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Today I’m going to share four possible mood boards for a little bedroom project I’m going to work on for the winter months, featuring some inspiration pieces I found from Walmart. It’s so nice to find items that are affordable, accessible AND so stylish! Thank you Walmart for sponsoring this post.
As fellow homebodies, it can be so therapeutic to have projects or fun activities we are looking forward around the house in the upcoming months (rather than just dreading winter.) In my last post I introduced you to my favorite feature in my new bedroom (it’s a dream come true!) AND the new project I’m looking forward to!
I’m excited to be making a few simple updates to our new bedroom, not only to pull the space together and make it our own, but so we can enjoy it for the winter months!
Today I want to share with you four possible mood boards we created for the room. Perhaps they will inspire you, too! I wanted to put together some options that could be cozy for winter but also items that would feel right at home or easy to switch out in the spring, too! The items we used in these mood boards were all found at Walmart, so they are easy to find and are affordable, too.
Thankfully Walmart makes decorating or updating a home for the seasons so simple and fun! I love to shop online and Walmart has been doing a great job at not only having stylish items that I want or need for my home or occasion, but getting things shipped in a timely way is so wonderful (and rare!) these days! But if you need something right now or at the spur of the moment, stopping in Walmart to shop is convenient, too.
Take a look at the four mood boards below! Which board is your favorite? Or would you mix and match items in a different way? You can find me on Instagram stories, so I’d love to hear your thoughts on which items YOU like best! You’ll find the sources for each mood board linked below and in the scrolling bars.
LOOK ONE:

SOURCES: Scroll and click the photos and links below for details:

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Stormy Shore Framed Artwork
Nautical and Coastal Framed Ship Artwork
Decorative Throw Pillow with Stripes and Tassels
Cream and Navy Traditional Area Rug
Chunky Knitted Ivory Throw Blanket (multiple color options)
Linen Trim Light Blue Decorative Pillow
Green Ceramic Lamp with Oatmeal Lampshade
Gray Striped Duvet Cover Set
Rustic Pharmacy Floor Lamp Wood and Metal
Ivory Shams / Duvet Set

LOOK TWO:

SOURCES: Scroll and click the photos and links below for details:

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Botanical Art
Rustic Cream Lamp with Linen Shade
Round Gold Metal Frame Mirror
Ticking Stripe Shams & Quilt
Sweater Knit Ivory Accent Pillow
Traditional Black Area Rug
Faux Olive Branch Plant in Ceramic Pot
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Chunky Knitted Gray Throw Blanket
Charcoal Gray Duvet Cover Sham Set
Velvet and Metal Gray Tabletop Frame
White and Brass Leg Tabletop Alarm Clock

LOOK THREE:

SOURCES: Scroll and click the photos and links below for details:

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Coastal Canvas Art
Distressed White Porthole Mirror
Navy Blue and White Textured Accent Pillow
Tonal Navy Plaid Flannel Duvet Cover and Sham Set
Navy Tabletop Picture Frame – Velvet and Metal
Antique Gold Brass and Glass Square Picture Frame
Ceramic Gray and Gold Lamp
Aged Brass Pharmacy Floor Reading Lamp
Faux Peperomia Plant in Basket
Gray Herringbone Throw Blanket
Natural Fiber Braided Area Rug

LOOK FOUR:

SOURCES: Scroll and click the photos and links below for details:

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Botanical Roses Artwork
Rattan Loop Round Wall Mirror
Chenille 3 Piece Duvet Cover and Sham Set (multiple colors)
Gray and White Patterned Sheet Set 100% Cotton (multiple color and pattern options)
Blue and White Woven Throw Blanket
Green Plaid Accent Pillow (multiple color options)
Linen Trim White Decorative Throw Pillow
Ceramic Aqua Lamp
Distressed Vintage Blue Area Rug
Faux Aloe Plant in Stone Planter
Wood Decorative Boxes
Bronze Floor Adjustable Pharmacy Reading Lamp

