If you’re busy getting ready for the holidays, consider a new idea that could become a tradition: this year have the whole family make homemade decorations, together.

A holiday decoration that is easy to make, for all ages.

You might want to start on Thanksgiving when the family is gathered together or the day after, if you’re not in the mood to shop with the crowds on Black Friday. Just put out some arts and crafts supplies on a big table, in pretty, matching baskets, along with some old Christmas cards for recycling, ribbons and greenery.

Here are some more easy-to-accomplish ideas from eHow.com Home that you can share with your loved ones.

Let the fun and great memories begin!

If the constant maintenance your glass coffee table requires is making you think about buying stock in Windex or your wooden cocktail tabletop has seen better days, try one of my favorite tricks for making a high maintenance, fragile or older coffee table better looking and more practical: just add a new stone top.

To give an older wooden coffee table a fresh look, add a new marble top

I love stone-topped cocktail tables because they invite people to put their feet up and coasters are usually not required when serving beverages. Stone-topped tables scream, “Casual Elegance,” which is always a good thing, don’t you think?

To determine which type of stone would look best in your space, consider the material/finish of the table and the color scheme of the room. Colored marble such as dark green, dark taupe or warm umber are great if one of those shades is already present in the room in accessories or artwork.

A classic Saarinen oval Tulip coffee table

Usually, I suggest to my clients that they opt for more neutral shades of cream or white marble so their tables will work with any color scheme, now and in the future. Affordable, creamy Travertine or white Carrera marble  – usually seen on classic Saarinen coffee tables - are both fine choices.

And, if you need more than just a new top, here are a couple of stylish tables:

Crate & Barrel's Parson Travertine Table

CB2 Marble Round Table

Are you ready to get stoned?

If you love seeing before and after room redesign in real homes  – and, seriously, who doesn’t like a good decorating makeover? – here is a story about a redecorated living room that was done a few months ago for the Use What You Have Interiors contest winner at FabOverFifty.com. The room was completed in just under 3 hours.

Comments? Questions? Do share!

Before and after living room redesign - Photos by Katherine Jones

Like most women, I love throw pillows. I believe they can make any sofa or bed look and feel better and more inviting. Recently, I came across Bobby Berk Home. The site offers some great, reasonably priced throw pillows (I have no ties to the firm).

Because decorative pillows don’t fold, storing them can be a challenge. If it were possible to just smash them into one of those space bags and toss them in the linen closet it would be so much easier.

Since throw pillows don’t go out of style it follows that once a great pillow, always a great pillow. Unless you get really tired of it or it gets soiled, you are likely to hold on to it. Well, at least I am. And since I advocate switching accessories seasonally and using pairs of pillows, it adds up to a lot of throw pillows, if you do the math.

Here’s a space-saving option if you’re not already up to your ears: Get one or two pairs of muslin pillows for your sofa and another pair or two for your bed. Then, make or buy slipcovers for the cushions that can be changed 2 or 4 times a year.

Use crisp cotton or linen fabrics for the summer covers and soft velvet or chenilles for the winter set. Pillow slipcovers will take up very little room so you’ll be able to have a fresh look whenever the season, or your mood, changes.

Do you have any suggestions for storing throw pillows? I’d love to know what you do with yours.