Did you know that more than half of all U.S. businesses are home-based? Did you also know - according to the Small Business Association - they estimate approximately 6.6 million of these businesses provide more than half of their household income? The homeprenuer trend is growing, and will only continue to intensify. So how do we create that home office to provide us with a positive environment in which to grow?

Since almost 90% of home-based entrepreneurs have families, separating the living and working environments can prove to be a little tricky. So pick a spot in your home, where noise and traffic are at a minimum and privacy is optimum. A separate guesthouse outside, or a room above your garage, would be the ideal location for your home office, but the reality is that the typical home-based business is located inside the house.

Entrepreneurs, tend to be highly creative and innovative people - and their work environments should reflect that aspect of their personality. If your home office space is stimulating and sparks innovation, then your creativity just flows. When it's dull, drab and dingy your work will suffer the same fate. We've entered a new decade. Isn't it time to "Up the Ante"?

Whether you're purchasing new office furniture, re-painting your space or simply accessorizing, punch up your home office environment and infuse a few of these cool new design trends into your plan.

2010 Design Trends:

Eco-Friendly:

* Nature-inspired design and green products.

* Natural environmentally friendly furnishings.

* Paint colors that work with your company's branding, logo and website. (Use Low VOC or Zero VOC paints.)

* Introduce a chalkboard wall to save on paper and brainstorm ideas.

Eclectic Designs:

* Blending and layering of bold colors and graphic patterns.

* Large-scaled patterned wallpapers and grass cloths are back in vogue.

* Clean, simple and flexible office furniture styles.

* Office seating upholstered in bright bold fabrics with neutral pillows.

Color Trends:

Yellow:

* It's THE color for this year's palette. Wall color or accessories.

* If it's good for the White House, it'll be great in your house.

* Epitomizes warmth and a sunny outlook toward the future.

* Sparks imagination and innovation.

Mauve:

* Defines refined luxury and elegance.

* Represents a sense of royalty and power.

Green:

* Natural colors of sand, trees and moss green.

* Creates a sense of balance and harmony.

* Aqua/Teal will be a hot summer accent color.

Grey:

* Charcoal and slate grays are the new neutrals and showcase the brightly colored furniture.

* Metallic grays in furniture, leather and metals are hot this year - and blend beautifully with each of these trend setting colors.

Neutrals:

* Ecologically driven neutrals and organic tones.

* Muted colors always evoke a sense of calm - but infuse some color for accent to keep you jazzed and awake.

For that finishing touch, check out http://www.sortingwithstyle.com for the coolest office accessories.

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Living with Color

There is no escaping color. It is powerful and influences every aspect of our life. Embrace it and bring it into your home to enhance your family's lives. Our weather can be challenging in the winter when it is dark and grey and adding color to our homes can lift our spirits, inspire, and help us get threw the dark days. Color can be added with paint, accessories, and even plumbing products with chromotherapy.

There is absolutely no need to feel intimidated when selecting paint for your home.

Paint Selection Tools
Benjamin Moore has small samples of paint available, color testers, that allow you to test a color before you purchase it. For a minimal fee you can test a variety of colors in your home allowing for the desired result. They also have big paint chips and a computer program that allows you to view the interior or exterior of your home with the selected colors.

Accent Walls
Adding an accent wall is a great way of incorporating two colors in a room. Color can change the shape of a room as well. Painting an end wall a deep, strong shade can widen a narrow room or shorten a long one. In the attached photo the house is a typical box styled home and the Living Room wall was very long. Molding was applied to the corners of the walls and columns were added to the wall allowing break lines for the paint. The overall look was very effective.

Kids Rooms
Paint itself can be described in two words - inexpensive and dramatic. Allow your kids to select colors for their rooms. Take them to the paint store and let them look at the various colors available and let them be creative. I would keep the colors bright and bold but in lighter tones especially in this area because our weather can be questionable. If they want a dark color this can be applied on an accent wall or in bedding and in accessories. Chalkboard paint is a great addition to a child's room and allows the kids to express themselves.

Ceilings
White is a typical ceiling color and has been for years. White looks great if your moldings and trims are white and keeps the rooms fresh. Using a quarter tint or half tint of the chosen wall color will provide a softer transition. When the interior has a vaulted ceiling the wall color can be applied to the sloped ceiling. In small powder rooms where a deeper color may be used I often specify the ceiling to be painted in the wall color to make the room more dramatic.

Accessories and Fabrics
Many retail stores have cushions, throws, candles and various accessories that make adding color to your home easier than ever. They are inexpensive and offer flexibility when decorating. If you have a fairly neutral interior you can add colored accessories that can be changed with the seasons. In bedrooms you could have 2 duvet covers that can also be switched in the summer and winter. Selecting fabrics with pattern and color can also help assist in paint selection. Sometimes I find the fabric fist and then design a whole room around it. Keep an open mind when you are shopping and see what inspires you.

Color Psychology as Therapy
Several ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Chinese, practiced chromotherapy, or using colors to heal. Chromotherapy is sometimes referred to as light therapy or colourology and is still used today as a holistic or alternative treatment. You can find rain shower heads, bathtubs, hot tubs, and many more items that include chromotherapy in their products.

Add "Color" - Add "Life"

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