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Thursday 1 September 2016

6 Physiological Reasons Why Your Husband/Boyfriend Keeps Cheating on You



cheating, infidelity





Why Does He Keep Cheating on Me?


Is it because you’re unattractive? You’re overweight? Underweight? You’re not kinky enough in bed? You’re boring in bed? You fuss too much? You complain too much? Find comfort in knowing that it’s not your fault why your significant other keeps cheating. Even if you beautified yourself more, lost weight, gained weight, became a lioness in the bedroom, stopped fussing so much—if he is wired to cheat and lacks self-control, he’s going to continue the behavior anyway. It’s not you. It’s him. Even if you’re putting the gun in his hand (so to speak), it’s his decision to pull the trigger.

“A man will be a man.” “All men are dogs.” “Men don’t need a reason to cheat; all they need is an opportunity.”

There are numerous sayings out there to explain why many men find it so difficult to be faithful to just one woman. If you have found yourself in the situation where your significant other has cheated on you, we as women often make the mistake of asking this question: “What am I doing wrong?” The truth of the matter is that a man holds complete responsibility for his decision to step outside of the relationship. However, some interesting findings about the male brain and his sexuality might shed some light as to why your husband or boyfriend seems to be a sex addict who just can’t help himself.

Physiological Influences on Infidelity

1. Testosterone Levels: Men who have high levels of testosterone have higher sex drives. The amount of testosterone a man has is bestowed upon him by nature when he’s nothing more than a cell in his mother’s womb. Studies have shown that men with lower T-levels make better husbands and are less likely to commit an act of infidelity. According to the Men’s Health magazine, “A study of more than 4,000 men found that men with high testosterone levels were 43 percent more likely to get divorced and 38 percent more likely to have extramarital affairs than men with less of the hormone” (Amen, 2010).

2. Size of the Prize: A man’s predisposed level of testosterone is directly correlated to the size of his penis. Men with higher levels have longer penises. Men with lower levels have shorter penises. A glance in your man’s pants can help you guesstimate his level of T.

3.Hypothalamus: This is the part of the brain that’s interested in sex. Look at the picture below and compare the male’s hypothalamus to the female’s. This is why he’s always ready to “make whoopee” and seems to have it on his mind all the time. It’s part of his nature.

4. Visual stimulation: Men are more visually stimulated than females. This is why he loves for you to send him nude pictures, loves to make love with the lights on or while looking in a mirror, loves to see you dressed in something naughty. This is also why he steals many glances at attractive women who pass his way. He’s wired to look. So don’t get mad if you catch him looking, just give him the 5-Second-No-Comment Rule: he can look for five seconds and then he must look away without making any spoken comment, such as, “Now, that’s what I call a booty.”

5. Age Does Matter: The prefrontal cortex is a part of the brain that helps us with good judgment calls. This part of the male’s brain is not fully developed until age 25. That’s why men under the age of 25 make many bad judgment calls. Think about it: you have gallons of testosterone gushing through you, you think about sex all the time, and your brain isn’t developed enough to make the best judgment call. Men under age 25 are like a recipe for disaster. (What’s the excuse for those over 25 who make very bad judgment calls? Well, that’s a man for you.)

6. He’s Heavily Drugged: At the moment when the man has spotted a willing prey who is very visually attractive and his blood gets to flowing, other things get to flowing as well, such as dopamine (linked to the sex drive) and PEA (phenylethylamine), a natural chemical compound that is associated with psychoactive drugs, like cocaine and ecstasy. This is why it’s so darn difficult for him to control himself! His body is literally working against him.



This is Not a Free-Pass to Cheat

Hypothalamus of men vs. Hypothalamus of womenWhile this hub explains the reasons why a male’s body works against him when it comes to remaining faithful, this is by no means written to excuse the behavior. Cheating is an intolerable act, one that is very hurtful and can cause irreversible damage to a marriage, relationship, household, etc. Just imagine…what if his bad behavior brings home a disease to you or brings about new life growing in the womb of another woman?



What to Do if You Suspect Him of Cheating

Confront him. If he lies about it (which he most likely will), present proof. If he still lies about it in the light of the proof and refuses to acknowledge that he’s been caught, then you must make a decision. Are you going to stay with a liar/cheater, are you going to remove yourself from the situation, or are you going to do nothing?


A remorseful cheater. If he’s willing to admit that he’s been caught and he’s remorseful for his behavior, come up with a plan to eliminate the behavior and begin the journey of rebuilding trust in the relationship. Counseling is always a good idea because it might unearth the root of the problem in your marriage/relationship.


Repeat offender. If this isn’t the first, second, or third time you’ve caught him, chances are he’s a habitual offender who completely lacks self-control and is nowhere near ready to be in a committed relationship. Sometimes, a man really needs to “get it all out of his system” before he can be faithful to you. For your sanity, let it go.


