Home Interiors and Gifts Honest Home Interiors & Gifts Review

Start your Home Interiors And Gifts Business With Just...

Whoa, whoa wait a minute there. You must have seen this countless of times if you are already interested in interior design and looking to build a business. Making a decision in joining Home Interiors and Gifts could be your next big leap. Check out what this company really is about before you make the 'big dive'.

1) Back To The Beginning

How Home Interiors and Gifts started out was truly the vision of Mary Crowley. She as born in 1915. She lost her mom at the age of 18 months. Having gone through a turbulent life story, she began by working in sales at Stanley Home Products and for a home importer's firm.

Mary had a deep belief that women could have both a passion to build a great home and to be fulfilled professionally. Then, in 1957 she incorporated Home Interiors & Gifts was and built a thriving corporation.

2) Your Products Versus Compensation

Apart from just a 4 step plan for decorating your home there is a range of products you can choose from. Among them are bath accessories, candles, clocks right up to tableware. Though these items are pretty interesting, I think that bulky items (like mattresses and chairs) are not included for you.

You can start by becoming a consultant at $129. There are other costs of maintaining the business though. Commissions are calculated as such that you will earn 45% gross profit from your direct sales. Other cash bonuses for Home Interiors & Gifts can be earned by recruiting others and building great leaders in your team.

3) The Truth Behind Home Interiors and Gifts

Behind a clear wall of marketing, I could say that there was very little concise information about Home Interiors & Gifts in particular. Yet, there are still consultants who have joined a long time ago but have since abandoned their websites.

This shows that the attrition rate is pretty high for consultants. Also, since this company operates on a network marketing concept you need to be highly motivated to work consistently. Be prepared to face real world objections from people.

A Possible Solution?

In closing, if you really are serious about home decorations then Home Interiors and Gifts might be a reasonable choice to start. However, there is much to learn about marketing online even if you have a website setup. Marketing is a learned skill that can be mastered if you invest in a good online marketing course.



By Vern How Chan

Home Interior Tricks And Tips

Is one of more of the rooms in your house smaller than you would like? There are several different home interior tricks to making a small room seem larger than it really is. Changes can be made cosmetically (painting, lighting) as well as physically (furniture, organization) to maximize the appearance of your room.

No matter if the small room is a bedroom, the living room or kitchen, several basic principals need to be followed for the perfect home interior. One Keep clutter to a minimum. This may mean buying drawer organizers to keep things neat in their places in a drawer instead of on a countertop. Buy a bookshelf to stack books up instead of on the floor or table. Limit the amount of knick knacks to only what fits comfortably on your current shelving.

Second home interior tip Keep only what you need. If you havent used it, worn it, opened it, tried it, tasted it or needed it in 18 months, get rid of it. This helps keep the clutter under control also.

To cosmetically alter the appearance of a small room, cover the walls with a light color, such as beige, cream, pale yellow, mauve or pastels. Light colors reflect light from the sun and lamps, thus making a room appear more open and roomier. A white or very pale beige on the ceiling also reflects back more light and enlarging the presence. Dark colors can make a room feel closed in and small from limiting the light sources. Light colored rugs or carpeting also extend the appearance of a larger area.

Tricks that can make a room appear bigger include vertical stripes in wallpaper or paint. If painting, use thin strokes that compliment the wall or furniture colors. Stripes can run from floor to ceiling or start from a chair railing and either go up or down. When choosing wallpaper, choose a small print or thin stripe to use. Small prints are easier to match up also.

Lighting also plays an important role in rooms appearance for the perfect home interior. Use lamps with light colored shades to adequately filter the wattage from the light bulb. Dark shades can hinder reflection, giving a dark appearance, which makes a room poorly lit. Use light bulbs with 75 watts or power or higher, but allows follow guidelines recommended by the lamp manufacturer.

When placing furniture in a small room, try groupings of a large piece followed by a small piece. For example, a tall lamp next to a short backed chair. A tall bookcase next to the couch. If you are limited in budget and have to make do with furniture already bought, arrange it in conversation style as best as possible. A couch with an end table, facing one or two chairs with an end table and lamp.

