducing environmental impacts. Add luxury outdoors, by placing a reclaimed coffee table on your deck to extend the warm, luxurious look outside while creating a relaxing space. Planters and window boxes made with natural materials add warmth and texture as well.

At the end of the day, remember not to get swept up in fashion trends. “Don’t just focus on things that are hot and new,” advises Barnard. “You want a home that reflects your personal style.”

For more details and to locate a Western Red Cedar retailer or distributor in your area, visit www.wrcla.org, and for more creative affordable luxury tips from the experts, visit the Real Cedar fan page on Facebook.

Tags: Four ways to achieve a luxurious look with an affordable price tag, textures, think green, visual accents, warm texture, Western Red Cedar

Four easy DIY 'cheats' that will look like you spent a bundle

(ARA) – Did you ever watch a home improvement show team transform a drab room into something spectacular using a shoestring budget and less time than it takes you to clean out your closet? Ever wonder how they did it? Here’s the secret: they cheat. And you can too.

You would probably never consider taking shortcuts in other aspects of your life, from car maintenance to paying your taxes. But when it comes to do-it-yourself home improvement and decorating projects, there’s no shame in “cheating” – and a lot to be gained by doing it. Decorator touches like crown moulding that requires no mitering and no-sew window treatments can give your home an instant visual upgrade for a fraction of the cost of having those jobs done professionally.

Here are four DIY “cheats” that will save you time and money – and yield professional results that look like you spent a bundle:

1. Crown moulding

Few design touches do more to dress up a room than adding crown moulding. But traditionally, crown moulding has been a job best left to professionals or DIYers with a lot more time and ambition than most. Adding crown molding the old-fashioned way requires expertise – like knowing how to properly cut and finish each piece – and tools that most homeowners simply don’t have.

Fortunately, there’s an easy alternative: Moulding Mates is a crown moulding installation system that requires no specialized tools or skills. You don’t even need to miter cut corners. Simply pre-finish the polyurethane moulding (which is available in a wide range of styles), attach the patented Quick Clips to the wall where you want to place the moulding, and pop the moulding lengths into place on the clips. Corner pieces and connector blocks cover ends and seams, eliminating the need to miter ends and patch or touch up the long pieces. You can easily install the entire system using a screw drill and a saw. You can learn more and browse products at www.focalpointproducts.com.

2. Carpet tiles

New carpeting is a much-desired upgrade. As anyone who’s ever bought carpet can tell you, the cost of installation can be prohibitive, yet properly installing wall-to-wall carpet requires specialized skills and tools that most DIYers don’t have. Carpet tiles can be a great alternative.

Installing carpet tiles is well within the abilities of most homeowners. Because they’re a smaller, more manageable size, carpet tiles are easier to install than a large piece of carpet. They require fewer cuts and no stretching. They also deliver enhanced design capabilities; it’s easy to create a unique pattern using different colored tiles.

3. Mirror framing systems

A frame around a bathroom mirror can give the entire room a more luxurious, upscale feel. Yet, like traditional crown moulding, conventional framing requires knowledge of mitering. Fortunately, a simple online search will yield plenty of easier options, including framing systems that provide a custom look with pre-cut (and mitered) frame pieces.

The systems require no more expertise to install than being able to follow measuring directions and apply adhesive to a mirror. Available in a wide array of designs and colors, these systems make it possible to frame a mirror to match virtually any design theme.

4. No-sew window treatments

Custom window treatments look great but can cost a bundle. Sewing them yourself requires more expertise than you likely gleaned in your high school home-ec class, and you would need a decent (read: expensive) sewing machine to do the job right. Creating no-sew curtains requires nothing more than a tape measure, some scissors, iron-on adhesive, an iron and several yards of the fabric of your choice. Simply measure the windows to find your desired fabric length, cut the fabric into appropriately sized panels, and use the adhesive and iron to finish the edges, no sewing required.

When it comes to do-it-yourself home improvement and decorating, don’t be a hero. A little “cheating” can save you time and money, and make creating your dream home fast, easy and rewarding.

