Happy Fall . . . On a Budget

September 27, 2019October 3, 2019 Lisa

Ah, fall. Cooler temperatures, cozy scarves, and pumpkin spice–everything.

This year, I want to be conservative with my finances and my space, but still fully relish this delightful season. If you also watched Marie Kondo’s Netflix special and were inspired to de-clutter, you’ve learned to thoughtfully consider what you add to your life and home. So, here’s to embracing the season . . . while being financially savvy and mindful of how much inventory I’m signing up to store at the season’s end.

1. Multiple Uses:

Invest in items that work for more than one season. These pine cones reflect autumn, but they’ll also support Christmas and winter displays. (And are free for those of you fortunate enough to live near pine trees!) Evergreen topiaries can be dressed for any occasion. Bowls or trays in neutral colors or a material that coordinates with your style (think: wood, brass, silver, copper, mercury glass, galvanized tin, etc) can flow from one season to the next by changing what you put inside. So, shop with flexibility in mind.

2. Embellish Existing Elements:

This teapot of greens gets a few autumn colored companions (from the Dollar Tree), and it’s ready for the season.

Most of the year, the wreath below adds some much needed green to my desert spaces. By wrapping a beaded garland around it and adding some leaves, it says, “Hello, Harvest!”

Find a wreath with a basic, non-season-specific leaf for your base. Add garlands, floral picks, or ribbons appropriate for the season, and you also put to work Tip #1!

3. Repeat after me: Repetition!

One of the reasons store displays or magazine spreads look so pulled together is because they employ the design principle of repetition to create theme and a defined style. You can do that! Find an inexpensive item you can tuck in and around your more unique pieces to pull them all together. Pine cones, acorns, pumpkins, ribbons, tea lights—there are so many options. In your home store or online look for “vase fillers.” These bagged beauties specialize in small but abundant pieces that naturally repeat. And repetition reveals intentionality in your design.

4. Color Cues:

Consider using the colors already present in a room to translate the season. Fall isn’t restricted to yellow, orange, and brown anymore. You can find autumn-themed treasures in every color scheme these days. The result is a harmonious environment that echoes the season, without shouting it. How does this save money? When you coordinate with your current color scheme, it’s easier to pull from inventory you already have to support your theme.

Succulents exist all year here and the substantial pot provides a happy backdrop for this tiny blue pumpkin.

This turqouise mason jar lives in my kitchen year round, hosting whatever the current season inspires.

These green bottles are seasonless and pull in the dark green curtains, just out of view.

In this white and gray example from my dining room, I’m using place mats, plates, napkins, napkin rings, and a tray that are put to work year round. The pine cones, acorns, and mini pumpkins are the only season-specific items (and small, taboot), but they pack plenty of punch by gathering them into a central focus point.

It is possible to scimp on purchases without scimping on joy! Now where’s that apple cider . . .

Happy Fall!

Let's Be Honest

Just an Update, Please

October 5, 2018October 5, 2018 Lisa

Itching for a change but not up for a complete overhaul?

We can do that!

Pillow Talk:

These pillows and coordinating blanket lived a good life. However, they were fraying, lumpy, and starting to show it. A quick visit to Homegoods, and I found some cheerful, but inexpensive, new friends. For bedrooms and living rooms that need something fresh, consider pillows or a new throw.

Add Color:

I love the blues in my family room but wanted an update that didn’t require a paintbrush, ladder, moving furniture . . . basic upheaval, so I looked across the color wheel. All colors have a natural complementary color that you can determine by looking at the color opposite your existing color on a color wheel.

If you’re alarmed by what you find, remember the plethora of shades that color represents. For example, I do NOT have fond feelings toward crayon orange (the color opposite blue on the color wheel), but I wouldn’t mind a cheerful coral coming to visit. A few inexpensive accessories in this new color give the room a little more punch.