If your budget allows, buy tall furniture to give the added appearance of height to the walls. Add real or fake plants to sit atop for an extra few inches. Buy a loveseat instead of a full sized couch to save on room. Use narrower end tables or none at all if possible. Floor lamps work well beside or behind a large piece of furniture and reflect the light off the wall and down from the ceiling in one piece.

Buy baskets that can be placed inside shelves or under couches and beds to store extra items and knick knacks. Clutter takes up a lot of precious room, and by maintaining its organization, a room will appear more open.

By: Juan Jos?

Home Building Interior Home Lighting

Home lighting is probably the most important element in home interior decorating, because it is instrumental in setting the mood of any room. It can affect performance, mood, morale, safety and security. When deciding what lighting to use in your new home its important to consider how each room will be used, what fixtures are appropriate, energy efficiency and cost. To ensure that you will achieve the desired effect for your rooms, you first need to understand the four basic types of home lighting.

Ambient or general lighting illuminates the whole room. It is a good idea to install a dimmer with your track and recessed lights so that you have the flexibility to adjust the brightness. Examples of ambient lighting are recessed downlights, cove lighting, soffit lighting, valance lighting, wall washers, sconces, surface-mounted lights, pendant lights, track lights, chandeliers, under-cabinet lights and portable fixtures.

Task lighting provides sufficient light to help you perform the task at hand, for example reading, cooking, shaving, etc. Task lighting should be glare free and it should make things easy to see without tiring or straining your eyes. Examples of task lighting are valance lighting, pendant lights, under-cabinet lights and portable fixtures.

Accent lighting is focused lighting that is used to illuminate an object in your home like a sculpture, piece of art, or architectural element. Accent lighting is about three times as bright as ambient lighting. Example of accent lighting are wall washers, sconces, track lights and under-cabinet lights.

Natural lighting comes through windows, doors, and skylights and depending on the time of day, season, or weather, it can vary in brightness and intensity.

Types of Lighting Fixtures

Once you've considered what types of activities will be taking place in a room and what type of lighting is needed, youll need to decide what fixture will work best in each room in your new home and dont be afraid to use multiple types of interior lighting. In fact, mixing and matching different light fixtures can help create a dramatic look and aesthetically pleasing room. The type of lighting you choose can also help make a room look larger or smaller.

Be prepared: Walking into any light fixture store can be overwhelming, so be sure to have a list of the types of fixtures your considering and how many you will need in each room. Before purchasing any fixtures, make sure you ask your builder if there are any restrictions on the types of fixtures that can be used in any specific room, because sometimes things such as ductwork, insulation or ceiling height can affect whether or not a fixture can be installed properly in a room.

Tip: Your local American Lighting Association (ALA) showroom is the best place to view the many different styles, sizes and shapes of lighting fixtures that are available to deliver the ambient/general, task, and accent light you need. Below is a list of the different types of lighting fixtures.

Hall/Foyer Fixtures can create a harmonious atmosphere, while providing you with the general lighting you need to greet guests and move safely from room to room. Use ceiling, chain-hung, or close-to-ceiling fixtures in hallways, stairways, and entranceways.

Chandeliers can add sparkle and style to your dining room while giving you the ambient/general lighting you need for dining and entertaining. They are also used in large bedrooms, foyers, or over a living room grouping or a grand piano. Some are designed with downlights to provide task lighting for homework or table games. Chandeliers are available in both incandescent and tungsten-halogen. The addition of a dimmer control lets you alter the intensity of light to suit the mood and activity going on in your room.

Pendants can provide both task and ambient/general lighting. Equipped with shades or globes to avoid glare, they are usually found hanging from the ceiling over dinette tables, game tables, kitchen counters, or other work areas. When used over end or night tables, they free up the space occupied by table lamps. For added flexibility use a dimmer control.

Ceiling Fixtures usually provide general lighting and are very practical in busy areas such as foyers, hallways, bedrooms, kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, playrooms, and dens. They are available with incandescent, fluorescent, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Wall-Mounted Fixtures can provide ambient/general, task, and accent lighting. Many are designed to match and supplement dining room chandeliers, or to provide hallway, bedroom, or living room lighting. Wall brackets are often used for task lighting at the bathroom mirror. They are available with a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Bath/Vanity Lighting Strips provide task lighting, while supplementing the general lighting provided by ceiling fixtures. Similar to the lighting in theater dressing rooms, these soft glowing strips of globe-shaped incandescent bulbs provide excellent lighting for grooming.

