Category: Home Styling Guide

Color is a MUST when it comes to taking a space from blah to beautiful. You don’t have to have a big budget to infuse your rooms with the colors you love. Here are 10 creative ways to liven up your space with color.

Try these 10 creative ways to liven up your interiors just by adding some fun splashes of color to your decor.

💚 Hang bold artwork – I love brining in bright pops of color with artwork. It’s a great way experiment with color without a huge commitment (like you would make with a bold paint color). If you like to change up things frequently, this is a great way to keep things interesting and easy to switch out.
💛 Add colorful accessories – Using colorful accessories can be fun. It also can be tricky. Be sure your colors are coordinating and not clashing. I like to keep my bold, bright colors to a minimum of 2-3 in each room. This ensures your room remains soothing, relaxing and cohesive.
💚 Embrace colorful wallpaper – Wallpaper is back my friend, embrace it! Wallpaper is a great option for an accent way or hall bathroom. They don’t it make it like they used to (which is a good thing). Changing out will take a bit of effort if you change your mind but at least your sheet rock will remain in tact with the new products. Try a peel and stick if you aren’t quiet sure you are ready to fully commit long-term.
💛.Brighten up with throw pillows – Throw pillow cover change out is a quick and inexpensive way to add a pop of color. If you find a style you like, I recommend ordering at least one other color. This will give you an accessible option when you need a change. (Amazon is my go to for pillow covers. These are one of my favorite styles.)

💚 Incorporate fresh flowers – If maintaining fresh flowers is too much for you, purchase some vibrant artificial floral. You’ll find many different colors and textures that coordinate well together. I recommend taking your vase when purchasing artificial floral. Hobby Lobby has the best deal with 1/2 floral every 2-3 weeks. Check their weekly sales ad before heading to the store.

💛 Switch up your fabrics – Switching up fabrics can be done by reupholstering a worn chair or ottoman. Consider this before considering tossing it to the curb and replacing with something new (especially if the piece hold sentimental value or is super-comfortable).

💚 Get a bright area rug – Rugs are a great way to anchor a space and add a lot of “cozy” to a room. Check the pile height to be sure it’s right for the space and the function. I love shopping for rugs at my local discount stores (Sam’s Club is a great option) but when I need to go online, Rugs.com is one of my go-to stores.

💛 Reflect color with mirrors – Use mirrors sparingly but use them for sure! When you are hanging a mirror, you should pay close attention to what will be reflected in the view and not only where the mirror itself looks good on the wall. Antique stores are a great place to find some unique mirrors. If you are up for it, you can change out the antique look with some paint.

💚 Paint an accent wall – This isn’t may favorite options, but it’s an option none-the-less. As you’ve probably heard me say before, “paint is an inexpensive way to may a huge impact”. Choose your color wisely or you could be making an impact you weren’t expecting to make.

💛 Bring in some live greenery – Plants (live or artificial) bring life to any space. Any chance you have to bring the outdoors in is an opportunity to bring in the feeling of relaxation and peace. And who doesn’t need more of that in their life?

TAKE ACTION

Now that you have 10 creative ways to liven up your space with color, it’s time to starting infusing your space!

View MORE Home Styling Pro-Tips in my Home Styling Guide.

Get your home ready for Easter with these 7 easy Easter decorating ideas. No need to overdo it. Simple is always best when it comes to holiday decor. I find that when I keep my holiday decor simple using just a few accessories, I’m more likely to get them out of the box each year.

Try just one, or try them all!

Here are 7 last minute easy easter decorating ideas that will get your home looking festive for the holiday!

🐰 Hang a spring wreath on your door – If you are like me and love simple wreaths, purchase a grapevine wreath with a garland strand of your choice. Wrap the greenery around the wreath, cut to size and secure with raffia. (Eucalyptus or lambs ear are both great choices). This can be done for under $20.

