You can't help but love a company that thinks outside of the box to help us stylishly recycle our decor!

To help keep carpets out of landfills, www.FLOR.com, encourages customers to ship back their unwanted carpet tiles to be recycled and reused. Above is a picture of one of their carpet tile designs. The size of the tiles are 19.7" x 19.7", you can mix and match designs, and are very easy to assemble. It's wonderful to know that if you get a tile dirty you can simply pull it out and run water over it. For deep stains you can remove the tile, ship it back to be recycled, and order a brand new one (perfect if you have kids, pets, or wild parties!!). So, go ahead and don't be afraid to party like a rockstar!

Going "green" is not a fad, but a better (healthier) way of living! Every little bit helps, even using eco-friendly candles that are soy based. Actress Sanda Bullock has a new line out called "Bessence" that use 100% lead free paper wicks.  

Below is this week's article featured in my "Smart Decorating!" ezine (volume B). Remember, every little bit helps. What are you doing to help our home - earth? What additional action steps can you start implementing today to contribute to a healthier life?

Taking Care of Your Home – “Planet Earth” 

So how can you (savvy person that you are) help our environment? Think of the “R”s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, plus I like adding Redecorate, Re-energize, Revitalize!

Below are a few tips and ideas on how you can help our planet survive. Folks, it comes down to this – we either evolve or die. That simple!

We need to take positive action to have a better (healthier) planet and better (happier) you! So below are a few stylish ideas and tips on how you can help “your home” – planet earth. I am going to be revealing several websites, so I recommend that you read the entire article 1^st then when go back to the websites that you want to check out further.

Should you use plastic or paper bags? Neither! Use reusable bags instead of plastics bags, which are not biodegradable. Most recycling companies do not accept plastic bags because they damage and clog their machines. Want a cool looking reusable bag? Then check out the Green & Gorgeous bag (that is the name of the bag!) at www.vivre.com or my favorite grocery bag www.howgreenisyourbag.com.

Use bamboo towels. Yes, you read correctly – towels made of bamboo are eco-friendly, softer, and generally more absorbent than regular towels. Did you ever think you would dry yourself with “bamboo”? Well, now you can, and feel GREAT about it. Check out www.brookstone.com to view their towel selection.

Get shower curtains that are eco-friendly and use no chlorides in its production. Look for the PEVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) tag.

Buy eco-friendly reupholstered furniture. Look for reupholstered furniture that uses soy foams (which contain no PBDE), other foams contain flame retardants that contain harmful PBDE. Check out the eco-friendly line at www.crateandbarrel.com.

Protect your windows, your home, you by using film on windows to reduce the amount of solar radiation entering your home and thereby keeping AC costs low. Plus (big plus!), it protects you and your home from harmful UV rays. Other options are blackout lining and solar shades, which block solar radiation from entering your home, reduces your AC bill in the summer, and prevents heat from escaping in the winter.

Another way to take care of your home that is economical, saves about 75% of energy, and last about 8-10 times longer is using CFL bulbs (CFL = compact fluorescent bulbs). Be careful not to break the bulbs because they do contain mercury.

When choosing paint, make sure the VOC (volatile organic compound) is less than 100, which is safer for your lungs and our environment.

Organize green (with not just the color!). Even your organizational supplies and storage solutions can be instrumental in helping our environment.  Go to www.thegreenoffice.com to see which organizational items they have that are recyclable, biodegradable, and have reduced chemical content. Another site with “cool” items is www.r-i-inc.com

Be proud to help our environment for it is our lives and our planet that we are trying to save and improve. Remember to live better!

~ Sign up up to receive free interior decorating tips from "Smart Decorating!" (delivered right into your email inbox), simply go to my website's resource page: www.adasdecoratingsolutions.com/foryou.to sign up. Remember, you deserve to live in comfort! Live,  Love,  Laugh!

In his lecture he shares how as a child his parents gave him the opportunity to paint his room however he wanted ... so he painted rockets ships and even an elevator (the video will shows the pics). What a wonderful lesson! How expressing your individual creativity is better than having pristine walls. His overall message is to LIVE life!

I remember a friend of mine telling me once how as a child he made several copies of a dollar bill he earned and taped them throughout his room (for he aspired to be a stockbroker, he even carried a briefcase to school at an early age - I actually saw pictures with his shirt tucked in - carrying his favorite briefcase!!!). How imaginative! How creative! How furious his parents became when they saw what he had done to his walls. He was force to take the "wallpaper" down. How sad that his dreams and creativity were crushed in lieu of not "messing up the walls".

