Does anyone know if there is a carpet or rug set that I could use to place over our apartment carpet?

The wonderful thing about area rugs is that they have so many different uses.  Foyer rugs, living room, bedroom, kitchen, and even outdoors: There is literally an area rug for every spot in  your home. 

If you are attempting to cover up as much of your carpet as possible, you may be interested in purchasing several rugs in a set or style combination.  The Dynamic area rugs are great for this, because they come in a variety of sizes, colors, and sets that all mix and match.

All you need to keep an area rugs clean is a good vacuum.  If you need to, you can also roll it up and take it outside to shake.  Area rugs can be cleaned with a steam cleaner, but be sure to read the label for specific instructions and warnings regarding cleaning.

What would you do differently if you built a new home?

What color wall paint would go with turquoise carpet?

First of all, you have my sympathy on the carpet front.  It would be very difficult to live with an unwanted turquoise carpet. Whenever I am faced with a carpet that is completely outdated, my simple motto is to "Cover it up."

Painting your walls is your first step, and a great color to keep a neutral feel is a warm brown or taupe.  Bear in mind that there are many colors of taupe, and you would be best to avoid those that have yellow undertones.   Yellow undertone paints tend to give a room an odd brightness underneath the brown. 

Once your walls are painted, work at concealing as much of the carpet as possible. Area rugs are a fantastic way to hide unsightly carpet, and in a turquoise room there are a few that would not only conceal, they would blend in as well.  The Mystique Slate warm brown area rug actually has accents that blend with turquoise, as does the Aria Circles. People may believe that you choose the turquoise yourself, because of how great your area rug looks with it.

When your painting and covering is complete, add some deep chocolate brown accessories to complete the look. Frames, mirrors, candles, and pillows will help you create a cozy room, despite the sea of turquoise carpet.

How to decorate my gym themed basement?

Not many people have the space to dedicate to a home gym, so being able to create a gym themed room is a priviledge.   With a lot of exercise equipment, each area should be divided into sections.  You would have your cardio in one area, strength training in another, and a place to cool down and stretch. 

 

To decorate a gym, just think about what an actual gym looks like.  One wall should be dedicated to mirrors.  You can purchase inexpensive mirrored tile and place it on the wall.  Along that wall you can put an exercise bar for stretching after working out as well as a basket of tension bands and small weights.

 

Music is important when working out, and although most people use IPODs, you can also have speakers piped into your gym.  Purchase a few glass shelves and hang them on a wall. Place your stereo on one of the shelves.   You can buy wireless speakers and place them in each corner of your room so that you feel surrounded by music.  On the other shelves, place inspirational pieces such as trophies or family photos. 

 

Depending on your tastes, movie posters could add a really interesting feel to the room. A fight club movie poster would be great, as would any of the Rocky posters, Bruce Lee, or any Van Damme movie.  Be sure to mount the posters on poster board or they will wrinkle from the humidity of your home gym.

 

When separating your basement into areas, place a large area rug underneath to clearly define each section.  An area rug underneath the area with your punching bag will cushion your feet while jumping around, therefore reducing stress to your limbs.  Look for an indoor/outdoor area rug with short pile, such as this Piazza area rug. It comes in many colors and will match almost any decor.

 

Finish up your new gym with appropriate lighting, especially if your basement is below ground and does not have the best windows.  Avoid florescent lighting or low lights, as they will sap energy.  

Add a small fridge for bottled water and a yoga mat for stretching.  A home gym is a place where you will improve your physical and mental well being, and with this decor you are sure to enjoy the time you spend there.

What are some decoration suggestions for a bar-style decorated dorm room?

Having a bar in your dorm room guarantees your popularity in University.  Incorporating the bar theme into a functional dorm room may be a touch more difficult than just moving your books in. 

As you are in a dorm room, you cannot paint your walls any color you choose.  To create the sense that you are in a pub, you must use accessories to create the right atmosphere.

Pub signs, neon signs, and glass shelves all make one think of a pub. Place these throughout the room and directly behind the bar.

Glass shelves are often seen in pubs, and they can double as storage space in your bar/dorm.

In front of the bar, add a large area rug in black or black tones.  A rug such as the Piazza Indoor/Outdoor black area rug would be perfect for a high traffic area such as a bar. 

Great bar stools are a necessity for a dorm room, and your stools can also double as a place to sit and eat in your room.

Add some candles and set out a few wooden bowls with peanuts.  In no time you'll have created a bar in your dorm room.

How could I decorate a bedroom like this?

I found a pear shaped pillow today and now I want to do a bedroom in fruits.
Apples, oranges, pears, bananas: When we think of fruit, we think of eating.  However, fruit can have other uses, and as a theme for a bedroom can come across very sweet and girly. Although you may have difficulty finding enough 'fruity' items for a theme room, you can mix and match the theme with a beach/tropical idea and come up with a very stylish bedroom.

 The paint on your walls really depends on your taste, because any color can be made into a theme room.  For example, with a tropical/fruit mix you could use sandy brown for a beach feel or blue to make you feel as though the ocean is all around you.

There are many choices of tropical bedding to be found in home stores.  Try to buy a duvet set with palm trees or find a solid set that matches some aspect of your room. 

Your flooring should represent part of your tropical theme, so cover up your carpet or hardwood with a cute area rug such as the Zuma Beach rug.   With flipflops, sunglasses, and palm trees, this rug will evoke the feeling of the tropics each time you step into your room.

Add that fruity feel to your window treatments by purchasing some pineapple or other fruit themed shower curtain holders and attaching your curtains to these.  You can find other fruit accessories for the bathroom that can also be used in your bedroom.  A tooth brush holder can double as a pencil holder for your desk.  Super plush hand towels can be turned into throw pillow covers. 

