Asian Bedding

An Asian bedding style can give your bedroom a beautiful exotic appeal. These bedding linens reflect various cultural elements, each with unique and distinct designs. The motifs bedding linen designers use are as different as the many diverse regions and countries that make up this vast continent.

The Many Cultures of Asia

The term "Asian bedding" can encompass many different styles since Asia is the world's largest continent. Comprised of 69 different countries, Asia has some very uniquely cultures and lifestyles. These ten countries bring specific cultural influences to what are typically known as Asian designs:

• China
• India
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Korea
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Thailand
• Vietnam

Asian Bedding Styles and Fabrics

Asian bedding can include pattern elements such as bamboo, peacocks, dragons, and Chinese and Japanese characters. Floral patterns are also a very common pattern choices for bedding and include cherry blossoms, peony blossoms and lotus flowers.

Luxury fabrics lend themselves well to Asian bedding designs and include such choices as Resham silk, Chinese silk and velvet. Indian bedding styles are typically bright, colorful fabrics that often have small mirrors sewn onto them, various bead shapes and colors or are embroidered with gold metallic threads.

Chinese Influences

Chinese-styled bedding can be subtle or dramatic. The use of metallic gold designs such as Chinese characters, dragon and phoenix, calligraphy, bamboo and other floral designs offer great design opportunities. One of these opportunities is to include decorative silk pillows and lampshades to accent your bedding choices.You can also find warm fleece stadium blankets with Chinese characters and designs.

Japanese Influences

Americans are quite familiar with the futon style bed, as these beds are popular sellers in the United States. This space-saving beds originated in Japan, where space in most households is very limited. Often, just one room is used for eating, sleeping, working and living.

You can give your futon an authentic Asian-inspired look by adding a Japanese Shiki Futon mattress filled with cotton, just as they are in Japan. Coordinate this with a decorative mattress cover made from traditional Japanese fabric. Stay toasty warm at night with a silk filled Kake Futon cover, an authentic Japanese comforter filled with light, supple, hand-pulled mulberry silk. The silk fibers are excellent for retaining body heat and are naturally hypo-allergenic as well as resistant to mildew and moisture.

Thai Influences

For a more formal look in the bedroom, try Thai bedding. Thai bedding is made from high quality Thai silk and often comes in a variety of bright, vivid colors. Stripes, medallions and floral patterns are common. Decorative throw pillows are found in Thai bedding sets, as well as decorative runners that can be placed horizontally along the foot of the bed for an added design element.

Indian Influences

Another type of Asian style bedding is heavily influenced by the culture of India. Today, there are many talented artisans living in or near India that make luxury bedding with intricate embroidery by hand, combining age-old workmanship with modern electric hand looms. The designs and materials used in this authentic Indian style bedding reflect the rich cultural heritage of this region of the world. From the ancient master embroiderers of the Kutch region to the exotic textile designs of the Mughal Dynasty, you're sure to find the perfect bedding design.

Tribal Monsoon

Thanks to modern day textile distributors such as Tribal Monsoon, artisans who live in the rural areas of South Asia are able to keep their cultural textile craftsmanship alive. The company factory and warehouse are located in Pakistan, which is one of the world's largest producers of cotton textiles. Companies like Tribal Monsoon help support the artisans and their families living in impoverished regions by contracting them to produce authentic handmade bedding and other textiles and then distribute these products worldwide. When you purchase this type of authentic Asian bedding, you help these artisans survive and preserve their way of life.

Where to Buy

You can find all styles of Asian bedding online. See different styles at these online retailers:

• Oriental Furniture
• Cafe Press
• Orientspiration
• The Home Decorating Company

No matter what style of Asian bedding you choose, this bedding will help you add a unique touch to your bedroom or guest bedroom.

Cotton Bedspreads

Pinch Pleat Drapes

Former Commercial and Residential Designer

Pinch pleat drapes are a classic window treatment. This drapery style is highly versatile and can just as easily be used in an elegant formal room design or a casual one. The draperies are created by a series of pleats that are gathered in groups of three or more pleats along the top of the drapery fabric. The spacing between each group of pleats is typically two to three inches apart. The header above the pleats is also usually two to three inches, depending on the style of pleating.

The Appeal

The appeal of this style of drapery construction is that the fabric falls to the floor with neat rounded folds that have a permanent look. Whether or not your draperies are closed or open, the fabric holds these pleated shapes.

Types of Pinch Pleats

You may be surprised to learn that there is more than one type of pinch pleat. In fact, there are eight popular types of pinch pleats. These include:

• Triple pinch pleat: Three pleats typically have a three inch header and are created by having three pleats per width. You can also find a four-fold pinch pleat that is created the same way as the triple.
• Butterfly pinch pleats: Comprised of a minimum of five pinch pleats per width, the butterfly pinch pleat is stitched two inches from the top of the drapery material. This stitching causes the top two inches of the pleat to fan out in a butterfly effect.
• Double pinch pleats: Created the same way that the triple pinch pleat is made, the double pinch is just that, two pleats sewn together.
• Fan pinch pleats (also known as the French pleat): This is a different looking pleat that is usually comprised of three pleats but unlike the other pinch pleats, this one has no header and the pleats are sewn together at the very top of the drapery material.
• Goblet pinch pleats: This style lives up to its name and resembles cylindrical goblets. The pleats are stuffed so the base opens up and bowls out.
• Inverted pinch pleat: Pinch pleats are sewn on the front of the drapery fabric, but with inverted pinch pleats, these are sewn on the back of the fabric. The pleats are then pressed flat and the space between these pleats, known as the ditch, are sewn from the front of the drapery fabric along the seam lines. This type of pleat is hidden but gives the same type of effect.
• Pencil pinch pleats: The most popular style of pinch pleats are pencil pleats. These are created to be deep pleats that are drawn tightly together to form highly crisp-looking pleats and are slender like a pencil.
• Rollback pinch pleats: This turn-back pleated style creates a deeper and wider column that carries the pleated fabric form to the floor.