Portable Lamps provide ambient/general, task, and accent lighting and give you the added flexibility of moving the light whenever you want. Table lamps, floor lamps, and torchiers are available in a variety of styles to complement your decor. Small specialty lamps, such as clip-on lights, uplight cans, adjustable task lights, mini-reflector spotlights, desk and piano lamps fill a variety of task and accent light needs. These lamps are available with incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Track Lighting can provide ambient/general, task, or accent lighting all at once in one flexible lighting system. You can move, swivel, rotate, and aim the individual fixtures in any direction along the track, giving you the versatility to change your lighting scheme whenever you want. You can also hang chandeliers and pendants from the track. Track fixtures are available in standard or low-voltage current, and a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent light sources.

Recessed Lighting can provide ambient/general, task, or accent lighting inconspicuously. Installed in the ceiling with only the trim showing, recessed fixtures can be used anywhere in the home. They are ideal for low-ceiling areas, and with a special adapter they can also be used in cathedral ceilings. They are available as downlights, adjustable accent lights, and wall washers in both standard and low-voltage current and a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescents.

Undercabinet/ Undershelf Fixtures provide both task and accent lighting. Under kitchen cabinets they light a countertop. In a display cabinet they show off special collections. They include slim, energy-efficient fluorescents, miniature track lighting, and strips of low-voltage mini-lights.

What About the Bulbs?

Certain fixtures are designed for a specific type of bulb, such as a two- or four-pin fluorescent bulb. Others can accommodate the more common screw-in type. When choosing fixtures, be sure to note what type of bulb it requires, so that you won't be surprised to find the bulb you bought isn't the right one.

Incandescent bulbs are the most heavily used in homes. Unfortunately, these bulbs are inefficient and expensive to operate. Fluorescent bulbs have come a long way from the humming, glaring office lights we've all been exposed to. Today's fluorescent bulbs don't hum, and they provide light that is almost identical to incandescent bulbs. The best part is that fluorescent bulbs have significantly longer life than incandescent bulbs (almost 10 times as long), use less energy and are affordably priced for use in your home. Halogen and LED bulbs are also available for the home market. Both are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, but are more expensive than fluorescent lights.

Room-By-Room Home Lighting Ideas

When you start shopping for lighting fixtures, youll find that there are literally hundreds of home lighting options, so think of lighting from two perspectives - function and aesthetics. Functionally, your home lighting needs to provide the right type of light in sufficient quantity for your intended purpose. Aesthetically, you can configure your lighting to create the desired mood through its intensity, style and color.

Below are some ideas for lighting the various rooms in your home.

Living Rooms

- Place a lamp about 42 inches above the floor in areas where you plan to do reading.
- Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light.
- Use accent lights to illuminate bookcases or display shelves.
- Install recessed lighting as your general lighting or to accent beautiful wall textures, but be sure your lighting comes with a dimmer.
- Slim strip lights come in just about any length and can stick to the edge of shelves or ledges to highlight displays.

Kitchens

- A grid of recessed ceiling cans will provide great general lighting and flexibility.
- Install individual recessed down-lights as task lighting for the sink and cooking areas.
- Place halogen pendant lights over bars and countertops.
- Under-cabinet lights make excellent task lighting.

Dining Rooms

- A chandelier with a dimmer over the dining room table creates a beautiful setting.
- Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light.
- Install halogen strip lighting inside your china cabinet to highlight china or collectibles.
- If dont care for a chandelier and you have a long table, try using a trio of pendant lights.

Bedrooms

- Place table lamps on your bedside tables, but avoid halogen lamps in childrens rooms because they can get very hot.
- Wall sconces can provide good general lighting without being too bright.
- If space is limited you should consider recessed lights or pendant lights.
- If you want to create a romantic setting, place candles around the room.

Bathrooms

- Use shadow-free fluorescent or incandescent lights around mirrors for grooming.
- To avoid shadows, place mirror lights on the side rather than directly overhead.
- Its always a good idea to install a night light.

