Scared to step too far out of the box when decorating your living room? Let your creativity soar when it comes to designing, decorating and furnishing a room for your kids. A child’s bedroom or playroom gives parents the opportunity to be carefree and creative in a ways that just wouldn’t suit a formal living space or adult bedroom.

Give your kids a room they are sure to love with these 10 kids décor and furniture ideas:

Activity table – Give your child a designated place to cut, color and break out the glitter glue. A table with adjustable height will grow with your kids. Be sure your activity table has storage bins or drawers to stash art supplies. A paper roller is not necessary, but an added bonus to ensure your kids will always have paper to draw on (hopefully deterring them from coloring on their bedroom walls!)

Area rug – Add color, or a touch of design to your kids’ room with an area rug. Not only can an area rug add to a room’s décor, but it will also protect the floor and conceal any stains.

Lighting – Don’t settle for a standard ceiling light or floor lamp for your kids’ room. Whether you need a nightlight, or something a little brighter, be creative. There are a number of wall-mountable and freestanding lighting options for kids’ rooms.

Separate but equal – If you have two kids sharing one room, win the battle over space before it even starts. Decorate the room with a clear division of square footage. Start by painting the bedroom in two different colors, splitting the room evenly in two. (Two different, but complementing wallpapers will work too.) Set each child’s furniture, toys and other belongings up on their own side of the room. If your kids are competitive, purchase two of everything (same bed, dresser, storage bins, etc.), so there will be no question that they each have their own equal space.

Miniature furniture – Give your little ones their very own miniature armchair and ottoman or even sofa. Do they love sitting in dad’s special chair in the living room? If so, they’re bound to love having a chair sized just for them.

Decals – From words and phrases to flowers and even an entire jungle of trees, wall decals are a fun and easy way to decorate the walls in your kids’ bedroom or playroom. You can even create your own custom peel-and-stick decals at roommatespeelandstick.com!

Writing on the walls – Dry-erase boards, hanging chalkboards or even a chalkboard painted wall are great for any room for kids. Kids love drawing on the walls, give them a “mom approved” place to draw!

One-of-a-kind window treatments – Spice up the curtains in your kids’ room by adding a design unique to their own personality. Embellishments, trim or colorful fabric panels are an easy way to add on to existing curtains.

Floor tiles – Place carpet squares or tiles of varying colors on the floor for a unique and colorful area rug. With floor tile rugs or carpet, cleaning is a cinch! If one square gets dirty, just pull it up and wash it instead of taking the entire rug to the dry cleaners or calling in a carpet cleaning crew.

The ceiling – Maybe you can’t pull it off in your formal dining room, but if you’ve always wanted to paint a design on the ceiling, now’s your chance. Be carefree and creative in your kids’ room. Paint an oversized compass, the day or night sky, or birds and butterflies on the ceiling. This added pop of creativity might be just what the room was lacking.

Have you added a creative touch to your kids’ room? Share your kid-friendly decorating ideas with us in the comments below!

Every room needs a focal point. A fireplace is ideal for drawing attention to one focal point. Whether it’s a bedroom, living room or kitchen, carefully and creatively play up your fireplace and mantle to add interest to your space.

Here are a few ways to create a focal point with your fireplace:

Color - Hang a colorful painting above the fireplace or a stack of your favorite books on your mantle for a pop of color, especially if other colors in your room are neutral or muted. With the fireplace as the focal point of your room, the mantle is a perfect place to add color in an otherwise quiet room. Color can also be incorporated with an arrangement of flowers.

Seasonal – No better place than the mantle above your fireplace to display your favorite seasonal décor. Handmade garland in autumn colors weaved in between family photos or other heirlooms is a creative and fun way to tie a seasonal them into your room’s décor without going overboard.

Art – There’s no unwritten rule stating artwork and paintings have to be hung on the walls. Use your mantle as an easel to display your favorite work of art. Add a light fixture on either side to add a touch of drama.

Collections – Are you a collector? Why keep your collection hidden in a closet? Instead, display some of your prized collectors’ items on the mantle to be enjoyed by everyone. This will also add a touch of your unique personality to a room that could otherwise be bland and generic. Do you collect antique cameras? Arrange them on your mantle for all to see.

If you don’t have a fireplace, focus can also be directed toward a picture window, a built-in bookcase or a large piece of artwork on the wall. A focal point can add a sense of unity to a room. A room without a focal point may feel chaotic and uninviting. Design your room around a focal point to create a comfortable, inviting space.

Have you found a creative way make your fireplace the focal point of your room? Share your ideas with us in the comments below or post a picture of your room’s focal point to our Facebook page.http://www.facebook.com/phillipsfurniture

You may not be able to design custom furniture for your home, but you can personalize your home with one-of-a-kind accessories and décor. Make your new Phillips furniture feel right at home by accessorizing it with unique, personalized throw pillows. Customizing throw pillows is easy, and doesn’t have to be expensive.