Recognize your worth. Sometimes, we “own” a man’s cheating when it’s not our problem to own. Whether we admit it or not, we blame ourselves for the cheating. We search our brains for things we could have done better to keep him from cheating. This leads to insecurities and low self-esteem. Why feel bad about yourself because your man can’t control himself? You can’t make a man be faithful to you. Either he will or he won’t, but it's his decision—not yours.


Own your own wrongs. Be realistic here. You can’t go a whole year withholding the “cookie” from a man and then get mad when he sleeps with someone who is willing to give it up. You can’t make sex with your man seem like such a burdensome chore and then get mad when he sleeps with someone who gets excited about making love to your man. You can’t walk around with your head looking like a bird’s nest and wearing big, oversized drab clothing and then get mad when your man eyes down a woman who looks like she could be on the front cover of Sports Illustrated. Do what you can to keep your husband from cheating and if he stray, you’ll find peace in knowing that you did your part.

infidelity, monogamy, cheating, affair

In Closing...


A man is wired by nature to seek, conquer and devour women. His hypothalamus, testosterone levels, and eyeballs can get him into a world of trouble. Despite the odds that nature has set against him, cheating is still a choice. When presented with the opportunity to cheat, men shouldn’t think: “Is it worth it?” because while caught up in the moment and heavily drugged with dopamine and phenylethylamine, he will deceive himself into thinking, “Yes, it’s worth it.”

Instead, men should keep their goal in mind—to have a happy wife/girlfriend and a relationship of longevity. And men should try harder to avoid boxing themselves into situations that have the ability to go left field. For example, if a flirtatious woman who you’re highly attracted to finds herself stranded and needs a ride home, don’t put yourself in such closed in proximity by offering her a ride in your whip. Instead, call around to find her a ride or pay for her a taxi. And then remember that no matter how green the grass may look on the other side, every patch of grass has to endure winter.

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Monday 27 June 2016

Pretty Risky: Men Would Skip Condoms with Attractive Women

When a woman is more attractive, a man is less likely to intend to use a condom during sex with her, a new study finds.

Previous research has suggested that there is a link between perceived attractiveness and a person's willingness to have unprotected sex, the researchers, led by Anastasia Eleftheriou, a graduate student in computer science at the University of Southampton in England, wrote in the new study. Eleftheriou's research focuses on using computer simulations to study and influence attitudes towards sexual behavior.

One earlier study of women, for example, found that the more attractive they considered a man to be, the more willing they would be to have unprotected sex with that man. This was true even though the women believed that attractive men were more likely than less attractive men to have a sexually transmitted infection (STI)

In the new study, the researchers focused on men. Fifty-one heterosexual men completed a survey in which they were asked to rate the attractiveness of 20 women in photographs on a scale from 0 to 100. For each woman, the men were asked to indicate, also on a scale of 0 to 100, how likely they would be to have sex with the woman if given the opportunity, and how likely they would be to use a condom, the study said. The researchers also asked the men to estimate how many men like themselves out of 100 would have unprotected sex with the woman if given the opportunity. Finally, the men were asked to indicate on a scale of 0 to 100 how likely it was that the woman in the photo had an STI.

The researchers also asked the men a series of questions about their sexual history, and how attractive they considered themselves to be.

Results showed that the more attractive a man considered a woman to be, the less likely it was that he would intend to use a condom during sex with her.

The researchers also found that if the men said that a high number of other men like themselves would be willing to have unprotected sex with a woman, the respondents were also more likely to say the women had an STI. However, the study found, this did not affect the men's willingness to have unprotected sex with the woman.

The researchers found that men thinking a woman had an STI had no influence on how attractive the men found that woman, the study authors wrote. Some men were more attracted to women who they judged to be STI-free, while others were more attracted to women who they believed more likely to have an STI, the study found. [Hidden STD Epidemic: 110 Million Infections in the US]

A man's perception of his own attractiveness also played a role: The more attractive a man considered himself to be, the less likely it was that he would to intend to use a condom, the study found.

The findings suggest sexual behavior is irrational when it comes to avoiding infections: Men in the study were less likely to intend to use a condom with a woman they found more attractive, even if they thought the woman had an STI, the researchers wrote. Conversely, the men in the study were more likely to intend to use a condom with a woman they considered less attractive, even if she was less likely to have an STI, according to the study.

Based on the findings, a one-size-fits-all approach may not work to educate men about condom use, the researchers wrote. Rather, education efforts may need to differ depending if the men are more attracted to women who they believe are more likely to have STIs or more attracted to women who they believe are less likely to have STIs.

The researchers noted, however, that the study included a small number of men, the majority of whom were white. A larger, more diverse group of men may result in different findings. In addition, the study focused on whether or not men intended to use a condom during sexual intercourse, but not if they actually did use a condom.