Where to Buy

There are many online drapery shops where you can purchase either ready-made�or custom-made draperies, especially pinch pleat styles.

Try these shops for great looking drapes and reasonable prices:

• Custom draperies
• Discount draperies
• Swags Galore

Tips for Hanging Pinch Pleat Drapes

You may buy ready-made pinch pleated draperies, have them custom-made or perhaps you?re an accomplished seamstress and may decide to make your own draperies. Once you have your draperies and are ready to hang them, it doesn?t matter if you spent a lot of money or worked within a budget; if you don?t hang them correctly, they?ll look cheap.

• Measuring for your drapes: You want to make sure you allow for the amount of space pinch pleated draperies take up when open. The pleats create more bulk than panel draperies, so you want to be sure you allow for this fabric in what?s known as stack back. This term refers to the open position when the draperies are pulled back on either side. By the same token, you want enough drapery fabric that?s wide enough to cover the width of your window, the rod return as well as the desirable overlap effect when the draperies are closed. A good rule of thumb is to allow two to three times fabric width as the actual width of your window. For example, if your window measurement is 60 inches, then you want the actual draperies to be 120 to 180 inches wide.
• Drapery pins: To get the professional look of even-hanging draperies, you must first get all of the drapery pins inserted into the pleats at the same distance from the top (header) of the draperies. It?s crucial that the pin placement is even. Use a measuring tape to ensure that all of the pins are lined up.
• Train drapery pleats: Sometimes even after steaming and correctly hanging draperies, the pleats don?t cooperate and hang as they should. You can correct this common problem by training the pleats with control clips that you clip onto pleats, typically clipping them onto the back of your fabric so as not to show.
• Double traverse drapery rod: Many people prefer some form of privacy barrier, yet need to open the draperies during the daytime. Some opt for mini-blinds or shades while others prefer to hang a sheer curtain directly behind the pleated drapery. You can accommodate the latter effect with a double traverse drapery rod.

Before You Buy

Keep all of these tips in mind when making your final decision and ordering. Take into consideration how much light comes into the room. Do you need to screen harsh Western sunlight in the summer months? Perhaps�the windows in your room face North with very little light entering yet the room is very cold in the winter.�You may prefer to purchase two sets of draperies, a lightweight fabric and a thermal backed draperies. You have a wide selection of choices when it comes to these fabrics and more in a pinch pleat design.

Cotton Bedspreads

Ed Hardy Bed Linens

Bold animal prints are a Hardy staple.

By Tanya Sharma

Wildly colorful and undeniably creative, Ed Hardy bed linens add a splash of color and a bold look to any bedroom. The line is distinctive and immediately recognizable for its tattoo-inspired prints, and the Hardy bedding collection is nothing short of incredibly imaginative.

About Ed Hardy

Tattoo artist Ed Hardy probably never expected that his workmanship would ever be regarded as a major trend in the worlds of men's and women's fashion. That's exactly what happened, though, when designer Christian Audigier assumed the rights to create a line of clothing and accessories featuring Hardy's unique Japanese tattoo designs. In addition to these, the line also includes a number of lifestyle products, such as computer accessories, barware, journals and bedding.

Types of Ed Hardy Bed Linens

From duvets and pillow shams to sheets and decorative pillows, the Ed Hardy bedding collection, created by Wholly Sheet, includes a little bit of something for everyone. The bedding company utilizes high-quality materials (like 300-thread count sateen and single-ply cotton) and uses digital printing to implement Hardy's work on the linens.

Whether you plan to redecorate the entire bedroom with a tattoo-inspired theme, or simply add a couple of pieces to an existing set-up to liven things up, you can count on finding something appropriate to suit your needs. Among the many items available are:

• Blankets: Soft and plush, Ed Hardy blankets are a great gift idea for anyone who loves the bold and hates the cold. They are made of polyester and acrylic blends for an ultra-soft texture, and are great for throwing over the bed or even the couch as a head-turning accent piece. Note that these are somewhat rarer, but not impossible to find.
• Duvets: Whether bold or subtle, there are a number of duvets available bearing Ed Hardy's edgy artwork. More understated designs feature dark color palettes with minimal embroidery, while adventurous pieces are wildly fearless in their use of opposing colors. Duvets are available in twin, full, queen, and king sizes, and are typically sold in sets with either one or two pillow shams.
• Euro shams: Measuring 26 by 26 inches, European pillows are large, overstuffed squares that a distinct element to any room. Slip an Ed Hardy sham over it and you can count on turning some heads! These pillows are perfect for dens and family rooms, too. Decorative shams like Hardy's can also prove to be great conversation starters. Look for striking prints and a few subtle ones, like multicolored trim around a solid colored center.
• Neck rolls: Slightly unusual but also very fun for the ardent Ed Hardy fan, neck rolls are designed to complement existing bedding collections by the designer. They feature long, lean shapes and are overstuffed for coziness. Available in a variety of prints and solid colors, these pillows also make great complements to simple bedroom d??cor thanks to their diminutive size.
• Pillowcases: Available in standard, queen and king sizes, the Ed Hardy pillowcase lineup is vast. Some styles speak to the darker side of the artist's work, featuring devilish color palettes and fierce art, while others are lighter and almost playful with their soft colors (think yellow and baby blue). Since pillowcases are fairly discreet and not generally visible, they also make a fine addition to an existing set-up, although they can certainly be shown off.
• Sheet sets: Ed Hardy sheet sets offer everything you need, including a flat sheet, fitted sheet and two pillowcases. The sheet sets are packaged in large collector boxes that are etched with the artist's work along the edges. The sets feature fairly bold designs, although some are more demure than others - for example, you may choose to opt for a white sheet set with minimal tattoo artwork if you're going the more understated route.

