Guest Post - 5 Nursery Décor Tips That Your New Baby Will Love

Are you expecting or looking to revamp your little one’s nursery? While we want our little ones to love it, let’s be honest—secretly nursery décor is really for the tired, sleep-deprived parents. You want a space that is both welcoming and calming that both you and the baby enjoy being in. One of the biggest trends in nursery décor is to keep it gender neutral, which means minimizing the baby pink and baby blue and picking a color scheme that is appealing no matter what gender your little one is. If you’re ready to turn your nursery into the oasis of peace that you’ve been dreaming of, here are 5 nursery décor tips that your new baby will love. 

Call on Nature

Bringing nature inside is a popular choice for nursery décor. The beauty of this is you can take it as far as you want. You can channel your inner Mariah Carey can get giant stuffed safari animals, or you take it in a different direction by choosing a statement wall with wallpaper covered in palm leaves. If doing something as bold as a statement wall isn’t for you, you can still bring nature into your baby’s room. Actually adding green plants into your nursery décor not only helps you bring nature into the room but can have health benefits as well. Certain plants, such as Boston Ferns, Areca Palms, Spider Plants, and Snake Plants are good at purifying the air in your baby’s room and are safe as they are non-toxic. You can also opt to go for natural, light finishes on wood furniture and natural materials such as hemp fiber storage bins. 

Be Bold

Gone are the days of pastels and fluffy animals. Modern nursery trends make use of bold colors to create a welcoming vibe in the room. To keep the room from getting too busy, it’s important to stick with a certain color family or group of colors. One popular option is jewel tones, such as sapphire, ruby, or emerald, coupled with gold. Another unique option is to go with the classic Kelly Green. Did you know green is one of the most calming colors? It is best paired with yellows and blues. These colors go together given their proximity to each other on the color wheel. The pairing of the yellows and blues with the Kelly Green make an excellent combination. This décor tip can easily be paired with any of the others on this list to make a truly stunning nursery design. However, it’s important to remember that you want to design your space so that it is calm and appealing to you even on those sleepless nights. 

Make it Pop!

Let’s face it, it is easy to go overboard with colors. To help you pull the whole look of your nursery together take advantage of neutral colors. Follow this rule: 10% color and 90% neutral. This will help keep you from overwhelming yourself with colors. (This is especially important if you are going with bold colors). One fun way to do this is to keep your walls the neutral color—white, light grey, eggshell, beige, and so forth. Then add your color in with your furniture and other accent pieces throughout the room. The crib where your little one will dream sweet dreams? Paint it Kelly Green! Your Curtains? Go with a navy and white pattern. And for your baskets, pillows, linens, and such go for a combination of greens, blues, and yellows. The possibilities are truly endless. Just make sure to stay within a select group of colors and keep the majority of the room neutral. The best part about this is that this works whether you are decorating a nursery for a boy or a girl. 

Go Minimalistic

Minimalism is a growing trend so it’s no surprise that it’s on our list of décor tips for your new baby’s nursery. Applying this trend to your nursery means keeping things clean and simple. To achieve this look you simply need less. This means fewer toys, less furniture, and fewer accessories and gadgets to clutter the room. Achieving this can prove to be difficult, especially with all of the lists out there telling you all the “must haves” for your nursery. Decide whether you really need the full-size crib AND the changing table. In short, you only need the things you really need—the essentials for your baby and maybe a few small wooden or stuffed toys. Anything beyond that really and you begin to lose the minimalistic look and feel that can create a calm, soothing environment in your little one’s nursery. However, there are things that you want to make sure you do have, such as window treatments that darken the room, lighting that can be layered, and a good nursery chair.

