Art & Craft News

Even with just a few days till October 31, it's not too late to decorate. Pumpkins from the grocery store, leaves from the backyard and a few things around the house can transform a table or mantel into Halloween central. Family Portrait in PumpkinsForget carving. Forget covering the whole pumpkin with paint. Just add a circle of leftover chalkboard paint to one side of each pumpkin and draw on some funny faces (anyone you know come to mind?). Do the family, a group of friends, your pets or even Mr. Jack-o'-Lantern himself. Houzz content coordinator Johanna Cookson found that painting...

Rugs offer one of the easiest ways to add color, warmth and texture to a space. Choose wisely, however, because a rug also has the power to completely change the look and feel of a room. What’s more, what your rug is made of will determine where it’s best used. Three U.K. flooring experts help us sort through the options. Why choose a rug? “A rug is more versatile than a carpet and offers a good way to soften a hard stone or wooden floor, which, although practical, can be rather noisy,” says Roger Oates. “A wool rug with a...

I'm taking an online seminar called "Organizing 101" online right now, and it has me approaching containers in a whole new way. I've found my favorites are galvanized paint pails in various sizes and BASKETS BASKETS BASKETS! There are so many gorgeous examples of baskets in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors, ages, weaves, materials, etc. It's fun to search out interesting vintage baskets at the flea market, including funny old bicycle baskets and creels, and figure out good uses for them at home. They can hide a multitude of sins. For instance, right now I have a creel full...

To use a tablecloth or not to use a tablecloth? That is the question (today). I grew up in an apartment with an enormous glass table that remained uncovered at all times – until company arrived, at which point a tablecloth was flung over it and several layers of plates, bowls glasses and flatware dressed it up. A quick internet search tells me that’s the case for most people. But, how does one decide to cover a table or leave it exposed? And if you do cover it, how low do you go? In most cases, it depends on the...

Elicit surprise and delight by displaying art in spaces where someone might least expect it. Art engages us, stirs our soul and creates debate, but it is often the final piece in a room. Although art is usually saved for last, the right piece of art can tie all the other elements in a space together. When used in a surprising place, art can be thrilling. When we least expect it, a colorful depiction from a child's imagination in a mudroom or a thought-provoking landscape over a kitchen bench delights us.Use one of these creative placement ideas to make your...