Make your own throw pillows following these steps:

1. Select a fabric. Just about any textile will work. Whether you make a few pillows out of old curtains, or purchase new fabric at the store, pick something you love. TLC suggests using vintage t-shirts, extra or unused scarves, bed sheets, a tablecloth or vintage tea towels.
2. Gather stuffing. Cotton stuffing from any fabric or craft store will work. You can also shred old cotton t-shirts for stuffing.
3. Cut your fabric. Cut your fabric to the desired size. Be sure to add an extra ½ inch or so for the seam.
4. Sew the sides. Place your two fabric squares together, with the good sides facing in. Sew along three sides completely and ¾ of the fourth side, leaving a hole large enough for your hand.
5. Stuff it. Turn the pillowcase right side out and stuff it. Be sure to get stuffing into each corner.
6. Sew it up. Using a needle and thread, hand-sew the remainder of the pillow closed.
7. Add detail. Think outside the box and add detail to your pillow. Add buttons or fringe to the pillow to finish it off.

Making custom throw pillows is a fun and easy way to allow each of your family members to express a little bit of their personality in your home décor. Make it a family project, allowing each family member to select his or her favorite fabric.

If you’re not confident with a needle and thread but still want to create custom throw pillows, there are a number of websites you can use to design and order your custom pillows. Café Press, is one place where you can make affordable, personalized throw pillows and photo pillows.

What’s your favorite way to add personality to your furniture? Share your ideas with us in the comments below!

Here are a few tips:

• First of all, be sure your furniture is arranged in such a way that it leaves plenty of room for recreational activity. After all, kids will be kids, and you want them to feel welcome to be themselves in your home. (We’re not advocating complete chaos, but sometimes kids need space to release their energy.)
• If you’re worried about wear and tear or stains on your Phillips living room furniture, purchase a slipcover for your sofa, loveseat and chairs. Don’t get hung up on the idea that slipcovers are ugly and difficult to keep in place. Modern slipcovers are stylish and durable and will disguise dirt. Some even come pretreated for stains. When an accident does happen, simply slip the cover off and wash it.
• Consider an ottoman instead of coffee table. An ottoman is much more kid friendly, especially for young kids who are apt to run into your furniture or bump their heads. An ottoman that doubles as a storage container is an added bonus. Take advantage of the extra storage space to stash your kids’ toys and games.
• Look into your storage options. Trunks, shelves or cabinets are essential if you’ve got kids. The more places you have to store their books, toys and games, the more organized your living area will be. Keep in mind all of your kids’ toys shouldn’t be in your living area, but you want to have a place to store the ones that are. Snag a vintage trunk from your local flea market, or check out a number of other stylish storage furniture options.
• Select a tall stand or an entertainment center with doors on it for your TV and other electronics. Young hands can be curious, and you definitely want to keep little ones from being able to get to your electronics. If your entertainment center is low to the ground, be sure it has doors or drawers that close so you can conceal electronics and cords, and keep little fingers from playing with your expensive electronics.
• Create a dedicated space for kids. Keep your kids in mind when designing your living area. Create a space just for them with area rugs, a reading or craft corner, toy bin, and pint-sized furniture or beanbag chairs and a small table. A space in your living area that is noticeably for your kids will likely draw their attention and keep their activity in one area. It also provides a space for them to play where you can keep an eye on them while you’re doing other things.

A kid friendly living room can be stylish and trendy. Use your imagination and think outside the box when designing your living space. Your kids will feel more at home and you’ll feel more organized and be able to rest in peace knowing your living area was designed with kids in mind.

How have you made your living room kid friendly? Share your tips with us in the comments below!

Use furniture pieces that are similar in scale. When the furniture pieces in your living room are similar in size and scale, your room will feel more balanced and serene. If you have one overwhelmingly large item next to a much smaller piece of furniture, you’ll  likely feel less comfortable as it will seem as though something is out of place.

Similarly, decorate your walls with a collection of items of the same dimension — multiple framed images in identical frames — for balance and serenity.

Focus on symmetry, rather than asymmetry. Asymmetry — two similar items of different sizes, for example — is used to create visual interest, but can interrupt the balance of the room. If you’re going for peace and comfort, focus on adding symmetry to your living space. Place two candles of the same height beside each other on a table, rather than two candles of varying heights. If you have one throw pillow on your add a second one.

Symmetry doesn’t mean you have to have two of everything, but as a general rule, arrange your room in such a way that it is symmetrical, rather than asymmetrical.

Create depth in your space. Arrange your furniture in such a way that it creates depth. When you walk into your living room, you want it to feel dimensional, rather than flat. Set an armchair at an angle in the “foreground” of the view of your living area. Use a coffee table as a midpoint, and a sofa against the wall as the background.