Tags: carpet tiles, crown moulding, DIY decor, Four easy DIY 'cheats' that will look like you spent a bundle, mirror framing systems

How to turn your first home into a decorator's showcase

(ARA) – Whether you’ve signed a lease agreement or purchased a house, moving into your first home is an exciting time. For many people, it’s their first opportunity to express their personal style by decorating their own space.

Whatever your taste – contemporary or classic, modern or rustic – you want your first home’s interior decor to look polished and put-together. And you’d probably rather not spend a bundle achieving that look.

Do-it-yourself home decor is popular for exactly those reasons. By doing the design and implementation yourself, you can save a lot of money. Plus, many people find that doing it themselves makes decorating their homes an even more personal and rewarding experience.

So where do you start if you want to turn your first home into a decorator’s showcase? Focusing on a few key areas can yield high-impact results.

Start with the walls; they’re the largest design element in any room, and repainting them is an easy, high-payoff way to begin redecorating. Choose colors that not only speak to you, but that also make sense with key furniture pieces you already have. For example, if you have a great sofa that you love, consider choosing a color or two from the pattern and using that on the walls.

Another smart paint strategy is to do three walls in a restful, neutral color and then spice things up with a more vibrant hue on a fourth “accent” wall. Whatever color you choose, remember to buy the best quality paint you can afford. It will last longer and look great.

Another option for dressing up your walls is to use removable murals. Wall murals are a favorite design trick of interior decorators. Repositionable murals, like MuralsYourWay.com’s SmartStick line, make it easy to decorate with a mural – minus the commitment or expense of having one professionally painted. The moisture-resistant murals can be placed and then repositioned anywhere in the house, even the bathroom or kitchen (where Mediterranean wall murals are hugely popular).

Once you’ve gussied up your walls, it’s time to look down and think about the floor. Flooring is the second largest design element in a room and it forms the foundation for your other design decisions.

If you’ve got the budget and the gumption, you can remove and replace old carpet, re-stain worn wood and retile dated floors. If your means and your DIY skills are more modest, you can always cover up unappealing carpet with throw rugs that speak to your tastes. Carpet tiles are also a great way to get the look and feel of new carpet without the expense and installation challenges of wall-to-wall. And bathrooms and kitchens can both benefit from a new flooring of easy-to-install vinyl tiles.

Finally, accessories are the icing on the cake when it comes to your interior decor. Even if your furniture is mature, you can make it look young again with new accent pillows and slipcovers. It’s possible to find reasonably priced artwork to fit nearly every design theme these days, whether you look online or hit one of the big box home design stores.

Window treatments are another accessory that will give you more bang for the buck. You can get a designer look for less when you dress up cheap, store-bought panels with some personal touches.

Turning your first home into a decorator’s showcase doesn’t have to cost a lot. A sense of adventure, some creativity and the willingness to do the work yourself can have your home looking like something from a TV interior design show in no time.

Tags: classic decor, home decor, home decorations, How to turn your first home into a decorator's showcase, modern decor, polished decor

Affordable mini makeovers for the holidays

(ARA) – The season for indoor gatherings has arrived and everyone is looking for ways to bring the excitement into their homes. With tighter budgets available for remodeling, choosing paint for your mini-make over projects may be the smartest way to “go new.”

Here are the top ways you can mini-makeover your kitchen:

* Refinish countertops: An overwhelming percentage of U.S. homeowners want granite tops because of their natural elegance, but unfortunately, the huge remodeling commitment and high price for granite results in buyer hesitation. Now you can paint over your outdated countertops with granite paint. Giani Granite provides countertop paint kits that include everything you need to refinish your counters, reviving your outdated kitchen.

* Paint stainless: Old and outdated appliances are a large eyesore for many kitchens, but buying new is often financially difficult. For those stuck in a pinch, try paint. Thomas’ Liquid Stainless Steel is made with 100 percent stainless steel in an automotive grade, clear resin. You no longer need to replace refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers and cabinet hardware with expensive new stainless steel to have a modern look. Find stainless steel paint options at liquidstainlesssteel.com.

