Does your porch, deck, or patio feel like it's visually disconnected from the interior of your home? It's easy to connect your indoor and outdoor spaces to make the entire home "flow". Here are 5 outdoor decor ideas that I've implemented in my own home:

1. Connect indoor and outdoor spaces with color. The same colors you use and love in your indoor decor can be incorporated outside to minimize the visual transition between spaces. For example, the colorful outdoor living area above introduces bright pops or orange that could echo an orange area rug or accent pillow inside the home. 

2. Connect indoor and outdoor spaces with texture. Introduce natural textures (like wicker, wood, or grasscloth) indoors to bring an organic element inside. The opposite rings true as well - introducing soft "indoor textures" like area rugs and curtains outside will help soften a hard outdoor space and make it feel more livable. 

3. Connect indoor and outdoor spaces with windows. Large windows and sliding glass doors create the illusion of a seamless transition between spaces. Don't have the luxury of a large, expansive wall of windows? Keep window treatments clean and minimal to help trick the eye.

4. Connect indoor and outdoor spaces with plants. The same greenery that makes your outdoor decor feel lush and relaxed can easily make the transition inside. Potted trees, ferns, flowers, or even herbs can soften hard interior edges and create a more seamless transition.

5. Connect indoor and outdoor spaces with lighting. Just like you would layer light indoors, remember to layer light outdoors too. Ambient lighting, general lighting, and task lighting all work hand-in-hand to create a warm and livable ambiance. Outdoor light fixtures are available in stylish options to complement or even match your interior fixtures, so use lighting to create continuity in your decor. 

Want to start implementing these outdoor decor ideas in your home? Don't miss our next home decor sale event!

Image credits: Lamps Plus (Images 1, 2, 5), Going Home to Roost (image 3), Natasha Levak (image 4).

Throwing a party doesn't have to be a costly, time-consuming affair! Entertaining at home can be done in style on a budget. Seriously. Forget stuffy, sit-down dinners and plates with silver domes - here's how to host a memorable party without breaking the bank.

1. Host a "Dessert Party". Dessert is the best part anyway, right? Pick up some sweet and simple baked goods (or make them yourself, if you're crafty in the kitchen) and arrange them on cake stands, cupcake stands, and platters. If the event starts at 8pm or after, your guests will come expecting desserts and drinks, not steak and potatoes.

2. Fondue Dinners are Fun! Not only is the family-style atmosphere of fondue a fun departure from formal meals, it saves on cooking time for the host since the meal is cooked by your guests at the table. Win-win. (True story - I once attended a fondue dinner that included cheese fondue as an appetizer, meat and veggie fondue for dinner, and chocolate fondue with fruit for dessert. It doesn't get much tastier or easier than that!)

3. Create a Signature Cocktail. Instead of having an array of liquers and mixers on hand to create every drink imaginable for your guests, try creating a signature cocktail for the evening. This helps set the tone for the party, and also keeps your bar in budget. A fête featuring Manhattans will have a chic, uptown vibe, while serving Mojitos will allude to a light and summery ambiance.

Do you have a go-to tip for hosting stylish parties on a budget?

Our "Entertaining In Style" home decor sale is on now - it's the perfect time to stock up on essentials for entertaining at home!

If you're not sure where to start when decorating your bedroom (or any room, for that matter), why not get inspired by art? If you have a favorite painting, you can draw design inspiration from the colors, textures, and patterns. I love the abstract art featured above - the colors remind me of a stormy sky, cool and soothing. It's a perfet palette for a bedroom, really! I chose bedding and accent pillows in a variety of blue hues, and brought in just a little sparkle with the crystal chandelier and wall sconce to mimic the bright streaks of white and ivory.

Keep your eyes open - you never know what might inspire you (perhaps a piece of art drawn by a child, or a favorite shirt?) to start decorating a room.

PS. Everything featured above is in our Beautiful Bedroom home furnishings sale, on now.

Home decorating trends change so quickly, it's hard to know what's hot and what's on its way out! If you're looking to update your home in 2013, here are a few great on-trend home decorating ideas I recently spotted at the Las Vegas Market. Some of these have been around a while and have definite staying power, while others are new and innovative, and sure to make a big impact in your home this year!

