Just because you love the way something looks doesn’t mean it’s going to be the best possible choice for your and your family.

Your personal decorating style doesn’t have to be a compromise between form and function.  You should be able to satisfy both requirements–an attractive piece that is comfortable and/or useful–but there is no guarantee.  Let’s face it, a lot of furniture designers are pretty much concerned with only one or the other.

The first thing that is going to attract you is the appearance of the piece.  But the key to being happy with your purchase for the long term is being conscious of your overall needs.  An honest evaluation of any piece of furniture is going to make sure you are still in love with it years after you bring it home.  Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Do I have enough space to accommodate the piece?
• Will this compliment my home and existing furniture?
• How is the quality?
• Is it versatile?  Are there ways to change its appearance if I need to in the future?
• Is it really comfortable?
• Does it perform more than one function (i.e. creates extra storage)?
• Is it so “trendy” that it is going to be out of style in a few years?
• Is there a warranty?
• Is it easy to clean?

Don’t be pressured into buying things.  Take your time, go back to the store a few times if you have to.  Make sure you love your new furniture for more than just it’s “pretty face”.  You have to live with it every day, and you need it to do more than just look nice.

The most successful Realtors have developed a method of successfully selling homes using a technique called “staging”.

Staging means preparing a home with simple decorating techniques so that prospective buyers are instantly at home when they visit, and their attention is drawn to the most attractive features of your home.

If you’re still living in your home while it is listed for sale, a Realtor or staging expert may ask you to consider de-cluttering the space, touching up paint, and adding a few touches like candles and art. If the house is empty they may bring in larger pieces like rugs, lamps, or tables to help the client visualize themselves at home there.

Obviously, any efforts at staging should be done with simple items that are not too trendy or have extremely religious or political overtones. The idea is to appeal to the greatest number of people and offer them just a glimpse of the possibilities that your home holds for them.

If your Realtor doesn’t do staging themselves, they may be able to recommend someone who does. Many interior decorators have made staging part of their regular business, while others have chosen to focus on it exclusively. They may be available to stage your entire house, or simply on a consulting basis to offer you suggestions that you can implement yourself.

I spend a ridiculous amount of time and money at coffee shops and it isn’t for the uncomfortable chairs or the cheesy jazz music–it’s for the coffee. But it occurs to me that the more I spend on coffee, I could actually be making my own at home using an espresso machine.

Consider this: If I drink an average of five espresso drinks each week at $4.00 each, that adds up to $1,040 every year! And that’s not even counting what other members of my family spend. Not to mention the environmental impact of hundreds of paper or Styrofoam cups that are generated each year this way.

For a thousand dollars you can buy a top grade espresso maker, plenty of imported Italian espresso, and even a nifty apron for you to wear in your kitchen and pretend to be a barista! Think about it…it’s better for you, better for your pocketbook, and better for the environment.

I have this friend who literally goes into a furniture store and buys a whole room on display, including lamps and art, and transports it to her own home to reconstruct it there.

The problem is that the majority of furniture stores cater to the lowest common denominator in order to avoid offending anyone’s sensibilities. After all, they’re job is to sell furniture, not help you decorate your personal space! Generally everything in these stores matches and coordinates in a soulless, artificial way.

I realize that my friend buys this way because she feels unsure of herself; but I’d rather see a mistake in a room that reflects your real personality than a room that looks like it should have price tags on everything in it.

I say–NO FEAR! Go wild and crazy! Mix and match wood stains, fabrics, and genres. Decorating your home isn’t a necessity–it is a form of self-expression. So why do it if you’re not really expressing yourself?

Whether you live in a house, an apartment, or a condo, chances are you have some space just outside your back door where you can relax in a comfortable chair and feel the breeze. Your patio is a little oasis where you can retire when the day is done. Fixing up your patio doesn’t have to be a huge project, though. You can quickly and inexpensively transform even a small, uninteresting space into your own private retreat.

1. The Chair

Not just “a” chair. THE chair. The one you are going to be fantasizing about while you’re sitting in rush hour traffic. Depending on your style and budget you may go for a fancy, cushioned seat; or you might feel more at home in a rustic rocking chair. Whatever it is, it should make you sink into it and not want to get out. At least, not until it’s time to refill your drink.

2. Plants

If you live in a high-rise condo, you can fill your patio with greenery by planting in containers. If you’re lucky enough to have some terra firma to work with, make sure you put it to use. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “gardener”, those plants are well worth the effort when you finally sit down and get a chance to drink in their soothing beauty. If you aren’t sure where to begin, go to a local nursery and tell them you’re looking for some simple, no-hassle plants for your outdoor patio. They will ask you a few questions and then recommend some things that will suit your lifestyle.

3. Hummingbird Feeder

A small feeder kept full with hummingbird food will bring attract some beautiful little visitors that you can enjoy while you’re sitting outside. It is a wonderful, inexpensive way to bring wildlife to your patio without a lot of mess or fuss.

4. Citronella Candles

These are now available in a gazillion shapes and styles, but they all do the same thing: Keep the bugs away! If you want to relax outside in the evening (which you most certainly want to do), you need a couple of these to light. Not only are they useful, but they provide a nice ambiance.

5. Shade

If your patio already has some kind of cover, then good for you. But if you are like a lot of people, you’ll need to find a way to create some shade so that you don’t fry when you want to sit outside in the summertime. There’s no need to start a major construction project–you can find large stand-up umbrellas or attachable shades that you can roll out or retract as needed. You’ll enjoy your outdoor space much more if you can keep cool while you’re there.

