More and more families are re-evaluating their homes and finding new ways to reduce their environmental impact. There are many ways–some of which are surprisingly inexpensive–to improve your home.

Whether you replace your bulbs or install new energy saving light fixtures, you can save electricity in every room in your house. Energy Star appliances are designed to use minimal energy are available in almost every possible model you can think of: dishwashers, refrigerators, washers and dryers and much more.

Conserving water is another important way for families to be conscious. Consider buying a rain water collection barrel.

Try to use organic and chemical free products for painting, staining, gardening and cleaning.

For more examples of ways you can Green Up your home, visit this excellent “How To” article, “How to Go Green in No Time at All.“

The benefits of cast iron cookware are well known in kitchens throughout the world. For one thing, it is a non-toxic cooking surface. In fact, there is an added benefit of the iron leaching into the food cooked in it, providing you with an additional source for this mineral which is necessary for healthy building healthy blood.

Bare cast iron has been in use for hundreds of years, and now there are additional enamel coated cast iron options. Both types are known for their ability to hold and diffuse heat, making them an excellent choice for extended periods of cooking.

A set of cast iron cookware will literally last you for your entire life. They are one of the single best investments you can make in your home.

You may not have a huge gourmet kitchen, but you still needs to use this room every day.  How can you make the most out of the kitchen you have?

Organization is the key to surviving in tight spaces.  There are thousands of modular pieces for cabinets and pantries such as the elfa line available at The Container Store. You can also use stackable plastic containers for storing loose and bulk foodstuffs such as sugar, flour, cereals, and other items that are difficult to keep tidy.

Try to keep your counter tops clean and free of clutter so you have work space.  Additional workspace can be created when you buy a pot rack to hang pots and pans within reach.  You can also buy portable worktables which can be moved around and stored away when they are not in use.

The smaller your kitchen, the more important organization is.  Investing a little time and money in to your kitchen space will give you the freedom you need to create great food, and enjoy the time you spend there.

Are you ready to hire someone to help you realize your dream decor? There are thousands of interior decorators, some of whom specialize in either residential or commercial decor, or a particular style–modern, classic, rustic, etc.

When you set out to find a decorator, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Ask for a portfolio and references.

If they’ve done great work, they will have people who are willing to rave about them, and you need to confirm that they can do what they say they can. Many decorators will have their portfolios available on their websites, but you should still ask if you can contact any of their former clients. When you call, treat it like a job interview and be professional.

2. Be clear about what you want.

Before sitting down with your decorator, collect pictures, fabric swatches, paint samples, and anything else–from jewelry to fruit–that inspires you. The more information and direction your can give a designer, the easier it will be for them to give you what you want.

3.  Shop around.

Choose your decorator after you’ve had a chance to compare two or three.  Look at their qualifications as well as their fees and decide on the best value for your money.  Don’t skimp just to save money–but don’t assume you have the pay a lot just to get a good job.

Use What You Have Decorating

Laurie Ward

A great book about using what you already have in your home and making the most of it. It also offers tips for buying new furniture and home accessories, and lists common decorating mistakes to be avoided.

House Beautiful - 500 Sensational Ways to Create Your Ideal Home

Kate Sloan

A comprehensive book with tons of gorgeous photos on all kinds of decorating styles. It offers examples and practical tips for creating the home of your dreams.

Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living

Annie Berthold-Bond

A must-read for anyone concerned about the health of their family and the impact that their home makes on the environment both inside and out.

Rooms to Inspire: Decorating With America’s Best Designers

Annie Kelly

Twelve cutting edge designers including Marian McEvoy, Kelly Wearstler, Muriel Brandolini, Jonathan Adler, and Simon Doonan share their vision through fabulous photographs.

Decorating Details: Projects and Ideas for a More Comfortable, More Beautiful Home

Martha Stewart

Decorating ideas and projects you can do yourself to create finishing touches on any room in your house.

The Home Decorator’s Color and Texture Bible: 180 Complete Schemes for a Harmonious Home

Adrienne Chinn

Color is perhaps the most challenging aspect of home decorating and this book will help you grasp the use of colors, textures, and textiles.

