Do you want to give a home-related gift to someone this season, but you're not quite sure what they might like? Well, you're in luck, because HGTV has created a very cool way to help you pick the perfect gift.

Visit The Shop Persona Quiz, answer a few questions about your gift recipient (even if it's you!), and you will find out the type of shopping personality they have. After that, you'll be whisked over the to HGTV Marketplace, so you can see examples of items and even follow the links to purchase them.

Sure, you want to create a lovely home by purchasing (borrowing, renting, recycling) the perfect furniture, art, and accessories. Then you want to pull it all together with paint and flooring and all that stuff, to create a home that's just your style. But what about injecting a little style into your space with music? Can the music you listen to really make a difference when it comes to the feel of your home?

According to this New York Times article, Does This Song Match My Sofa?, "Music can alter a space as much as lighting, fabrics and artwork." Although most people select their own music according to their personal taste, some are now turning to experts--also known as "Music Stylists"--for help. People in this relatively new profession (for homes, it's been around for a long time in commercial settings) can create custom soundtracks that are just right for you and your precious abode.

Looking for an easy way to dress up a room for the holidays, or even just for fun? Check out kaarskoker's Decorative Replacement Candle Sleeves. They are simple sleeves that go over the candlestick area of your light fixture, but they can make a big difference and are super-affordable. They have a nice selection of holiday-related sleeves, and plenty of other colors and patterns you can use year-round.

Check out some of the possibilities in the photos below.


Do you have some molding left over from a home improvement project? Time to put it to good use! HGTV has two ideas on how to use molding to create something fabulous:

Better Homes and Gardens has rolled out their 100 Days of Holidays, an idea-packed site that takes you through Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas & Hanukkah, and New Year's. On this site, you can find 26 pumpkin pies recipes, fall decorating ideas, Halloween costume tips, ideas for entertaining, and much more. You can even sign up for their newsletter while you're there.

I've been working on cleaning out my basement this week, and I came across lots of long-forgotten crafts supplies in the cabinets. What should I do with all this stuff? Well, one look around my house and I had my answer: home decorating projects. It's a great way to add some new items to my home and spruce it up, without having the spend a lot of money. And as summer subsides and fall begins to arrive, I have been itching to make some changes anyway.

I went looking for projects, and here are some I hope to try out soon:

  • This Entryway Organizer from Martha Stewart's Web site will look great near my back door, or maybe even in my home office area. And I just happen to have some old shutters laying around, so I'm all set to get started.
  • On the Ragtop Originals blog, check out how to use vintage trays as memo boards, simply by hanging them up and adding magnets. And once again, I have several of these vintage trays that I can put to use in the same way.
  • Rental Digest shows you how to create a room divider with PVC pipe. Perfect for a larger room you'd like to divide up into two functional areas.
  • About.com offers easy steps for creating your very own upholstered headboard.
  • Ayos shows you how a bit of chalkboard paint can create a fun, decorative addition to a room.
  • And for the slightly more ambitious and patient decorator, check out how to make a braided rug, from A Beautiful Abode.

Two mornings in a row, I have stepped outside in shorts and a t-shirt, and thought, "Hmm...it's a bit chilly." Of course, it's all relative to how those hot summer mornings felt, but it seems that fall is definitely on its way.

At the home decor store, my co-workers and I have been busy unpacking and pricing pumpkins, fall wreaths, and even Thanksgiving items. So the other day, when I was knee-deep in orange, green, and gold decorative items, I started wondering: "When, exactly, should you start decorating your home for fall?"

I went searching for an answer, and found other people had the same question, like those on this message board at the nest. Some people, like the author of Hooked on Houses, got to work on Labor Day weekend, and the results were lovely. Check it out here.

I asked my friends and most of them said they plan to begin pulling out their fall decorations in early October, because down here in the Deep South, it's still very hot, and decorating for fall when it's 90 degrees outside doesn't feel right. Either way, the time to begin sprucing up for the next season is coming up very soon. ivillage suggests some smart ways to begin the process by getting organized. Check out 10 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Fall. Once you have a clean slate to work with, head over to HGTV and check out Cool Ideas for Fall Decorating.

More fall ideas, coming soon!