Create form and function. Especially in long, rectangular living areas, it’s important to define the form and function of your space using furniture. If you are working with a large living area, divide it into multiple spaces of functionality. Use area rugs to define the space on the floor and arrange furniture in such a way that the function of that space is evident. You might have a “conversation” space, a “dining” space or even a “working” space.

Generally speaking, square spaces are more comfortable than rectangular spaces. If you’re working with a long, narrow rectangular space, divide it into two or more square spaces.

Curtains - Regal and formal or light and airy, curtains can be the focal point of the room. They are available in any thickness, size, color and design available.

Type of fabric used has a lot to do with how light is controlled. Sheer, airy fabric won’t block much light, whereas thick, heavy curtains can keep a room dark and cool. Sheer curtains used behind thick, heavy curtains will still provide some privacy when the thick curtains are pulled back to let light in.

Curtains require less frequent cleaning. Regular spot cleaning and an occasional brush or vacuum to remove dust will keep curtains clean. They can be removed and machine or hand-washed two or three times a year.

Blinds – Provide a more professional look and clean lines. Blinds are less expensive and available in a variety of materials from plastic to wood. Whereas curtains are often custom-made, most blinds can be found in any home improvement store.

Blinds are easier to open and close to let light in or keep light out than curtains. With a simple twist of a rod or pull of a string, blinds can be opened or closed. When opened at an angle, you can allow light to flow into a room, while keeping your privacy.

Blinds will need to be cleaned more regularly as dust collects on each section. Clean regularly by wiping with a feather duster or damp cloth to remove dust from blinds.

A combination of both blinds and curtains is ideal for allowing maximum control of light flow into a room. Even when curtains are drawn back, light can be controlled. Using blinds and curtains marries design with functionality.

Ultimately, choosing blinds or curtains is dependant on your personal preference. If you are seeking a formal, regal look, select thick, heavy, regal-looking curtains. For a simple, clean look, blinds might be a better option to suit your taste.

Are there other benefits of curtains versus blinds? Which do you use in your home and why? Let us know in the comments below!

There are a number of tablet and Smartphone apps for home decorating. Here are a few of the best:

Tablet apps:

Home Design 3D for iPad – Recreate your home in 3D and then decorate it. If you’ve ever spend time trying to envision how certain decorations might look in your home, or how placement of furniture might change the look of your living room, you can appreciate how Home Design 3D simplifies the task. The app even has a walk-thru that simulates being in the room.

$8.99

BuildApp for Android – Model your house in 3D. Using your tablet’s built-in camera, take photos of your house walls to be used in your model. Furniture available in the app is only 2D, but still serves its purpose. Whether you’re a designer, or a homeowner working on a remodel project, this app will help you visualize and manage your project along the way.

Free

Smartphone apps:

Ben Color Capture for iPhone and Android – Want to match paint colors to an item in your home? Find a color you really love while out shopping? Snap a photo with your phone’s camera or upload an existing photo and Ben Color Capture will recommend a matching Benjamin Moore paint color. The app will also recommend similar colors or complementary colors.

Free

ColorSnap by Sherwin Williams for iPhone Android and Blackberry – Works the same way Ben Color Capture works, but suggests matching Sherwin Williams paint colors. Snap a photo of the color you want to match and ColorSnap will find a matching Sherwin Williams color and suggest two complementary colors

Free

Color Change for iPhone – Take a picture of any room in your house and use the app to “paint” the walls any color you like. This app is helpful for finding out how your room will look if you painted it a certain color.

$2.99

iHandy Carpenter for Android – This app really comes in handy when you’re trying to hang pictures or artwork on a wall. A level, protractor and ruler all in one will simplify any home decorating task.

$1.99

Have you used Smartphone or tablet apps to help you through your redecorating or remodel project? What are some of the most helpful apps you’ve found for home design and decorating? Share with us in the comments below!

Picture frames can be mundane and overused for decorating. However, there are a number of unusual and alternative uses for frames that can dress up a room or add an element of design and style to your plain walls. Here are a few of our favorite and most creative uses for picture frames:

Homemade Hall of Fame - Do you have sports stars in your family? Decorate your family game room or great room with framed Little League jerseys, Lacrosse uniforms or even swim team swimsuits and caps. Every parent has a right to be proud of their children’s accomplishments; let your kids know you’re proud of them. Frame their sports memorabilia and hang it on display. Medals, awards and certificates are also items that are great for framing.

Nature’s Best – Whether it’s seashells or dried flowers, elements of nature can add to any room of your home when put in a frame. Shadow box frames work best for seashells, as they are likely too big for a normal picture frame. Floating frames will best display dried flowers or plant leaves. If you want to make your home feel like a house on the beach or a cottage in the woods, bring nature inside your home in frames.