Sunday 12 June 2016

How To Kiss A Woman And Have Her Want More

jucoolimages.com/Consider it long sexy foreplay, an entrée or not. Women are sensual creatures. Yes, we are!! We love to be touched, kissed, hugged and held. A man that understands this is one above many.

The types of kisses are many: butterfly, which are light almost there; pecks, also light usually given on the cheek; playful, self explanatory; long drugging kisses that make us weak, akin to the French kiss.

A woman’s body holds a lifetime of discovery and pleasure. If you love and adore your partner then exploring and finding her treasures are wonderful gifts.


Let's set the stage;lights, music and mood. Music is always a good accompaniment, something soft and sexy that you will both feel comfortable with.

Let’s start with her face. Kiss her brow, peppering from one side to the next. We are just using light kisses. Then move to her eyebrows, eyes, nose, cheeks and chin. Keep eye contact with her so that you can see her reactions. Does she seem to be enjoying your kisses? Are her eyes closed? Is she leaning into you? Is she making any sounds that might give you a clue?



Kiss the side of her neck; nibble along the cord; place some behind her ears also around her ears. Lick the inside of her ear lightly. Chew gently, on her earlobe. Ask her. Say, “Do you like that?” We love that you are expressing your concern and not just rushing. Take your time. Take the time. It's all about pleasuring.

Gently, raise the hair away from the back of her neck and kiss her with some playful and some firm kisses there. This is such a sensitive spot for some women. Breathe in and catch her scent.


We’ll concentrate on her mouth now. Instead of rushing in to part her lips and stick your tongue down her throat; consider her lips. See the shape. Marvel at it. Lightly trace the outline of her top and then bottom lip with the tip of your index finger. Then follow the path with the tip of your tongue. Next, pick a corner of her lip and indulge in gently nibbling, tugging, licking and sucking on her lip. Use the full wetness without being sloppy, of your tongue to lave and explore the fullness of her lips. Continue into the inner part of her mouth by touching, tasting licking and making love to her mouth.


Now, this might be it for you both. You're hot and bothered.  You’ve brought the house down and must get to other things. Quickly.

We interrupt this delicious foreplay for some announcements. 

Let's take a short break so that you can catch your breath.

Fun Facts and Statistics

39,897 people gathered in the Plaza de la Constitución, in Mexico City, Mexico, on February 14, 2009, to beat the record for the most people kissing simultaneously.
We kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas.
X”s at the end of a letter means that we're sending the person kisses.
"Passionate kissing burns 6.4 calories a minute. A Hershey’s kiss contains 26 calories, which takes five minutes of walking–or about four minutes of kissing–to burn off".

I continue….with her shoulders, feather them with kisses also into the hollow where her neck and shoulder meet. Slowly, move your way down her arm until you get to the hollow (elbow). Remember, you're not in a race. Slow is good. Now, give it some attention by placing a dusting of kisses there.

Move to her fingers. Kiss between each finger and flick your tongue against each one of them. Then suck on them one at a time while looking into her eyes. Very erotic.

Turn her hand over, palm up. Lightly trace the marks on the palm of her hand. Just whisper soft. It feels ticklish to some. Lightly brush kisses in a circular pattern into the palm. Also use your tongue to flicker into the center of the palm. If you are following through on all of these instructions she should be wet and thinking of what’s to come. Look into her eyes and show her the wanting.

I’ll avoid the erogenous spots since we should know what to do there.

Place some kisses along the back of the shoulders and along her spine to the two hollows above her bottom. Pay attention to her hips. Her belly button what a place to nurture.

On the inside of her thighs, it’s ah, so sensitive there. Kiss her, lick her, and stroke her. The back of her knees are so sweet.

The final spot that some women enjoy is having their feet- toes kissed and licked.

Guys, that’s how you entice her into wanting more. Ladies tell us did he make you want more? Did he touch you in all (ahem) the right places?

Guys use your imagination. I’ve given you a wealth of info. Every woman is unique. Kissing is one way of paying homage to a woman and her body. Enjoy!

Now, don't be shy!! Go on and leave me a comment. Tell it like it is.

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Source :- Hub Pages

Monday 6 June 2016

Nice to meet Tsu: the new social network that Facebook doesn't want you to know about

Tsu.co, which pays users a portion of the advertising revenue made from their updates, claims that Facebook started deleting links to its site in September.


Facebook is deleting millions of links to its smaller rival Tsu.co, which pays users a percentage of the advertising revenue earned each time they update their status.
Tsu claims that in late September, Facebook started deleting more than 9.5 million links to its site. Facebook also blocks new posts that contain the text "tsu.co" but no links, warns users that links to Tsu are "unsafe" and fails to deliver Instagram posts and texts via Facebook Messenger that mention Tsu's Internet address or link to the site.
Facebook defends its Tsu ban as a way to prevent its service from turning into a hangout for scam artists and opportunists hoping to make a quick buck. Tsu says Facebook just doesn't want its users to realise that their photos, videos and personal observations might actually be worth something.

