Furnishing My Home!

After all the last-minute shopping for gifts, feasting and opening of presents, everything has died down.  The month of January is just a few days away.  Now is the time to keep away the Christmas things and if you are like me who have tons of leftover gift wrapping papers,  fear not.  There is no need to throw them away.  I found some great ideas on how to recycle leftover gift wrap at Martha Stewart.

Make streamers and hang them up

cut them into triangles and make party banners

Use them to wrap recycled tin cans for putting pens and pencils

Shred the paper and use them as gift box protectors

Still out of ideas on what to get your loved ones?  Here is a quick guide for some last minute shopping.

Wave Coat Rack at Switch Modern

Restore Storage Baskets at Finnish Design Shop.  Love this multi-purpose storage basket made from recycled PET bottles.

Maine Float Rope Doormats at The Maine Float Rope Co.  There is nothing like a brightly coloured doormat to add some colours to the home.  Made from recycled Maine lobster float rope.

We will be having some friends over on Christmas Day.  Besides planning the menu for that day, I am also trying to look for a Christmas Centerpiece idea which I can put up in a jiffy.  While my other half was busy looking for djarum cigars as a gift for a friend, I found some great centerpiece ideas from DigsDigs.com.  Below are my favourite decors which help to make the Christmas Day more memorable.

I love a home with a rustic feel.  There is just something very comfortable and inviting about the rustic theme. I love the unfinished look on the wood. By using rustic furniture in the home, it creates a warmth space and a unique natural style.   Rustic furniture is also very durable and easy to maintain.  Are you a great fan of rustic style?  Below are some inspiring rustic decor styles from Decorology.blogspot.com.

So, how was your weekend everyone?  I did not go out except to get some groceries.  Spent the weekend at home, watching movies, surfing the internet and reading magazines.  I was browsing Pinterest and saw some really inspiring home decors.

A wall filled with cups.  How lovely.

What a cozy place

Sea green floor.  Who would have thought of this great colour for the floor?

Can’t get enough of these granny stool covers.

I love the yellow tub and the pretty shower curtain

I found a few kitchen decors that I really heart.  Seeing them makes my heart flutters just like when I found the best eczema treatments.  I love kitchens with lots of colour.  Most families spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  Whether it’s cooking, serving or eating, a kitchen is a functional place.   How a kitchen is decorated makes a huge difference to a home.  A happy kitchen makes a happy home.

I am always on the lookout for storage ideas.  I just cannot get enough of them.  I used to stay in a rather small apartment and was always short on space.  I used to read magazines or browse the internet for creative storage ideas for my home.  Here is another great storage idea for the entryway from Remodelista.com.  Though you cannot use it to store scales, but this wall-mounted canvas pocket hanger is great for stashing away keys, mail, sunnies or just about anything you like.

I just found this really cool online store called Sustain – SustainEcoStore.com.   They have an array of zero VOC, non-toxic paints or plasters, custom furniture, bedding and home decor.  If you want to give green this Christmas, here are more gift ideas for you.

Hemp Shower Curtain which contains natural oils that repel water

Throw Pillows which are hand printed from eco-friendly ink

Tea Towels hand printed using eco-friendly ink

Cutting Board handmade using sustainably sourced bamboo

I was trying to find some boxes to store the canon ink cartridges at home when a friend dropped by last night.  She told me that she baked some gingerbread cookies to hang on her Christmas tree and guess what?  They fell after a few hours and broke into many pieces.  She was pretty disappointed about it.  What a coincidence.  Just earlier today, I was at Real Simple and saw some really inspiring decors for the holidays.  One of it is to decorate the Christmas tree with cookie cutters. Ain’t that a sweet idea?  When I told my friend about it, she was excited and can’t wait to try it at home.

A friend of mine who works for the alamo car rental just shared with me that she had compiled a gift list for her family a few weeks ago.  Wow, ain’t she organized?  I haven’t even started mine yet.  However, I do have in mind a few things for my dear friends.  What I have picked out are items for their homes.

A unique re-purposed black and white lampshade from Umbu via etsy.

Haru Paper Mobile from www.zibbet.com/haru

Birdcage Tea Towel made from 100% cotton from Branch

Elle Elephant Pillow made from 100% organic cotton from Branch.