GREY WASHED WOOD: If you love antiques or the "French Market" look, this style is for you! Woods are given a treatment to look sun-bleached and aged, with just the right amount of charm. This is a softer approach to wood finishes than the deep espresso brown and glossy black stains that have been popular for a while.

GROUPING IN MULTIPLES: Who says you can only have one? Small home decor accents like vases have a big impact when grouped together. Try lining up 3 simple vessels on a coffee table (as shown above); grouping a cluster of pendants above a kitchen island in lieu of a traditional island chandelier; or displaying a collection of like items on a bookshelf.

NAILHEADS: This traditional design detail is getting a modern twist in 2013! Prevously only seen on very traditional chairs and sofas, nailheads are now popping up on all types of furniture. Keep an eye out for nailhead detailing on upholstered poufs and ottomans, accent tables, and beds.

PATCHWORK FABRICS: Mixing and matching different fabrics on upholstered goods like seating and ottomans lends a relaxed, collected look. Look for pieces that have a common color or style among all the fabrics (like the washed-out neutrals above) so that they feel fun and whimsical when put together, and not chaotic. Paired with a neutral beige sofa, the ottoman above would really make a statement in a living room.

POPS OF BRIGHT COLOR: Emerald may be the color of the year for 2013, but that doesn't mean that other jewel tones can't have a place in your home! Saturated brights like tangerine, yellow, teal, and coral were seen all over the Las Vegas Market. This is an easy home decorating idea to adopt - try introducing a bold accent pillow to your sofa, or stack a couple of bright decorative boxes in the corner.

TUFTED DETAILS: Last but certainly not least, tufted detailing was HANDS DOWN the most popular trend at Market this year! Tufted sofas, tufted dining chairs, tufted ottomans, tufted beds...and the list goes on and on. Basically, if it can be upholstered, someone's probably trying to tuft it! This traditional touch lends beautiful designer detailing and creates a classic look that helps furniture pieces feel timeless, while also being on-trend. (Personally, I just purchased a teal tufted sofa. This is one of my favorite looks!)

Don't miss our next home decor sale event on 55 Downing Street - all of these hot home decorating ideas are sure to be popping up in our sales soon. What's your favorite trend from this list?

Getting organized is probably one of your New Year's resolutions - after all, this is the perfect time for a fresh start at home. As a former professional organizer, I love the challenge of finding storage and organization ideas that are creative, stylish, and on a budget. Here are a few of my favorite organizing solutions for every room in your home.

1. When you can't go out, go up! Don't let a lack of floor space stop you from getting organized. When there's no room to spread out horizontally, take advantage of vertical space. Add a hanging rack on the inside of a closet door (as pictured above); install a tall, narrow bookshelf and outfit it with storage baskets; or mount a shelf above a doorway for a few extra linear feet of storage space.

2. Take advantage of small spaces. That few inches of unused space next to your fridge could turn into an organized haven with the right tools! Get creative and you might find several nooks and crannies in your home that could become perfect storage spaces with a little DIY effort (and some casters).

3. Think outside the box. When is a cake stand not a cake stand? When it's used in the bathroom to hold soaps, lotions, and toiletries! By creatively re-purposing what home decor you already have, you just mind find the perfect pieces around your home to help corral your clutter.

4. Buy the right tools for the job. When re-purposing what you already have around the house just doesn't cut it, it's time to purchase the right equipment that will. For example, the flat file cabinet above is a fairly customized piece that serves a specific purpose (holding oversize papers, maps, and projects) - another type of storage unit just wouldn't do. It's worth investing in the right storage pieces to make your home a happier, more organized place.

5. Make it pretty. There are no bonus points for drab, utilitarian storage pieces - don't be afraid to put a little extra effort into making things look lovely! If your storage pieces and organization tools are appealing, you'll be more likely to use them.

Do you have any great storage and organization ideas that I've missed? Good luck with getting organized in 2013!

All images via Storage and Organization Ideas on Pinterest.