Facebook, which has an interest in protecting its 1.5 billion users from an onslaught of digital rubbish, is one of the internet's largest gatekeepers. That gives it extraordinary sway in determining who can reach its vast membership - not to mention what those members can discuss using its apps and services.
That can be a big issue when the subject involves a challenge to a company's core business - in this case, selling advertising against the material Facebook users contribute for free. Facebook has earned $2.1 billion on revenue of $12 billion during the first nine months of this year alone. The company now has a market value of about $300 billion, and no particular interest in generating traffic for a potential competitor.
There's a long history of similar disputes among technology companies, who almost always claim to be acting in the interests of their users. Amazon, for instance, recently yanked Google and Apple streaming-TV devices from its virtual shelves, clearing the way for its own. In just the past few days, several banks have blocked outside financial-planning apps from connecting to their systems, citing security concerns.
Tsu, which launched just over a year ago, has grown quickly; CEO Sebastian Sobczak says it has 4 million members. It has raised about $11 million in venture capital.

Tsu.co is winning converts to its social network by paying them for their posts. Facebook currently blocks all links from the smaller network, claiming theyíre low quality links that border on spam.

Facebook's Tsu purge came without warning and affected a swath of users that included rap artist 50 Cent, who shared a link to a video on Tsu with more than 38 million Facebook fans. The team that handles 50 Cent's social media accounts didn't respond to requests for comment.
Facebook says that Tsu pays its users to post links on other sites, an incentive that breaks its rules for connecting with its social network. In a statement, Facebook said it doesn't let outside publishers pay users to post links on its network "because it encourages spammy sharing."
Mr Sobczak denies that his service is paying people to post links on Facebook. Tsu users are paid based on how much advertising it sells alongside their posts. That revenue-sharing setup is similar to financial models used by major digital services such as Google's YouTube; Facebook users widely share YouTube links with one another.
"It feels like we are being singled out and they are trying to stop a competitor with a more efficient business model," Mr Sobczak says. "What are they afraid of?" Mr Sobczak, a former venture capitalist, says Facebook hasn't responded to his inquiries.
Claudia Everest, a frustrated Facebook user who embraced Tsu to find buyers for her $30 drawings of dogs, says Facebook is trying to deflect attention from Tsu's revenue-sharing concept.
"I don't think they are afraid of Tsu as much as they are of anything that lets people know their content has value," says Everest, who lives in Stoke on Trent. "That picture you posted of your dinner last night may not seem like it has value, but it does to the advertisers."

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Source :- Telegraph

Wednesday 25 May 2016

Top 10 Interior Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

How to Transform Inferior Decorating: Identifying and Correcting Decorating Mistakes

You don't have to be a professional interior decorator to understand and apply some basic principles of interior design that will help you create a comfortable and functional home with style.
We've assembled a list of tips that tell you how to avoid (or correct) ten of the most common home decorating mistakes.
This article is not about creating the perfect magazine-worthy home décor or intimidating you with designer jargon and time (and/or money) consuming tasks.
Our aim is simply to present easy DIY decorating fixes with the basic information needed to implement them.
Whether you want to rearrange furniture in your living room, update your bedroom décor, create a guest room, shop for a dining room chandelier, or are downsizing or starting from scratch with your first studio apartment, these tips will help you make the choices that are right for you and your lifestyle.
Throughout this article, you will also find links to other pages that explore some of these topics in greater depth from coordinating fabrics to choosing colors, hanging pictures, and more.
We hope the tips included here will give you the confidence to decorate and accessorize your home to create a welcoming, comfortable place without worrying about making mistakes or wasting time or money -- and one that reflects your unique personality and style.
If you have heavy furniture or haven't purchased any yet, it helps to measure the room and its features first. Then draw the dimensions (graph paper makes it easier), translating the measurements into a scale.
For example, using a scale of 1 inch on paper = 1 foot of space, a room that is 8 feet by 10 feet will be drawn as 8 inches by 10 inches; if you use a scale of 1/2 inch = 1 foot, an 8 foot by 12 foot room would be 4 inches by 6 inches on the paper. In the first case, feet simply are translated into inches on a 1:1 basis. In the second case, you divide each dimension by two. Thus, a 13 foot x 14 foot room, on a scale of 1 foot = 1/2 inch, would measure 6.5 inches x 7 inches in your drawing, and so on.
It is also important to make sure that you note the location and size of doors, windows, hearths, or other features you will need to consider in deciding on furniture placement.
Make a few photo copies once you've done that. Then measure the "footprint" of each piece of furniture (the length and width or amount of space it takes up on the floor).
If you haven't purchased the furniture yet, use standard measurements or find pieces you like and use those dimensions to see if it will work in your home before you buy it. Cut pieces of paper to the same scale as the room dimensions and label each piece of paper.
You can then move the cut-outs around on paper until you find an arrangement that works with the space, purpose, traffic, and size. Tape them in place or use a dab from a glue stick to secure them to the paper.
By using the photocopies, you can easily create multiple arrangements on different pages and compare them to get an idea of how each works before you move the furniture. If you can't visualize it accurately from the drawings, you can use software that will create a three dimensional model for you to see or you can use the cardboard box method outlined in the next section.
1. Up Against the Wall. . . Not!