Geometric Patterns

If you’re looking to bring playful energy into your new baby’s nursery, then this décor tip is for you. Geometric patterns are being brought into nursery designs more and more as a way to add visual interest. It’s easy to find the perfect piece for your nursery with a geometric pattern on it, whether it is a wallpaper with triangles or circles, or a carpet with zigzags or stars, such a piece can help pull your design together. Other popular geometric patterns include arrows, crosses, squares, stripes, rectangles, and diamonds. These patterns can be used with your accent colors (think a blue zigzag carpet in a neutral colored room) or can be used within the neutral colors themselves (think two-toned beige striped walls), so have fun with it. But be advised, using too many different patterns can be overwhelming. Try to stick to one or two that you really love.  

It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

As a soon-to-be parent or a new parent, there are countless things that you can worry about. Your nursery design shouldn’t be one of them. Find a piece that you really love that speaks to who you are as a couple and what you want for your little one and go from there. You can use these five décor tips to help you. But the most important thing to remember is that it doesn’t have to be perfect. Even if you don’t have all the artwork you want on the wall or you can’t find just the right linens, don’t worry. Once your sweet little one is mooning away in their crib, the last little design details won’t matter. Relax, have fun, and create a space that you enjoy that you can share with your bundle of joy!

Author Bio: Jules Hopkins is a writer and editor. She enjoys writing about home decor, DIY projects, and renovations, as well as gardening and lawn-care.

Guest Post - 5 Health Conscious Additions You May Want For Your Home

We are all being encouraged to stay or become physically fit today. We see ads for weight loss programs, where you can buy all your meals from a weight loss company and have them delivered to your home. There are fitness centers popping up all over, and many of them are open 24 hours a day, so you have no excuse for not exercising every day. Female celebrities are designing their own line of workout clothes so you can look great while you exercise. Male athletes are endorsing fitness products and hosting shows that pit athletes against each other to complete extraordinary feats of strength and endurance.

On the home front, many companies are encouraging their employees to get fit by rewarding them with lower insurance cost if their BMI shows their weight is appropriate for a male or female of their height.

Let’s face it. We all are pretty aware of the importance of watching our weight and keeping physically fit. Everyone would like to look their best and feel rested, energized, and stress free when they wake in the morning—but the truth is you might have been up a couple of times last night to feed the baby or care for a sick child.

Maybe you had a very restless night and are dealing with maximum stress because you have to make a presentation to the CEO of your company this afternoon. Or how about the morning your back is so stiff you can hardly bend over to put your shoes on, after spending the day before getting the yard ready for a family birthday party this weekend. We want to get in shape and eat right but, sometimes, life just gets in the way.

Maybe your reality is that you don’t have the time to drive to a gym or fitness center. It’s harder to take the time for exercise when you also have to add travel time. So, what is the answer? Change your thinking! Instead of thinking that you should go work out, think that you could walk two miles in the time it would take you to get your gear and drive to the fitness center.

You could jump in the pool and swim laps.  Instead of sitting in your chair during the commercial break, get up and run the stairs five times. While you are waiting for the water to boil for the pasta, grab the can of tomato sauce and do some arm lifts. You can achieve a lot in just a few minutes if you think about it.

There are also ways to incorporate fitness into your lifestyle. Here are a few:

Biking.  Get a bike. Join your kids and ride to the park or try out the city’s bike trails. Use your bike instead of the car, whenever possible, to run errands. You’ll help the environment as well as yourself.

Swimming. If you don’t have a backyard pool, think about getting one. Besides the obvious fun you and your family would have for years, a pool provides an excellent exercise opportunity. Swimming laps is a great way to get in shape. It is easy on the joints if that is a problem for you. Learn the different strokes and alternate swimming with each. Every stroke will use different muscles.

Water aerobics is also very beneficial. The buoyancy of the water will protect your joints while the resistance of the water gives you a good workout. Even just playing in the water will provide a workout. Above ground backyard pools come in all different sizes and are much more affordable than an in ground pool but just as much fun for the whole family.

