Simplicity and personality are key when it comes to decorating your home, apartment or for those of you heading back to your college dorm. There are a few key pieces that I feel are important for every home that are simple affordable and add “more” with out being too much. Not only do you want your home to look good for your guests, but this is where you live, where you spend time with your family and friends. This is the place you call home.
Daily Affirmations
Letter boards are my current obsession! They are simple and customizable, adding personal touches to the room in which they are being displayed. Use them in your kitchen for a weekly menu for your family, put them in your dorm to fill with inspirational or funny quotes, add your daily reminders, there are so many possibilities that you can do with them and they come in various sizes( AND COLORS!) to meet your needs. I personally use an 12″ X 18″ black felt board from Burx Co on Etsy that is displayed on the bar counter of my kitchen. I love changing up the phrases with positive quotes! It always helps to start your day with some positivity.
Here are a few other reasons you NEED a letter board in your home:
-Photo props: For your kids memorable moments or personal/family announcements
-Menu boards: No more husbands or kids asking whats for dinner
-Chore lists: Are there things you do every day? Put your chore list on the board.
-Scheduling: Trying to remember your school schedule or kids’ activities? Put it on the board by the front door.
Paintings/Wall Decor
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on paintings to add to your decor. Personally, I feel that painting your own is the best option. That may just be the creative person in me but it’s nice displaying pieces I’ve done in my home. I am not the next Picasso by any means, nor do you have to be. One of the latest trends in girls night or date night activities are drinking and paint nights. Get a group of friends together or plan a date night with your significant other, grab a bottle of wine and make your own home decor! I’ve done a few of these myself, either with friends or solo, and I love it! I also get lots of compliments on my “work”. In my experiences, the instructors are there to help you and guide you to designing a piece you love! This also gives your home a touch of your personality and can be a great conversation starter for next get together.
From the Ground Up
The perfect rug can transform your room entirely. When looking for the perfect rug here are a few things to keep in mind:
-Rugs should exceed the edges of the furniture. This can help your room appear larger.
-Color choices are important. Darker colors can make a room appear smaller, while lighter colors open up a room to help them appear larger.
-Be mindful of fabric. Will you have to vacuum it often? Can you spot treat or clean it easily?
-Rugs can warm up a room. Wood floors in a hallway can seem almost cold and cave-like. Adding a runner style rug can make it feel warm and cozy.
Go Green
Adding flowers or plants can really brighten up a room or add a touch of color. There’s just something about flowers that makes me feel good when I come home. Although, I can’t personally keep up with live flowers and changing them out every couple days, I’ve found fake flowers come in as a close second to real ones. Keep in mind it is OK to treat yourself to real flowers on occasion. Don’t spend too much on flowers from a florist. Many grocery stores offer flowers at a reasonable price and you can display them as you wish.
Another recent obsession of mine are succulents! Again, I have had to resort to fake ones (a green thumb, I am not) but I love displaying them on shelves for collage walls, or on my desk as a calming piece amongst the chaos that is my desk.
These four simple, yet key pieces can all be purchased on a budget as well. You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your home look like something out of a home magazine. Not sure where to begin with your home decor shopping adventure for these items? Target and Marshall’s are great places to start, or if you prefer to do your shopping online only I would recommend Etsy or Joss & Main.
Enjoy your new home makeover!