If you like to entertain at home, it’s time to survey your abode and evaluate its tech worthiness.  Keeping abreast of the latest entertainment technology can improve your life and is sure to impress your guests.  Here are some suggestions on how to make your home tech worthy.

Log cabin homes are becoming increasingly popular in the mountains of Colorado and Arizona and in other rustic areas.  Homeowners have the options of buying an existing cabin, contracting a custom-built cabin, or taking the do-it-yourself route with a log cabin kit.  The next challenge is decorating the cabin.  The most successful interior designs for log cabins take into account the rustic nature of the cabin itself.   At the same time, you can make the design your own by adding personal touches.

If you’d like to learn more about decorating a log cabin home, you’ll find a wealth of resources on LogHome.com.   You can also take a tour of a beautiful Arizona log cabin in this YouTube video:

Without adding heat, you can make your home feel warmer and cozier by making simple changes to your décor.  Here are a few tips:

1. Add winter fabrics like velvet, flannel and corduroy in deep jewel tones.  This can be done by changing pillows or draperies.

2. Place an afghan or fleece blanket on the back of a sofa to encourage cuddling.

2. If you have a fireplace, move furniture closer to create a cozy feeling.

3. Change art work on the walls to reflect the change of season.  If you like to display family photos, add some that depict winter scenes.

4. Create a warm glow with candles (just remember to use them safely).

Don’t forget to be safe while staying warm.  Be careful when burning candles and make sure you have functioning smoke detectors, then visit the U.S. Fire Administration website for information on fireplace safety.

A kitchen makeover has the greatest potential for increasing the value of your home, but it can also come with the biggest price tag.  If you’re on a budget (and who isn’t, these days?) there are still simple things you can do that will improve your kitchen.

These are some simple ways to improve your kitchen.  Each of these ideas can be complete for less than $1000.

For more ideas information, visit the website for This Old House Magazine.

A headboard is the perfect finishing touch for any bed.  Depending on the materials used, it can be the focal point of the bedroom.  One of the most striking headboards that we’ve seen in a long time is the mantelpiece headboard shown here.  This one was created from a discarded headboard that was refinished and filled with a piece of plywood covered with foam and brown velvet.  Another alternative for a mantel headboard is constructing one from lightweight architectural trim.  Visit the Fypon website to find out more about their trim.

For more details on how to build your own mantel headboard from a ready-made purchased, refer to the instructions on the DoItYourself website.

If you want to decorate your house and garden for Halloween, carved pumpkins are a must.  These days, talented carvers are taking pumpkins to the next level.  The masterpieces shown here are an example of what you can do with a little imagination and a carving knife.  

Check out a gallery of outstanding carved pumpkins from PumpkinGutter in this YouTube video:

These aren’t your grandmother’s Jack-O-Lanterns!

A secluded garden retreat can be a great place to get away from it all and enjoy your own little corner of nature.  Even if you yard is small or serves a variety of purposes (suah as a vegetable garden, kids play area, pool, etc.), you can still carve out a portion that’s dedicated to relaxation.

Your retreat doesn’t need to be large – a space as small as 8 feet square can become a cozy garden getaway.  Choose a shady spot or add your own shade with a gazebo or canopy. Use plantings (think hedges and tall perennials) to shield your getaway from the rest of the yard.  If your property offers a scenic view, position your getaway to take advantage of it. 

Once you’ve prepared your getaway space, it’s time to think about the details.  Comfortable seating is a must and a table will allow you to dine outside.  Then add garden accessories like a small fountain, candles, wind chimes and small potted plants.

Get more ideas for your garden getaway at Better Homes and Gardens.

Thomas J. Story

More and more people in the U.S. have begun to celebrate Halloween by decorating their home with a Halloween theme in the month of October. Whether you put a carved pumpkin in the window or go all out and create your own haunted house, we think you’ll agree that Halloween decorations are a great way to get into the “spirit” of the holiday.

Sunset Magazine has some great ideas for Halloween yard decorations. You can also find some spooky and fun ideas in this YouTube video.

Over the past few decades, wooden floors have again become popular.  A well-maintained wooden floor is easier to take care of than carpet and can be the focal point of a room or entranceway.  Many owners of older homes have been surprised to find a beautiful wooden floor underneath the carpeting.  In this case, the floor may look well worn but can look as good as new after refinishing.

Refinishing an older wooden floor is a challenging task, but the results are worth the effort. 

These are the steps required to refinish a wooden floor:

To find out more about refinishing wooden floors, see this video on the Better Homes and Gardens website.

During the fall, orange seems to be everywhere.  If you love the warmth of orange, you may want to consider it for home décor.  Not everyone thinks of orange as an ideal color for home decorating, but using touches of orange is a great way to add energy to a living space.  Besides brightening a room that has limited natural light, it can make smaller rooms look larger. 

If you’re not sure whether you’ll like orange in your home, begin with a few accent pieces like pillows.  Or you can combine it with a complementary shade of blue to create a balance of cool and warm colors.

Visit the HGTV website to see some inspiring rooms that have been decorated with orange.