Yoga and Tai Chi. You don’t need much equipment for yoga—just a yoga mat and a space to work out in. There is no equipment needed for Tai Chi. Both yoga and Tai Chi will improve your balance and help you tone. Movements are slow and thoughtful. You will receive the benefits of both even if you can’t complete the entire movement. You just go as far as you can into the movement.

If you are unfamiliar with yoga and Tai Chi, check out YouTube. There are videos that teach you each of the individual movements, and then there are videos that put the movements together for a peaceful, very centered experience. Besides the physical benefit, both yoga and Tai Chi can provide a great benefit to your spiritual and emotional health.

Meditation.  Meditation also requires only a mat. Meditation is very calming and can provide real stress relief. Meditation is a learned technique, and it may take a while for you to learn to quiet your thoughts. Give it time. If you have never tried meditation before, think about a long-distance runner who, while running, is very aware of the rhythm of his feet at each step but not especially aware of the scenery he is passing or the noise surrounding him. That is the state you want to strive for.

Sauna. Saunas are usually associated with Finland, where they are still very popular. A sauna is a closed room or building with super-heated dry heat. The person using a sauna will derive several benefits from it. Saunas are associated with stress relief. The heat is a muscle relaxer and has been used by athletes after vigorous workouts. You will leave a sauna after 10-20 minutes, feeling relaxed and calm. Until recently, saunas were usually only available at larger fitness centers or athletic training facilities. Today, you can purchase a home sauna for use by you and your family.

If you are ready to invest in your health and well-being, try some of these methods. With time and commitment, you will be healthier physically—and spiritually and mentally as well.

Author bio: Chris Hoffman is the founder of Backyard & Pool Superstore currently based outside of Dallas, TX. Backyard & Pool Superstore is an e-commerce leader in backyard, pool, spa, grill & patio products. Before starting Backyard & Pool Superstore, Chris has had 10 years of retail, construction, manufacturing and distribution experience in the swimming pool & spa industry. When Chris isn’t working, he moonlights as baseball coach, dance recital standing ovation specialist, husband, and German Shepherd enthusiast.

Guest Post - Gift-Giving Etiquette: Dos and Don’ts of Wedding Presents

Weddings are a wonderful celebration of love and unity and an opportunity to shower the happy couple with presents that will make their life more comfortable and beautiful. But, what is the acceptable gift for such an occasion?

Do follow the registry

Registries exist for a reason. Most couples need the basics for their new life together, so buying from the registry will ensure they really get what they want. Sure, buying towels might not be super exciting and original, but that’s something that will get used a lot and really make their lives easier. Sticking to the registry is your safest bet.

Do personalized gifts

In recent years, personalized and customized gifts have become increasingly popular for weddings. A wine gift basket filled with various types of wine and gourmet snacks is a practical and sentimental gift that the couple can enjoy on special occasions or save for a future milestone, such as their first anniversary. Other ideas for customized gifts can include monogrammed towels or linens, custom-made jewelry, or a piece of artwork featuring the couple's initials or a special quote. These gifts show the couple that you have put thought and effort into selecting a gift that is meaningful and unique to them. Keep in mind that customized gifts may take longer to produce, so order them well before the wedding to ensure that they arrive on time. As with any gift, it's the thought counts, and the couple is sure to appreciate the personalized touch that a customized gift brings.

Do cash out

In many cases, couples prefer cash, so there’s no shame in stuffing an envelope and gifting it to the newlyweds. However, some cultural exceptions might exist, so if you’re unsure, check with the couple or their family members and friends. Cash is especially attractive to younger couples who are just starting their lives together and need the money for student loans or getting a place to live. Couples like that will survive without a new toaster, but money might be something they really need. If cold cash is a bit too impersonal for you, you can opt for personalized gift cards that allow your couple to shop in millions of stores around the world and online. Just choose your design or upload an image and the newlyweds will get the personalized card in the mail.