Did you pick a favorite? What elements spoke to you?
The reason I call these our “mood boards” is because they are more than just “design boards.” To me, designing a room isn’t just about showcasing a particular style (although that’s fun too!), it’s about how the room will feel to be in it. Mood boards help me to visualize the feeling of the room when all of the accessories will come together, which in turn helps me to focus on some practical ways I can uplift my real-life mood in every season!
I like to try out different colors, patterns and accessories or even bring together different styles to see what combinations speak to me. The mood of a space can also be impacted by the features of the room itself as well as what’s going on in my life, so it’s fun to pull all of those elements together!
When you need a new mood in your room (and life, ha), there are several options. You can shop your house to switch things around from room to room, add some new seasonal accessories or elements to give what you have a whole new look, or play around with different furniture or art arrangements and even paint colors.
I’m going to do all the above for my bedroom this winter! Our style is collected, which means we gather pieces over time (whether they are handed down, vintage finds or anything new to us that speaks to us or meets our current needs).
You can make mood boards with items representing things you already have, or just show new items that could help you create a fresh vision for your space! The items on our mood board are new possibilities for our room, which we will mix in with what we already have.
I can’t wait to show you more of our room and the design updates after Christmas.
We often make our room mood boards with Photoshop, but you can also make them with poster boards, bulletin boards or even online options like using Pinterest or Instagram to gather inspiration. Do whatever inspires you! Mood boards and room updates can be a fun winter activity.
By the way, I share more simple ideas for enjoying every day life at home through each season in my new book A Lovely Life, which will come out this spring!
I hope you enjoyed seeing these mood boards as much as we enjoyed creating them! Don’t forget to tell me which board is your favorite! Or how you would you mix and match them in your own way! That’s the fun of a mood board, you can create a look that inspires YOU!
Find more cozy winter finds from Walmart Home here! More

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Do you like decorating with color? Or do you prefer neutrals? I appreciate so many types of rooms. I sense the beauty in rooms with primarily neutrals and a serene organic look…and I also feel so happy when I see rooms with fun little pops of color…as well as rooms bursting with color all over!
Perhaps you know you are a tried and true neutral fan, or a color-for-life fan. Or, maybe you’re like me and you love BOTH, so which one should you choose for your own home?
The good news? You don’t have to choose! In my own home, I love to include color, but still strive for an overall sense of calm. I sometimes have a little more fun with color in certain rooms, and then transition into a room with a calmer palette. I also give myself freedom to change things up with my whims!
There really are no rules, so if you love color but see your favorites on the “what not to do list” in any given year, or if someone says the style you love the most is going to be a passing trend, don’t worry!
Ultimately your style should be all about what YOU and your family love for your home.
If you are like me and want to add more color to your home while keeping the overall mood simple and calm…here are a few inspiration rooms along with my design observations and takeaway tips!

This room uses a lighter muted wall color with fun pops of color! Color was brought in through furniture with the sky blue painted armoire and fun orange painted chairs. Accents like a bouquet of cheery sunflowers, green and white patterned pillows and chair cushions, and an orange throw blanket wrap color around the room.
Using neutral elements as well like the eclectic mix of baskets and pottery bring in a natural calm feeling. Whitewashed wood floors keep the whole space light and airy. The connected room is a bright bold blue, but with white paneling below.

This space brings in spring green with the muted green and white patterned wallpaper, dried hydrangeas, a stack of springy beach towels, and landscape artwork. Simple off-white wall trim and wood floors keep the atmosphere calm. Natural texture was brought in with straw hats hanging on simple white peg hooks and the large woven basket! A tiny pop of extra color comes in with a blue ribbon on one of the hats. I love how that one simple touch pairs the color with the neutral texture. Adorable!

This cheery space uses white paneled walls with a bright turquoise painted wood floor. Colorful striped braided rugs, a cheery dresser painted a similar color as the floors, fun colorful rows of books, and a green and white patterned chair. Color was even subtly brought in on the white bedding with blue scalloped trim.

