As an interior designer, you’d think that designing outdoor spaces would be easy for me. hint hint it’s not! Decorating patios, decks, outdoor living spaces..it’s a whole new ballgame and it’s not the simplest. One of the main reasons my deck sat vacant for 8 months after I moved it was because I had no idea what to do with it and even more than that, I couldn’t afford to make it look nice. That’s what I thought at least! Outdoor furniture is so expensive…am I the only one who is always stick shocked by how much an outdoor sofa is? However this year, I decided to do what I can with what I have and stretch my dollar far to make my deck useable and cute! I learned a lot while I was piecing it together and ended up transforming my deck for under $50. Now I want to share some thrifty ways I did this with you! Don’t break the bank! : Prioritize money If you have a budget, no matter how small, prioritize the bulk of the cash towards furniture. Furniture is the base of the space (obviously) and even if all you can afford this season is a new set of chairs, you can still bank on that and thrift for the accessories. I use 75% of my funds for furniture and then 25% for decor. : Lighting Maybe your house is like mine – there is one dingey outdoor light from 1985 that gives off […]
Best online rug stores: on a budget
Shopping for rugs can be annoying, overwhelming, and truly like you are spinning tires. If you order it online, you can’t always tell the true quality and the colors can appear different in person…and if you go in store, you can feel limited by the choices unless you’re dishing out major bucks. I’ve had experience with amazing rugs, so-so ones and ones I will never buy again, and i’m going to break it down for you! my favorite online rug stores RUGSUSA RugsUSA is by far my favorite place to rug shop! Not only is the selection enormous (pretty much every rug your mind can imagine) but their prices are hard to beat.When you buy your first rug, you get 40% off your purchase. On RugsUsa, there are constant sales – I’ve gotten PROMO codes for them up to 80% off, and they have free shipping on all orders within the US. I’ve bought many rugs from them – and they carry everything from $10 matts to $4,000 wool rugs. AMAZON No surprise that Amazon is on the list, right? Amazon pretty much has everything your heart desires..delivered to you in 2 days (Hello Prime), so when you want to see that area rug right now in your living room, you pretty much can. The only issue is Amazon can make it difficult to return (if you don’t like the rug). I’ve ordered 3 rugs now from Amazon, and haven’t had to return a single one though because I loved […]
how to prepare your home for guests
With the holiday season quickly approaching, more and more of you will be hosting guests! Personally, I love hosting guests in my home. Being able to share my home, make it cozy and comfortable, and be gracious with my house makes me so happy! We don’t have a dedicated guest room (because we rarely have overnight company) and many people don’t have space for a dedicated guest space, but you can still make their stay comfortable. I put together a list of things to do and prepare for to make your guests feel at home. Especially over the holidays, we want our company to feel at ease! One thing i’ve learned from being the guest in the situation is I hate to have to ask for anything. Asking for the wifi-password (why does that make me feel like a jerk?) where the towels are, if there is coffee, etc..it makes me feel like a nuisance at times. That’s why I am making this list – make your company love every minute at your home (but not too much or they will never leave! haha just kidding!) Whether it’s a whole family staying with you or just one person, these tips are simple and will make their life and yours easier! Wifi password This may seem like a funny thing – but I know when i’m traveling I want to check in with people or work, and connecting to wifi so I don’t have to use data is very nice. Instead of making […]
DIY Wood Desk
At I sit here, writing my blog post at my newly built DIY wood desk, I’m so excited! Maybe it’s the fact that I worked from home from a 30″ child’s desk for 2 years or the fact that this crate desk turned out better than I ever expected it too! Sometimes I go into DIY projects just hoping for the best, because i’ll be honest, as many DIY wins i’ve had equals how many DIY fails I’ve had too. Live and learn baby, right? I am the kind of person who spreads out all my papers, has about 10 mugs on my desk, and two monitors going at all times, so I need a desk that was long. I scoured the stores and online sites, only finding cheap looking computer desks that spanned over 60″ OR desks ranging in the $3 – 5k range – so I knew I had to get crafty. Crates & Old Wood? I’ve always loved reclaimed wood, crates, vintage wooden items, industrial things, etc. You get it! One day as I was mindlessly shopping at Michaels Craft Store (so just another Monday) I came across their crates, $10 a pop, and thought, those would make great shelves. A few more trips to the thrift door and salvage yard, and I had enough crates, lumbar and hardware to craft a desk that would work for me. The way I constructed the DIY wood desk was all through trial and error, but now that it’s been in […]
The cozy home decor must-haves: Amazon edition!
It’s October 1st, which means pumpkin patches, hayrides, long nights with warm drinks, movies, and all the other fall festivities we all have going on! Is it just me or does October always fly by in a rush? I love this time of year for so many reasons, but it also seems to be the busiest! Busy is good, but it means before I know it, it’s December and my house is still look like it’s summer weather. Not this year! I have discovered the magic of Amazon. I used to use Amazon for just about everything but home decor and furniture. Now that my schedule is full, and my job is diy-ing and decorating, I don’t always have time to drive around to every store, hoping to find the best deal. Instead, I will pull up Amazon during a lunch break and order everything I need in a few short clicks. It’s a game changer for sure! My Amazon list of the coziest and essential items for your home this fall (+ winter!) It’s been my goal since summer was creeping to a close to turn my house into a cozy sanctuary for my family and for all who visit. That’s why I put together this curated list of home decor you need for you home this fall – order it now and get it in a few days. No more hoping you find time to make your home cozy for the cold seasons – get a head start with my cozy home […]