Lighting is an excellent way to change the mood in your home in a flash. Depending on the style of lighting and the room you wish to curate, you’ll certainly want to consider varying types to match your sense of aesthetics and lighting needs. Think beyond using traditional table or floor lamps. There are a lot of fun, colorful styles of lighting you might not have previously considered for your abode. Check out the following lighting ideas, as listed below!  1.  String Lighting There’s something so inviting and life affirming about string lighting. Don’t underestimate this simple style of lighting, which is often used for decorating and lighting restaurant patios, terraces, and college dorm rooms. Make a statement and grab old-school Christmas string lights in a single or multi-varied color for a kitschy, eclectic look. Choose string lights with delicate small bulbs that emit a soft, ethereal glow that hits just right.  Find exciting ways to creatively hang and display y...

Summer is here! And with this season, there comes plenty of festivals, fairs, outdoor movies, summer camps, vacations, and of course, lots of food. However, one staple of American diets often enjoyed during this time of year has a rich and fascinating story that belies its humble appearance. Corn. It doesn't matter if you love diving into a butter-rich box of popcorn at the movie theater or chowing down on a corn dog at the state fair, corn is the key star ingredient of these tasty foods. From east to west and north to south, you can find so many foods that have corn as a major ingredient in America. However, how did corn become such a popular and widespread food in America and beyond? Origins: Indigenous People of the Americas The corn plant and its many varieties traces back to thousands of years ago in Mexico. Many sources point to corn as being a derivative of wild grasses ( teosinte or teocintle). The domestication of this new corn crop led to the development of delicious a...

It’s nice to dream big and hope to have a large apartment or home with a yard. However, it’s not a reality for most of us. When you are working with a smaller living space, it’s still possible to create a desirable and welcoming abode you’ll be proud to call your own. Even rented spaces can get tricked out just enough that you’ll almost forget it’s a leased property. Here are 7 simple ways to transform your small home into a more luxurious space to live large. 1. Add plants.  The addition of a potted plant, even a small tree will instantly boost your mood and enhance the sophistication level of your abode. If you think you have a black thumb or have low lighting throughout your space, there are still some plants or flowers that would survive and even thrive in your home. And if you are feeling confident, why not try creating your own mini jungle? When you need a getaway spot near you reading nook, a sunny window, or a select corner of your living room, your plants will be there to ...