Many people think a room looks bigger when all of the furniture lines the walls around the room. And if you want a dance floor, that may work, but for most purposes, furniture looks better and a room looks more inviting when the pieces are at an angle or surrounded by space.
Try angling your bed or sofa. Or float that large sofa facing a fireplace, two smaller conversational seating groups, or a pair of chairs arranged at an angle. Depending on the shape, size, and scale of your room, consider using two loveseats or settees instead of a large sofa.

Walk through the room and note the traffic patterns. Move the pieces around you find an arrangement that works with the space and with the traffic flow. That is, do not block access to other rooms or doors with furniture arrangements or individual pieces.
You will want to direct traffic while allowing easy access to pathways in, out of, and around the room.





Low-Tech Quick Floor Plan Kit


Home Quick Planner: Reusable, Peel & Stick Furniture & Architectural Symbols
The Home Quick Planner includes 700 precut, reusable peel-and-stick, scaled furniture and architectural symbols, plus a floor plan grid to help you design your own projects. Simply lift the symbols and arrange them on the floor plan grid to design floor plans, move furniture and make changes. Step-by-step instructions and "Design Details: Critical Dimensions & Clearances" are provided to help you improve your design and save money.
Other Considerations

Consider the purpose of the space as well. Are closets or bookshelves accessible? Do you have a great view you want to feature? (See focal points, below.)
Never automatically push all furniture against the walls. Living room furniture placed around the perimeter of a room does not encourage conversation and can create a cold feeling or ambience.
A chair without a nearby light source will not become a place to read the latest book by your favorite author or complete your latest craft project.
A long and wide island in the center of your kitchen between your sink and refrigerator means you have to walk around it every time you go from one to the other.
Virtual Furniture Arranging

If you are tech-savvy, you might want to invest in floor plan software that will make it even easier to plan a single room or an entire house. Some of these apps have free trials you can download from their websites or your app store which may provide enough features for you to do this at no cost.


2. Picture this: Getting the Hang of It



Hanging pictures or other types of wall décor too high or using pictures that are too small for a particular spot are perhaps the most common home decorating mistakes.
Unless you are creating a period wall full of dado-to-frieze pictures, wall décor should generally be hung so that the middle of the picture (or grouping) is at eye level (from either a standing or sitting position, depending on where it will be viewed from) or a little (2 to 3 inches) lower than eye level, with spacing between pictures fairly equal or visually balanced.
Pictures should also be hung in a way that is proportional to their location. A single small picture hung over a sofa will not look right. Neither will two small ones spread too far about. They will be out of balance.
As a rule of thumb, artwork should be placed no more than five to nine inches above a sofa and no more than seven to ten inches above a table. The placement of your artwork should also relate to its surroundings. As a guideline for proportion, one or more pictures (including mirrors or other wall décor) should cover about 2/3 of the wall space above the piece of furniture. For example, if you have a 6 foot wide sofa, plan on a single picture or an arrangement that is about 4 feet wide and centered above the sofa.
Always experiment with different arrangements and combinations of pictures before starting to hang any of them.
There are two ways to arrange pictures: Symmetrical and asymmetrical. Symmetrical groupings create a more formal feeling while asymmetrical arrangements are more casual. Items that are the same or similar in size, shape, and/or other attributes lend themselves to symmetrical arrangements -- one in which items are hung equally around a center line or point.
It is easier to create balance with a symmetrical grouping, but it is not difficult to balance an asymmetrical grouping either, although you'll have to rely on a bit of trial and error to create visual balance instead of a level and ruler or tape measure.
A grouping of pieces different in size, shape, color or other attributes will work better in an asymmetrical arrangement. Such a grouping should be hung so that the visual weight of the objects appears balanced. One way to do this without making a lot of unnecessary holes in your wall is to lay out the arrangement on the floor first, adjusting the grouping until you have arranged the items in the most pleasing (least lop-sided) way.
You could also trace the outlines of the items onto a roll of newsprint or inexpensive paper (that will contrast with your wallcolor) and arrange those on the wall with a hinge made of blue painter's tape on the back. (Other types of tape may remove paint from your wall.)