🐰 Create a tablescape with bright or pastel colors – If your aren’t quite comfortable yet creating vignette groupings, check out my Create the Perfect Coffee Table Vignette guide for some tips. These same decorating principles can be used when creating a tablescape.

🐰 Make a statement with fresh greenery and flowers – If you have access to fresh flowers and have the time to maintain them (and change them out frequently) this is a great option for a kitchen island centerpiece. Smooth, glass vases are inexpensive (Dollar Tree) and will look amazing! If that seems a bit too much work, artificial floral and greenery will work just fine (my personal preference). Just be sure what you are purchasing looks real and not plastic.

🐰 Fill glass jars with sweet treats – If you have kiddos, this will be their favorite part of the decor!

🐰 Create a vignette with birds, bunnies and eggs – Create a grouping on your coffee table or dining buffet with these festive items. Use books of coordinating colors to add texture and height to your vignette.

🐰 Mix some botanical prints into your decor – If you have some extra wall space, add a collage of botanicals. These prints can be easily changed out as the seasons change.

🐰 Plant some flowers in pots by your front door – Nothing says “hello spring” like fresh flowers in oversized planters on the front porch entryway.

TAKE ACTION

Now that you know how to get your home ready for Easter with these 7 easy Easter decorating ideas, it’s time to get to work. Have fun creating!

View MORE Home Styling Pro-Tips in my Home Styling Guide.

One of the things you can change seasonally in your home at a low cost (or even no cost) are coffee table vignettes. You just need to spend a few minutes following these steps to create the perfect coffee table vignette you will love!

Follow these 7 easy decorating tips to create the perfect coffee table vignette to spruce up your space!

🌿 Use a decorative tray to ground your vignette. Trays are an ideal starting point for any vignette. You have many sizes and colors to choose from. Be sure the style of the tray fits the design style of the room. Additionally, select a finish that will pop against the coffee table. If you have a light-colored table, you may opt for a darker toned tray and visa versa.

🌿 Vary the height of your objects. Varying the heights of your objects adds interests and ensures your design doesn’t fall flat (no pun intended). Be mindful not to interfere with sight lines from one seating to another when using taller floral arrangements.

🌿 Include some life on your table with flowers or a plant. Keep in mind, it doesn’t have to be a live plant or flower to add the perception of “life”. It just needs to look real and vibrant (avoid plastic-looking succulents and floral).

🌿 Keep your color palette consistent with the rest of the room. Your coffee table vignette should add beauty to the room and compliment the space. It shouldn’t be the “show-stealer”. A good design is one in which the eyes glide effortlessly across the room, enjoying every part of what each element has to offer.

🌿 Add some personality with something quirky. For instances, add a pineapple (like pictured) or animals always add a fun element (giraffes, birds, elephants, etc.) If fruit and animals are not your style, simply add on object with an interesting shape.

🌿 Include a variety of textures and shapes. Texture is often overlooked whether designing a room or a simple vignette. Using different textured objects in your vignette will ensure that WOW factor that will set your design apart.

🌿 Use books for interest. – Books are my favorite vignette accessories. You can introduce color, texture, height and personality with books. Face the title outward if the book title is meaningful to you and brings a sense of home and peace to the room.

TAKE ACTION

Now that you know how to make your small space seems bigger, it’s time to get to work on making your small room look fabulous!

View MORE Home Styling Pro-Tips in my Home Styling Guide.

With real estate prices skyrocketing, small is the new BIG! Here are some practical and inexpensive ways to make your small space seem bigger.

5 Tips to make your room seem bigger

🌿 Lighten Up – Paint the walls in neutral or lighter shades. My all-time, hands-down favorite cool and light paint color is Comet Dust. I love so much my entire home is painted in this crisp, beautiful color. In a smaller space, it’s best to be consistent with paint color throughout.

🌿 Free Up Space – Store Items under furniture, opt for tall storage units and hang items behind doors. This interDesign chrome decorative wall hook is my first pick, and the one I use in my home behind doors -durable, stylish and inexpensive.