Find some outdoor patio light in a variety of fruit shapes and hang them in your room.  They will give off a cozy glow and really make you feel as though you are on a beach somewhere far away.

A tropical fruit themed room is a great idea for a young girl or teen.  Have fun!

What kind of carpet would match forest green walls?

How to decorate a room to look like the inside of a Genie bottle?

The life of a Genie: Can you imagine? Blink a few times and you can have anything you wish for.  Unfortunately for us, Genies are a myth.  You could, however, have the same set up that Genie does by transforming your bedroom into a beautiful Genie themed room. 

Color is the most important part of a Genie room.  Purples, hot pinks, and blues are your mainstays.  These colors make up the jewel tones that we think of when we imagine how Genie lived it up in her bottle.  Hot pink on the walls, or a hot pink/purple combination in color blocks would really look spectacular in a Genie bottle room.

Your bedding, depending on the color of the walls, should stick to Jewel tones.  Have a high quality that gives off a luxurious feel.  Deep velvets, sateens, or silks all make one think of a Genie bottle. 

Don't neglect your floor, because in a Genie room the floor is covered with fabulous rugs and throw pillows. Add your own thick, luxurious area rug to your floor such as a purple/pink/blue toned Mystique Berry.  Buy some large throw pillows, and add them as extra seating on the floor.

Your window treatments should carry on the Genie theme with jeweled toned curtains.  If you can't find something to go with your bedding, make your own with simple silk scarves.  Hang them each on individual clips hung on a curtain rod. 

Finish your look with candles, tea lights, and mirrors.  A Genie themed room is perfect for a younger girl or tween. 

What are some items that makes a room look more sophisticated?

There comes a time in every young man's life when they want to shed the baby blues and race cars of their childhood and embrace a grown up bedroom.  Some may want sports posters and music mementos on their walls, others want to replicate a stylish environment normally found in modern apartments.

A sophisticated room can be created by several key elements: Bedding, seating, and flooring.

Search for solid colored bedding, and aim high in thread count.  400 or higher thread count Egyptian cotton sheets add a luxurious feel to your bed.  Soft, cotton, duvets are more stylish than regular comforters.  Accessorize with patterned pillows in stripes or color blocks, and you have a eye-catching bed set.

You may not have a lot of extra space in your room for seating, but a small reading nook can be easily added in a tiny corner if you purchase a small leather chair.  Leather adds a wow factor to your room. Place your chair in the corner with a small bookcase and some leather bound books.  The look is sleek and stylish.

Flooring should not be overlooked as a focal point, and you can add a modern area rug that will draw the eye and create a contemporary feel to your room.  A multi-colored rug works with so many different colors and textures, and at the same time really adds depth to your floor.  Any area rug from the Nolita collection can add style and sophistication to your room.

Good luck with your new, sophisticated room! 

What color(s) go REALLY well with red carpet?

One of the main issues that people have when decorating a previously 'loved' room is covering up a horrible carpet.  Wild colors were popular in the 1970's and 80's, and some houses had different color carpet in each room. 
 
If you find yourself forced to work with a bright red carpet in your room, and you need to find a theme to go with it, look no farther than a beachy/tropical theme.

It would be difficult to find a perfect wall color to go with a bright red rug, but with a beach theme your obvious choice is a sandy brown or beige.  

Cover up as much of the red rug as possible with tropical area rugs.  Kids area rugs come in a plethora of styles that would suit a beach theme including the Ride a Wave area rug or the Surf's Up area rug.

A beach theme is something you can really have fun with.  Add a grass skirt around your make up table.  Hang some colorful scarves as a window treatment.  If you can find a skim board, mount it on the wall.  Hang some tiki lights for ambiance and a cozy feel when it's time for sleep.  Floral leis are a colorful touch as well, and you can add them as a collection on your wall or individually placed throughout the room.

A beach room is a fun theme, and it will work in a room with red.  You'll love your new space and area rugs so much you'll forget all about the carpet underneath.

How should I redecorate my very small hallway?

In small homes, there is never a lot of space that connects the entire house.  Generally you have one hallway for the entire home, and it's more of a quick through-way between rooms.  When decorating tiny spaces, you need a big impact with fewer items.

Cover your worn out carpet with a soft, pile area rug.  I often think of shag when I want something luxurious to sink into, but in a high traffic area you may wish to find a modern, short pile area rug.  Something such as this Ivory rug can lighten up a small space, and still have enough color that it will not show stains.

When decorating the walls in a small area, remember to use items that make a large visual impact.  A collage of family photos creates a cozy feeling, and mirrors can give the impression of a larger area.  Add some wall sconces for better lighting as well.  You'll have created a hallway that you'll enjoy walking through.

How to dress up a white room to look colorful?

There are many instances where you will not be able to paint your walls.  Moving into a rental apartment or house, for example, limits what you can do as far as decorating. 

Adding splashes of color to your room is simple.  On your walls, you could opt for a primary toned wall hanging.  It could be art work you create yourself with a blank canvas and oil paints or framed posters in solid colors.  Use your imagination and think of a few colorful options for your walls.  A splash of color on the walls will help you forget you can't paint.

Your floor is a place that is easy to jazz up.  This colorful area rug adds a fresh burst of color to your floor.  Try an area rug to create a visual focal point in your room.

Colorful candles, scarves, bedding, and furniture can all complement each other if you choose a few simple colors.  Try not to overwhelm the room with every color of the rainbow, but instead choose 3 primary colors such as red, blue, and green.

Don't despair that an all white room will come across as very plain.  A few fresh, colorful details will make your room one to be proud of.

Our home has no foyer, how do I decorate the front door area opening right into the Large Living room?