4. Fun Furniture: Of course your child will need a place to lounge around with his young friends, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be the tiny plastic chairs that we have been accustomed to seeing in children’s bedrooms. They have everything from football shaped chairs, to teddy bear beanbags, all the way to the other spectrum of princess beds with a canopy or a bed shaped like a fire engine for the little firefighter in your house.

5. Colored Lighting: Add some pizazz to the room by changing up your traditional lighting. You can do this by using a color filtered lampshade, or the easier approach…getting a colored light bulb! This can be a very inexpensive way to add color to your child’s room. There are also posters that can be complimented by a black or red light to add a little more to the decor.

6. Designated Play Area: By giving your child a designated play area, it can give the appearance of a room within a room. It will also help keep the room clean, as one designated play area ensures that “the damage will be contained”.

Okay, so you have just made that giant leap from living with your parents to living in your very own dorm room. You have no idea what to expect, but when you open the door for the first time you are a little under whelmed. A college dorm can be as basic as it gets, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. I’m going to give you a little advice on how you can add some life your college dorm room.

A. Maximize Your Space
It doesn’t have to feel like GitMo. I know you are feeling a little claustrophobic, but if you make the most out of the little space you have it doesn’t have to feel so cramped. Consider sharing a bunk bed with your roommate, it will free up space for both of you. Also, try not to let clutter build up. One of the easiest ways to lose space is let your area become swallowed in clutter.

B. Stay Organized
I touched on this above, but staying organized is the first step in bringing life to your dorm. This includes getting the most out of your storage areas, and not saving items that serve little to no purpose.

C. Bring A Little Piece Of Home With You
While it might not strike you at first, chances are you will get at least a little homesick during your stay. I find that bringing something from home to remember my family by can go a long way in both decoration and helping me miss home a little less. It can be a treasured picture, or a toy from your childhood. Just a token of reminder to help you along the way..

D. Do Something With Those Curtains!
College dormitory curtains can be some of the most hideous curtains that man has ever made. They are usually bland, and do the bare minimum as far as lighting is concerned. They don’t have to stay that way. You can get some nice curtains relatively inexpensively. You might try a flea market or yard sale to get the best bargain, but your local department store should have you covered if you choose to go that route. A window treatment can do a world of good as far as giving your dorm the proper lighting. It may help you with the boost of energy you need to keep studying for your finals.

E. Show Some School Spirit!
These are your new brothers and sisters for the foreseeable future, you might as well show a little pride. Your school store will undoubtedly offer a plethora of school related items. School officials may even be able to toss you a few for free (and they should after all the tuition you’re paying!). After graduation you will definitely want to keep these souvenirs for years to come.

4. Personal Touch: I can tell you how to decorate your office for the next decade, but the only one who has to work there is you. Your office should reflect you, and make you comfortable. It can be something as small as a painting, or something a little more significant like a bookcase. Including something that represents you in the decor, can not only add personality to the room but be that little morale boost you need in the middle of a project to help you with your day.

Is your living room missing something? Do you want to rearrange your living room, but don’t have an idea where to begin? Here are a few easy steps you can take to brighten up your living area.

Step 1: Itemize Your Furniture & Accessories
While this may seem unnecessary, it is easy to forget how much you have crammed into one room. Make a list of furniture, and a list of different accessories. You may want to prioritize both lists, or eliminate items from the list that have no function or clash with your new decor. Once you have compiled both lists you can better gain a grasp of where to begin as far as rearrangement goes.

Step 2: Establish A Focus Point
The key to design is to accentuate your positives, and hide your negatives. That includes establishing a focal point for your room. If you frequently use your living room, your focus may include a television or a fireplace. If you only use the room casually, or for entertaining guests, you may want your focus point to be your baby grand piano or a fireplace. A strong focus point is a good foundation for a contemporary living room decor.

3. Using Light To Your Advantage
A simple touch as a new light fixture or a couple of antique lamps could be the sprucing up that your living room needs. If a room isn’t well lit it can give off the vibe of being dirty or boring. Using the right amount of light, focused in the right places, can do wonders for the style and ambiance of your living room.

4. Using Light To Your Advantage Part 2!
Maybe you aren’t a big fan of artificial light, and prefer the rejuvenating rays of the sun exploding through your living room. You can purchase a relatively inexpensive window treatment that will allow you to control the proper amount of light that is let into the room. These window treatments themselves can also add to the decor, as designs range from basic and reliable to extravagant and breathtaking.

5. Use A Mirror To Give The Illusion Of Space
Does your living room, at first glance, look a bit smaller than it should? This can be remedied quickly and easily with the addition of a larger mirror. Mirrors reflect light and give off the illusion of having more space than you really have. This won’t turn your 300 square foot living room into a illustrious ballroom, but it will give you that extra breathing room as you and your guests are enjoying your space.

6. Buy A Rug
A rug can be an inexpensive way to add a little life to the flooring in your living room. It also gives off the illusion of a room within a room. You don’t need an expensive oriental piece, any room that matches you scheme will work just fine.

7. There Always Art!
The most traditional way people decorate their living room is to add some art to their walls. You can find paintings virtually anywhere, and they will range from inexpensive to a fortune depending on your taste. You will definitely be able to find a variety of paintings that accent your decor perfectly, and you may even take it home for a steal.