This kitchen has been a fave of mine for awhile now! I love the soft and muted blue/gray cabinets–they add a whisper of color while keeping a distinguished and serene tone. Another tip for adding color subtly in a room is to incorporate warm metals! Notice the brass wall sconces, copper pot and colander, brass hardware, and lanterns. Greenery and a beautiful pot of bright red flowers adds some cheer. Colorful patterns and accessories in the adjoining room make it an all around lively space that is still calm and comforting! LOVELY!

You can certainly bring in color with furniture, but for investment furniture pieces, choosing neutrals can be a wise choice for flexibility and longevity. A neutral sofa has always felt like a classic investment to me. My white slipcovered sofa and leather roll arm sofa (above) have stood the test of time, we’ve had them for years! They’ve allowed me to easily swap out pillows or rugs when I want to change up my look. A pop of cheerful color was added with a less expensive piece (that tufted ottoman!) and of course, the rug adds color and pattern.

If you want to just dip your toe into adding color, check out this kitchen. It’s primarily neutral, but they brought in the same repeated color through blue upholstered barstools, a blue painted island, and a blue accent backsplash behind the stove. There’s even a hint of blue in the pendant lights. You could certainly add more colors to this space if you wanted to, but repeating a few of the same color is a simple place to start!
A neutral backdrop can give you total flexibility to change up your accent colors throughout the seasons, too! You can see some of the paint colors we used in our craftsman home HERE, and more paint colors in our Seattle home HERE.
How do you use color in YOUR home? I’d love to see in our free Facebook community! You can share your homes there, as, decor advice, and get inspired! Join us here.

I share more decorating advice in my books The Inspired Room, Simple Decorating, and “But Where Do I Put the Couch? & Answers to 100 Other Home Decorating Questions.

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Related Posts:
A Calm Home (While Decorating with Color and Pattern //// Dignified with a Riot of Color //// Freshen Up for Spring: Green and White //// My Old Laundry Room with a Green Barn Light

You’ll find lots of inspiration in our galleries, I’ll share links to a few of the categories below:
Browse Inspiration by Color
Bedroom Inspiration Gallery
Kitchen Inspiration Gallery
How to Decorate: find inspiration room by room (and browse posts in other categories)
Style Tips (designer advice, home styling tips, how to find your inspired style, mood boards and more)
You can also search anything specific you’re looking for below (just type in the box and click search!) More

I always love how just a small change can transform the whole look and feel of a room!
We made 3 mood boards (in a similar style of our dining room) below. In each mood board, we swapped out only the dining tables and rugs! Which look is your favorite?
LOOK ONE:

Sources:
Round Rattan Mirror
White Oval Extending Dining Table
Wicker Dining Chair
Blue and White Patterned Rug
Ship Art
Banquette Dining Bench
Whitewashed Wood Bead Chandelier
Rattan Bookshelf
Black Star Candle Holder Sconce
Aqua Taper Candle
Blue and White Chinoiserie Vase
Blue and White Striped Tassel Pillows
LOOK TWO:

Sources:
Round Rattan Mirror
Wood Oval Dining Table
Wicker Dining Chair
Pink Patterned Rug
Ship Art
Banquette Dining Bench
Whitewashed Wood Bead Chandelier
Rattan Bookshelf
Black Star Candle Holder Sconce
Aqua Taper Candle
Blue and White Chinoiserie Vase
Blue and White Striped Tassel Pillows
LOOK THREE:

Sources:
Round Rattan Mirror
Black Dining Table
Wicker Dining Chair
Blue / Multicolored Patterned Rug
Ship Art
Banquette Dining Bench
Whitewashed Wood Bead Chandelier
Rattan Bookshelf
Black Star Candle Holder Sconce
Aqua Taper Candle
Blue and White Chinoiserie Vase
Blue and White Striped Tassel Pillows

Fun, huh? Which look is your favorite? I hope this inspires you today to think about simple swaps you could make in your home! You can ‘shop your home’ for something you already have, or mix in a new piece you love to create your own unique style and space! More

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here

Shopping for new things in a store or online can definitely be fun (especially when you’re excited about fall decorating or making your home cozier for winter!) but I think rearranging what you already have can be just as (if not more) rewarding! Do you agree?
If you’re new to decorating, I’m glad you are here to learn. Today I’ll let you in on my favorite decorating tip…a secret decor strategy you may have always wondered about (and I’ll talk a bit about why I moved my blue lamp to this room!)
Of course, if you’re a seasoned decorator, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. And if you’ve been following me for years, you have watched me decorate this way over and over AND OVER AGAIN! It works and it’s fun, too. You’ve seen me decorate this way over time, through makeovers in a variety of rooms, homes, in all of the seasons.