With more and more people buying organic products, or using holistic and herbal medications, it’s important to keep them fresh and cool to make sure they don’t spoil. Even penicillin and other traditional medicines require refrigeration, forcing you to squeeze them in between your cottage cheese and orange juice in the refrigerator.

This innovative new medicine chest by Robern is a wonderful option for people who want to keep their medicines and organic products where they belong: in the bathroom. With an adjustable temperature range between 42°–50°, it adheres to most product storage recommendations. It also features dual compartments for items that don’t require refrigeration.

The overall dimensions are 19¼” x 30″ x 8″, which means plenty of room for all your personal items, and a substantial mirror surface for decorative purposes. It also features 170° hidden hinge openings adjustable to the right or left.

The modern lines, mirrored exterior, and adjustable shelving, are sure to enhance the beauty of any bathroom. No more trips through the house in the middle of the night to find medicines! Keep everything you need just a few steps away in you bathroom, and rest easy!

Enhance your home energy and design with these 10 feng shui tips.

A little change in a room does wonders. You don’t have to spend your lifetime savings to bring improvements to your house. You don’t even have to consider changing the entire home. With a bit of creativity on your side, your favorite room will regain its charm and will hopefully make you feel better in it.

Here are five quick, easy, and inexpensive home decorating ideas to help you get started:

One – Get a nice plant. Besides being a good source of oxygen, it will bring you joy by just standing there. There’s no need to mention the peace and tranquility that a green spot can give.

Two – Remove the old, ugly lamp you’ve gotten used to and bring another. It really is amazing what a new table lamp or floor lamp can do to brighten up a room in more ways than just providing light alone.

Three – Take a nice smiley picture of you and put it wherever you are sure anyone entering the room will notice it. You might find one in a drawer that you haven’t opened for a while. If not, get out and have one taken in a photo shop. Choose a picture frame that loaded with character. It will definitely add to the spirit of the room.

Four – Are you sick and tired of watching the same rug lying at your feet while you are reading your favorite book in front of the fireplace every evening? It’s probably time to get a new one – something that will really bring energy to the room.

Five – And here’s a little tip that’s kind of out there, but practical nonetheless… Are you in the habit of eating cookies before going to bed? If you are, a nice fancy serving tray lying close at hand on the little table will do. If not, get a fancy or colorful vase; they always look good on low tables, useless as they may seem!

We need to drink more water than we normally do every day.  Water, the essential element, all too often tends to be a last choice nourishment.  And it should come as no surprise that we should drink at least six to eight glasses of water each day – after all, we are all made of mostly water!

So here’s the thing… Talking about drinking water for refreshment and for health is easy, but actually sticking to drinking the recommended amount is a little more difficult.  Tap water, while usually safe, can be tainted with the off flavors of chlorine and fluoride.

Individually bottled water remains a popular option, but just think of all of the waste produced by all of the unnecessary extra plastic bottles.  On top of that, bottled water can just be downright expensive too, at about a buck or more per pop.

There has to be a better option, right?

Well, there is.  You’ve seen them before at the office and probably other places too.  Yes, the water cooler is the perfect option, especially at home.

The Soleusair Water Cooler And Refrigerator might be just the thing your home needs as we look forward to the warmer months of the year.  It’s efficient, affordable, and above all quite practical.  A plentiful supply of ice cold water right at the touch of a lever (and warm water too).  Plus, there’s an extra bit of built in refrigerator space too.

Sure, you can get something similar from one of those water services, just like most offices do, but you’ll pay way more in the long run as part of the subscription.  The best part is that you can pick up filled spring water jugs or fill your own right at the grocery store.

When compared to purchasing individually sized water bottles, the Soleusair Water Cooler and Refrigerator will save time, money, and landfill space at the same time.  It’s a win, win, win situation.

On the go?  Just keep a few extra small water bottles handy and fill them up for the trip.  The convenience of having a professional style water cooler right at home really is a great thing.

And who knows, with the Soleusair Water Cooler, you might even find your family enjoying some great at home water cooler chat too!

Take a moment and give your home’s mailbox a good once over. Now ask yourself this question:

“Is it time for a new mailbox?”

Be honest with yourself.

Of course, there are at least three good reasons why it might be time to upgrade that old mailbox:

- Enhance Security – Let’s face it, these days with identity theft constantly on the rise, we really need to take all of the precaution we can in securing the mail as it awaits our arrival. Mail waiting unsecured in a street side mailbox is just about as secure as replacing your home’s address sign with your social security number instead.

- Boost Curb Appeal – The mailbox is often one of the very first things to be seen when it comes to the way others view your home’s curb appeal. A rusty old mailbox out front does nothing for increasing the beauty of your home. Therefore, it is more than an ideal place to start.

- Make It Easier For The Mailman – This is a good enough reason, right? The fact of the matter is that many of us have mailboxes that are less than properly installed to comply with postal regulations or even local codes. Making things right will make your mailman like you more!

Once you’ve decided that it is indeed time to replace your mailbox, why not give some thought to doing the project correctly?

There are hundreds of different types of attractive mailboxes on the market, and only naturally, each of us has different tastes when it comes to picking out one just right for our homes. Depending on whether your neighborhood uses wall mounted mailboxes or post style mailboxes, just the right hardware can vary too.

Installing a new post mailbox is an easy project, just taking a couple of hours or less worth of effort, but the finished results have a much bigger payoff. Maybe you already have the perfect mailbox, but just need to replace a crooked or frail post with a brand new sturdy mailbox post.

Regardless of your choice, one thing is clear – the mailbox just should not be overlooked any longer!