Decorator's Tip

Bird 2-Piece Wall Panel Set
If you are working with different size items, keeping the larger pieces on the bottom of the arrangement will anchor your arrangement and keep it from looking top-heavy.
Reposition the shapes until you are pleased with the arrangement and then use that as a guide for hanging the actual items.
A vertical arrangement will make a room appear taller and a horizontal arrangement will make it appear wider.
You might also want to consider hanging one larger item surrounded by a circle or rectanglular arrangement of smaller pictures. This type of arrangement is particularly effective for displaying a group of photos in a hallway.
Whatever arrangement you choose, frames and mats should complement both the artwork and your decorating style or theme.
A framed mirror can add dimension and light, and is especially effective when it reflects something beautiful, such as a window overlooking a garden or an indoor flower arrangement, for example.
Do not be afraid to hang artwork with a mirror as part of the group. Unless a mirror is large enough to look balanced on a wall by itself, you can keep the proportion pleasing by adding pictures next to or around the mirror.
Once you decide on an arrangement, start hanging from the center or largest item and then, if there is more than one item in the center of your arrangement, hang any that go above and/or below the central piece. Continue out, hanging items from top to bottom, until all of your pictures have been hung.
Whether you use picture hooks, molly bolts, toggle boths, picture nails, or some other method will depend on the type of wall construction and surface, so be sure you have the right type of fasteners available.
If your home is a rental, you may be restricted to non-invasive methods such as suspending frames from a railing or keeping your artwork lightweight enough to use magnetic or peel-and-stick types of picture hangers
Pictures Perfect
Variation of Apple Blossoms by Vincent Van Gogh
Can't find the right artwork or other wall décor to hang?
See if one of these will work for you.
Selections will change frequently, so check back to see what's new.
Artwork shown here is Interpretation in Red Almond Blossom" by Vincent Van Gogh in a 3-piece canvas set. Below is Sunset in Venice by Claude Monet. Both are available atAllPosters in a variety of sizes and formats.




3. Become a Groupie


Sunset in Venice by Claude Monet (1840 - 1926).

(No, not that kind)


Accessoriesare an important part of home decorating. They can make or break a room and are a great way to show off your collections and personalize your home décor.However, don't over-do it. If you have a large collection, put some of it away and rotate the items. Group the items together in one place rather than spreading around throughout the house.
From Book Sold Below
Think about every accessory you put in a room. You want it to reflect your personality and taste, but not look cluttered. Consider the scale of the items as well as their colors, purpose, and shapes. Group them in odd numbers or creative ways, but keep them together. Aim for a small grouping of your favorites and either pack the rest away, sell them, or donate them to charity.




4. That's Odd! Off-center is On-target

  Unless your display is of Noah's Ark, avoid putting things in   pairs. Odd numbers are far more interesting. A group of      three or five items is usually better than two, four, or six.
  Items that are different in shape, height, color, texture or    some other dimension should be balanced, but that almost    always means they should not be centered and spread out    or lined up evenly in a straight line.
  The third picture in the Picture This section, above, would   not be as interesting if the lamp was removed and the    flowers were centered in front of the mirror. By adding the   taller lamp, and moving the flower arrangement to one    side, the arrangement has balance and more interest. The    lamp ties the grouping together and anchors it. Display your   collections or objects grouped by color, material, or theme. Vary the heights, shapes, and textures for more interest.


5. Think Big -- Bigger IS Better!


  Contrary to what many think, a small room decorated with     small furniture is usually not the best way to go.
   One larger (but not huge) "statement" piece -- such as an    antique armoire, bookcase topped desk, or an overstuffed    armchair with a carved wood frame -- will draw the eye and   create an airier atmosphere than a lot of smaller scale    furniture.
  Start with your statement piece and arrange the other    items in the room around it. For example, many smaller    rooms often have a shelving unit against one wall, either    freestanding or in the form of shelves attached to shelving    strips affixed to the wall. Whether you use it for media  and/or books, display, or other storage, replace the open  shelves with an armoire to hold all of that "stuff" instead.
 Perhaps angle the armoire in a corner of the room and    arrange your seating and occasional tables to complement    that. You'll be surprised how much better the space will    look and feel.