Do ship it

Bringing gifts to the wedding can be tricky, both for you and the wedding party. You will need to carry the gift with you and the bridesmaids, or couple’s family, will have to make sure all the gifts reach the newlyweds in one piece after they get back from the honeymoon. So, instead, choose to ship the gift to the bride and groom’s home. This will spare you all the hustle and skip the middleman. It's better to ship it off directly, especially when it's something valuable like a diamond ring, designer piece necklace, or pearl earrings like Mikimoto pearl earrings to avoid damaging or worse, losing the gift on the way.

Don’t wait too long

Even though there’s an old tradition that states that wedding guests have a year to give the couple a gift. However, it’s better to leave that old belief in the past and give your present on time. Even sending your gift a bit before the wedding is completely acceptable. A couple of months delay is something you can get away with, but anything longer than that is considered rude.

Don’t underspend

Underspending is just a trait of bad taste. The amount of money people usually spend on the gift depends on the closeness to the couple and location of the wedding. Most people agree that spending between $50 and $75 is a good number for an acquaintance, $75 to $125 is a good amount for a friend while close relatives usually go $125 and above. If it’s a destination wedding, you can spend less, but if you’re bringing a plus one, spend a bit more.

Don’t hesitate to go with a group gift

If you’re planning on getting your couple something big, it’s more than okay to group up. However, make sure to check whether newlyweds need that item. If they already have a washing machine, getting another one will be a complete waste of money. But, if that’s something you know they need, it’s an amazing group gift idea the couple will know how to cherish.

Sticking to this guide will ensure your couple is satisfied with their gift and that you don’t embarrass yourself. Now that you know your gift won’t flunk, you can relax and get wild on the dance floor!

Author Bio: Amelia Atkins is an author at Smooth Decorator and a fresh architecture student. The love for architecture and design runs in her family and she knew what she wanted to do from a very young age. You can often find her with a notepad in hand, just looking at the clouds, dreaming about the next skyscraper. Twitter / Facebook.

Marie Kondo Revisited

Now that Marie Kondo’s Netflix show, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo has dropped people can't stop talking about her methods. We read her book a few years ago and thought it was worth discussing again.

Joy Indeed

Many of you have heard of Marie Kondo the Japanese decluttering guru. Her two books “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and “Spark Joy” are hot on best seller lists.  After attending her lecture this past January at the Japanese Society in New York City and reading “Spark Joy”, we recognized that at H2H we already incorporate some of Kondo’s methods. Here are 5 of Kondo’s tips from the book “Spark Joy” which we feel are especially useful.

“The key to success in tidying (organizing) is to finish discarding first"

We find it much easier to plan for systems to help you organize when we know the quantity of what is being kept. At H2H with our efficient, sort, simplify and store process we help you determine what to keep and then make good decisions regarding how and where things will be stored.

“It might come in handy is taboo"

At H2H we realize that keeping objects because they “might” be used someday usually creates much more clutter than needed usually in closets and garages. We gently help you to understand how to sort through and keep what is useful, practical or sentimental.

“Don’t throw away things that bring you joy simply because you aren’t using them"                                                                                                                                    

If something puts a smile on your face when you wear it or see it, relax! Don’t listen to that friend who says, you don’t need or haven’t wore it in ten years. We won’t encourage you to part with anything that brings you happiness. We will help you find homes for your special items.

“The words tidying (organizing) and cleaning are often used synonymously, but they are two completely different things"                                                                                             

Many clients find themselves overwhelmed by the two and cannot separate them. As mentioned before the closets tend to get cluttered during cleaning. At H2H our expertise will help you with the 3 S’s sort, simplify and store. We will also recommend cleaning tips to maintain a beautiful home.

“Make accessory storage as attractive as possible"                                                        

Kondo suggests using items from your home such as attractive boxes or dishes to store jewelry or accessories. At H2H we believe in utilizing storage compartments or holders from your house if possible. If necessary, we will recommend outside storage solutions, but you would be surprised how little you have to buy. We want to leave you with an attractive and organized systems, which will help you to love the space you are in.