What to Expect

Not familiar with Ed Hardy's work? Consider the bedding a crash course in all things wild and wonderful. The tattoo artist's workmanship features a host of mesmerizing prints, some of which may not be suitable for the very conservative. Look for Ed Hardy bed linens with:

• Bold pronouncements, like banners stating "Love Kills Slowly"
• Daring patterns, like sharp animal teeth and blazing fires
• Exotic animal prints and unexpected color combinations, like pink and green camouflage leopard spots
• Mermaids posing seductively atop vibrant backdrops
• Playful motifs, like lounging bumblebees and smiling flowers
• Skulls with flowers in their long hair

Where to Shop

Tracking down Ed Hardy bedding can be a bit of a hassle, but it isn't impossible to find the pieces you want. Visit online haunts like Amazon and eBay for the best pick of what's readily available, and be sure to check the latter site frequently for new additions. You may wish to check the Ed Hardy brick and mortar stores, many of which are outlets. Visit the store locator to find the store nearest you.

As with any piece of bedding, it can be tricky to find the right piece without seeing it in person. Unfortunately, you may have to purchase Ed Hardy bedding online, so do some research on the seller's return policy beforehand. With the right piece in your possession, you can count on years of use and plenty of color, too.

Cotton Bedspreads

Pinch Pleat Drapes

Former Commercial and Residential Designer

Pinch pleat drapes are a classic window treatment. This drapery style is highly versatile and can just as easily be used in an elegant formal room design or a casual one. The draperies are created by a series of pleats that are gathered in groups of three or more pleats along the top of the drapery fabric. The spacing between each group of pleats is typically two to three inches apart. The header above the pleats is also usually two to three inches, depending on the style of pleating.

The Appeal

The appeal of this style of drapery construction is that the fabric falls to the floor with neat rounded folds that have a permanent look. Whether or not your draperies are closed or open, the fabric holds these pleated shapes.

Types of Pinch Pleats

You may be surprised to learn that there is more than one type of pinch pleat. In fact, there are eight popular types of pinch pleats. These include:

• Triple pinch pleat: Three pleats typically have a three inch header and are created by having three pleats per width. You can also find a four-fold pinch pleat that is created the same way as the triple.
• Butterfly pinch pleats: Comprised of a minimum of five pinch pleats per width, the butterfly pinch pleat is stitched two inches from the top of the drapery material. This stitching causes the top two inches of the pleat to fan out in a butterfly effect.
• Double pinch pleats: Created the same way that the triple pinch pleat is made, the double pinch is just that, two pleats sewn together.
• Fan pinch pleats (also known as the French pleat): This is a different looking pleat that is usually comprised of three pleats but unlike the other pinch pleats, this one has no header and the pleats are sewn together at the very top of the drapery material.
• Goblet pinch pleats: This style lives up to its name and resembles cylindrical goblets. The pleats are stuffed so the base opens up and bowls out.
• Inverted pinch pleat: Pinch pleats are sewn on the front of the drapery fabric, but with inverted pinch pleats, these are sewn on the back of the fabric. The pleats are then pressed flat and the space between these pleats, known as the ditch, are sewn from the front of the drapery fabric along the seam lines. This type of pleat is hidden but gives the same type of effect.
• Pencil pinch pleats: The most popular style of pinch pleats are pencil pleats. These are created to be deep pleats that are drawn tightly together to form highly crisp-looking pleats and are slender like a pencil.
• Rollback pinch pleats: This turn-back pleated style creates a deeper and wider column that carries the pleated fabric form to the floor.

Where to Buy

There are many online drapery shops where you can purchase either ready-made�or custom-made draperies, especially pinch pleat styles.

Try these shops for great looking drapes and reasonable prices:

• Custom draperies
• Discount draperies
• Swags Galore

Tips for Hanging Pinch Pleat Drapes

You may buy ready-made pinch pleated draperies, have them custom-made or perhaps you?re an accomplished seamstress and may decide to make your own draperies. Once you have your draperies and are ready to hang them, it doesn?t matter if you spent a lot of money or worked within a budget; if you don?t hang them correctly, they?ll look cheap.

• Measuring for your drapes: You want to make sure you allow for the amount of space pinch pleated draperies take up when open. The pleats create more bulk than panel draperies, so you want to be sure you allow for this fabric in what?s known as stack back. This term refers to the open position when the draperies are pulled back on either side. By the same token, you want enough drapery fabric that?s wide enough to cover the width of your window, the rod return as well as the desirable overlap effect when the draperies are closed. A good rule of thumb is to allow two to three times fabric width as the actual width of your window. For example, if your window measurement is 60 inches, then you want the actual draperies to be 120 to 180 inches wide.
• Drapery pins: To get the professional look of even-hanging draperies, you must first get all of the drapery pins inserted into the pleats at the same distance from the top (header) of the draperies. It?s crucial that the pin placement is even. Use a measuring tape to ensure that all of the pins are lined up.
• Train drapery pleats: Sometimes even after steaming and correctly hanging draperies, the pleats don?t cooperate and hang as they should. You can correct this common problem by training the pleats with control clips that you clip onto pleats, typically clipping them onto the back of your fabric so as not to show.
• Double traverse drapery rod: Many people prefer some form of privacy barrier, yet need to open the draperies during the daytime. Some opt for mini-blinds or shades while others prefer to hang a sheer curtain directly behind the pleated drapery. You can accommodate the latter effect with a double traverse drapery rod.

Before You Buy

Keep all of these tips in mind when making your final decision and ordering. Take into consideration how much light comes into the room. Do you need to screen harsh Western sunlight in the summer months? Perhaps�the windows in your room face North with very little light entering yet the room is very cold in the winter.�You may prefer to purchase two sets of draperies, a lightweight fabric and a thermal backed draperies. You have a wide selection of choices when it comes to these fabrics and more in a pinch pleat design.

Cotton Bedspreads

Retro Bath Towels

Give your bathroom a vintage look with retro bath towels. Retro decorating is hotter than ever and this type of towel will help give your bathroom a blast from the past.

What Is Retro Style?

Retro style is typically classified as anything reminiscent of�fashion and d�cor from the mid-twentieth century. These items�were popular between the 1950s and 1970s. However, there is no clear definition for retro eras. In fact, the term�can represent styles that date as far back as the 1920s or as recently as the 1990s.

