Top Accessories to Make Your Home Look Like a Magazine

Hi Friends!

Sometimes a blog post idea will hit me out of nowhere - like this one :-)  Well actually, it was probably subconscious as I just had a lady ask me this:

"I just remodeled a part of my home and now that it's done, I have NO IDEA what to do!  How do I make it look homey, it just looks so bleak and barren." 

The answer to this question is: ACCESSORIZE!  

I know that some of you are on a very tight budget, so I wanted to help people with ideas on what home accessories are WORTH the investment!

Here is a list of "tried and true" ideas that can really change your home from blah, to WOW:-)

My very first recommendation is to add TEXTURE to your space. The best way to accessorize with texture is to buy a nice throw blanket or greenery

1) A comfy textured throw and pillows

(This is perfect to add some layering on a sofa.....layering really adds that designer touch)

                Home Rich Brown Fringed Chenille Throw Blanket Soft & Cozy Warm Chocolate

      Pillow Perfect Linen/Red French Postale Rectangular Throw Pillow

I love using a throw (sometimes even a faux fur throw) to add texture to my clients room.  Obviously if you are trying to add texture to a kitchen I don't recommend a blanket (even though it might make doing the dishes a little more fun) I would recommend greenery on top of your cabinets.


Above Cabinet Greenery

2.) A pair of wall sconces

(GREAT for on either side of any art piece or mirror!)


                                                   Hammered Mirror Wall Sconce - Set of 2

These were one of my favorites! I might just have to find a spot to put these in my own home!

Uttermost Joselyn Small Wall Sconces 6 x 6 x 18" (Set of 2), Bronze

3) A set of pillar candles

(These go so well on ANY mantel area or table top - make sure and get the varying heights!)

                               Carved Wooden Candle Holder in Different Sizes Set of 3

4) Large wall clock

(It's hard to go wrong with a wall clock, you can find a spot for this type of thing anywhere!)

                                                 IMAX Large Wall Clock with Pendulum

5) Greenery

(Buy large for the corner of the room and small for all your table tops. I can not stress enough how much greenery adds to a room!)

                            Silk Decor Preserved Boxwood Ball Topiary, 8.2-Inch, Green

6.) Wall Decor 

Mirrors or any type of art add a LOT to a space.

                                  Metal Wall Decor With Six Round Shaped Plates by Benzara

IMAX Casa Medallion Tiles, Set of 4

Fun accessories - Vases, Pitchers, Wicker Baskets, Mirrors etc.....

(Department stores like Homegoods, TJ Maxx and Ross always have these type of things at great prices too)
                                                  Set of 2 Rattan/Metal Lidded Boxes

                                                Large Old World Camping Candle Lantern

This leads into my next big announcement - I started an Amazon Store for my readers!
(if you can't see the store on your reader you can see it on your computer)

I wanted to give you guys great ideas on how to decorate your home with classic accessories for good prices.  You guys already know I am a huge stickler for finding bargains.  I can not handle finding out that I paid 150.00 for a set of candlesticks when I see another set that I like LATER for 75.00!

I was happy to do some of the researching for you guys :-)

Your Welcome - hee,hee.  My clients picture below has quite a few of the accessories above put into "action" :-)

Before and After New Hampshire Home

Accessorizing your space with smart, classic accessories will make it look warm and lovely - it's a fantastic investment for your home. If you are stressing out about how to ARRANGE the accessories, see my How To Decorate Top of Cabinets post. Remember, I'm always here if you guys have any questions! 

Amazon links are affiliate links - thanks for supporting the blog :-)

All About That BASSment :-)

Hey Friends :-)

Is it really all about the BASSment?
(if you haven't heard the song yet....yes, I know it's really spelled basement) :-)

Basements can be hard to decorate around because it usually becomes the spot where all our leftovers go and not to mention, it's usually dark!  

Well don't give up my friends - I say give your basement a face lift!  

One idea is to add an accent wall......

I applied American Clay on this wall about a year after we moved in.  

You could also do a large gallery wall of pictures.  I find if you collect all your miscellaneous art/family photos and place them in ONE spot, we can create something beautiful. Having individual photos scattered around the house without any rhyme or reason doesn't have the same effect. 

After I collected all my family pictures and art, I took the frames off, laid them in my yard and spray painted them the same color.  (I used Kylon's Oil Rubbed Bronze)

Make sure and use the Wax Paper Hanging Method to put up your gallery!

This picture gallery is across from my brick colored American Clay wall downstairs.  

