KATHRYN CATES MOORE/Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, December 23, 2005 6:00 pm
The stockings are down from the mantel. Your house will soon be cleared of holiday decor and tree trimmings. It’s too cold to work outside.
So take some time to renew your home spirit with decorating ideas, survey the trends and think about what you’d like to tackle next year.
It’s time to turn the page. Literally.
Buy a few of the jillions of home and garden magazines (called “shelter” magazines in the industry), that are screaming at you from the checkout stands. The pages are filled with colorful, creative ways to fill your rooms and gardens, how-tos for new projects and lots of advertising.
These kinds of magazines have grown beyond the standby Better Homes and Gardens to niche publications that appeal to very specific design needs.
And why not? Studies have shown that since 9/11, Americans have retreated to their homes, taking comfort in the familiarity and coziness of their surroundings.
It doesn’t matter if you live in a quaint English cottage, a Prairie-style four-square, a one-bedroom apartment or a bungalow, there are plenty of good ideas out there.
“I think that shelter magazines are becoming more popular as people realize the importance of their living space on their well-being,” said Betsy Gabb, who teaches interior design courses at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The magazines are idea books for homeowners. “People are always looking for good resources to help them improve their space,” Gabb said. Two of her favorite home-zines are Home, because it contains well designed and functional examples, and Dwell, a more avant garde publication that helps people think out of the box.
These magazines feed the home improvement flurry, too.
Total home improvement product sales are expected to reach $291 billion this year — up 7.5 percent from 2004 and $4.8 billion higher than last June’s forecast of $286.5 billion for 2005, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute.
Sometimes the magazines simply give you inspiration when it’s time for a change, you’ve grown up or downsized, simplified or added to your family.
Here’s a look at a few of the home-zines on the newsstands right now.
Country Living, January 2006, $3.99 — The focus is on the softer, slightly worn warmth of primitives and casual furniture. The centerpiece is on home comforts and an explanation of how fabrics and colors set the tone. A paint primer gives secrets of wall murals. And, as always, a way to make your collectibles stand out in a room.
Metropolitan Home, December/January 2006, $4.50 — This month’s issue still has a bit of holiday to it, but this magazine, which always leans a bit toward the contemporary, is full of good resources for lighting and accessories. A high/low cover story shows how you can find luxury looks on a budget, explaining the differences in price. A look at design king Terrence Conran’s home is full of snoop appeal. Don’t miss the article about mixing family heirlooms with contemporary art.
Fine Gardening, At Home in the Garden, January/February 2006, $6.99 — One of the best gardening magazines available, Fine Gardening uses contributors who are professionals in their field and who often list sources for their plants. The cover story is on hot design trends in gardens for the upcoming year, broken into regions. Don’t miss the article on sedges, grass-like perennials that work in Nebraska. Color is another discussion, matching your house colors to your garden and, my favorite, silver plants.
O At Home, Winter 2005, $3.95 — The home version of Oprah’s blockbuster magazine has some holiday info, but lots of things for year-round use, too. There is a fun piece on making the laundry room glamorous and lots of pages of chunklets to fill up the nooks and crannies. Don’t miss the look at Oprah’s very matched and floral guest house.
Better Homes and Gardens, January 2006, $3.49 — The patriarch of home mags has gotten much more hip recently. This issue, with “Wrap Yourself in Red” on the cover, also includes a piece on apartment living and big ideas for small spaces. For winter gardeners, there is a story on miniature gardens. And there is a profile on a New England couple who are collectors.
Cottage Living, December 2005, $3.99 — You can always find fresh and cozy ideas here. One of my favorite sections is called Fresh Ideas, where they take one piece (this month a bed) and dress it up and accessorize it four different ways. There’s also a story on taking cuttings from your yard for next year’s garden with a how-to for green-thumb novices. There are even how-tos on decorating dilemmas. Good stuff.
Inspired House, January/February 2006, $6.99 — This is a home magazine that is straightforward and no-frills. There are always lots of articles geared toward remodel solutions. This issue features unusual vanities, an article on a small but well-built home and selecting carpet. All readers will relate to the small kitchen/big personality piece.
Now that your grocery cart isn’t filled with holiday goodies, you have room for the home-zines. Stock up for the winter.
Reach Kathyrn Cates Moore at 473-7214 or kmoore@journalstar.com.