Decorating is Fun!: How to be your own Decorator

Dorothy Draper

This book has been in print for over sixty years and it is still fresh and pertinent for today’s home decorator. It encourages everyone to enjoy the process of designing their own homes.

The Declutter Workbook: 101Feng Shui Steps to Transform Your Life

Mary Lambert

A practical workbook for streamlining your home, removing clutter, and creating an environment that invites positive energy.

The Poetry of Home

Charlotte Moss

An anthology of literary works that capture the grace and beauty of home. A great source of inspiration as you contemplate your decorating choices.

Room & Furniture Layout Kit

Muncie Hendler

Includes hundreds of pieces that can be repositioned as your plan your rooms.

Your home is more than just a place to store you clothing and eat dinner at the end of a long day.  We spend time at home relaxing, entertaining, watching television–and reading!

Books are beautiful.  They represent the combined knowledge of the human race, and offer us the opportunity to learn new things while stimulating our imaginations.  They can go anywhere, require no electricity, and have endless topics for us to choose from.

So why not use them as part of our decorating?

I don’t necessarily mean the stack of paperback Harlequin romances that you have in a box in the garage.  But books of poetry, or spiritual texts can be particularly beautiful–inside and out.  You an also find classic works at used bookstores in unique, eye-catching bindings.  Large, gorgeous picture books can be displayed on the shelf or on a coffee table and enjoyed by guests as they relax in your sitting areas, and used to spark conversation on any number of topics.

Consider investing in a fantastic bookshelf to house your collection.  You’ll find your friends and family drawn to it as they browse your selection and ask to borrow things that catch your eye.

If your collection of books leaves much to be desired, try hitting up used book stores, second-hand stores, and garage sales, where you can find multitudes of books for a song.

You’ll love the comforting feeling of being surrounded by these great works of literature as you relax with your morning coffee or tea.

I understand that patterns are scary, but once you get past the initial fear that is a  reflex from having been picked on in your childhood for wearing mismatched socks, you’ll realize that it isn’t nearly as complicated or terrifying as it seems.

The number one rule for mixing patterns is…confidence! There’s no “one right way” to do anything, despite what a lot of people want to tell you. (Generally, those people are trying to sell you something anyway.)

Within the context of any room, you do want to stay within complimentary color palettes to make sure the overall effect is not shocking to the eye–but for the most part, you can take a variety of patterns–and even styles of patterns–and combine them for a really fascinating effect.

For example, consider using high-contrast blocks of color and added highly detailed, oriental or middle-eastern style accessories. You can even alternate contrasting patterns on the walls, or with fabrics on the furniture.

Beautiful decor is more than just trying to recreate a picture from a magazine. It is also about incorporating your life’s experiences in to your home. Choose patterns that reflect your ethnic heritage, your travels or your profession or education for highly personalized living space.

I love lighting.  It is one of the most important features of any room–whether it is in a country cottage or a grand European palace.  That’s why I am extra picky when I go to buy a new lamp or light fixture.  Depending on the kind of light you have in your home, everything else can look ten times better–or ten times worse.

Chandeliers are one of my favorite types of fixtures.  While the classic crystal chandelier is dazzling and fabulous, it may not exactly match your humble abode.  That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this type of lighting, though.  Modern chandeliers come in much less formal incarnations such as this Hinkley fixture that would be considered more “charming” than “grand”.

If your style runs more to the sleek and modern there are plenty of chandelier styles to suit your taste as well. For example, this Kichler model would look stunning in a room with plenty of high contrasts.

Chandeliers don’t just belong in a formal dining room, either.  Even a small, dainty chandelier such as this “Canyon Ridge” model would be perfect for a shabby chic bedroom or powder room.

If you’re going to install a chandelier, don’t forget to install dimmer switches along with it.  A dimmer is what gives your chandelier versatility and added drama.  Lower the lights and light candles for an intimate dinner, or turn them up for a festive party.  Either way, you can be sure your gorgeous lighting will be noticed and appreciated by your guests.

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.