I also loved the idea of applying natural stone cladding or faux brick paneling to a wall.  It will add a unique look to your home without adding a lot to your budget.

Here are a few basements that have used faux brick paneling to accent areas.

All of a sudden, that basement isn't looking too shabby!

Crazy how much "pizazz" it can add to a plain 'ol basement.

How to Build a House Blog

How great is this custom made table!?  It sure solves the problem of not having enough seats in the basement! Plus, what goes through my head is when the kids want to bring FOOD downstairs, at least they could sit at the "bar" while eating.

Houzz

So whatcha think friends?  Did you get any good ideas for your own basement?  Like always, I hope I at least got your Creative Juices going :-)

Home Decor Ideas - Decorating with Lanterns

Hi Friends!

Every once in a while, there is a home decor accessory that seems to be TIMELESS and always looks great no matter where you put it.  Yes, decorating with clocks is definitely timeless (hee,hee) but lately I've noticed so many GREAT decor ideas using old iron/wood lanterns as that timeless, classic accessory.

Let's take a look and be INSPIRED! 

I love how they filled the lantern cage with ambient candles.  When I went to New Hampshire my friend had some electric candles that I inserted into a lantern she had hanging around her home.  

The BEFORE and AFTER pictures!

And for us COLD weather folks (the snow is non stop here!) look how COZY the lanterns make this front porch dusted with snow.  I am not sure there is a better accessory for creating a rustic and homey ambiance. 

How about inserting a plant into a lantern base - it could look like a mini terrarium!  Laura from The Given Life said she used a .99 cent fern from Michaels craft store.

I LOVE this fun outdoor picture below. How creative to use old wine barrels as side tables - it fits perfectly.  And look how much the lanterns add to this setting! 

Here is another BEFORE and AFTER of my NH friends console table fully accessorized.

Take a look - Up close you can see we used a cute decorative lantern with an automatically lit tealight.  You can usually buy great accessory lanterns at Michaels Craft Store. Don't forget to grab a 40% off coupon by doing a Google search before you head out to that store!

Decorating with lanterns can warmly enhance ANY outdoor space.

And only because I mentioned CLOCKS to be another timeless accessory - I had to add this super fun, GIANT kitchen clock.

And this BEAUTIFUL country living back porch clock!

What is your favorite "timeless" home decor accessory?  

Enjoy!

What To Do With Christmas Cards and Fun Crafts Ideas!

Alright friends,

When I saw this I just HAD to share it with you guys!

If I'm correct, almost everyone (except my parents - hi mom!) have a smart phone.  The phones that can snap a picture at least :-)

I thought this was a fantastic idea of what you can do with all the Christmas cards you receive this year!  Just snap the Christmas card picture and put it as your contact for that friend :-) (see, if in the past, you had stuffed them in a drawer or (GASP) thrown them away you won't feel so bad -right? Guilty problem solved) ;-)

This is hands down my favorite funny Christmas card!

Just feel the J O Y :-)

Jamilia Jean Photography

Miracle of Miracles :-)  We ended up getting a family shot for a Christmas card.  

It helps that my violin student's mom is a photographer and neighbor :-) I told her the only way we'll make this work is if it's super casual and I don't have to plan anything - ha!  So she "ran" down the street and we walked into the field across from our house and snapped a few shots.  EASY enough!  

Here are some Christmas crafts (treats!) that looked so fun and EASY!

Just put together 2 small candy canes, melt (bake) at 300 for 3 min (just to soften the candy canes) Once you do that you can pinch together the ends and insert the lollipop stick.  Next fill it in with the white almond bark.  Sprinkle with sprinkles VOILA!  What a fun gift or new tradition to start with your little kids/grandkids.

OneLittleProject

Another similar food craft that I have done is these Stained Glass Christmas Cookies!  The inside is just crushed jolly ranchers (or any see through hard candy!)  SO MUCH FUN!

How about making some GINGERBREAD play dough with the kids?  I love the cinnamon added to this mixture as it makes it smell like the holidays.  I also add gold glitter for some extra excitement - yes, we get WILD over here at my house.  HAHA!

Talking about getting wild with cinnamon :-)  This ornament craft is also a winner.  You just use elmers glue, cinnamon and applesauce as the "dough" to create gift tags or ornaments that the kids can give as gifts.  It makes the house smell heavenly!

Be sure and check out my Christmas Gift Idea post for gift inspirations :-)

Are you going to do the Christmas card photo contact idea this year??  I am!