Christmas Decor
Dressing the Mantel for Christmas
Sixteen ways to decorate a mantel for Christmas, beginning with the garland and ending with a house that…
James Rowan
James Rowan covers outdoor living, seasonal decorating, and home ideas for Room Almanac. His work focuses on choosing ideas that suit the space, season, and practical demands of the setting rather than treating every trend as universally useful.
Latest from James
Christmas Decor
Backyards
Firewood Storage Between the Woodpile and the Hearth
Thirteen ways to stack, cover, carry, and keep firewood, from the main pile at the edge of the…
Outdoor Decor
A 36 Inch Front Door Takes a 24 Inch Wreath
How wide a wreath should be for a 30, 32, 36, or 42 inch door, where its center…
Outdoor Furniture
Patio Furniture in Winter: Store It, Cover It, or Leave It Out
A winter plan for patio furniture by material: what can stay out, what needs a cover, and what…
Living Rooms
How to Make a Living Room Feel Cozy
Lamps at seated height, seats close enough to talk, a rug under every foot, and curtains closed at…
Christmas Decor
Decorate a Christmas Porch From the Front Door Out
How big the wreath should be, how much garland goes around a door, planters of cut greens, lit…
Christmas Decor
13 Ways to Decorate a Christmas Tree
Ribbon run from the top, one ornament color family, heirloom glass kept high, and trees that fit a…
Patios
How Much Patio Furniture Fits a Small Outdoor Space
Real clearance measurements for fitting a table, chairs, or a lounge set onto a small patio without losing…
Outdoor Furniture
Teak, Aluminum, or Wicker: What Actually Holds Up Outside
A teak dining set left outside through one real summer looks nothing like the version in the showroom,…
Fall Decor
12 Fall Decorating Ideas for a Warmer, Quieter Autumn
Fall shows up in a house before anyone decides to decorate for it. The light comes in lower…
Balconies
Small Balcony Ideas for Renters Who Can’t Drill Into Anything
A rental balcony has two real constraints: no permanent changes, and not much weight the railing or the…
Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor Lighting Ideas for a Warmer Patio at Night
A patio doesn’t need more brightness after dark. It needs a few different kinds of light, each doing…