If you were to ask me what kind of party setting is perfect for a home party, I would say …

• A place where people can mingle, sit down, talk and walk around comfortably without bumping on things or each other.
• A place that encourages conversation, makes people feel relaxed to talk about anything under the sun.
• A place that provides comfort as well as stimulates the senses

Striking a balance between function and aesthetics is tricky, but with a bit of creativity and loads of imaginative artistry, anyone can design their interiors like a pro.

Modern Furnishings, Vintage Design

I am partial to vintage design, but vintage doesn’t always mean functional. If you have ornate or decorative clocks, you know they take up a lot of space. If you have an antique armoire or an ottoman that has seen better days, you probably have problems positioning it in a living room full of modern amenities.

Maybe it’s difficult to place these antiques when it’s just you and the kids cavorting around the house. However, when it’s time to party, these pieces are best displayed for all your guests to see.

First of all, you can set up accessories like photos or frames that create instant conversation among your guests. If you’ve been traveling, display some souvenirs. Anything that makes people stop, stare and discuss can be a good accent.

What if your souvenirs look out of place?

One way to prevent ornate accessories from being out of place in a setting is to make sure it doesn’t clash with the decor in color and symmetry. For best results, make the item stand out by placing lights (or mini spotlights). You can also put one item in a particular setting to really make it stand out.

Do you want a contemporary but nostalgic feel to your house? Try placing ashtrays that look like they belong to a Bogart movie. You can also install ornate ceiling fans like those from Minka Aire. Get the one with three or six blades that actually encourage air to flow around the room but will not look out of place because of the contemporary design.

If you’re thinking of setting up the perfect backdrop for your home party, Italian decor is a great one for kitchens and dining rooms. This is because Italian decor involves very warm colors, inviting and homey textures, and furniture arrangement that invites people to be social.

This decor is a favorite for last minute parties because creating an Italian themed room is not difficult. It can also be very practical if you select inexpensive but beautiful accessories.

First, the colors. Go for the rich earthy hues such as terracotta, mahogany, chestnut, olive, sage, and ocean blue. For minor colors, you can choose bronze, black, and white. If you plan to paint your walls, choose a texture that will give the illusion of uneven surfaces. Mix sand with your paint or simply use a sponge or a rag to paint.

The shade of white to choose must complement and somehow blend in with a darker shade like peach or light brown. This is for cupboards and countertops. Any serving dish will feel right at home if your surfaces are done in this color.

Get wood or cast iron furnitures and accents. These materials are what help to give this design its warm, rustic, and welcoming appeal. Think of how your dining room will look with a cast iron chandelier, a corner lamp, and candle holders. If you don’t have much space, a plain light fixture or ceiling fan will do nicely in
the kitchen.

Now, for window treatments. Windows can be decorated with a simple sheer curtain, or wood
or faux wood blinds.

Ordinarily, putting up Christmas decorations involves adorning the tree with lights, garland and ornaments that hold special memories. This is an affair the entire family participates in. So, if you love to craft and your family is one that makes an entire day out of decking the halls, read on for some tips on how to use your love for crafting to create a memorable yet frugal Christmas.

Simple frugality tips usually include using homemade crafts instead of store-bought ones. Crafting your Christmas tree can be done a few different ways.

1. Use crafts from years past
2. Make new crafts for the tree using household materials
3. Creating themes with crafts every year, depending on the supplies you already have on hand (Note: if you have a lot of Halloween paraphernalia left over, you can use the less scary ones by changing the color scheme from black/orange to red/green)

Using Crafts from Years Gone By

One way you can craft your tree this year is to gather all the goodies your family has made in previous years. A few such times might include those made from by the kids when they were in elementary school, during rainy days that meant crafting the afternoon away or any other times when crafts were made within the family.

Make New Crafts Just for the Christmas Tree

If you don’t have crafts from year’s past, make some new ones. Take an afternoon and spend it making crafts especially for this year’s tree. You can find craft kits with Christmas themed items at your local craft or dollar store or you can make your own from every day items around the house. It doesn’t even have to be Christmas type crafts. Whatever your family wants to make, let them go for it, then decorate your tree with pride – even if it is with finger paints and paper airplanes.

Let the kids choose crafts that show their interests. If your daughter likes Hannah Montana and your son likes aliens, it’s ok; this tree is all about combining the differences in family into one loving and unique tree.

Staying in the country during Christmas is great if you’re committed to doing away with traveling to tropical paradise hotels (like the adorable puerto morelos hotels) until the summer break.

A housewarming party is necessary if you just moved to a new location or if you just renovated your home. But you know what… most of the time, a housewarming party is just an excuse to show off your house decor. It warms every DIY home designer’s heart to hear people gushing over his or her handiwork. It’s thrilling to see people’s faces light up when they enter a room. Because they’ve worked so hard to beautify their homes, it’s just proper that they show off their work by throwing a party.

If you’re going for the rustic atmosphere, simply adding rough textures to your walls will suffice. Add a few copper sinks in a neutral and earthy color, and you’re done. Minimalist homes with rustic decor are great for parties. Guests feel like they have been transported to a luxurious old-style cottage with all the modern luxuries to make the experience more pleasant.

Authentic cottage style decor will complement a city home well. Think of the contrast between the bustling city life outside and the relaxed, cozy atmosphere inside your home. You can use stones with natural imperfections to build your fireplace. Using natural stone as wall material is less costly in the long run as small cracks will not be too evident on stones, unlike on tiles. Cracks on rustic style walls may even be considered “design”.