Enhance what’s already there – Frames are a great accent piece for any wall. Dress up your family room wall by hanging an ornate frame around your flat screen T.V. Add an element of design to your plain bathroom mirror with an antique round or oval frame. Dress up items that are already hanging on your walls with frames.

A place for grocery lists and family communications – Frame a piece of chalkboard or a piece of wood painted with chalkboard paint. Hang it in your kitchen or even in your entryway. Use it to write your grocery list, or keep your family updated on important information. Leave a note for the kids, or let your husband know dinner is in the oven when he gets home from work. A chalkboard is a timeless form of communication, and a framed chalkboard is not only useful, but adds an element of interest to a wall as well.

Think outside the box and find unique ways to use picture frames, old and new. Your local flea market can be a great place to find antique frames. A collection of frames you really love can even be displayed on a wall without anything inside them. Sometimes, the frame is art enough.

Have you found a unique use for picture frames? What are some of your favorite, non-traditional items to frame? Share your design ideas with us in the comments below!

When you finish your home spring cleaning project, the next step is cleaning and organizing your office. Whether you work in or out of your home, an organized workspace can improve productivity and reduce stress.  With the right furniture and organizational tools, even an organized office can be trendy.

Wondering where to start? Here are a few guidelines for creating an organized workspace (and keeping it stylish, too!)

 Use bookshelves for function and design. We’re not talking about your grandfather’s old dusty shelves. Both free-standing and built-in bookshelves come in modern, trendy styles that will not only add function to your office by keeping your books and other items organized, but will add an element of design to your space as well. Always err on the side of too many bookshelves rather than not enough. You’ll thank yourself when your office floor isn’t cluttered with stacks of books, magazines and other items.

 Think Repurpose furniture. Consider using furniture that isn’t your standard office furniture, such as a detailed armoire, chest or dresser. An armoire or cabinet with doors or drawers is the perfect place to store those not-so-sightly items. Select an armoire or chest with an ornate design or modern style you love. Filling your office with pieces you like will make it a more pleasant place to be, even if there is work to be done.

 Add organizers. Add boxes and containers to your shelves for more storage. If you’re trying to achieve a modern, clean look, choose a number of uniform painted or fabric-covered boxes to store smaller office items. For an eclectic look, use a collection of different organizers and containers like glass jars, painted boxes and hooks.

 Think outside the box. For other elements of design and function, consider new twists on standard office necessities. For example, move your calendar to the wall. Use chalkboard paint to create a giant wall calendar. Keep it updated with important meetings and appointments and you’ll never miss a beat.

When you’ve got the furniture pieces and storage tools you need in place, take some time to do a little spring cleaning on your office. Sort through drawers and files, throwing out anything you don’t need to make room for your other items. Sort your office supplies into piles of similar items and place them in labeled boxes or containers. Tax season is the perfect time for an office overhaul and organization project. Once you’ve submitted your dues to Uncle Sam, take some time to refresh and renew your workspace.

Does your home decorating say “you?” Does it look like the neighborhood model home or does it really reflect your style and who you are?  It’s important to personalize your home and accessories in ways that define your personality and tell your story. Whether your love of music serves as your inspiration or you’ve collected art from your travels anywhere from home to far off countries, let your life passions spill onto the walls, surfaces and overall theme of your home. Then, your home won’t be just another knock off, like the impersonal, staged home you walked through last week. Try adding a more personal touch to your house. Call it what you will — personalized or eclectic — but make it a mix of family treasurers, found items and personal favorites gathered from quaint shops, stores, studios and showrooms. Make your home a joyful place, filled with memories and treasures.

Here are just a few ideas to get you started. Once you know what to do you won’t need much help.

First of all give yourself permission to have fun and forget about the rules and the right way to do things. For many of us, all that does is make us so afraid of making a decorating mistake that we don’t do anything.  Show what you’ve got.  Do you have boxes of picture frames?  Fill a wall with them.  They don’t have to match or even be all made of the same material. You should feel perfectly free to mix wood and metal, traditional and trendy, colors and sizes.  Then fill them with things you love. Maybe you want to include the artwork of your favorite artist (even if they aren’t famous — yet anyway!)

Think about using things for something other than their original purpose. How about using your grandmother’s old blanket chest for a coffee table or an old wooden tool box to hold bathroom ‘tools’ such as your hairdryer, straightener and other accessories. Ever thought of using an old door for a dining room table or headboard?  Your family crest can be printed and displayed as a vinyl decal on your wall or another surface. Some homeowners choose to proudly display several mismatched china teacups on a coat rack. Doing so provides an opportunity to share a piece of your story with visitors.

 You don’t have to keep and display everything you have ever owned but pick your favorite things and figure out a new and creative way to display or use them. Maybe moving the items around to other rooms in your home will get your creative juices flowing.  Remember, the key is to have fun and make your home truly yours.