Here are nine easy, economical ways you can change your decor for spring, just by adding or changing your pillow. Plus, find out which pillows are the most popular.

1. Bring the outdoors inside:

Botanical and floral print pillows will bring the feel of the outdoors in. Combined with textured fabrics, they’ll make your décor feel more connected to the earth even in the heart of the city!

2. Seasonal makeover:

Update the look of your home seasonally with new pillow covers and trimmings. Most pillow covers have zipper closures, so you can put lighter colored pillow covers on your existing pillows for a fresh look. Just store your fall and winter pillow covers flat in the linen closet. Choose lighter weight silks with a slight sheen to capture the light and add sparkle to your room.

3. Mix fabrics like a pro:

Professional designers combine different fabrics, shapes and sizes for a layered look. Mix florals, stripes, textures and solid colored pillows and build a collection of different fabrics to add color and personality to your home. Unify an open plan décor with fabrics that reflect and tie together the colors in the rooms.

4. Inexpensive updating:

To modernize an outdated room or sofa, pick new pillows in a color that you like. It will let you test out the new colors in the room, and begin the transformation. You don’t have to redo the whole room at once; reupholster that sturdy reading chair and ottoman or throw in cozy chenille. Do it piece by piece as budget allows.

5. Use pillows as art:

Use hand painted, one-of-a-kind pillows to add original art to your home, or try a pillow that features the work of one of your favorite artists. They are so easy to decorate with, and don’t leave holes in the wall!

6.Take the indoors out:

Decorative pillows offer an ideal way to help transform your outdoor living space into a comfortable continuation of your home. Whether it’s a kitchen, family room or bedroom that opens up onto a deck or poolside patio, try using throw pillows that pull from the dominant color of the adjacent indoor room. The transitional effect will create harmony and continuity between your indoor and outdoor living spaces. Don’t hesitate to use designs that might typically seem unfitting for the outdoors. Go with pillows that feature bold circles, stripes or colors not standard of nature, such as black and white. The pillows will stand out amongst all the earthy greens and browns and really spice up that outdoor space!

7. Keep the peace:

She wants mauve florals, he wants green and orange geometric pillows. Compromise with pillow covers in each color scheme and theme, and alternate them occasionally. Or try finding some common ground with a coordinating pair that combines the ‘Yin’ and the ‘Yang’. Your room will feel new, and the change will be refreshing. Everybody’s happy!

8. Dressing up a child’s room:

For the kid whose room is never tidy, solid color pillows will help create a less muddled look. Or if texture and pattern is what you are after, you can add wide wale corduroy or striped pillows to a boy’s room, and wavy or florals for the girls. Choose soft, durable pillows for a child’s room made from microfiber suede. The microfiber fabrics are so tightly woven that they are tougher and more durable than most other fabrics. Spills just bead up and roll off, and they can be wiped clean with a damp cloth! Large floor pillows are perfect to sprawl on while reading a book or playing a game.

9. What’s hot now:

The hottest new pillows are the versatile rectangular shape, sometimes referred to as “lumbar pillows”. They can be used in so many ways, to add back support or color to an armchair, or nestled against each arm of your sofa. Layer them in front of larger, square pillows in the corner of your sectional, or on a window seat or daybed. Add one in front of pillow shams to give your beds a decorative touch. On a low backed, clean lined sofa, place one at the back of each seat cushion.

Bone carving

Bone carving is the act of creating art forms by carving into animal bones. It can result in the ornamentation of a bone, or the creation of a figure. It has been practiced by a variety of world cultures, including the Māori Queen of New Zealand.

The chain of life gets finished when we are no longer part of it. Death is an unavoidable step and, from all vertebrates, the only triumphant witnesses left are their bones. Since the beginning of time bone has being used as tool, amulet, adornment, toy, oracle or simply as part of life, bone has been a successively companion in man’s evolutive journey.

From the American Continent to the Polynesian passing through Europe and Asia, the vital presence of this element gains new meanings since to get it the only two things needed are patience and time to clean it and give it the wished shape. In this framework we find all the catalogued pieces, specially influenced by the Polynesian bone carving conception.

