They say history repeats itself, and in home décor, that doesn’t always take too long! Just last year, I wrote this article about the plaid trend gracing the shelves around the Thanksgiving and Holiday seasons. This year – it’s back with a vengeance! Enjoy! If you haven’t been to the mall recently, brace yourself because you’re in for a big surprise – the world has gone gaga over plaid this...

Ok, let’s be honest, how long would it take you to hang 3 pictures in a perfect column like you see in this photo? Probably 15 minutes, maybe less, maybe more. Right? What if I told you you could do it in less than 5 minutes? I’m not kidding, that’s exactly how long it look me to hang these 3 frames when we filmed this video. Watch! How I did it: I hung...

  If you guessed red, you’re right! I was thrilled to hear that Benjamin Moore picked “Caliente” – a vibrant shade of red – as their color of the year.  A team of 7 traveled the world for a year exploring design trends to help them select “red” for their color choice. See how a pop of this energetic color can transform interiors. Although red is a bright color, it’s one...

*Written by Liette Tousignant, Co-Founder of UTR Decorating. If you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, there’s a good chance that you’ve already started planning the menu. But have you thought about how to decorate your dining table? Thanksgiving table décor doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Here are some easy table setting ideas to get you started. Here’s a sneak peek at how I’ll be setting my dining table...

I’m feeling quite self-conscious as I’m writing this article because I just read Is there an age when you should stop buying inexpensive (IKEA) furniture? Personally, I don’t think so and I’m not ashamed to say that I’m 55. My shopping philosophy is simple:  if you love it, buy it. On this note, I bought this white IKEA dresser that was the perfect size for a guest bedroom, the only problem is that it...

After Labor Day when the weather gets cooler I start putting summer accessories away and replace them with warmer ones. Since Fall means spending more time indoors, I cozy up the house with chunky throws, area rugs, warm cushions and other Fall-ish décor. With these 7 easy steps I quickly get the house ready to enjoy the chillier weather. Here’s what I do! 1. Area rugs Photo source In the Summer time,...

Outdoor decorating is a great way to appreciate each season and helps keep your outdoor décor fresh. I personally love decorating my front porch; it’s welcoming and inviting when family and friends come over. Keep the look simple by placing a few pumpkins on your front steps, or add layers with seasonal plants and tall grass to create a more elaborate look. Whatever your style, mix and match ideas from each of the...

If this couch could talk it would probably thank me for the extra TLC I’ve been giving it lately. Believe it or not it’s 17 years old. I bought it for my first office, then it lived with my kids on a university campus, in their first apartment, in our garage and now it’s back at work in a small condo unit. Although it’s old it’s still in good shape, so I...

As soon as the weather gets cold we dig our throw blankets out of the closets and drape them over sofas and chairs to warm up our living rooms. In addition to keeping us warm, throws are the perfect way to jazz up a tired sofa or to inject instant color and pattern to a space. As the name implies, you’d think that a throw can simply be thrown on...

When I saw this three-drawer unit at IKEA, I knew it was THE one. It was not too bulky, it was versatile (3-in-1, a filing cabinet, a dresser and a side table), and it was on casters so easy to move around. If I could have bought the display unit right off the floor to avoid the assembly part, I would have – even if it would have meant paying...

*Written by Liette Tousignant, Co-Founder of UTR Decorating. Decorating for Halloween doesn’t have to be complicated. Even if you’re a busy person who can’t be bothered with carving a pumpkin, you can still use pumpkins in your décor. Here are some of my favourite Halloween decorating ideas that can be done in 5 minutes or less with nothing more than a few pumpkins. If you have time to decorate only one...

*Written by Liette Tousignant, Co-Founder of UTR Decorating. Every year when the weather turns fall-like, I give my house a mini makeover simply by switching my summer pillows to warmer ones. And every year I’m amazed by how quickly this pillow swapping ritual can change the look and feel of my space. When I go to the cottage in the fall, this is my all time favourite spot to sit and enjoy a...