Welcome to Matters of Style, a periodic newsletter from  

To a T Interiors.   In this edition, you can find tips to reduce the hassle factor for future holiday decorating, plus some budget-friendly ideas to refresh your home.    

Have your Christmas decorations grown over the years to the point where decorating for the holidays is a job in itself?   I've developed a few tips to help next year when you get out the holiday decoration boxes and are faced with too much to do and too little time.   So, before you put away your decorations this 

1. Take photos to remember what you did:  entryway, mantles, tablescapes, banisters and even the tree, especially if its done a bit differently than prior years. 

2. Pack the boxes by room and label them accordingly.  If you don't have one, invest in an ornament storage box;  they make it so much easier to safe- keep and manage your ornaments.

3.  Make notes of what you need to replenish and what you want to buy new (I tape mine to the outside of one of the storage boxes).  Remember to shop early in the season especially if you are looking for a particular item or unusual color(s).  

 4. Review any unused items and decide if you want to keep them to reincorporate in the future or give to charity for someone else to enjoy next year.    

5.  As you think about holiday decorating in 2014,  take a look at this year's photos before you start.  Change it up a bit in one or two areas and rely on the tried and true everywhere else.  If you have what you need and know where everything goes, you'll be done in no time.  

Of course, if you find you can't do it all or want a fresh set of eyes to help change up your holiday decorating, we are always happy to help.  

  All photos from To a T Interiors' Portfolio

  

Before Painting

• Paint a room.  You've heard it before but it bears repeating:  paint is the easiest and least expensive way to makeover a room. Pick a new palette that blends with the colors of your furnishings to provide a refreshing change from the old.

 

After Painting

• Remove antiquated wallpaper.  Then update with paint or re-wallpaper. Did you know wallpapers are making a comeback with bold patterns and flocked designs, grass cloths and dramatic bold printed stripes?  Changing even one wall can make a positive difference.

• Touch-up wood furniture.  If you have any wood furnishings that are dented, nicked or dingy with fingerprints it's easy to touch up with a stain stick (i.e., Guardsman Touch-Up Pens) or for larger jobs try Restor-a-Finish. It's amazing how new and fresh wood can look with some touch-up and wax.  For a whole new look, paint it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (I'll share more on my experiences with this paint in the next issue but in a nutshell--its super easy and they have great colors to choose from).   

Light Fixture Before

• Replace hardware: This can cover a lot of ground including: light fixtures, faucets, cabinet pulls and doorknobs. Many styles today look fabulous and can be found at budget prices.

New Light Fixture

• Replace artificial greenery. Try growing live plants in some of the places you are using faux.  Here are some tips for growing green.  If faux is the only way to go, today's artificial greens and flowers are likely better quality than your old ones.   If replacing them all at once is not an option, use a blow dryer and a spray cleaner to diminish the dust and liven up the colors.  

Before: Window and Chairs

• Consider new window treatments.  Panels should  go all the way to the floor.  The 63" length is dated--it stops the eye and makes a window look like it is wearing high water pants.  Valences today have cleaner lines and less swag.  If custom treatments aren't in the budget, then shop for some less expensive ready-mades.    
• Re-upholster worn accent pillows and/or chair(s).    Recover them with fabric containing a a new accent color to liven things up a bit. Read here for more details on the living room update pictured below.

After:  New Window Treatment and Chairs Re-upholstered

Family Room Before Updates

• Rotate and/or put away some accessories. Today's look is less cluttered. Remove all pieces you're not crazy about first.  Then re-evaluate what you might want to add the mix.  Make sure you have some large pieces to accessorize with as they can make bold statements simply and minimize clutter.

Family Room After Shelves Updated

A.  A great place to start is Houzz.  With 2 million+ photos,you can browse by room or style then tag the photos you like to your own ideabook.  It's a great way to get a sense of what you want, allows you to source specific products you like and helps with communications.  An inspiration photo can get everyone (spouse, contractor or design professional) on the same page regarding your decorating vision.

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