love my simple home

7 Easy Ways To Brighten Up Your Home For Spring

March 13, 2023, in Decorating

Ah, spring is almost here at least that's what the calendar says. We still have the winter chill here in New York so I won't be spending time in the garden just yet, but I can have fun now sprucing up the inside of my home. Here are my 7 easy ways to brighten up your home for spring:

1. Have fun with bright accessories, from colorful coffee table books to stylish objects and things found in nature to create beautiful accents around your home. Not sure how to style up a coffee table read my post about HOW TO STYLE A COFFEE TABLE IN 4 EASY STEPS.

2. Bring in flowers! Think tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and even branches of leaves or forsythia in a mix of vases on your window sill or around your home. The color, the scent it's spring in a vase! You can create a beautiful bunch to display just by placing your tallest flower in the center of the vase and work your way out. If you want to add texture just add in some greenery.

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SWEET MINI DAFFODILS

3. Ok, next up is the simplest of them all, it's free and you might already be doing this. Open your curtains, drapes, blinds, shades, or whatever you have that is covering your windows! Tea towels are a fun way to dress your windows for the spring. I know in the winter we want our homes to be insulated warm and cozy so we tend to have our window treatments closed. Spring is the time to let the natural light in. Letting natural light into your home will instantly brighten it up and give it a mood boost and maybe boost your mood too. I also like to open my windows on nice days to let fresh air and the sound of life in. Hearing the birds chirping outside makes me smile.

4. Spring is the perfect time to give your bedroom a mini-makeover with new bedding. It's an inexpensive way to freshen up your bedroom and give it a new feel. I love a mix of bright whites with soothing blue accents. Shop on AMAZON for bedding.

5. Brighten up your entryway with a new accent rug. These small rugs are life savers and are easy to keep clean. Our entryway gets a lot of abuse, especially during the spring when the ground is still muddy. When the rug gets dirty I can shake it out or pop it in the wash. Shop Amazon for area rugs.

6. Get something growing! Even though I'm ready to get out in the garden and grow fresh herbs and vegetables I can't quite do that yet so I like to get something growing inside. An easy way to do this is to purchase herb plants at the grocery store and place them in the kitchen or dining area in a basket, planter, or vase where it gets light. Read my post about DIY herb planters in up-cycled cans for a fun alternative.

7. Add bright pillows. Pillows make any space extra cozy and inviting so swap out your winter textiles for more cheerful colorful ones. I am a fan of pillows and have them everywhere in our home. They are an easy way to lighten up the space and instantly add a pop of color.

xx,

Julie

Thank you for reading to the end!

If you're craving more click on the links below!

Home decor ideas that brighten up the gloomy days of spring

Flip Your Rug

Painting And Styling A Bookcase

diy fabric flower planters- mother's day gift

diy fabric jewelry gift box mother's day gift idea

Small Lamps For Kitchen Countertops

January 19, 2023, in Decorating, Shop, Thrifting

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One reason why I love home decor so much is, you can recreate any atmosphere anywhere you like, simply by mixing vintage pieces, and lighting. Hello and welcome! I wanted to bring a bit of warmth to our white quartz countertops with a small table lamp, it's my favorite kitchen accessory trend for this year. This timeless trend of displaying a tabletop lamp on the kitchen counter is easy to do and will add character and warmth to your kitchen for the winter months and throughout the year.

I purchased a small vintage lamp years ago at a consignment store and recently placed it on our kitchen countertop to recreate the cozy aesthetic that we have in our living spaces.

The space between our countertops and upper cabinets is about 17 inches so this 8-inch lamp works beautifully. Beyond offering texture and color It's just so cozy! I like to keep the overhead kitchen lights off and just have a soft glow of light in the evening. This has become my favorite time of day because I love the cozy aesthetic the lamp brings to our kitchen.

Here are images from my archives of other lamps that I used on our previous kitchen countertop

SIMPLE NO SEW CAFE CURTAINS

SUMMER HOME TOUR

It's time for a cozy atmosphere and to open a nice bottle of wine. I put together a round-up with an assortment of pretty lamps that will fit most kitchen countertops without taking up to much counter space.

Small Lamps For Kitchen Countertops:

What do you think?

xx,

Julie

The Easiest Interior Design Trends To Follow For 2023

January 11, 2023, in Decorating, Thrifting

Hello friends, I've been meaning to write a post for a while now, but sometimes you just don't get around to things. Let's just say that I am happy to start a new year. With each new year, I like to find out what is trending in the interior design world, and thought it would be fun to talk about the interior design trends for 2023.