* Paint cabinets and trim: New touches to your kitchen can be applied with finishing paint on dingy cabinets, shelving, doors, trim and woodwork. Painting over outdated polyurethane and varnish surfaces is now possible without using a primer. Using a tough yet smooth finishing paint is especially important for these smaller – often overlooked – accents that make or break the final look of a kitchen.

* Floor finishing: Cork and plywood flooring are inexpensive options and can be cut for a tiled or plank look. These low-cost flooring alternatives offer plenty of personalization options such as painting, staining, whitewashing, stenciling or simply coating with polyurethane to make the floor unique in your home.

Using mini-makeover paint tips to update and change the looks of your home will have your seasonal guests oohing and awing over how great it looks.

Tags: Affordable mini makeovers for the holidays, home makeover, home makeovers, inexpensive home decor, refinished countertops

Easy kids' room updates can make winter less dreary

(ARA) – As temperatures drop and the days grow shorter, kids begin spending more and more time indoors. To help make spending time inside more enjoyable, give your child’s room a fun makeover. With bright colors and fun details, you can transform a bland bed or playroom into a kid-friendly space they won’t want to leave.

Color the walls
An easy way to inject color and personality into any room is with paint, and Dutch Boy’s Crayola palette is perfect for creating a fun atmosphere. Kids can choose colors that match those in their crayon boxes, with names like Granny Smith Apple, Razzmatazz, Crayola Canary and Inch Worm. If you’re in need of some extra creative inspiration, Dutch Boy’s website offers a number of images and idea cards using color combinations from the Crayola palette. You can even download how-to painting instructions and coloring pages for the kids. And don’t stop at the walls – paint dressers, chairs and other furniture bright colors to make the whole room pop. All 96 shades of the Crayola palette are available in Dutch Boy’s popular Refresh line, so you’re sure to find the perfect color to match your child’s personality.

Canopy
To give your child’s room unique flair, divide the space and add privacy, a canopy will do the trick. Whether store-bought or hand-made, a canopy can create a whimsical feel that your child will love. Drape your child’s choice of lightweight fabrics from four ceiling hooks to create a customized cover for his or her bed. And while canopies are usually seen as bed accessories, don’t think that’s where they have to stay. Hang a version with a circular base and arrange plush cushions on the floor to create a comfy reading nook for your little one.

Chalkboard
Inspiring creativity and adding some fun to your child’s room is as easy as A-B-C. With chalkboard paint, you can give your child a new way to practice the alphabet, arithmetic, drawing and much more. Simply cover a flat surface with a product like easy-spray Krylon Chalkboard Paint, let dry, and voila! For a standard message board, paint the backside of a bulletin board or other sturdy panel with a few coats of paint. Hang the board on the wall with a piece of colorful ribbon or set on an easel, and you’ve got an easy-to-clean way for kids to learn and play. You might even transform tabletops or toy box covers into chalkboards to give them more space to get creative.

Wall decals
Build on your child’s new bright walls and give the room a more personalized feel with wall decals or stickers. These temporary art pieces are available in a wide range of sizes, shapes, designs and colors, and the options of kid-friendly styles are endless. From animals, to movie characters, to sports logos, to stars and flowers, there is sure to be a design or theme that matches any child’s personality and age. Because the stickers are easily removed, kids can simply transition to more traditional letters, mirrors, landscapes and silhouettes as they grow older. Some companies can even make decals from photos, so the design possibilities are truly limitless.

You can help your kids enjoy the great indoors this season and give their rooms new appeal with these few easy updates. Helping to plan and decorate their “new” rooms will also give your kids a sense of pride in the finished product, so they’ll enjoy their spaces through the fall months and beyond.

Tags: canopy, Easy kids' room updates can make winter less dreary, kid decor, kids paint colors, wall decals

Four simple ways to modernize your home decor

(ARA) – If you’re like many people, your home interior could likely use some updating. But you don’t need to hire a professional designer to modernize your home decor. No matter how much of a decorating novice you may be, a few simple updates can give new life to your living space and bring your home to the forefront of interior design.

Modern colors
Color is a key aspect of interior decorating, and paint is one of the easiest, most cost-efficient ways to update your home interior. To give any room a clean and contemporary look this season, take some hints from the professionals.