For most people, the�most common retro designs are those influenced by the atomic age of the 1950s. This decade reflects a time when science and space exploration were starting to peak. The next decade was�the psychedelic age. These 1960s styles brought loud, colorful prints into the�upholstery and textiles industries. Floral, geometric and abstract patterns were very popular in psychedelic and neon colors. Jacquard weaves with their three dimensional textures were also�common fabric choices.

Towel Styles

The bath towel styles usually defined as retro often incorporate bold use of color and dynamic patterns. Styles include:

• Colorful stripes
• Circular or bubble designs
• Abstract wave or 'wiggle' patterns
• Damask patterns

Colors such as orange, turquoise, avacodo, mustard yellow also were popular. Pastels and more delicate floral designs are reminiscient of earlier retro styles and can add a romantic touch to a bathroom. Sculpted floral and other designs on chenille towels were popular in decades past and have a definitive vintage feel.

Shopping for Retro Bath Towels

Ironically, retro style decorating is often associated with modern style decorating.�If you wish to create a�retro bathroom design, you can include decade specific elements, such as a black and white checkered tile floor, a pedestal sink and a claw foot bathtub. You can complete the look of this bathroom style by adding matching retro-style bath towels.

A great place to find different styles of retro towels is Anthropologie. Here you can find attractive retro designs, such as a plush jacquard weave that gives vintage style bath towels such great texture. You can also find retro towels in bright, colorful prints that resemble the tie-dyed fashions from the 1960s and 1970s.

If earth tones are more your style, you can find vintage style towels in natural shades of green and brown in the Retro re-mix Towels at Bed Bath and Beyond. These towels have a simple striped pattern with bars of color in varying widths.

The Renaissance towel collection at Towel Selections has a classic jacquard design. These towels are available in six attractive colors including chocolate, thyme, ivory, seafoam, taupe and white. These towels would look great in a retro style bathroom with colored tile.

Although there are many places that sell new towels with a retro vibe, you can also browse auction sites for unused or lightly used towels that are actually from past decades of you want an authentic towel.

Fiber Choices for Retro Towels

A good quality retro bath towel is thick and features long, densely packed loops or piles designed to efficiently absorb water. This type of cotton�fabric is referred to as terrycloth. Retro towels are usually made from some type of cotton fiber; however, there are several types you may want to consider.�The cotton fiber length and fineness is called a staple. The longer the�staple cotton is, the higher the quality.

Upland cotton is the most common type of bath towel�cotton and comes from short�to medium staples. You can find many vintage style bath towels made from Egyptian cotton, which has an extra long staple and is�considered a higher quality. Bath towels made from Supima cotton, another extra long staple cotton, are comparable to Egyptian cotton towels.

Some styles of vintage bath towels feature a velour printed front with a terry cloth back, such as the Florian Palampore Organic Bath Towels from Pottery Barn. However, if you want a more absorbent bath towel, you may�prefer the 1970s pattern of the Marimekko Samovaari Leaf Bath Towel available at Crate & Barrel.

Embroidered Towels

Vintage embroidered towels make nice collectible items and you can find a large selection of these�towels on auction sites such as eBay. Many of the towels you find there are real antiques and�are usually�one-of-a-kind items that you can?t find anywhere else. This type of towel makes a�great display item if you have a retro storage unit or shelves in your bathroom where you can display these along with other vintage collectibles. Depending on the age and condition of�any vintage towels you find, the fabric might not withstand repeated laundering, so you may choose to use the�towels only as decorative items.

A Nostalgic Touch

Retro designs add an air of nostalgia to any d�cor. Vintage towels give an air of authenticity to your bath design, but you may find a modern retro design more serviceable and practical. Even if you don't have a retro bathroom design, you can still add a few retro bath towels for that special touch.

Cotton Bedspreads

Christmas Bed Linens

It doesn't have to be the holiday season to shop for Christmas bed linens. However, shopping for Christmas d�cor at other times of the year could possibly put you in the holiday mood.

Make It Festive with Bedding

Christmas bedding can be fun and festive as well as classic and beautiful. You can use this type of bedding from mid-November all the way through the New Year. Certain patterns that depict a winter scene can be used for several more months beyond the Christmas season. If you take the care to store it properly, Christmas bedding can last for decades.

Quilts

Nothing could be more traditional than a patchwork Christmas quilt. If you love all things old-fashioned, timeless and traditional, this is the type of holiday bedding for you. Christmas quilts will feature traditional Christmas colors and images of vintage holiday toys, Santas, ornaments and other traditional holiday scenes. If you are a crafty person and know how to make a quilt, you could start your own holiday tradition by adding a Christmas ornament appliqu� to your own original holiday quilt every year.

Comforters

Imagine curling up on a cold winter's night under a thick, cozy Christmas comforter. Christmas comforters have bright vivid holiday scenes that are sure to put you in a festive holiday mood. You can find cheerful holiday scenes such as beautiful Christmas poinsettias or Santa in his sleigh, flying over a sleepy snow-covered village.

Bedspreads and Throws

Christmas bedspreads are a little more difficult to find in the off-season; however, you can find plenty of Christmas throws. You can spread a Christmas throw over a red or dark green bedspread for a very festive holiday look.

There are more holiday patterns and designs on blankets and throws than any other type of bed linen. Traditional and vintage holiday scenes are the most prevalent type of design you will find in Christmas throws. You can use these decorative throws just about anywhere such as a bed, sofa, love seat, chair or you can even hang one on the wall for a decorative holiday tapestry.

Sheets

When shopping for Christmas bed linens, don't forget to look for Christmas sheet sets. The most common type of holiday sheets you will find are flannel. Flannel sheets are very soft, warm and cozy; the perfect type of sheet to keep you warm on cold winter nights. Snowmen and snowflakes are common motifs you will find on these Christmas sheets.

