MyInvites Blog - MyInvites asks Ikea - What makes a house a home? , Hosting Christmas , Keeping the Kids Entertained this Summer. , Entertaining on a Budget , Outdoor Entertaining At Home ,

MyInvites asks Ikea - What makes a house a home? Wednesday, 3 December 2008

We know that most homes don’t look like the ones you see in glossy magazines, so understanding how Australian families really live is at the heart of everything we do.

Recently we moved in with some Australian families and made some incredible discoveries. Like how an extendable table often means that relaxed afternoon lunches can extend into evening dinners.

Put simply, we discovered how houses become homes.

Now, we’d like to hear from you. Share your thoughts and see how they shape up against the rest of Australia at www.thisishome.com.au.

Click here to share your thoughts.

For free fabuloue online invitiations, click here.

Labels: australian families, families., home, house, ikea

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Hosting Christmas Monday, 24 November 2008

Deck the halls this Christmas with some gorgeous ideas for decorating and entertaining from Ikea.

• Ditch Grandma’s ornaments, and adorn the house with new colour-coordinated decorations (check out Ikea’s huge range for inspiration).
• Hang stockings from the mantelpiece.
• Create a festive mood with a gorgeous range of decorative candles. Click here to see a fantastic range of Ikea's decorative candles.
• Decorate the table with a colourful table cloth or runner, napkins & flowers.
• No longer does Christmas need to be confined to red and green. Try gorgeous Blues & silver, or other less-traditional combos.

Go to myinvites.com.au and create fabulous Christmas invitations.

Labels: christmas, Christmas entertaining, entertaining, entertaining ideas, ideas., ikea, ikea entertaining

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Keeping the Kids Entertained this Summer. Monday, 17 November 2008

With only 5 and a bit weeks until the Christmas holidays, preparations need to begin to keep the kids entertained and occupied over summer. Ikea has a fantastic range of children’s toys, furniture and storage ideas that will have your home ready for any episode of kiddy boredom. Visit any Ikea and you will also find a play centre where you can leave your children to meander through the slides and jungle gyms while you shop till your hearts content in peace. Here are some tips below to keep your kids busy these summer holidays.

* Get the kids involved in gardening, plant some strawberries, cherry tomatoes or make a herb garden. The children will get a kick out of eating what they have grown. They could even spend a day making a scarecrow to add to the garden.

* Redecorate the bedroom, Ikea has a great range of children’s, bedroom furniture and storage ideas which can transform a boring bedroom into a magical haven.

* Visit the grandparents. Help develop the relationship between grandchild and grandparent by sending your kids to visit their grandparents for the day or maybe the weekend. They will enjoy the change in environment and you will love the extra time.

* Go to the park, whether it’s a bush walk, a casual stroll, or a run with the dog, there are so many wonderful parks with great facilities to take advantage of this summer.

Labels: entertain, entertain the kids, holidays, ikea, kids, kids entertained, kids holidays., summer holiday

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Entertaining on a Budget Monday, 10 November 2008

With the festive season approaching, entertaining on a budget is a must. Be inspired by Ikea’s fantastic ways of transforming your dining room for any occasion without breaking your budget.

• Purchase tables that are versatile and extendable, allowing for extra guests.
• Decorate your table with artificial flowers or plants, these can be reused over again and require no maintenance.
• Ikea has a great range of candles and candle holders for all budgets. These can transform the atmosphere of any home and can be reused.
• Invest in plain linens that can be used for any occasion, white, neutral, brown and red table cloths and napkins can be used for a multitude of festive occasions throughout the year.
• There is nothing wrong with asking your guests to bring a plate of food with them.
• Buy in bulk where possible!
• Use old Christmas balls, tinsel and other decorations to bring some festive cheer to your Christmas lunch. Place them in a glass dish or vase, or scatter then on the table.

Click here to explore more of Ikeas dining range.

Labels: budget, budget tips, entertaining on a budget, festive entertaining., ikea, ikea entertaining, indoor entertaining

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Outdoor Entertaining At Home Sunday, 2 November 2008

It’s that time of year – when outdoor entertaining comes to the fore, and we all look for ways to better live, and host others in our own homes. The team at Ikea recently moved in with a panel of Aussie families to better understand their needs. Some resulting outdoor entertaining ideas are as follows:

• Purchase multi-use furniture that works outside, and can provide extra seating inside.
• Use accessories to coordinate indoor and outdoor areas.
• Mirrors will make a small space appear bigger, and can reflect outdoor elements inside.
• Present food in gorgeous dishes, and allow people to serve themselves.
• Freeze mint leaves in ice cubes, and add to drinks.
• Give the kids colourful plastic crockery and cutlery – we love the Kalas range.
• Place rubbish bins outside to help with the clean-up.

Click here to check out some of Ikea's great outdoor entertaining ideas.

Labels: entertaining idea, furniture, ideas, ikea, ikea entertaining, outdoor entertaining

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