If you love to go antiquing as much as I do, then you've no doubt struggled with the conundrum of how to incorporate that beautiful new turn-of-the-century table into your mostly-modern living room. Have no fear, my friends, because today we're sharing some easy tips and tricks that will have you blending furniture from different eras in no time.
Believe it or not, I use to be a professional plant killer. Turns out, with a little love and care, keeping plants alive is really not that hard! You just need to know a few key tips. So today I'm sharing 10 low light houseplants (I actually own all of these) that are tough to kill (because I haven't killed them yet!). So, if you want to introduce a few plants into your home, but you're not sure you can keep them green, here are some you might want to look into!
If you're searching for some modern and minimal ways to style your dining room table this spring, then look no further! Whether you're in search for a day-to-day look, hosting an afternoon tea or fun dinner party, we have three simple ways you can style your dining table with pieces you might already have kicking around the home!
Just because you live in a rental apartment doesn't mean that you can't rework it to fit your own taste - there are so many easy ways to customize it to reflect your personality. You just have to get a little creative! Here are ten great tips for making your rental living room feel like home. Your home.
Renting your home has some perks (no mortgage, no maintenance costs, no headaches), but there are downsides: apartment decorating can be a challenge, and limited storage space makes it hard to stay organized.
Many apartments are too small or don't offer much storage. Maybe the landlord won't let you paint or put nail holes in the wall. And rental properties are usually...
All home improvement stores sell big indoor/outdoor rugs. They’re cheap and they’re not attractive–dare I say ugly? Well, here’s a way to make one of those utilitarian things look fabulous.
What you need:
One indoor/outdoor rug. Mine is an Ozite, 6' x 8' rug in bark. It cost 12 bucks and I had a 2 dollar rebate. If this size is too big, you can cut them down with a scissors to any size or shape you desire–probably even puzzle pieces...
When we moved into our current apartment, we decided to mount our TV on the wall. Mainly, this was because our cats liked to stand in front of it, but we also just liked the look! Now, it's over a year later and there's nothing on that wall except a TV, which is the eyesore of the room. I'm a BIG TV fan, but I don't like the look of a giant black screen singled out on my wall. Because I was in need of some eye candy myself, I rounded up my favorite ways to decorate around your TV to incorporate it into your decor, or completely transform it into a hidden TV. Now I can't wait to finally decorate around my TV to make the room look a million times better!
Lately, I've been loving all the colorful furs I've been seeing in magazines, Pinterest, and my favorite interior decor sites. But when I saw how expensive it was to buy a few ... I knew the only way I'd be able to incorporate them into my home was to make them myself. So, I figured out this super simple technique to add some color and character to the common faux fur ... without creating a whole mess and spending a ton of money
I love my cat. I'm not shy about admitting that (I even mention it in my bio). I'm also not ashamed to say I think she's the best cat in the world. Her name is Donut, but I also refer to her as "Angel Face" or "Precious Baby Kitty" (which drives my fiancé crazy, I'm sure). The cat drinks filtered water and has a basket full of toys. She's one of the more spoiled cats out there, and leads a pretty cushy life (as evidenced by this plushy DIY cat bed I made especially for her).
The widespread appeal of nautical and coastal decor makes a lot of sense when you consider the primal and ancient connection humans have to the sea. Being attracted to the water is hardwired into our very cells. Scientific studies have proven what we already know anecdotally: spending time near, on, or in lakes and oceans make us happier and healthier. It's no wonder that so many of us respond to the colors, clean lines, and natural elements of coastal, beach, and nautical decor. It makes us feel good to be reminded of the sea.
If your initial reaction to the term "coastal decor" is negative, it's probably from witnessing too many cutesy and heavy-handed thematic rooms. We are not advocating buying and displaying any and all items that have a sailboat or seahorse on them. Good decorating never grows out of an overly simplistic theme, and, "Put an anchor on it" is not a valid design philosophy!
Whenever I look at Christmas fireplace décor ideas, I always see mantels adorned with beautiful fireplace garlands and a few oversized stockings. They look amazing!
But what if — like me — you don’t have a mantel to work with?
A fireplace is the focal point of any room. Knowing how to decorate a fireplace without a mantel for Christmas will help you create the perfect festive design for the heart of your home!
Looking for mantel-less Christmas décor ideas? Here’s our take on fireplace decoration. We went with a natural, simple and Scandi feel. And focused on creating the warmth and comfort that Christmas is all about.
Follow these steps and adapt them to your own Christmas décor style for your own unique fireplace design.