For the native inhabitants of the islands that form today’s New Zealand -Aotearoa - and that are called Māori, the words bone and Nation (with all its intrinsic representations) are the same: Iwi. We are today thanks to those who were before us, we are flesh thanks to our yesterday bones and we are in this life to learn and be our tomorrow descendants´ bones.

A hook hanging in a chest in addition if being a tool used to get food, for those who are in the sea is determination and protection. The plaited chisel, more than a fundamental tool to build other tools, represents leadership and an important tribal function to the wearer. Among many materials bone is chosen for its ability to hold the essential oils of the owner, charging itself from the vital energy thus making work the strength of this object.

With this nature each piece is carved seeking the idea of transcend time through shape and content to transform a simple object into a live witness within this constant renewing cycle.

Scrimshaw is the name given to handiwork created by whalers made from the byproducts of harvesting marine mammals. It is most commonly made out of the bones and teeth of Sperm Whales, the baleen of other whales, and the tusks of walruses. It takes the form of elaborate carvings in the form of pictures and lettering on the surface of the bone or tooth, with the engravings highlighted using a pigment, or small sculptures made from the same material. The making of scrimshaw began on whaling ships between 1817 to 1824 on the Pacific Ocean, and survived until the ban on commercial whaling. The practice survives as a hobby and as a trade for commercial artisans. A maker of scrimshaw is known as a scrims hander. Scrimshaw is also a surname.
Wood carving

Wood carving is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool held in the hand (this may be a power tool), resulting in a wooden figure or figurine (this may be abstract in nature) or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object. The phrase may also refer to the finished product, from individual sculptures, to hand-worked moldings composing part of a tracery.

A wood carver commences a carving by choosing a block of wood the fairly accurate size and shape of the figure he needs to create. The type of wood is essential. Hardwoods are more difficult to shape but have greater luster and longevity. Softer woods may be easier to carve, but are less resistant to damage. Once the sculptor has chosen his wood, he starts a common shaping process using gouges of different sizes.

After completion of the general shape, the carver may use a variety of tools for creating details. After the carving and polishing is completed, the artist may color the wood with a multiplicity of natural stains, such as walnut or linseed oil. He may also apply a final coat a varnish, a resin-based sealer that will protect the surface and give it a shiny appearance. Objects made of wood are frequently coated with a layer of wax, which protects the finish and enhances the shine.

Roots of Vastu Shastra are can be found in the Vedic Age. `Vaasthu in Sanskrit means `Vasthu` that is a commodity. Shastra means system in Sanskrit. Vastu may also refer to `vaas` (to live). This ancient science has laid down some rules to follow which will lead to a harmonious way of life for the living beings. These rules relate to the construction of houses and work places. The living rooms in a flat are an important section. If the residents follow certain principles of Vastu Shastra it can cause positive energy in their houses. The slope of the floors in the living room should either be in the east or in the north.

The living rooms should be in the east (leaving the south-east corner) or in the north. It would be more favorable if they are located in the north side of the flat.

The doors of the living rooms should not be constructed in the south-east or the south-west directions.

The furniture, show cases and other heavy articles should be placed in the west or the south directions.

Built the doors in the eastern and the western sides as this would prove very auspicious for the living rooms.

Triangular, circular, egg shaped, hexagonal or odd shaped furniture in the living rooms should be avoided. These should either be square or rectangular.

In case there is a separate sitting arrangement for the head of the family it should be in the east or in the north directions.

The telephone should be in the east or in the south-east or in the north.

T.V. should be in the south-east corner. It is better not to put T.V. in the north-east or the south-west corners. If it is in the north-west corner and remains on for a long time a lot of valuable time is lost. If the T.V. is in the south-west corner frequent breakdowns are expected.

If the residents have arranged for the Indian style of sitting then it should be placed in the east, the west or the north.

Stuffed animals should be placed in the north-west corner.

Portraits of God or other images should be hung in the north-east corner of the living rooms.

Colours that can be used on the walls can be white, yellow, blue or green. Tiles of similar colors can also be used. Avoid using red or black colors in the living rooms.

Portraits of birds, animals, women, weeping children, scenes from wars and others should not be displayed in the living rooms.