Decorative Pillows

Don't forget to accessorize your holiday bedding with colorful, decorative throw pillows. You can find a great variety of Christmas pillows all year long. If you are a pet lover or happen to know one, you can buy pet holiday pillows with cute sayings that have a plastic covered window sewn into the pillow so you can slip in a picture of your favorite pet inside. These pillows are a great gift idea. No matter what style of Christmas d�cor you prefer, you should be able to find decorative holiday pillows to enhance and accessorize your Christmas bedding.

Where to Buy

Online shoppers can easily find holiday bed linens any time of year; however, the best selections will still be a month or two before Christmas. Some retailers order limited quantities of Christmas d�cor and bedding, so it's a good idea to shop for holiday linens early in the season. If you aren't sure when retailers are going to stock their holiday linens, don't be afraid to contact them and ask. Retailers will be happy to let you know when their seasonal items will be available for sale.

Holiday bedding and linens are available at the following online retailers:

• Quilts and Linen
• Custom Creations Unlimited
• O Bedding
• Boscovs

Also, don't forget to check the after Christmas Sales for holiday bed linens. This is a great time to shop for holiday bedding if you want to save money. Some retailers have leftover quantities of Christmas d�cor and bedding that they want to get rid of quickly, so prices are reduced drastically.

Christmas bed linens help you to spread the holiday spirit throughout your entire home. You may decide to purchase a Christmas set for each bed in your home, especially the guest bedroom!

Cotton Bedspreads

How to find kids room decorating ideas

Even professional designers have a difficult time coming up with the right blend of colors and d�cor to decorate a room or house. If you are not able to simply and effortlessly conjure up themes colors and d�cor to make your kids bedroom the envy of your friends of and neighbors, then you are not alone. No one can do that, not even that designer guy from Oprah. It takes some effort and knowledge of where to find the right resources with good decorating ideas.

Don?t panic though, all you have to do is steal ideas, yes steal. There is a saying among designers that great designers steal and good designers copy.� Just find something that you like in a store, a magazine, a book, or on a website, grab the idea and run with it.� No one is going to come to your house and accuse your of infringing any copyright law or anything like that, just find something you like and copy it or portions of it.

There are resources available everywhere to find ideas. Let?s start with the most obvious; home and house magazines, particularly the ones that cater to children?s room decoration.� Don?t get too carried away or intimidated by how stunning these designs can be, they are usually expensive items that are photographed professionally, you might to be able to complete but you can create a pretty good replica with less expensive items, or you might just look at information on color coordination and arrangements.

A few websites that I find very helpful are: about.com ohdeedoh.com/, Apartment Therapy Online stores that offer kids bedding and similar products can also be a great resource, the display pictures sometimes, provides good ideas, lastly and at the risk of this being perceived as a shameless plug, you could search this blogs archive for articles that you might find very helpful.

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Cotton Bedspreads

Best Bath Towels

Bath towels are some of the most heavily used linens in the home. A quality bath towel needs to be more than just attractive. These linens must be able to withstand repeated washings, they must be soft and absorbent and most importantly, bath towels should be resistant to odors (and mildew from repeated contact with moisture) while being gentle to sensitive skin.

Start With Quality Material

A good bath towel starts with quality materials. The top three materials that high end or luxury towels are constructed from are bamboo fiber, Egyptian cotton and organic cotton.

Bamboo

Bamboo is well-known as an eco-friendly material used to make household items such as furniture. Bamboo can also be used to make textiles, which are constructed from bamboo yarn. Bamboo makes the top of the list for quality materials because of these benefits that occur naturally within the fibers of the bamboo plant itself:

• Bamboo yarn is extremely soft, often compared to cashmere.
• Bamboo fibers are very strong.
• Bamboo is anti-bacterial, which makes it resistant to odors and mildew, also making it a good choice for people who suffer from allergies.
• Bamboo fabric is breathable and absorbent.
• Bamboo is economical and eco-friendly.

Bamboo fabric produces towels that are extremely soft yet durable, are naturally resistant to bacteria and are absorbent while quickly evaporating excess moisture.

Egyptian Cotton

In the textile industry, Egyptian cotton is considered the finest type of cotton available. The extra-long cotton fibers, called staples, allow the cotton fiber to be spun into very fine yarns that are soft, durable and more absorbent than regular cotton. Like bamboo fiber, Egyptian cotton absorbs dyes well, resulting in bright, vividly colored textiles. Bath towels made from 100% Egyptian cotton are softer and more absorbent than towels made from ordinary cotton.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is grown using ecologically friendly standards. The United States and Europe have strict regulations over how the cotton is grown. Organic cotton is produced without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This means linens made from organic cotton will not contain any of the harsh chemicals that can be found in commercially grown cotton. This can be especially important for people with allergies, sensitive skin or certain dermatological conditions such as eczema. You can find high quality organic cotton towels completely free from bleaches or dyes, which can cause the fibers to become brittle over time.

Size Matters

Besides quality fabric, what else makes some bath towels better than others? For many people, the size of the towel is an important factor. This can be especially true for those who are large, tall or both.

Oversized bath towels are often referred to as bath sheets. These towels have extra material and are designed to wrap completely around an adult body. You don't just dry off with an oversized bath towel - you wrap yourself in soft, luxurious warmth.

Standard bath towel sizes will vary between manufacturers. An oversized bath towel can measure 35 x 60 inches, 34 x 68 inches or something close to those sizes.

What About Thread Count?

Thread count is the number of horizontal and vertical threads in a one inch square of fabric. Thread count is commonly used when describing bedding such as sheets, however, manufacturers do not use thread count when describing bath towels. Instead, towels are described by weight in grams. A medium density towel is usually around 500 grams, while thicker, more plush towels are 700-850 grams.

Monogrammed and Embroidered Towels

Monogrammed and embroidered towels are often made to order and can be customized to suit your needs. Most monogrammed towels can have up to three letters in a variety of decorative font. Embroidered towels have some type of decorative design stitched into the towel. These types of towels are often used for guests or set out as a decorative display.

Where to Go for Advice and Reviews

The best bath towels will not always be the same for everyone. Individual opinions and needs will always be a factor. However, doing a little research can help you determine what type of towel might be best for you.

