Show Your Decor

We are excited to announce the opportunity to show of your decor know how's! With all the eye candy, tips, and tricks we like to share on the blog, we'd like to see what you've implemented in your own space.



Has there been a post that inspired you enough to change a room of your own? Do you have before and after pictures or just after pictures you'd love to share? This is your time to shine and show off your decor!



What are we looking for? Clear bright photo's of what you've done to your space to add a little decorology style design to it. Also let us know what you did, what items are in the space, and how your new design is working for you! Just send us an email at ashley@decorologyblog.com to submit your space!



Our favorites will be chosen and showcased on the blog periodically! Will your home decor make it on Decorology? Let's see!

Tips for bringing a touch of red into your home

With February right around the corner and Valentine's Day coming up soon, what better time to experiment with that powerful and passionate color: red.

 Artwork is a great way to test out red.

 Or a great statement piece of furniture.
2 above via Elle Decor

If you already use a color in your home that is complementary with red, adding a few accents will be easy and look thought out.
via Traditional Home

via houzz

Throws and lampshades are great budget friendly ways to bring a little love in the room without breaking the budget.

via houzz

A new piece of wall art can change up the room and adding a few pillows and a bench seat or stool can tie it all together!


Do you use red in your decor?

A New Look at Technology in Design

Sometimes it can feel like technology can get in the way of our home decor. A huge screen TV might not go along with your rustic look, but thankfully there are some clever ways of designing your space around your screens:

via Houzz

Built in cabinets are a great way to go! You can mount the TV on the wall or just place inside the cabinet and have a gorgeous space without the eye sore of screens, wires, and devices that with it!

via dwellerswithoutdecorators

A fireplace is a gorgeous focal point of a room. A TV sitting above it is not! Having this slide away piece on top of the fireplace gives you that gorgeous focal point when it's put away and functional for every day living. 

via mcinteriors

Under the stairs storage has always been a favorite of mine. Storing your TV in the under stair storage is a brilliant idea! It won't break up the flow of the room when it's put away and when you do have it out, it's in perfect view with the rest of the room! 

via Houzz

Using a large photo split in two is a brilliant way to hide the TV. I love the idea of the ceiling mount track for the pictures so you could change out the art pieces if you wanted to later.


via potterybarn

Buying a good old fashioned wall mount to set your TV in is perfect if you are looking for a quick and easy fix!


via pinterest

Don't like the thought of going through the trouble to hide your TV? Try using your it as a centerpiece for your art. Placing your pictures around the it strategically can give the wall a great look without covering up the screen. 

Timeless Inspiration

Finding that perfect piece of furniture to fit your space isn't always as easy as it seems. Luckily there are plenty of timeless iconic pieces that have been making statements and creating inspiration over the years.

This chic colorful armchair adds a little hint of playful to a room but keeps the glamour alive! Perfect for small spaces where you are looking for a little more seating but you don't want it to just blend into the wall!

Looking for something a little more rustic and original? This coffee table would definitely be the talk of the room and pull together your room for a finished touch. The gorgeous wood taps into the traditional design but the wheels keep it modern and almost give it an industrial feel!

Going for a rich luxurious look? A desk like this would make anyone feel like a professional! I love the sleek look of the drawers and the rounded edges of the legs. It screams elegance!

If comfort is more you style then sit back and relax in this gorgeous simple armchair. This seat may not steal the scene in your room but it will definitely be a favorite among many! 

All of these pieces have been acclaimed iconic design and will be timeless additions to your home. You  might even consider them a piece of art! Each of these pieces have been found via Infurn who is known for providing great classic pieces of furniture at affordable prices.

What a difference a mirror makes - cute and clever ways to use mirrors

Here's some eye candy that will be sure to make you rethink mirrors! Mirrors can make a tremendous impact in a space, and if  you are lacking in square footage or light, great mirrors can really make a room feel much bigger and brighter by bouncing light back

Mirror your mirrors - using two can have a really striking affect.
via apartmenttherapy

We don't hesitate to put mirrors in our bathrooms or entryways, but why not in the kitchen?  It can really open up a narrow or galley kitchen.
via Niagara Novice

Putting a mirror across a doorway can reflect new colors or textural interest in a room.
via Angie Hranowsky

Make it huge.  Mirrors are one of those things where I think bigger is better.  It will reflect so much light and add a lot of grandeur.  
via Automatism

Don't settle for what your house "came with".  We have lame-o contractor grade mirrors in our bathroom.  What a difference a beautifully framed mirror would make...

via glamorouschiclife

Here are a couple of mirrors I would love to have in my home..

This Venetial mirror... at $249 it's not that expensive, but not in my future right now with a wedding on our heels.

Get it at Gilt.

More affordable and so pretty.

Get it at HauteLook

Do you have any cool or clever ways of using mirrors in your home?