By: Tammy Crosby-Editor, Dream Designs

A Very Strong Way To Make Your Bathroom Really Your Own!

Bathroom layout designs, when they can be done and done with a real feel for design, can turn an otherwise ordinary bathroom remodeling project into a spectacular one. Things like the maximum use of space without overcrowding, the use of one strong central theme for the bathroom layout designs such as a very unusual lavatory faucet and drain set.

While not 100% related to bathroom layout designs another very creative way to add that certain something to your bathroom is to find a central theme based on an unusual picture or design or to even base the whole bathroom layout designs on a wall hanging if it is spectacular enough.

I once transformed a tiny apartment bathroom into a very nice space by basing the bathroom layout designs around a very nice limited edition print of a California vineyards Chardonnay. The color design had been done for me in the print; all I had to do was take them out into the room and it resulted in many an appreciative comment from guests.

Bathroom layout designs are most applicable and easily implemented where a completely new bathroom layout is being created. Perhaps a high tech shower stall (and I have a great high tech shower stall reviewed here) installed in place of an antique claw-foot cast iron tub. Changing the overall space around to its natural best look is what you want to strive for.

One of my very favourite bathroom layout designs is to install a nice two person Jacuzzi hot tub where antique fixtures used to reside. I helped out with a beautiful Jacuzzi installation in Columbus, Ohio where we knocked out a wall to double the size of out bathroom. Then we were able to create a beautiful bathroom layout designs with the new hot tub as the focal point of the room.

Be your own Michelangelo he just let the David that was in the granite emerge.

Have some fun. Let your inner-most feelings come alive as you help let the maximized bathroom layout designs that is your bathroom emerge.

By John Mann

Simple But Elegant Home Decorating Tips

Have you ever walked into someone's home and you were just in awe. You probably thought, wow I'd love to be able to do that or I wish I could do that, or I'd love to have that. Home decorating tips can be fun and the changes in your home can leave you feeling victorious. There are many people who can afford just about anything they want and they simply go buy it. They can afford to hire someone to come in and not only decorate, but clean their home and possibly do the cooking as well. That's great if you can afford it, but for the majority of people, they live on a medium income and watch what they spend, and those kinds of things are luxuries. This article will talk about home decorating tips that can make your house look great without having to spend a fortune.

When I think of home decorating tips, I'm not talking about what type of flooring you have or what your countertops look like. I'm talking about items you have on your countertops or the curtains on your windows. Window coverings can change the whole look of a room and you can find inexpensive fabric today that you don't even have to hem if you don't want to, that you just drape over a rod. There are many home decorating tips for the window draping, but you can use your imagination on how to wrap it on the rod. You can wrap it around the rod at the ends and let it hang all the way across or you can wrap it around the rod in the middle too. You can go to your local dollar store and get many home decorating tips that will cost you pennies. I found some tassels that looked great hanging down from a window treatment that was literally a dollar apiece.

One of the first home decorating tips I believe that can change the whole look of a room is color. Instead of having white walls, try painting the walls light beige, tan, or cream color. These are pretty elegant colors that will go with about any colors. You can also opt for a more pronounced color as well. You can go to any local hardware or building supply store and look at a variety of paint samples. Take home some of the sample choices they offer for your home decorating tips idea. You can then place them up on the wall for a better idea of what they might look like. This can be very helpful in deciding which color to go with. These home decorating tips can be a lot of fun so, include the whole family in the decision making.

There are so many home decorating tips to give, but pillows can make a huge difference in the way your couch or bedroom looks. You don't have to purchase expensive pillows, just look around for good deals. You can mix and match your pillows for great results. Many home decorating tips will tell you that the pillows don't all have to be the same size or shape either, but the colors do need to go together and match up to the couch that you have. You can choose solid colors and stripes or flowers for your pillow choices, but the placement of the pillows is important. Home decorating tips can be helpful for ideas, but you will ultimately have to make the choices. Just move things around differently and stand back and examine what you are looking at. If you don't like it, continue to change it until you do. There are many books and magazines on home decorating tips that can be useful.



By Tom Turner