Pratt & Lambert Paints recently announced its 2012 Color Trends, which are divided into five palettes: Enough, Expressive, Instinctive, Essence and Echo. Pratt & Lambert’s Color + Design team identified these colors as their top picks for the modern home, and Color + Design Manager Donna Schroeder says the Instinctive palette offers a number of great options for fall. From Cafe Cubano to Dusty Mink to Garnet, Schroeder predicts nature-inspired shades will pop up on ceilings, trim and walls everywhere. And with Pratt & Lambert’s Quart-Size Color Sampler option, you can test out your choice before painting the entire room, ensuring a look you’ll love.

Ground level
Just because the floor is under your feet, it shouldn’t be last on your list of interior updates. You know that old carpet is ugly, but it will also overshadow more modern elements in the room.

Natural materials like granite and hardwood floors are popular, but their high cost may limit how many rooms you can update. Fortunately, stylish options are available that won’t break the bank. For instance, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is available in hundreds of styles that mimic authentic wood and stone to give your home a modern, lavish look for less. With a wide range of brands, price points and installation options available, LVT is a great choice for anyone in need of a flooring update. Plus, LVT is more durable than some other flooring options, so you can enjoy new-looking floors for longer.

Time to reflect
Mirrors are an easy and inexpensive way to inject personality into a room. Hang a large square mirror to open up a small space, or arrange a number of smaller mirrors in a fun pattern to create an artistic statement.

With endless framing options available, you’re sure to find a match to complement any room’s style. A thin, simple rectangular frame will create a contemporary look, while an ornate metal frame gives an oval glass a traditional, old world feel. Or, for a completely clean and modern effect, frameless mirrors come in a wide variety of shapes and edge designs.

Brighten up lighting
New lighting can change the entire feel of your home’s interior, and there are seemingly endless options to help you brighten up a room. Recessed lights create a clean look that can open up smaller rooms or highlight an area such as a photo or piece of artwork. Table and floor lamps can act as artful vessels of light, adding colors and patterns to a bland room. And hanging lighting, such as a unique chandelier, will bring interest and personality into a room while serving its functional purpose. To give your new lighting a sustainable side, energy-efficient light bulbs will save you electricity costs and last longer than standard bulbs.

Don’t let your hesitancy to redecorate leave your home in the past. With these four easy updates, you can renew your living space and give your home a new, modern feel.

Tags: Four simple ways to modernize your home decor, interior design, modern decor, modern decor ideas, modern paint colors

Artful design pairings create a culinary paradise in your kitchen

(ARA) – Just as matching food with the right wine can elevate a simple meal to the level of a culinary experience, artfully pairing design elements in your kitchen can turn a utilitarian room into a chef’s paradise.

“Properly pairing food and wine that complement each other is always a key ingredient in serving a memorable meal,” says Teo Zagroba, Beverage Manager at The American Club Resort in Kohler, Wis. “It’s equally important to ensure that key design elements in your kitchen pair together well, creating a room that is functional, beautiful and inspiring.”

Just as you would seek wine selection advice from a sommelier, it pays to get some design pairing tips from a kitchen expert. Diana Schrage, senior interior designer at the Kohler Design Center, offers these tips for making successful design pairing decisions for your kitchen:

Sinks and faucets

“The experience of cooking in a kitchen where function and beauty are paramount can be as delightful as the gourmet meal itself,” Schrage says. “Think of this when beginning your kitchen redesign.”

You may already have a sink or a faucet in mind and can use either piece as your starting point. Identify what it is about this particular sink or faucet that appeals to you so the direction of your redesign becomes clearer and clearer.

If your faucet preference runs toward sleek, modern lines, you’ll want to pair it with a sink that complements that design aesthetic such as stainless steel or a contemporary-looking and under mounted cast iron product. If you love the farmhouse-classic apron front sink consider a nostalgic faucet design evocative of this time period; perhaps even a wall mount instead of deck mount faucet.

Color and finish are also key considerations for sink and faucet pairings. Will the color of your sink complement the finish of the faucet? Some sink finishes, like stainless, or enameled cast iron, will allow more flexibility when choosing a faucet to go with it.