6. Of(f) Color: Avoid White Blight


Although white walls are very appealing to some of you, having no color on the walls often makes a room seem cold and uninviting. It also makes it very hard to decorate. If you must use pure white, use it for trim, fabric, or accessories with a color or even a light neutral shade on the walls.
 White only works on a wall if you  know how to use it -- and since that  is a difficult thing to do, we do not  recommend you try it yourself. And  be sure to choose the right intensity  of color. Do not rely on small paint  chips as the color will look different  on the wall.
 Purchase a small amount of paint and  try it first. Live with it a couple of  days. View it at various times of the  day and night since the color you  choose may look different with  different lighting conditions and with different colors adjacent to it .It is worth the slight extra investment to avoid spending many times more only to have it turn out darker or lighter than you expected

Decorator's Tip

 Do NOT hold your color swatches against a white wall.
  The appearance of a color will look different depending on  what other colors are adjacent to it. You'll get a much  better idea of how the color will look if you look at it next to  your furniture, window treatments, or cabinets. It also  helps to see a larger area of color and even the larger  swatches sometimes available today may not be big  enough.
 Instead of putting the sample color on a wall, we suggest  you completely cover a large piece of white foamcore board  or posterboard with paint and look at it in different places  in your room. If you are painting several rooms or want to  make an accent wall a different color or hue, you can also paint another board with the different color and move them from wall to wall or even room to room and see which placement looks best.
With today's computer technology, paint stores can match almost any color you can find. You are not restricted to choosing colors available on paint chips. Expert paint stores can also make a color slightly darker or lighter - just be sure to check some dried paint to be sure it is what you want before you leave the store with your purchase.

Chandeliers With Decorative Impact

Chandeliers L to R: New Orleans 14-Light Crystal, Zelda Contemporary in Vintage Brass, Murray Feiss Stirling Castle, La Parra Tiered Spanish Gothic. Most available in different sizes, finishes, and colors. Click the info icon to learn more.

7. Lighten Up in 3 Easy Steps

 1. Lighting may be the most frequently overlooked element of home decorating. Besides the fixtures being design elements themselves, good lighting is related to function (as in task lighting, reading lights, etc.) and mood. Lighting should be chosen not only for the style and scale of the light fixtures but according to what the purpose of the room is and what type of ambience you wish to create. Dark rooms can be depressing and overly bright rooms can be harsh on the eyes and the nerves. Each room should have multiple lighting options, from a dimmer switch for the dining room chandelier to table and floor lamps near work and reading areas. Accent lighting can enhance your collections, artwork, or even your prize schefflera.

2. Long with the above, the most frequent lighting mistake in home décor is a dining room chandelier that is either too small (almost always) and/or hung too high. A dining room light fixture should be centered over the table and should not be flush or even semi-flush to the ceiling. It should hang above the table, with the bottom of the fixture no higher than 3 feet above the table. It should also be no smaller than about 9 to 12 inches less than the width or diameter of the table.
A table that is 4 feet wide and 6 feet long should have a chandelier that is 36 to 39 or 40 inches in diameter. A round table that is 5 feet in diameter (width across the middle) should have a chandelier that is no smaller than 48 inches in diameter. (For larger tables, my personal preference is to hang the chandelier even a little lower than 36" above the table as it makes it a more dramatic focal point). The chandelier should be on a dimmer (soft light is more flattering and conducive to dining) and don't forget the candles.

Bright Ideas For Table and Floor Lamps

From an accent to general and task lighting, there are a wide variety of fixtures and styles to complement your home décor. We have selected some of our favorite table and floor lamps below. Many of these styles come in both table and floor models, so if you like a style but the type you need isn't pictured, click on the info icon link to see the complete line.
 3. Last but far from least -- Do not neglect the importance of sunlight (or the ability of ultra violet rays to fade furnishings and artwork). When thinking about room lighting you should also pay attention to the direction the windows of the room face, when it is likely to have the most sun, if you want the maximum exposure to that sun or it will be too glaring, if you want the light but not the UV exposure, or if you want to block the sun (in a media room or perhaps the bedroom of someone who works the night shift and sleeps during the day).
L to R: Nova Matilda Floor Lamp, Nova Ventana Floor Lamp w/Tray, Meyda Tiffany Trillium & Violet Floor Lamp, Dimond’s Athena Torchiere, Dimond Lighting Farmhouse Floor Lamp & Kenroy Home Pisces Floor Lamp. Click "info" icon for more.
These things should all be considered when selecting the appropriate type of window treatments.

Do you need to filter light? (semi-sheers and similar types of curtains, uv blocking window films)
Block light? (light-blocking shades, blinds, and/or heavier draperies)

Create privacy? (opaque treatments, including shutters)

Not block a great view? (consider no window treatment or just a valance and/or easy-to-open styles)

Improve energy efficiency? (think thermal, shutters, energy saving window films)

All of these lighting-related factors should be considered in deciding on window treatments in addition to budget, lifestyle (Do you really want puddling drapes if you have pets), and taste preferences.