A great place to start your research is Buzzillions. Here you can find more information on the fabrics, sizes, brands and price ranges of almost 1400 different towels. Buzzillions offers advice on how to shop for towels and what to avoid. You can also read reviews on different types of bath towels. The reviewer's favorite pick for towels were Egyptian cotton and bamboo. The top brands include:

• Christy
• Avanti
• Jay Franco
• MSR
• Fieldcrest
• Aquis

Where to Buy

The following list of retailers includes those that sell bamboo, Egyptian cotton, organic cotton, oversized, monogrammed and embroidered bath towels:

• Home Treasure Cove
• Luxor Linens
• Rawganique
• Brylane Home
• Fine Linen and Bath

What Are the Best Bath Towels?

The best bath towels depend on your individual needs. If you have sensitive skin, bamboo or organic cotton may work best for you. If you are a large or tall person, you may want to go with oversized towels. If you like a thick, plush towel, a 700 gram Egyptian cotton towel might appeal to you the most. If you're looking for decorative towels to display in your guest bathroom, you may prefer monogrammed or embroidered towels.

Determine what you want in a bath towel and then figure out a price range that you're comfortable with. This will help you narrow down your options for finding the best bath towel for you.

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What is Kids bed in a bag

You might have heard the term kids bed in a bag mentioned before; it?s quite ubiquitous on the internet. Bed in a bag is used interchangeably with bed in a box. Largely, both terms refers to the same thing.� The question might have gone through your mind, what?s a bed in a bag/box? A Bed in a bag is just a random m�lange of bed linen such as; comforter, duvet, quilts, coverlets, pillowcases, pillow shams, sheets sets, bed skirts, bed huggers, and even accent pillows.

The first time I heard the phrase bed in a bag talked about the first thing that came to my mind was that it was a kind of portable fold up bed that?s used at night and folded up during the daytime, a space saving device of some sort. I later learned that a bed in a bag was not a bed but actually bedding, a mishmash collection of just about any of the aforementioned items of bedding, in any variation that suits a bedding retailer?s fancy.

I have no idea who invented the term, my theory is that ?bedding in a bad? or bedding in a box is a bit of a tongue twister, so it was shortened to bed in a bag/box, I don?t know that?s just a guess. Try saying it out loud, and you might see that my theory is not too far-fetched.� If I?m right then I would like to congratulate the creator of that phrase, notwithstanding the fact that it?s somewhat misleading.. I guess he or she thought the phrase would catch on eventually, it caught on indeed.

Now fully equipped with enough knowledge and information, I will try to dispense a little bit of information you might find useful if you decide to purchase anything of those thing with the weird name; bed in bag.

The key thing to do before making a purchase is reading the information provided by the seller.� I have discovered from my research that they don?t always do a good job of explaining what comes in the package, if you are in doubt, either call the retailer or take your business elsewhere, any seller who fails to explain what they are selling does not deserve your business. Also, I have seen cases where a bed in a box is just a sheet set.

What should you expect to see in a bed is a bag? The answer is simply, there is no set type of bed in a bag, you just have to read the information provided.� Just to highlight the difference you may find from bed in a bag to the other.� I did a quick check online can came with the following variations:

• 1 twin comforter, 1 twin sheet set, 1 twin bed skirt and 1 pillow sham
• Comforter; 2 Pillow Shams 2 Decorative Pillows, 2 Euro Shams,1 Skirt, 4 Piece Sheet Set
• 1 pillowcase, 1 fitted sheet, 1 comforter, 1 duvet cover
• 1 x Duvet Cover,� Bed Sheet,� Pillow Cases,� Pillow Cases
• Comforter, bed skirt, two standard shams,� one flat sheet, one fitted sheet, two pillowcases

Hopefully, this highlights the importance of getting the proper information before you buying a boys bed in a bag or girls bed in a bag. Does it save you money purchasing a bed in a bag? The obvious answer is yes, collectively, it does, but it?s up to you to decide whether or not you need all the items stocked in a bed in a bag.

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Liven up with kids room rugs

Colorful kids room rugs are a great way to add a finishing to touch to a kid?s bedroom. Kids Rugs adds interest and liven up kids room simply and easily, all you have to do is lay down a themed rug for an instant change to a bland room

Additionally, rugs, like Kids Wall Decals are a splendid alternative to high-priced wall treatments, wallpaper and expensive custom paint jobs. Rug patterns can instantly add sparkle to the look and feel of a child?s room, even with ordinary white walls that are sometimes necessary, particularly in rented a house or apartment.

Fanciful kids rugs are a great options for kids, who change their minds from time to time about the ?things? they find trendy. While it?s difficult to change wallpaper and painting, it?s simple to just put away a rug and lay down a new themed area rug.

Little boys and girls cannot resist sitting down and playing with their favorite things for long periods of time. Kids rugs lends themselves perfectly to playtime with patterns that includes; constructions vehicles, stars, animals, letters and numbers or their favorite cartoon characters.

Your budding sports fans, construction business owners and pilots will love colorful rugs, decorated with their favorite themes. Kids rugs are often made in the primary color scheme. Try adding one as an accent to a room that is white and another one such as yellow, this could compliment the boys bedding or girls bedding which could be a mixture of plain colors, preferable bright colors. This kind of design usually last longer than whimsical animal themes.

Kids room rugs is a simple and easy way to improve the look of your kids bedroom, there is an endless variety to choose from and prices may vary, but given the large variety it should be easy to find one that fits your needs and budget.

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Beach Comforter Sets

Whether you're decorating your beach home or you just want to bring a little bit of vacation to your own home during the summer months, there are plenty of beach comforter sets out there to choose from. It doesn't matter what color your walls or carpet are or even what type of furniture you have. There are so many different styles of beach bedding, there's something for everyone and every bedroom.