Shade It:

Consider a new lamp shade. Rarely touched, a lamp shade can function for a long time and go unnoticed. Consequently, these are often the accessories that most “age” a room. A new lamp is a great option too, but if it’s in good shape, just change the shade. [Note: Know which kind of shade your lamp accepts BEFORE you go shopping. (ie. a harp, spider, clip-on, etc.) It will save you lots of frustration.]

Let There Be Light:

While we’re on the subject, adjusting the lighting can have an enormous impact on a room. Is there a spot that always feels dark or, on the other end, too garish? Change out the light bulb for something crisper or softer than what you currently have. There are even light bulbs that have a dimmer switch (right on the bulb, so nothing to install!) for rooms that require task and mood lighting.

Bring In Nature:

Have you read the studies that suggest people who consistently spend 30 minutes outside live happier lives? I think nature speaks to a primal need for beauty etched on our souls. A simple bouquet of flowers–real or quality artificials–have a surprising capacity to evoke happiness. If you have a Trader Joe’s nearby, they usually have beautiful flowers and plants at very reasonable prices.

Need Something Free?

Try editing. I’m AMAZED at how subtly but surely, stuff begets stuff! You were just going to leave it there until you found a better place . . .. Soon, the pieces and views we do enjoy are lost in the clutter. So, clear out that pile that gathered in the corner. Put away that off-season item you don’t need for the next several months. Consider what accessories or pieces of furniture you’re just tired of or that always seems in the way. Pass them on to another happy home or put it away for a bit. (If you’re not sure if you can part with something, put it out of sight and set a reminder on your phone for 6 months later. Did you miss it?) Removing visual clutter gives your eye and your mind “breathing room.”

Take a cue from Fixer Upper and put simple stems from the yard in a collection of glass bottles or in one large vessel. I live in the desert and can still find something that works.

When we make wise and considered design choices, we will love our surroundings for a long time. However, a few small adjustments now and then keep a space feeling fresh and current and bring new life to the features that have been around a while and need to stay a while ;-).

Photo Credits: Construction (top)–Milivoj Kuhar on Unsplash; Color Wheel–Public Domain Stock Photo; Lamp–Samule Sun on Unsplash; Pink Flowers–Magdalena Raczka on Unsplash; Leaf–Sarah Dorweiler on Unsplash

Let's Be Honest, Photos, Uncategorized

Let’s Be Honest . . . about how you REALLY live

September 25, 2017October 6, 2017 Lisa

–Not how you WISH you lived.

Case in point: Framed family pictures (professional or not) are reasonable for most people but apparently not for me.

Our last professional family photo was 10 years ago, and those didn’t even make it to frames. Shameful, I know.

I’ve tried! But somehow, even my “Oh, we’re finally all here, decently clothed, and almost all-smiling-in-the-same-shot” candids still have never made it to our hallway gallery. And, if I’m honest, this is not going to be something I pull off anytime soon, either.

But I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE pictures (like I was the photo “Historian” for a group in high school and made scrapbooks long before they were vogue). So, I finally accepted these two competing realities and compromised with this:

This bulletin board hangs in my hallway where our large framed professional (out-of-date–like, added another family member since then) prints used to hang. Now, I can add candid shots whenever I want, including those of my adorable niece and nephews (who happen to have moms more diligent with family photos). A few ribbon flower embellishments and rhinestone push pins dress it up. A sign declaring my fan girl love for these people helps make the collection a focal point.

And who knows, one day I’ll probably put back the beautifully carved and coordinated frames holding lovely, professional pictures of my family. Until then, this display supports my desire to have those I love ever before me–without all the expectations of a “Most people have . . . ” or the shameful, “It shouldn’t be that hard . . . “.

What “wish you could” or “ought to” do you need to let go of today?

Ask yourself: what about the “wish you could” is most appealing? Does it accomplish order? Make a statement? Link you to something or someone you care about?

Abandon any justifications for why it isn’t your reality and put that energy into achieving what’s possible. Once you decipher the value at stake–the essence of what you’re really trying to accomplish– you’re on your way!

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