We love the festive season! It’s the perfect time to get creative. If you’ve already got your tree trimmed and you’re ready for a new and exciting holiday project — or even if you’re keeping your Christmas décor minimal this year — this DIY wooden tabletop Christmas tree will bring a little extra festive cheer to your home.
These trees are super easy to make and to personalize. What’s more, they’re so durable. Bring them out year after...
Christmas trees aren't for everyone. They can be pricey when you're on a budget, tricky in a small apartment, and nearly impossible with pets.
This year we came up with a super affordable, easy to assemble, clever tree that only requires a wall, a roll of tape, a stapler, dexterous fingers, and about an hour of your time. Right? Right! Let's make one.
If someone mentions Christmas colors, red and green probably instantly come to mind. But though they're the default, they're far from the only choice for a Christmas color scheme. If you're not a fan of the color combination, or it just doesn't look good with your existing regular decor, why not get creative with your Christmas colors? Check out these ideas for alternative Christmas color palettes for decorating your home.
No matter how many trends come and go, there are a few classic home decor elements that never go out of style. Think of a simple round mirror, the Eames lounge chair, a quality Persian rug - designers come back to these pieces again and again.
Another essential decor item that every interior designer seems to have in their back pocket? White curtains. Versatile and classic, well-tailored white curtains can dress up literally any room; no matter the style. And here's the secret - we've noticed a lot of designers are getting their curtains at IKEA!
Now that the weather is getting cooler in most places, you may be pulling your sweaters from last year out of the back of your closet. And maybe there are a few that you decide won't be making it into your wardrobe rotation. Before you get rid of an unwanted sweater, consider whether it could have a new life as a sweater pillow. Here's how to add a bit of knit texture to your decor by sewing your own sweater pillow.
There are lots of reasons why you might not want to wear an old sweater any more. Maybe the fit, color, or style is off, or perhaps there are stains or holes that developed while it was sitting around unworn (thanks, moths!). Especially if the stains or holes are on the sleeves, you may be able to salvage the rest of the sweater by turning it into a pillow. And if you don't already have a suitable sweater, you should be able to find one at a thrift store.
I loved the stitch pattern on this dusty pink sweater, but the color and fit just didn't suit me. When I realized that it would look much better in my living room than on me, I started figuring out how to turn it into a sweater pillow. Here's how I did it:
Turn the sweater inside-out, and place the pillow form inside it. Pin around the form so that the sweater fits it snugly, but don't stretch it out.
Cut the sweater outside the lines you pinned, leaving about a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
Sew around the perimeter of the sweater on the lines you pinned. Be careful not to stretch the sweater as you sew, or you'll end up with wavy seams. I like to round off the corners and trim them, so that my finished pillow won't have pointy, empty corners. Be sure to leave an opening for inserting the pillow form! The exact size of the opening depends on your pillow size, but the one here would have been easier to deal with if it had been an inch or two larger.
Hand sew the opening closed using an invisible stitch/ladder stitch/blind stitch/slip stitch.
Sewing a sweater pillow is much faster than knitting a pillow cover from scratch! Do you have any old sweaters that would make good throw pillows?
I have boxes upon boxes of Christmas decor, but do you know what I always wish I had more of? Halloween decorations! Most of the spooky decor associated with this ghoulish of holidays doesn't last for more than one season (I'm talking to you, weird bag of spider webs!). Rather than buying stuff to throw it away on November 1st, I wanted to make something I can decorate with this year and the years after. Boosting your own stash of spooky decor is easy enough - keep reading to see how I made these glossy bookends from wood, spray paint, and spooky bobbles.
I have boxes upon boxes of Christmas decor, but do you know what I always wish I had more of? Halloween decorations! Most of the spooky decor associated with this ghoulish of holidays doesn't last for more than one season (I'm talking to you, weird bag of spider webs!). Rather than buying stuff to throw it away on November 1st, I wanted to make something I can decorate with this year and the years after. Boosting your own stash of spooky decor is easy enough - keep reading to see how I made these glossy bookends from wood, spray paint, and spooky bobbles.
Maybe it's my childhood spent catching garter snakes, but I've never been afraid of snakes. I know I'm in the minority in thinking that some of them are even downright cute, so I won't be surprised to hear that this snake wreath might evoke slithery nightmares for many. If plastic snakes don't creep you out too much, you can whip up this DIY Halloween wreath in no time.
September is a transitional time of year... the kids are going back to school, the weather is getting cooler and the landscape is changing. Which means that it's a great opportunity to give your living room a refresh too. One of the best ways to do this is by adding texture - so take a cue from Scandinavian decor and add some beautiful layered texture to your space this fall.