Always, keep function in mind. Both your sink and faucet should work well together for their intended uses. For example, if you’ve selected a tall pull-down faucet like the KOHLER Bellera because you’ll be filling a lot of stock pots or washing large pans, a deep-bowl sink will match that function better than a shallow one.

Cabinets and countertops

Design harmony is also important when you’re matching countertops and cabinets. You may have always loved the look of stainless steel, but if your cabinets are clearly country, the warm colors and solid looks of a cast iron sink may be a better fit.

If you have the luxury of choosing both elements to match, your design job will be easier. But if you’re committed to the cabinets you already have, then consider countertop materials that are timeless and universal, like granite or marble. Even if the design of your cabinets ties you into a specific material choice, remember you’ll have plenty of color options available.

If your countertop and/or cabinet choice makes a bold design statement, avoid pairing it with distracting wall or flooring choices. A neutral backdrop like cream walls or gray slate floor tile can give countertops and cabinets the room they need to really pop.

The pinnacle of pairings

Once your design pairings are complete and you’ve created your dream kitchen, you can focus on some even more enjoyable matches, creating gourmet meals perfectly paired with the right beverages. Fortunately, you’ll find no shortage of inspiration.

From culinary shows and foodie blogs to epicurean events like the Kohler Food & Wine Experience at The American Club Resort, there are numerous resources to learn more about great kitchen design and perfect food and wine pairings, both of which will make your kitchen and next dinner party the envy of all your friends.

Tags: Artful design pairings create a culinary paradise in your kitchen, DIY kitchen, faucets, kitchen design, kitchen design ideas, sinks

Bring the beach into your home year round

(ARA) – There’s nothing better than digging your toes in the warm sand, breathing crisp, salty air and hearing the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline. But whether the beach is close to home, or thousands of miles away, you don’t have to leave the memories behind at the summer’s end. There are many creative ways to bring the beach into your home all year long.

“Many of us bring back vacation mementos that end up sitting in a box in the garage,” says Angie Stinner, design expert for Rust-Oleum. “But with a little imagination and creativity, you can transform souvenirs from your time at the beach into stylish decorations that will recreate that serene seashore look and feel inside your home.”

Here are a few project ideas that are sure to give you that tranquil beach feel even on a gloomy winter day:

Accent with shimmering sea glass.
Sea glass is one of the rarest of all beach finds. Perhaps that’s why purchasing an accent piece made of natural sea glass can be very expensive. But thanks to paint innovation, it’s easy to replicate the glimmering bluish green tone of sea glass and create a beautiful accent piece without spending a fortune.

Find an old glass jar, bowl or vase around your home – or purchase one at the dollar store. Then spray it with a paint like Rust-Oleum Frosted Sea Glass Spray. Let it dry and fill the jar or bowl with sand, coral or shells you brought home from the beach.

Seashells forever.
Hunting for shells is a universally loved beach pastime. And the seashells you find can be used to create one-of-a-kind decorations to give a beach feel to your home year round. Create a stylish wreath for your front door. Use them to decorate an old lamp or apply them to the lampshade for a stand-out accent piece. The possibilities are endless.

Make sure to clean your shells with soap and water to remove sand, salt and other debris. Once completely dry, spray on a coat of Bulls Eye Shellac. Its all-natural shellac resin will seal in lingering odors and preserve the shells so they don’t crumble over time. Let the shells dry overnight. Then get out your glue gun and attach them to any surface you choose. It’s an easy, affordable way to spend some post-beach time with your kids.

Frame up your vacation memories.
Photos are great for reminiscing about warm summer days at the beach. So instead of storing them on your hard drive why not frame them in ocean-esque colors for all to see?

Find a few old frames, either at home or from a thrift store. Then paint them with a spray paint like Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Harbor Blue. Group your photos on a vacation wall – or display them throughout your home – to keep your warm, sunny days at the beach in mind throughout the winter’s chill.

Visit Facebook.com/Paintideas for additional inspiring and creative decorating projects.

Tags: beach home, beach home ideas, Bring the beach into your home year round, Rust-Oleum Frosted Sea Glass Spray, shimmering sea glass