If you want to live happy, then live your life! Express your personality in your rooms at home so no matter what "life" throws at you, you can always come home to replenish at the "end" of the day.

Take note of Randy's lecture ... and let's respect the difference between "things" and "people". Enjoy the lecture! I personally will never forget Professor Randy Rausch (thank you Randy Rausch wherever you may currently be).

Hi all! A new season is always a great motivator to start new ... a new better liftesyle at home! So this season look within yourself and within your home and take action to get a better life at home.

I would be happy to help guide you ... press the duckies below to get more information. And remember, live happy! Happy Spring!

I recently went to a pet store to buy a treat for my Hamster (below is a picture of her helping me at home with my website editing).

It was my turn at the counter to pay for the item and the cashier asked me ..... "Do you want to save a life today by giving a donation?"

Talk about PRESSURE!!! "Save a life?!" So if I was to say no, would it mean "no I do not want to save a life". Yikes! I love animals....even furry little rodents (though I don't mention the "R" word around my hamster

Talk about GUILT TRIP! Within seconds I felt 3 emotions .. I was shocked at the dramatic way that the charity help was requested, then I felt a bit pressured, then I felt a bit upset. Upset that her words were so "ultimate". Before a minute arose I nicely declined saying "not today".... in my heart my answer was really "not today will you pressure me". And I felt good with my answer, bec when I do donate I do so out of love, respect, and hope for a change, not because I am feeling pressured.

And I sincerely believe that when you decorate your home you have to feel the same way:

Love your home, not just feel "content with it"! Don't settle for decorating someday, make today "the" day you start living better at home.

Respect yourself by remembering that you deserve to live in comfort at home!

Hope for a change! If you dream it, it will come! You may not be able to afford a $15,000 sofa, but you can still find affordable design solutions that make you feel like a million bucks! Dream of comfort and you will find a way to get it!

So remember, decorate for "you"! Do not allow other people to pressure you into their design style. We are all unique ... with different personalities, tastes, style, and ideas. Welcome other people's view, without hindering "your" uniqueness.

Here's this month's featured article in "Smart Decorating!" (volume A). I hope you enjoy it:

SECRETS TO CREATING A HAPPY HOME!

Did you know that color, shapes, and light evoke different emotions?  If you know a few simple design secrets, you can make any space feel happier.  Here are 6 design elements that will evoke a happy mood in your home. 

1. Color (Yellow and Red)
Yellow is a very cheerful color.  Use yellow accessories to create a happy mood in a room, or for a more dramatic shift in atmosphere, paint the walls and ceiling. Now it doesn't have to be a bright banana yellow color, which can make you feel like you need to grab your sunglasses before you walk into the room. Thankfully, there is a large variety of yellow tone colors to choose from. Red The color red increases blood flow, speeds up metabolism, and boosts brain functioning. Add splashes of red in a room to improve a sluggish environment.  Be careful though, too much red may make you feel like you just had three cups of coffee in a row. Balance of color is the key.

2. Circles
Curved shapes connote comfort and nurturing. You don't want everything in a room to be circular (that could make you dizzy!), but you can cheer up a space just by adding a few curves. A few items that can bring the "happy-nurturing feeling" are - round dining tables, a round coffee tables or side tables, round/oval mirror, or even round vases. Look around your room. Go ahead, take a peek right now at the room you are currently in. Does it feel nurturing? Now, do you have "nurturing" furniture and furnishings at home?

 

3. Sunlight
Natural sunlight is one of the best mood elevators.  If your space feels gloomy, you will notice a lively boost by simply opening blinds and pulling back draperies.  And while you're at the window, open up and let some fresh air in!

 

4. Nature

Buy fresh flowers or plants for your home. Catching glimpses of nature within your home tends to awakens your happy spirit. For more intense feeling, "see" the flowers and plants. Not just look at them, but "see" - the color variances, if it is blooming, the curves. See and feel the aliveness of the flowers and plants and it will most definitely liven you up.

 

5. Your likes

Remember to decorator your home for you! It is okay to ask for other people's opinions, but don't let their opinions deter you from what you like. Decorate for yourself and your immediate family not for what your mother-in-law, college friend, or mail delivery person may think when they stop by. If you have your personality reflected in your home and it will feel like a sanctuary of comfort and joy.

 

6. Interior Designer

If you feel you need help obtaining a cohesive "comfort" plan for your rooms, hire an interior designer to highlight your true identity so it can shine within your home and bring you the comfort at home that you deserve to live in.