When you are new to decorating, you might wonder (like I did years ago) if you have to buy things all the time in order to love your home. Have you wondered how some people’s styles can look so eclectic and unique, while some look almost identical to a few others you’ve seen?
Or maybe you’ve wondered if people have to redecorate to keep up with certain trends. Perhaps you have noticed how some people seem to pull together in room in a hurry without buying anything new. Maybe you (like I did!) wonder how others were able to afford all of that new furniture or decor!
It might seem like it’s all a mystery, or maybe just an endless cycle of spending a fortune is required to decorate or stay in style.
Sometimes people are able to spend a fortune on all new furniture or seasonal decor. It’s true. That’s one way to do it! But those of you who’ve been collecting their furniture or accessories over time know my style secret. Once you go this direction, it not only saves money but gives you a more unique and collected look that can stand the test of time. This secret offers you the opportunity to refresh your home every season without spending a fortune.

My secret decorating tip is to collect pieces you love over time. When you decorate this way, it’s fun to update a room even without buying new things because YOU LOVE WHAT YOU HAVE. When you chose wisely to begin with, your look doesn’t go out of style. You get to go shopping in your own home and quite often you’ll find just the right piece to complete a space or decorate for the new season.
And when you don’t have what you need but you have the funds to add to your collection or you find something special enough to buy, you can do that, too! Every time you add a new piece (or several) to what you’ve have collected over the years, you get a fresh updated new look and can quickly pull your home together in any season.
This is precisely what I’ve been doing in our new home, just like I have repeatedly in every home we’ve lived in. Sure, I might buy a new accessory, a rug, or even furniture if the budget allows and right item is discovered. But I also love when I do NOT have to buy something new. I enjoy mixing and matching and rearranging what I have until the room feels right to me.
If I stumble upon something somewhere that I love (or if what I have just does not work well in a new space), then hooray, I thoroughly enjoy adding the new item.
Source: Reversible Blanket on Back of Sofa
As you can see, I moved my blue glass lamp here from my upstairs office. I loved it upstairs (I love it in every room to be honest!), but I wanted a round lamp in this corner. I felt l like it needed a larger round lamp as a statement piece, but something that wouldn’t block the light from the window.
For a week or two I had a beautiful tiffany style lamp sitting there that we’ve had for several decades (and is apparently back in vogue!). We love it, but after living with it in that spot for awhile, I decided I’d like it better in the other corner. (Even if you’re a seasoned decorator, a lot of times decorating involves moving items around until you love them where they are!) So off I went to shop for something in my home that would work.
Turns out, the blue glass lamp was just right! It’s weighty enough to fill some of the space there, but airy enough to allow light and color from the outside window flows through the glass. I do miss this lamp upstairs, but I only have one so this spot took priority!
I bought that lamp on sale a few years ago for my last living room because it just felt like ME. Remember the blue glass lamp I made myself? I feel like blue glass lamps will always work somewhere in my home. Around the same time as the blue lamp was added, I bought this blue rug and now here they are, paired together again.
Buying new things over time expands your options and updates your current look. Pairing things you have collected over time, or with any new item you choose to get, is what creates your unique STYLE!
Do you like to decorate this way, too?
More Inspiration:
How to Decorate a Fall Mantel (Using What You Have)
Favorite Design Books + Video on Finding Your Style
How to Decorate: The Slow Process to a Style You’ll Love
Traditional and Collected Coastal Style: Get the Look
One Essential Decor Element You Probably Need More of In Your Home
The Secret to Finding Your Style and Feeling More at Home Where You Live
4 Important First Steps to Take When Designing a Room
My Decorating and Homemaking Books

Catch up on more posts in our Fall Nesting Series! More