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Are you a bookworm? Do you want to give your home a chic update using what you already own? Perfect. Below are five tips for turning your favorite books into accents, centerpieces, and more.

Stacks on stacks. Stack books on end tables, counters and coffee tables that seem a bit naked on their own. Curate a small grouping”odd numbers work best”and stack or fan them in a way that’s pleasing.

Fill the fireplace. What can you do with your fireplace during off-season months? Fill it with books, that’s what! Stack an appealing group of books up high, add a potted plant or two and boom, you’ve turned a dead space into a book nook. Just be sure to clear them out when winter comes.

Color by room. This works best for people with a huge reading collection. Simply organize and arrange your books by color. You can segregate all your earth- and fire-toned books into a room that could use some natural accents, pile your crisp and clean colors into that all-white guest room, stack those daisy-yellow reads into the sunroom, etc.

Color by shelf. If you have a massive book shelf in one room and want to keep your family of books together, you can organize them by color in one place, much like you might with your clothes closet. One shelf for those bright greens and blues, another for pastels, another for blacks, and so on.

Create a tower or table. Find several wide books of the same size and heft, stack them on top of each other next to a low-lying bed or sofa, and boom: a side table! Top them with a vase of flowers and voila ” an accent extension.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Do you dream of a light, airy living space?

Achieve the desired effect with these simple tips:

Paint it white.Two coats of white paint will turn your living space into a year-round winter wonderland.

Minimize.Cut clutter by adding hidden storage systems. Minimize furniture to a handful of necessary pieces.

Add mirrors. In addition to wall mirrors, add mirrored backsplashes or mirrored trays. Not into mirrors? Sparkle can do the trick, too.

Lighten the linens.Breezy, airy curtains will make your space seem plush and comfortable.

Incorporate shades of gray. Add soft, light shades of gray or blue to your color scheme.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When it comes to protecting our eyes against harsh, damaging UV rays, most of us think about popping on sunglasses for long days at the beach; however, it’s possible to incur UV damage right at home, especially if you have an abundance of wide, bright windows. In fact, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), nearly half of all eye injuries occur at home.

Untreated windows protect the eyes from only about 25 percent of damaging UV rays. As the AAO states, continued exposure to UV light raises the risks of many issues for the eyes, from cataracts to cancer.

To battle this, the International Window Film Association (IWFA) suggests consumers consider the real estate trend of professionally installing window film to all windows in their homes. Window film will help protect your family’s eyes from the damage caused by UV rays.

Professionally installed window film can block up to 99 percent of UV rays from entering the home, protecting eyes from damage over time, while at the same time reducing glare and eliminating the need to squint when enjoying the view outside.

While extremely thin and virtually invisible to the eye, window film provides powerful protection without altering the look of a home. Though it can be tinted in several shades, homeowners can also opt for clear film, which does not alter the view in any way.

Source: www.iwfa.com

Published with permission from RISMedia.

You may have heard that wallpaper is making a comeback. But have you heard about wallpapered ceilings? Technically, this trend is called ceiling paper, and it can transform a room in the same way papered walls can.

Highlight a space. Do you have a home office tucked to one side of your family room? How about a cozy reading nook? Add colorful ceiling paper to one portion of a room to divide the space naturally.

Make a statement. Just like a colorful throw cushion on a neutral couch, jazzy ceiling paper can make a “boring” room bold. Choose a fun print or color that shows off your personality and style.

Accent, accent, accent. Tie your ceiling paper into the rest of your decorating scheme by choosing the right accent color. Whether you go with a solid, stripes or a soft pattern, a papered ceiling done up right can complete the look of a room.

When wallpapering a ceiling, it may be best to bring in a pro, as the application can be tricky. If you’re a diligent weekend warrior and feel like going DIY, make sure to properly prep your ceiling for application by removing any paint and electrical fixtures. Experts also suggest creating a ceiling blueprint for precise application.

Interested in more home improvement tips? Feel free to contact me directly.

Published with permission from RISMedia.