🌿 Mirror, Mirror on the Walls – Add full length mirrors for visual trickery. This particular full length mirror allows the flexibility to hang or remain free-standing. This mirror is also very sleek, thin and elegant. Versatile options are great and allows you to use items in different spaces of your home as your needs and lifestyle changes.

🌿 Be Adaptable – Use your dining room table as a work space or for kitchen prep work. If you need some extra prep space. I recommend a counter-height table with backless bar stools. This allows you to easily slide stools under table when not in use so the chairs are not getting in your way of prepping.

A kitchen table is a great workspace because it offers you a lot of room to spread out. You certainly don’t want to sit in a hard back chair for very long. So I recommend purchasing two nice, comfortable fabric chairs for your table ends and use those for working. Here’s a stylish example. Use a shallow, nearby cabinet to store away your work items each day.

🌿 Maximize on Style! – Opt for showy furniture pieces, eye popping pillows or stunning art. They key is to add a pop of color without going overboard. Be sure bold colors coordinate and are minimal in the space. I’m a timeless design kind of girl and I’m not much of a fan of a lot of bold colors in my home. An easy way to add color is with greenery. The use of plants and succulents (artificial or live) is a simple way to add that bold color to your design.

take action

Now that you know how to make your small space seems bigger, it’s time to get to work on making your small room look fabulous!

View MORE Home Styling Pro-Tips in my Home Styling Guide.

The Spring Season is the perfect opportunity to refresh your home decor! Update your space for the season using these 5 ways to freshen up your home.

5 easy ways to refresh your home

🌿 Rearrange your furniture or accessories – Proper furniture arrangement can elevate the look and feel of your room. When your placement isn’t ideal, it can interrupt function and comfort. Be sure your arrangement is spot-on! Click HERE to access my 5 Pro-Tips for Furniture Arrangement.

🌿 Swap out throw pillows for bolder and brighter ones – Because I’m a neutral, timeless design kind of girl, I use white as my bold and bright option in contrast to more earthy tones that I use in the fall and winter seasons. Here is the link to my favorite white pillow covers. These come in a variety of sizes and colors if you prefer a bolder look.

🌿 Update bed linens – How hard could it be to purchase new sheets? It’s actually pretty simple once you decide your color and thread count. I prefer white sheets because they can be bleached which is always a plus for any linens. Here’s a little about thread count. Good sheets range anywhere from 200-800 thread count. The higher the count, the softer the sheet (typically but not always), and the more you’ll pay. Want to know more, check out What does thread count mean (and why isn’t highest always the best)? Personally, I get all my sheet at Sam’s Club. They offer a variety of colors at a 450 thread count at the amazing price of $35 for a king set. And trust me when I say, “they are super comfy”.

🌿 Wallpaper an accent wall – Before you skip right over this because it sounds really hard, keep reading and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how easy this can be. I’ve never attempted traditional wallpaper, however, I’ve been successful at peel and stick. This is an inexpensive, simple option if you have a little bit of patience and a steady hand. Check out this video-set backdrop design where we used peel and stick to transform this space. If you want to give it a go, here’s the paper we used.

🌿 Bring the outdoors in with plants and flowers – Neither one of my thumbs are green. I have killed every plant I’ve ever tried in my home. However, I’ve just learned of some plants that are almost impossible to kill. Here are 17 drought-tolerant houseplants you can’t kill. I think I’ll give a few of them a try! If you’d rather not, artificial plants can add just as much beauty to your room. Of course, not all artificial plants are created equally and some do look super cheap. If you go this route, chose carefully so that your new plant addition doesn’t de-value your room refresh.

Take Action

Now that you have learned 5 ways to freshen up your home, pick a few (or all them) and bring in Spring with a bang!

View MORE Home Styling Pro-Tips in my Home Styling Guide.