Lighting Essentials

Whether a reproduction of a historic period oil lamp, a halogen "high hat" hidden in the ceiling, or the 
L to R: Nova Matilda Floor Lamp, Nova Ventana Floor Lamp w/Tray, Meyda Tiffany Trillium & Violet Floor Lamp, Dimond’s Athena Torchiere, Dimond Lighting Farmhouse Floor Lamp & Kenroy Home Pisces Floor Lamp. Click "info" icon for more.
latest in pendant track lighting, you also need to consider the type and size of lightbulb (flourescents are energy efficient but can provide harsh light), installing a dimmer switch for the main light source, the proportions of the lamp or fixture in relation to your furnishings, and especially the job you want the light to do.
Look for warm lighting and, for work areas, we find that full spectrum lighting is best, especially if you work with color like we do.

8. What's the (focal) Point? Every Room Needs One

A focal point serves as the focus or anchor for the design of a room. In other words, it is the glue that brings a room together and creates interest. Some may not be aware of what a focal point is and what it does for a room so their rooms either tend to have no focal point or to have too many. The result of either is the same - confusion.
Room with fireplace as focal point

So, what is a focal point? In general, it is the most dramatic element in a room. It is what your eye is drawn to when you first enter a room. It is attention getting and should be the center of attention of your décor.
The focal point can be a fireplace, a large picture window with a great view, or a headboard, entertainment unit or armoire. Furnishings should be arranged in relation to the focal point -- such as a conversational group around a fireplace. Other main elements in a room are arranged to face, frame, or be part of the focal point.
If your space does not have an architectural feature to serve as a focal point, you can create one by using, for example, a dramatic (in scale, style, color, design) piece of furniture, a sculpture, a striking painting on an easel or a picture hung on a wall.

Great Focal Points Anchor a Room

If your room doesn't have a focal point, you can create one as described above or you might want to consider arranging your room with one of the following as your focal point. We've personally selected each one for it's great look and special features.
Room with fireplace as focal point

9. Stifle Those Yawns - Monotony is Boring and Tiresome



Matching furniture, everything the same color, an over-done "theme" room, the same fabric used everywhere (on furniture, windows, accessories, you-name-it). If your room looks like it came out of a store catalog and everything matches -- be it a "suite" of furniture, a color, or ruffles or a themed motif on everything, looking at the same thing all of the time is boring because it lacks interest and personality.
Sure that set of furniture or bedroom linens/curtains/lampshade ensemble looked great in the catalog or showroom. It is supposed to. They are trying to sell as much merchandise as possible and it worked as a sales tool because you bought it. But once you get it home, matchy-matchy becomes worse than wishy-washy. An overly matched room can also give the impression of being cluttered.
What to do? Break up the set. Swap pieces with items from other rooms -- maybe the bedroom nightstand would work as an endtable in the living room or the dresser (sans mirrors) could be used as a server or buffet in the dining room or against a foyer wall. List them on eBay or Craig's list and use the proceeds to find a more interesting replacement. Donate part of the set to charity and enjoy helping others (and the tax benefit).
You might also try painting one piece, changing the hardware, and maybe even add a marble, granite, tile, or Mosaic top to transform a standard piece of furniture into a fun, artsy, unique item. Decoupage and other techniques can also be used. Items in a room should coordinate and create a balanced, complementary look while serving as functional parts of your home but items that look like they came out of the box will make you feel like you are living in one. Think outside the box.

10. Flying Carpets Belong in Fairy Tales



Rugs are not supposed to float or fly except in fairy tale air space. Rugs that are too small are not only hazardously easy to trip on, they float in the middle of a floor, break up a room and are distracting. Before you decide on a size for a rug, use blue painters tape to outline where you want the rug to go.


A rug should anchor the furniture. If a seating arrangement, at least the front feet of the furniture should rest on the rug. You do not want a "floating" coffee table.

Similarly, do not put a too-small rug under the dining room table and have the chairs float around it. It should be large enough for the chairs to fit on as well so that the furniture is both physically and visibly connected.

BTW, that's not the only problem with the room in the large photo above. Can you identify the others?

A room-size area rug should have a 9 to 12 inch border of floor showing between the rug and the wall.

If you want to cover the entire floor, you probably should consider wall-to-wall carpeting instead.

If you are using a room-sized area rug, it should be large enough to tuck under the edges of any furniture around the room, such as servers, or china cabinets.

If you already have one that it is too small, use it somewhere else.

Which of These Decorating Mistakes Troubles You the Most

Go on. Don't be Shy! Go ahead and pick one.

  •  Cluttered Collectibles
  •  Awkward Furniture Arrangements
  •  Overly Matched Furniture
  •  Poor Lighting Choices
  •  Pictures and Wall Décor Haphazardly Hung
  •  Lack of Focal Point
  •  Bright White Blight
  •  Too Much Small Furniture in Small Rooms
  •  Noah's Ark Decorating (Everything in Matching Pairs)
  •  10 Vote Up Vote Down Floating Rugs and Flying Carpets
  • For more Click
  • Source - Hub Pages