Beach Comforter Set Options

Along with shades of blue and green, you'll find muted earth tones, brights, white, and pastels in beach comforters. You may find army green palm trees set against a sandy beige backdrop nestled in the racks right next to the navy blue and white nautical theme. Some beach-inspired comforters are even brighter, with reds, yellows, greens, and blues thrown together - often against a white background so that they really stand out -- to celebrate the brightly colored strings of tiki lights and fruity concoctions of summer barbecues on the beach. There's no one set "beach" style - just a mix of styles that evoke feelings of carefree, balmy nights, the ocean, the sand, and the palm trees.

Designers to Consider

There are several designers with beach-inspired comforter sets under their names:

• Ralph Lauren
• Karen Maki
• Harbor House
• Nautica
• Huntington
• Hildy
• C & F Bedding
• S. Lichtenberg Bedding
• Victor Mill
• Patch Magic Quilts

You can find beach comforter sets for any color palette. Choose from:

• Palm trees
• Pale neutrals paired with white to remind you of sand
• Bright blue aquarium theme, complete with brightly colored fish
• Anchors or boats, often done in white and navy, sometimes incorporating red or metallics
• Bright, bold flowers
• Lighthouses
• Shells
• Sea life, including starfish and coral
• Flip-flops
• Flamingos

In comforter sets that feature images like trees, flowers, fruits, or some other bold pattern, you'll often find stripes in complementary colors on the accent pillows and dust ruffle. That way the pattern won't overwhelm the eye, but it will stand out, thanks in part to the other, less flashy components of the set.

Where to Shop

Almost any department store or discount store, like Marshall's or TJ Maxx, that carries a selection of bedding is likely to have at least one style of beach bedding during the summer. However, there are some stores that have a more specialized selection. Consider shopping at:

• Home Decorating Company: This company has a large, beautiful selection of beach comforter sets, ranging from a red, white, and blue nautical set to a hot pink and lime green flamingo set. You'll even get free shipping.
• Linen Locker: Overall, this selection is full of muted tones and decidedly beach-inspired patterns. You won't find too many neon comforters with flamingos here, but you will find several classic beach styles in understated tones.
• Beach House Linens: As the name suggests, this is a very specialized site, and worth a browse when you're hoping to decorate a single room in your home or several bedrooms in your vacation house on the beach. Because of the wide variety of beach styles here, you'll see things you might not find anywhere else, like a bright pink set decorated with flip-flops, shells of several types on a pale blue comforter with scalloped edges, or even a black comforter with colorful fish and coral to contrast with white sheets that feature simple blue shells.
• All Seasons Bedding: Here, you'll only find one style of beach comforter set, but it will complement a wide variety of color schemes thanks to its neutral colors. The set is called Palm Beach and it features a palm tree with muted green fronds set against a sandy tan background.
• Bed Bath and Beyond isn't known for its beach-inspired bedding by any stretch, but it does offer a few unusual beachy styles. One of the standout sets is called Palm Beach. This is a bold, bright tropical print that isn't so over the top that it wouldn't work in several different bedroom environments. Colors include deep red, gold, green, and sky blue. Other styles include Hula Girl, Coral Beach, Island Paradise, Fiji, and Olive Kids Pirates, for a range from quite neutral to shockingly bright.
• Amazon: This site is worth a look because of the variety you can find there. You can find everything from a striped set from Nautica to a celery green and white Palm Beach Tropic style featuring large flowers.

Celebrate Summer

Take the breeze, ocean spray, and endless sunshine inside by decorating your beach house or bedroom with light and bright tones that celebrate all the things summer has to offer-palm trees, flip-flops, bright tropical flowers, and white-capped ocean waves. If you want to take things even further, you can even shop for matching curtains and rugs to tie the whole theme together. Give your space a carefree feel and feel your stress melt away.

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Irish Linen Tablecloth

Exquisitely designed and classic in appearance, an Irish linen tablecloth is a timeless addition to any dining area.

About Irish Linens

Soft and lightweight, Irish linen is a simple yet luxurious material used in a variety of products that range from clothes to household goods. Since it is so breathable, Irish linen is popular for use in warm weather since it easily absorbs moisture and remains fresh even in the stickiest conditions. Irish linen is also eco-friendly, and is a favorite of individuals who favor natural products.

True to its name, Irish linen is produced in Ireland. It begins as pure flax fiber, which is spun into a yarn and finally woven into the fabric known as Irish linen. In order to be considered authentic, the linen must be produced using Irish workmanship and machinery, but the flax fiber itself does not have to be Irish grown. In fact, the majority of flax fibers used in the process are imported from Belgium, the Netherlands and France, since climate limitations prevent high quality growth in Ireland. Finally, the weaving itself must also be done in Ireland.

Features of the Irish Linen Tablecloth

If you're thinking of adding an Irish linen tablecloth to your dining space, you'll soon discover that there is no better choice for a look that is at once relaxed and elegant. A tablecloth made from Irish linen is quite versatile; it can be used in just about any dining setting, from the actual dining room to an informal picnic. There are many varieties available to suit different occasions, and you will find them available at all price points. Other features include:

• Cleanliness: Basic household stains are very easy to remove from Irish linen. A simple wash should do the trick, but a spot treatment with everyday detergent can also easily vanquish more stubborn stains.
• Distinction: In a market full of synthetic and mass produced products, Irish linen boasts a certain distinction among its peers. It exudes a graceful, crisp appearance, yet is practically effortless in its care requirements. Tablecloths run the gamut from simple to extravagant, but all styles feature the same thoughtful attention to proper weaving techniques.
• Durability: Irish linen holds up extremely well over time. It handles regular machine washes with ease, and actually tends to become stronger over time.
• Elegance: Don't mistake Irish linen for being too relaxed for fancy settings. A double damask linen tablecloth offers the same dramatic elegance as silk and satin. This is thanks to its high thread count (200 threads per square inch as opposed to 162 threads in a single damask). This adds weight and allows intricate embroidery to stand out even more than it would otherwise.

