HomeStyle: simple stylin' with shells

So, after your umpteenth visit to the beach this summer, you've got quite a collection of shells, sand dollars, coral, and sea urchins that you simply had to pick up ... but what to do with them when you get home?

iVillage resident designer Matthew Mead has a simple but elegant solution: create a centerpiece by stacking some blue glass plates (hit your local restaurant-supply store for some terrific options) and arranging your beach souvenirs on top. The plates will mimic the blue of the ocean to show off your sea treasures—and, when the sun hits just right, it'll create some lovely light-play on your wall or floor.

HomeStyle: spring baskets

Whether you celebrate Easter or not, a festive basket is the ideal centerpiece for a "welcome springtime" brunch, special gift for a friend, or stylish accent for your coffee table.

For some fabulous ideas that go far beyond the traditional pastel-straw-and-fake-grass options, check out Martha Stewart's website. There you'll find a bevy of beautiful baskets that range from the understated (we love this delicate African violet arrangement) to the whimsical.

Happy First Day of Spring, everybody!

HomeStyle: animal prints come out of the closet

You love them on your shoes, bags, scarves, and even bras, but animal prints in your living room?

Absolutely!

According to StyleHive, animal prints are one of the hottest things going in interior design today. And if leopard-print chairs and zebra rugs conjure up images of 70s-era bordellos, the key is not to go too ... well, wild.

1. Keep it subtle. If you use more than one animal print in a room, don't make them compete with each other. Think proportion.
2. An animal print rug is an ideal way to pull a room together, especially if you use a lot of neutrals: think zebra with black-and-white or cheetah with earthtones.

So the next time you go décor shopping, trust your animal instinct!

(Dolce & Gabbana Mademoiselle Chair, $950 at allmodern.com)

Reorganize, redecorate ... what's the diff?

If one of your New Year's resolutions is to get your personal space organized, but you have nightmares about your stylish sanctuary turning into an Ikea-catalog-photo-from-hell, relax. The fabulous design divas from Blueprint are here to save the day.

Here are just a few of their ideas for creating a space that incorporates both storage savvy and stylish sophistication:

• Need extra storage space? Create your own "walk-by" closet using an old ladder and some basic shelving units.

• Looking for a home office space that doesn't scream "Office Depot?" Try their elevated workspace design approach.

• Is your living space crying out for a media-center alternative to the pasteboard atrocity that moved in with your boyfriend? Find out how you can put together a stylish media cabinet.

• Need a place to stash your magazines and other random stuff? Learn how you can turn an ordinary storage cabinet into a decoupage treasure.
  

So relax. You can have your organized space and design it too! Here's to being both together and fashionable in 2008!

Holiday ornament 2.0

Trends in holiday décor have come and gone, but the basic tree ornament has remained essentially unchanged. Take something pretty—well, that or something hand-made with pride by a family member—attach a string, hang it on the tree, and there you have it.

Now this humble trimming has gone all-out 21st century with the Digital Ornament. Just pop in batteries, connect it to your PC, and upload up to 50 of your favorite photos. They'll play as a slideshow on the 1.5" screen—or select one to display continuously.

What a picture-perfect idea!

Bringing flair to the (Thanksgiving) table

It's your turn to host Thanksgiving this year, and you're looking for decorating ideas that don't involve paper turkeys, pilgrim-shaped candles, or hours of preparation work. As usual, Hostess with the Mostess has your solution.

A quick visit to your local crafts store and a little time is all you need to re-create the Modern Elegance Thanksgiving table pictured above. Or just use these tips as a guideline to create your own unique look:

• Start with cream-colored table linens and add a plum-hued table runner for a splash of rich color.
• Create visual intrigue with unique dried florals, like the cream-colored bell cups and autumn-hued fans in the photo.
• Add a touch of shine with gold vases and candle holders, or cover plain ones with gold foil paper.
• Drape bunches of oversized artificial grapes over the edge of a vase; if it tips over, just balance with rocks or heavy marbles.
• Embellish vases with colorful holiday-themed ribbon, which can also decorate wine glasses and napkin holders.

You'll see that it doesn't take a major investment of either time or money to create a festive feast for the eyes as well as the palate. Now that's something to be thankful for!

Halloween entertaining: ghouls gone wild!

So you're planning on hosting the season's hottest Halloween party, but those cheesy orange-and-black paper decorations are so fourth-grade ...

Let Hostess with the Mostess save the day with this fabulous hot-pink-and-black table setting. Takes a little time to put together (you'll have to spray-paint the skulls yourself), but it's a fabulous—and surprisingly economical—alternative to the same old Halloween decor.

Link on over for your step-by-step guide to setting a table your ghouls will go gaga for!