Sometimes, I have to search far and wide for great thrifty decorating ideas. Other times, however, I get lucky and they are delivered right to me. This week seems to be one of those lucky times! Check out some of the great ideas, direct from my e-mail box to you:

  • Frockz are slipcovers for lampshades, ranging in price from $26-$34. They offer some great patterns and the idea of recycling an old lamp instead of purchasing a new one appeals to my environmentally aware side.
  • Island Art offers affordable art with or without matting, and in a variety of sizes. I especially liked the Floral and Folk Art prints the site carries.
  • My Design Secrets offers a great resource for budget decorating enthusiasts: a Sales Board with links to online decorating bargains.
  • And from Martha Stewart, three great ideas: a Sewing Kit in a Jar, a Removable Tote Organizer (for all those crafting supplies!), and Vacation Memory Jars.

Lampshade slipcover from frockz.

As you may know, dear daughter (DD) has moved into her college dorm room and has begun her first year of college. We spent all summer snatching up the perfect finds, and we thought we had all the bases covered. And from what I heard, the place was looking pretty good. But then she called yesterday, and I asked if she'd hung all her posters and gotten everything in place to her liking. She said, "Yeah, well, actually, there's still a big, empty space on the wall over the side of my bed. I decided to use the poster I got for that somewhere else. Now it's just...empty."

Hmm...I had a feeling this would happen. Even with all our careful planning, we were still buying items for a room we had never seen. We were just working from a diagram of what the rooms looked like, so although we did a pretty good job, we came up a bit short.

Since she already has several posters hanging in the room, I decided to go hunting for one more decorative wall idea, and I recalled seeing her friend's dorm room and how great the wall decals she bought looked. I went searching on the Web, and found several places that carry them. So DD and I have narrowed it down to the following items:

  • These Chocolate and Deep Sky Squares are simple and stylish, and the perfect color for her dorm, so I have a feeling these will be the ones we purchase.
  • These Monograms from Wall Slicks come in a variety of colors and sizes, and they add a personalized, preppy touch to a room.
  • My favorite wall decal find--this Chandelier from Blik. If DD doesn't want it, I'm going to get it for myself. And you can't go wrong with Classic dots, also from Blik.
  • Wall Pockets from AllPosters.com are not only adorable but they are also functional. And how cute is this Festival wall decal? It's like a party for your wall.
So, is the dorm decorating finally over? Stay tuned...

As promised, I have searched the world (the World Wide Web, that is) to find utterly fabulous and not-too-pricey holiday gifts, all focused on home decorating. Here they are, in no particular order:

  • Art: It's the perfect gift for someone with a new place, or an old place with some blank walls. If you're familiar with your gift recipient's taste, pick out some artwork to brighten up their space. I love, love, love Lisa Kaus's work. Her Mini-Prints are only $20, and even the Big Prints are only $58. Her cards are also frame-worthy and adorable. (See a photo below.)

  • Dinnerware: If you're a child of the 1960s and 1970s like I am, this dinnerware might just throw you back to your youth for a few nostalgic moments. This Floral Melamine Dinnerware is much prettier than the pea-green and rose-colored Melamine plates my mom used to have. In fact, they're so pretty, they would be great everyday dinnerware. They are a bargain too, with plates starting at just $3 a piece.(See a photo below.)

  • Do-It-Yourself Help: I can't think of ANYONE who wouldn't love a gift card to The Home Depot or Lowes. It's the perfect gift for someone with a new home, particularly newlyweds.

  • Furniture: You might not want to buy expensive furniture for anyone, but how about a practical, budget-conscious piece for the teen in your life? Or perhaps the recently-out-of-college cousin? I found this Futon Armchair at IKEA, and I'm planning to get one for my daughter, who goes off to college next fall. It is perfect for a dorm room, and only $89.

  • Entertaining Advice: Do you have a friend who loves to throw parties? Or one who wants to entertain more? I found the perfect book: I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence, by Amy Sedaris. For less than $20, you can give the gift of true advice from the comedic genius herself.

  • Home Goods: Isaac Mizrahi now designs home items for Target, in addition to his clothing line. My personal fave from the line is his Peony Bedding, which I plan to buy for my daughter this Christmas.


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