Do no hang fancy chandelier at the centre of the room. It should be placed slightly towards the west. The logic behind this is that due to the gravitational force acting on this heavy item it should not fall at Bramha`s place. the center of a rooms is considered to be Lord Brahma`s, according to Vastu Shastra.

Do not put up pictures of any God at the entrance doors. In case someone is too enthusiastic, they can display the photograph or tile painting of the Lord Ganesha above the entrance door on the outside.

Due to scarcity of space, if the furniture are to be kept in the east or in the north direction they should not come in direct contact with the flooring. They should be light and hollow and placed on base that is 1-3 inches above the floor.

There should be no passage in the middle of the room.

Coolers should be placed in the west direction and not in the south-east section.

It is also favorable to have the ceiling a bit slanting to the east or the north. This rule is completely optional.

If there are staircases adjacent to the living rooms they should be in the south, the west or the south-west corner of the room. They should be rise up towards the south or the west directions.

As per the principles of modern architecture the height of the living room is usually more than that of the other rooms.There is no harm in doing so.

• For filling space use warm colours like reds, yellows and oranges. They tend to grab the eye and fill space. They are soothing and warm.
• Cool colors are blues, greens and violets. They tend to give the illusion of open space.
• Decide on a focal point and decorate around it. Your focal point could be a piece of furniture, a fireplace, etc.
• Pale pinks are serene and comforting. The closer pink gets to red, the more energetic it becomes.
• Light colored walls and ceilings will make the room appear larger. The opposite for dark colors.
• When selecting a solid carpet color, choose a shade of your upholstery or drapery fabric to add interest. Don’t choose the exact color, it will be too rigid.
• When arranging flowers in a vase with a wide mouth, use tape to create a grid across the top of the vase. Flowers will remain upright and be evenly spaced.
• A border will add interest to a room. Use sponges, stencils or wallpaper borders.
• Put an aspirin in a vase full of water and it will make your flower bouquets last days longer- also trim the stems every other day will preserve the life of a flower arrangement.
• Use vertical stripes on walls for an illusion of height.
• Natural shades of carpeting tend to hide soil and lint.
• Painting the walls, ceiling, woodwork or all will add a fresh, new look.
• Hang pictures at eye level, not too high.
• To add depth to a small room, add mirrors.
• If you are redecorating an entire room, choose your paint last.
• Arrange furniture in conversational groups.
• If your tablecloth is a little bit large for your table, pull the corners of the tablecloth up and using a beautiful wide ribbon, tie the ribbon around the corner of the tablecloth. This is also a quick way to dress-up your table very fast.
• When painting, use a plastic shower cap on your head to protect your hair from the paint.
• Use unusual items to hold flowers in your kitchen, such as old coffee pots, egg cups, teapots, etc.
• Buy an inexpensive, clear glass jar lamp and fill it with all kinds of collectibles. You can use marbles, spools of thread, gumballs, hair ribbons or anything you like. Use your imagination and work with the theme of the room.
• To remove wallpaper, use equal parts of vinegar and hot water. Roll or sponge the solution on the paper and wet thoroughly. The paper should peel off in sheets after two applications of the solution.
• When you begin decorating, start with one room and finish it. Remove all the furniture from the room, if possible. If you can’t move all the furniture out, move it to the middle of the room and cover with cloths.
• Place your everyday dishes in a wooden rack on the kitchen counter.
• For a kitchen without a window, paint a scene on a wall and hang curtains. Add a frame and you have the look of a window.
• When you have a room that you may need to have dark during the day, use shades instead of mini blinds. The shades will block more light than the blinds.
• Light colors will give rooms a larger overall appearance. Whether you want to make a small room seem larger or make a large room feel even larger.
• A mirror gives the illusion of space and depth. Use a nice frame on the mirror and position it to reflect something pleasing.
• When choosing new carpet, consider the room that it will be used in. For example, a high traffic area will need a durable carpet.
• To make a room appear more spacious, add a tall green plant. Fill empty spaces with attractive floor plants.
• To update the look of a sofa or chair, you can use decorative pillows.
• Do you want to change the look of your furniture in a hurry? Use slipcovers on sofas and chairs. Change the look whenever you feel like it.