Where to Purchase

Irish linen tablecloths are readily available both online and in brick and mortar stores. You will likely find a more outstanding selection online, where many e-commerce stores are dedicated solely to Irish linen products. They include:

• Celtic Linen: For an immense selection of tablecloths with various prints, look no further. This online retailer offers everything from basic, everyday tablecloths to colorful Irish linen complements, like placemats and napkins. If you're seeking great variety, this is a good place to start.
• Simply Irish: The name says it all. Look for tablecloths in a variety of sizes, all woven with intricate patterns like shamrocks, chrysanthemums and Celtic knots. The products ship directly from Dublin, Ireland, and shipping charges vary based on your country and import duties and taxes.
• Thomas Ferguson Irish Linen: In business since 1854, Ferguson is one of the few retailers left that weaves traditional damask table linens in Ireland. The striking tablecloths are available in shades of natural and white, and consumers can purchase sample fabric swatches if they wish to get a feel of the material prior to ordering the actual tablecloth. Some of the company's products are available at retailers around the world, while the entire collection can be purchased online. Visit the Stockists (retailers) page for details.

Treat It Right

As with any delicate household fabric, it's imperative to take proper care of your Irish linens. While regular machine washing techniques are suitable for most Irish linens, pay close attention to the care instructions for your tablecloth purchase since some may be better suited to hand washing. Irish linens should never be treated with bleach, which may irreversibly alter the fabric color and fiber integrity.

It's preferable to allow the tablecloth to line dry in the sunlight instead of tumble drying. If you do choose to iron Irish linen, do so while the tablecloth is still slightly damp. Start on the wrong side to smooth out creases and then lightly run the iron over the front side. Finally, store the tablecloth in a cool, well-ventilated space, preferably rolled up instead of folded. These tips will protect your investment and ensure you enjoy years of use.

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KIDS FIRST!

This day and age parents have to be more careful than ever in monitoring what their children are watching on television. Television, video games, and movies have become more violent than ever. This has been a main concern causing much debate over how the images in the media will affect your child during the present and future. With the internet as the most popular media outlet, it makes it even more difficult to monitor what your child is being exposed to on a daily basis.

Luckily, there is a website dedicated to kid friendly media,
www.KidsFirst.org. This ingenious site brings together everything you and your child need to develop a strong understanding of what quality media really is. You will find an unlimited amount of resources including, Top 100 Kid?s Film List, Clubs, film festival selections and press coverage, news & info, a YouTube group, movie reviews, and an online store!

KIDS FIRST! is the coalition program that evaluates, rates, and endorses quality children?s feature films, DVDs, videos, CDs, TV shows and interactive media. The rating system uses volunteer, community-based juries comprised of child development professionals, teachers as well as parents and children from diverse geographic, socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. A KIDS FIRST! endorsement is given to titles that meet the KIDS FIRST! baseline criteria and are approved by both adult and child jurors.?

Goals
A. To teach children to become critical media users;
B. To help adults recognize the importance of teaching critical viewing skills to children;
C. To help children identify and be aware of outstanding media programming;
D. To develop programs for children with special needs such as low-income, hospitalized or at-risk children.

To become a KIDS FIRST! juror, you need to take a training course. The course insures the quality of a KIDS FIRST! evaluation and endorsement. The training consists of two consecutive webinar sessions for a fee of $30 which is entirely refundable once you complete the course and evaluate six titles for the organization. Click, Become a Kids First! Juror for more information!

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What is Kids bed in a bag

You might have heard the term kids bed in a bag mentioned before; it?s quite ubiquitous on the internet. Bed in a bag is used interchangeably with bed in a box. Largely, both terms refers to the same thing.� The question might have gone through your mind, what?s a bed in a bag/box? A Bed in a bag is just a random m�lange of bed linen such as; comforter, duvet, quilts, coverlets, pillowcases, pillow shams, sheets sets, bed skirts, bed huggers, and even accent pillows.

The first time I heard the phrase bed in a bag talked about the first thing that came to my mind was that it was a kind of portable fold up bed that?s used at night and folded up during the daytime, a space saving device of some sort. I later learned that a bed in a bag was not a bed but actually bedding, a mishmash collection of just about any of the aforementioned items of bedding, in any variation that suits a bedding retailer?s fancy.

I have no idea who invented the term, my theory is that ?bedding in a bad? or bedding in a box is a bit of a tongue twister, so it was shortened to bed in a bag/box, I don?t know that?s just a guess. Try saying it out loud, and you might see that my theory is not too far-fetched.� If I?m right then I would like to congratulate the creator of that phrase, notwithstanding the fact that it?s somewhat misleading.. I guess he or she thought the phrase would catch on eventually, it caught on indeed.

Now fully equipped with enough knowledge and information, I will try to dispense a little bit of information you might find useful if you decide to purchase anything of those thing with the weird name; bed in bag.

The key thing to do before making a purchase is reading the information provided by the seller.� I have discovered from my research that they don?t always do a good job of explaining what comes in the package, if you are in doubt, either call the retailer or take your business elsewhere, any seller who fails to explain what they are selling does not deserve your business. Also, I have seen cases where a bed in a box is just a sheet set.

What should you expect to see in a bed is a bag? The answer is simply, there is no set type of bed in a bag, you just have to read the information provided.� Just to highlight the difference you may find from bed in a bag to the other.� I did a quick check online can came with the following variations:

• 1 twin comforter, 1 twin sheet set, 1 twin bed skirt and 1 pillow sham
• Comforter; 2 Pillow Shams 2 Decorative Pillows, 2 Euro Shams,1 Skirt, 4 Piece Sheet Set
• 1 pillowcase, 1 fitted sheet, 1 comforter, 1 duvet cover
• 1 x Duvet Cover,� Bed Sheet,� Pillow Cases,� Pillow Cases
• Comforter, bed skirt, two standard shams,� one flat sheet, one fitted sheet, two pillowcases

Hopefully, this highlights the importance of getting the proper information before you buying a boys bed in a bag or girls bed in a bag. Does it save you money purchasing a bed in a bag? The obvious answer is yes, collectively, it does, but it?s up to you to decide whether or not you need all the items stocked in a bed in a bag.

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