Just a short posting today...I'm off to enjoy the "warm" (hey, 40 IS warm for WI in Jan!) weather & hang outside w/the dogs after being gone for the weekend.  Topic today is tips on sprucing up your home easily without busting the budget.  You can use these same tips to help add some bling & value to your home's exterior as well if you're trying to sell your home.

...& don't forget, if you have any design, Feng Shui, clutter or color questions as they relate to your home, send 'em to askdeanna@bantedesign.com & I'll answer in an upcoming post!

Tips to Add Some Bling to Your Home's Exterior:

• For a quick update, change the address #s, door hardware, welcome mats & mailbox on front & back doors
• Hang flower baskets, put up window boxes or other landscaping that corresponds w/home architecture
• Upgrade your front & back door (i.e. hardwood not steel) & screen doors
• Reface cabinet doors in kitchen (cheaper than replacing entire cabinets)
• Upgrade facets, showerheads, drawer/cabinet hardware in bathrooms & kitchen
• Tile backsplash in kitchen & bath behind sink (& even the stove if so inclined!)

Hey All-
As Christmas & New Year are now in the "holidays past" portion of our brains & retail stores are now awash in pink, red & hearts galore...Here are some tips for the singles, the attacheds & happily-marrieds out there who want to either:

-AMP UP their romance vibe
-Are looking for someone special to share Valentine's Day with (and after!)
-Re-kindle the passion of days-gone-by

***If you aren't up to DIY or want some SPECIFIC advice for your space & your situation, contact us to schedule a "Valentine's Day Romance" consultation.  This 30 minute consult will address basic situation, color, space-plan & accessory choice for your bedroom.***

Remember, when you want to focus on Relationships, Romance & Passion you want to focus on the design decor of your bedroom.  And, if you're so inclined, you can "activate" the Relationship Life Area of your home.  This area is the FAR RIGHT CORNER of your home's floorplan.

• First off, the bedroom is for REST & ROMANCE.  Period.  Only items that relate to these 2 topics should be brought into this space.  No exercise equipment, pictures of kids or in-laws...
• The bed, if possible, needs to be placed in the Power Position.  This is the diagonal corner from the dorrway when you are looking INTO the space.  This is the most psychologically secure position in the room.  If the bed can't be placed on a diagonal (due to size of room/bed), then as long as it is in this quadrant, you're OK).
• There needs to be a headboard.  Again, this is for support.
• Bed should NOT be placed under a window a) again, this symbolizes a "lack of support or anchoring", b) health issues from drafts.
• If you have nightstands, they need to be MATCHING on either side of the bed.  If in a relationship, you want to be "equal" & if 1 side has a nightstand or 1 is bigger...it can symbolize an imbalance in the relationship.
• The bedroom relates to the RELATIONSHIP Life Area, whether you are in one, looking for one or don't want one...it manifests here in this room.  As stated before, have matching nightstands.  Make sure that there is room on BOTH sides of the bed to enter the bed easily-if in a realtionship, it's equal, if looking for one, you want an inviting space for a partner.
• Display items/accessories in pairs (2) to represent a couple.  Do not use singular items, signifies individual/single or in threes (3) as this signifies another coming in between you & your partner.  EX: 2 chairs, 2 candles, grouping of 2 pictures...
• For color: use RED if in a legally binding relationship, PINK if single & looking for a relationship, CORAL/ORANGE if looking for sex/passion & not a relationship.
• You can also integrate the EARTH element (tile, stones, brick, clay) and/or the shape of SQUARE to "activate" the relationship energy.  Think RED SQUARE picture frames from your honeymoon, SQUARE TILES to place candle pillars on...
• Engage all 5 senses.  Good music, lots of different textures (silk, satin, cashmere...), Ylang Ylang (an EARTH scent) candles/Environment Spray, wine/chocolate...
• For accessories, remember REST & ROMANCE.  So pictures of you & your honey on vacation/wedding, a shadowbox of items from your wedding...If single & looking, think of what represents romance to you: pictures of walks on the beach, bistro scenes...Display these.  NO pictures of: kids, inlaws, family, friends, work...
• No TV/computer/workstation in this room.  If space is an issue, think of a closed work station or use a tri-fold screen to separate the area.

As I'm late in posting a new blog for 2012 AND we are getting ready to celebrate the Chinese New Year (Year of the Dragon) on the 23rd, I think I'm safe w/this headline!  (Nice way to rationalize, right?).  I hope you all had a fabulous holiday & have recovered from the festivities & are still on track to reach your new year resolutions.  AND if you didn't make any on 1/1/12, you get a re-dux this weekend.  So make those Vision Boards for your business and/or your personal life & make 2012 THE YEAR!

***This weekend is THE perfect time to clutter-bust all closets, drawers, under the bed, desks & garage!  Room to focus on is the KITCHEN as it corresponds w/wealth & abundance in Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui.***

As for myself, the holidays were a total rollar-coaster, from a dental surgery on Dec 23rd, the result of an accident 2 yrs ago (!) & having to eat soup for a week, to FINALLY buying a new home in my warm weather dream location...it was definitely one for the books.  More on the move as  that progresses, but I will say it will be nice to a) unpack my stuff that's been boxed in anticipation of this move for 2 yrs...another Christmas if you will, & b) to go furniture shopping for this new home that truly reflects the new upleveling that's been occuring in my personal & professional life.  Yes, 2012 is off to a great start.  I hope it is for you all as well!

So, will all of this in  mind, I can now shift gears for the next holiday approaching...no, not Super Bowl Sunday ( sad face due to the Packer loss this past Sun...good grief that was ugly), but Valentine's Day.  As you all know, designing bedrooms is one of my passions...& since ROMANCE is 1 of the 2 activities that should be represented in this room (REST is the other), here are some tips you can implement into your bedroom decor, whether you're attached, looking or single:

***And remember that Bante Design LLC offers a Designing the BEDROOM of Your Dreams room package & hourly consults to help create a personal sanctuary in your bedroom!***

• Things need to be displayed in PAIRS (2s).  Nothing in 1s or 3s
• Use RED if legally attached, PINK if single & looking for a relationship & CORAL/PEACH if single & looking for just sex
• Integrate ALL of the 5 senses: taste, touch, sound, sight & hearing for a truly sensual space
• Know what REPRESENTS romance/passion to YOU...NOT what society says romance s/b.  If you like the beach, place symbols of the beach around, if it's a garden of blooming roses, have bouquets of roses/pics of roses.
• If attached, display pics of you & your sweetie happy & smiling
• Get rid of any "clutter" from past relationships or that you don't love, use or need.