I find that the one thing that's really interesting with interior design trends is there is a bit of a slow incoming so we start to see it over time. You start to see things in design magazines, or online then you start seeing it more in the mainstream like in retail and corporate spaces or on tv then it whines down where it actually gets into our homes.

Because trends come and go I like to avoid trends that are way too trendy and instead focus on the trends that are simple to do, long-lasting, and work with my style. There are a lot of trends in the world of interiors and it would be impossible for me to cover all of them so I put together three that are easy to do and will get you excited to decorate your house this year. I hope this sounds fun to you because I know I definitely love to chat about decorating so let's jump right in.

NUMBER ONE

SHOP VINTAGE AND THRIFTED ITEMS

Vintage and thrifted items can bring personality and character to any space whether it be modern or traditional. They also have the added benefit of being readily available so you don't have to worry about a long wait to have your items shipped. To achieve this trend you can visit your local consignment, antique, or thrift shops for unique pieces. This is something that I've been doing for years and find it fun to mix the old with the new. Finding a piece of furniture that blends beautifully with the newer pieces in my home brings character. I also like thrifting small things like lamps, vases, and dishware.

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HOW TOR REFINISH A COFFEE TABLE

TWO

WOOD FURNITURE

Dark wood furniture is making a comeback. We are moving to deep and medium wood tones. One of the simplest ways to hop on this trend is to opt for natural furniture pieces in a dark wood tone. Think of rich walnut side tables or chestnut bookshelves. Also, think of the smaller touches of wood like chairs and sofas with dark wood-toned legs. Add a statement piece of furniture such as a dark walnut coffee table. Keep it balanced by having different wood tones throughout the design and avoid matching sets. Matching sets can look outdated in your design. Instead, choose lighter wood to compliment the dark wood furniture. Look for Wood furniture that has warmth and coziness like vintage and antique pieces.

THREE

SMALL KITCHEN COUNTERTOP LAMPS

Make your kitchen an extension of your home by creating a cozy feeling that you would get as if you were sitting in your living room or other areas in your home. Think about that warm and cozy spot in your living room or when you are at a restaurant that has a warm ambiance. One way to create that cozy feeling in your kitchen is with a small lamp. You can find small tabletop lamps just about anywhere. They will bring character to your kitchen and elevate it to that designer look. It's also the easiest way to be on trend in 2023. I have one on our kitchen countertop and I love the warm glow and character it brings to our kitchen. You can also place one on the kitchen island.

Julie

Simple Thanksgiving Decor Ideas

November 14, 2022,

I'm so happy it's autumn because I get to share with you a few simple Thanksgiving decor ideas. If you are hosting Thanksgiving this year and are scared to take design risks use this holiday to get creative with dressing your table and shelves with pretty decor. They're only going to be out for a little bit of time so get creative and have fun. These simple Thanksgiving decor ideas can work for a large dinner party or even just for two. Be fearless and just try it. You can't go wrong because it's your home and there is no right or wrong.

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I love to make a seasonal bouquet of something😀 It could be faux or real and it's easy to do. Every year I come up with something different. One year I made an arrangement with dried leaves in a DIY tin can vase. As an alternative, I like to use fruit centerpieces. They are pretty and edible and what's not to love about that!

DIY Tin Can Vase

It's so much fun to explore putting branches, plants, candles, and food, in the middle of the table. You're going to have to set your table so why not have fun with the items you are selecting. Start playing by getting a tablecloth in a pretty pattern or one with texture. Buy beautiful dishware and glassware and actually use them. Or bring out those inherited pieces which I think are always the best.

Make your shelves festive by creating small arrangements with things found in nature. Look for pine cones, branches, and acorns, and have fun displaying them to make your home warm and cozy. Stack dishware and have fun styling up a pretty drink station.

This autumn has been unusually warm and the oregano is still growing in our garden. I like to display fresh herbs on the kitchen counter because for me, this makes cooking for Thanksgiving so much more fun.

Place settings made by hand represent love and are a simple way to add that decorative touch to the dining table.

NATURE INSPIRED THANKSGIVING PLACE SETTINGS

During the holidays I remember when I was a child my parents would display pistachio nuts in a pretty container on the coffee table. They were red back then and the red dye would get on my fingers and I just thought that was so much fun. Now I use this simple decor idea in my own home but without the red dye.

Thank you for the visit.