Impromptu Office Ideas

Most people that work from home have a dedicated office space, but for those of you who don't always work from home and are missing that needed space for the occasional snow day (like here in MD), there are some creative ways to set up an impromptu work space!

via You Say Too

My favorite solution is probably to convert and armoire or cupboard into a hidden office.  Another plus is it helps keep dust off your electronics, and if you don't have time to tidy up, just shut the doors!

Keep a living or library table housed with a lamp and another few office necessities and you can easily use it for an occasional desk.

Traditional Home Office by Rockville Furniture & Accessories Sheffield Furniture & Interiors

Eclectic Home Office by Austin Interior Designers & Decorators Scheer & Co.

A narrow sliver of room can be dedicated if you work from home for maybe only one day a week, but don't have a dedicated office. Consider outfitting one wall with a narrow desk.  Then, run some attractive draperies far enough out from the wall that it will be able to hide the desk when it's not in use.

via houzz

If you have room for a rolling table this could be used for multiple purposes. A great work space, extra cooking space, a rolling bar for parties, or portable storage! Clear it off for a day of work from home that won't affect the rest of your house. Baskets underneath can hold supplies.

via houzz

This hideaway desk is perfect for small spaces. If you are lacking the square footage for an office, purchasing a wall mounted desk could be exactly what you need for those random work from home days. Just pull it down when you need it and store it away when you need your space back!

From my trip to Europe - Amsterdam: A city of canals, bikes, bridges, and charming homes

It has been WAY to long since I've done a post on Chris and my 2010 summer backpacking around Europe.  I'm getting close to the end of our trip, but still have Belgium and France to cover.  Today I'm giving you a mini-tour of the charming streets of Amsterdam, undoubtedly one of the most popular destinations in Europe.  The brick row homes are really beautiful, although so many look like they are leaning against their neighbor or about to topple into the canal.  The canals are packed with house boats, and the stone streets with cyclists.

Just a typical city street...

Can you imagine living in a house on such a slant? Even with the leaning they are beautiful!

Like most European cities, eating outside at a cafe is the norm.

The food in Amsterdam was also superb.  Make sure to try the pancakes!

Hope you enjoyed this little tour!

Thanks to wonderful future hubby for all of the fantastic photography he did during our trip!

Here's that list again of all my posts from our travels that I've posted -

Spain
•Introduction to my European backpacking trip and a list of places we visited
• Galicia - Baiona and Isle de Cies
• Galicia - the coast, some charming vineyards, and Pontevedra
• Santiago de Compostela and gorgeous hidden beaches
• Gorgeous mountain lakes of Picos de Europa
• Stunning mountains - Picos de Europa
• Bilbao and San Sebastian
• Beautiful Barcelona
• The amazing Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona
• Art Nouveau dream house by Gaudi in Barcelona

Italy
• Not to miss - the gorgeous rocky coast of Italy's Cinque Terre
• More from my summer traveling Europe - amazing Rome
• From my summer in Europe - amazing Pompeii
• Turquoise ocean and vineyards on cliffs - the amazingly stunning Amalfi coast
• My Summer in Europe: Pictures from lovely Florence, Italy
• Enchanting Siena
•Venice
•Lake Como, Italy

Switzerland
•Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 1
•Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 2

Germany
• One of my favorite cities from my European backpacking trips - Ulm, Germany
• Lake Constance
• Cute HOUSE Overload - the charming medieval homes of Germany's Romantic Road
• Regensburg, Germany, and Salzburg, Austria  

Austria
• Salzburg
• A charming lakeside village, Hallstatt
• Beautiful Vienna
• Kunst Haus Wien in Vienna

Hungary
• Budapest Part 1
• Budapest Part 2

Czech Republic
• Stunning Prague

Germany
• Berlin

Art for the Eclectic Home: Book Review

After receiving Art for the Eclectic Home by Jamin & Ashley Mills, I was excited to check it out. As a new homeowner, I realized that certain walls in my home where bare and could use some fun accessories to tie in my home decor.

This book takes you through the steps of picking the perfect piece and has a great collection of inspiration to help you figure out what exactly you want on your walls! There is so much variety that you are bound to find a few that you love.

Ashley and Jamin go on to tell you that you don't have to spend a fortune to fill your walls with beautiful artwork. Up and coming artists and prints are a great way to personalize your home on a budget.

If you are interested in seeing more from Ashley and Jamin they write a blog together at: thehandmadehome.net!



Are you a home decor book lover? We have a more book reviews coming up soon! Stay tuned!!

Spaces I'm loving right now

My tastes in interiors have seemed to change in the last year or so. More and more I'm liking a sophisticated eclectic and transitional look over a shabby chic and country look.

What are you loving these days?

via 1. Milk and Honey Home,  2. Bolig Magasinet 3. Coco and Kelly, 4. Interiors Porn , 5.  Coco and Kelly, 6. House Beautiful