Julie

A Cheerful Autumn Corner

October 25, 2022, in before & after, Decorating

With autumn in full bloom, I thought I'd share with you some of my tips and design ideas on styling a cheerful autumn corner in your home.

A cheerfully decorated room for me is uncluttered but filled with items that inspire me to feel happy, calm, and relaxed. I do this through color, artwork, texture, and with natural and artificial lighting. I mixed the warm colors of beige, cognac, and brown in the furniture and brought in my favorite color pale blue with the accessories. The patterned pillows and my favorite throw blanket that I had for years add softness to the corner of the sofa.

I get really excited when I look at the photograph on the wall! It inspired me for the color palette and pattern mixing for this space and I thought why not make it the story and available to purchase. The beach is the happiest place for us and even though the temperatures are cooler we still like to hang out there. We don't even mind if the weather isn't the best because there's nothing better than to arrive home to a cozy cheerful spot to sit and relax. On the coffee table, the oyster shells collected on the beach have a resting spot on a stack of design books that I am currently reading.

Whenever the autumn season would come around I always felt pressured to purchase new decor and fill an entire room using all the fall colors one would think of. Now I only focus on subtle tabletop decor using naturally found elements. I could have just popped a mum plant here and called it a day but to me, that would be boring. In my opinion, there is no better way to seasonal decorate your home than by just going outside and clipping what you have in your yard. On the narrow strip of the drop-leaf table, next to the sofa is a bouquet of flowers. How can you not feel cheered when you come into a room and are greeted by a colorful flower arrangement. I clipped the dahlias and lavender from our patio garden to create this early autumn bouquet. When I arranged the flowers I didn't want them to look stiff and forced so I mixed varieties and colors and bunched them loosely in a black vase. This creates a beautiful natural feel to the corner which is so much better than a theme look that you can go out and buy.

Furniture & Home Accessories

Framed Prints

Pillow Covers

Pale Blue Throw Blankets

Taupe Curtains

Cognac Leather Ottomans

This corner just feels like us right now and it's really nice to have this cozy space. I encourage you to display who you are no matter what the season is and just look for things that make that happiness come alive and give you that place of cheerful calm. Thank you so much for the visit!

xx,

Julie

Drying Oregano + Garden Finds

September 09, 2022, in outside, Shop

I like my garden to look full, not perfect, and always well-manicured. You could say I'm a very laid-back gardener and in the summer I let things go a bit and it's nice to just enjoy it. The oregano is beautiful right now and it's getting really thick. I'll hang out on the patio sofa with a cold drink and just look around the garden and see how things are doing. I find having a garden is very therapeutic because when I'm digging in the garden I'm just looking at what's in front of me and not thinking about anything else.

btw the mint is especially refreshing in a summer drink OR tea.

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One of the routines I started to do is to preserve the oregano from our garden. Having the ability to mosey to the patio and clip my own herbs, vegetables and flowers is a dream come true. Last spring I purchased a small oregano plant from the produce section at the grocery store and set it in the garden to grow.

Drying Oregano

The simplest method for drying oregano is to hang dry it. I know there are several other methods out there but for me, this is the best.

Hang to Dry

Using twine I simply tie a few pieces of oregano together in a bunch at the stem. Then I hang the bundles on a hook in a warm place inside that gets some direct sunlight. I wait about 3-6 weeks for the oregano to dry before taking the bundles down and getting them ready to store in containers.

Removing the Leaves

I slide my hand down the stems emptying the leaves into a bowl. This part can get a bit messy but I don't mind because the aroma is wonderful.

Storing

Then I crumble the leaves so the dried oregano can be stored in jars.

During this time of year, I cook with fresh herbs. I'll clip a bunch and display them on the kitchen counter for easy access. In the Winter, when I can't grow my own I'll use the dry oregano that is currently dried and stored. I used my DYMO hand-held label maker to create the label on the mason jar.

SHOP WALMART DEALS

I have a collection of mason jars and store-bought herb jars that I like to refill. You can buy your own herb jars to create your own herb display. Remember to keep them in a dark corner of the kitchen or in a cabinet or drawer to preserve their freshness.

Before I had a garden I used my kitchen windowsill. A kitchen windowsill is enough to have a mini herb collection. You can buy oregano, basil, parsley, or sage already potted and keep them for cooking. A window box or a DIY vertical planter are other small-scale options that are simple and inexpensive. Below are some of my DIY planter ideas that are easy to make.

DIY Herb Planters