A room always seems to feel more fresh and alive to me when there’s a plant in the room. Better yet, when there are several plants! I bet if you study photos of rooms you like, you’ll notice how many of them have at least one plant. Using faux plants in a room or a mix of real and faux is often a designer secret for more lush and beautiful spaces.
But plants are not just a designer trick for staging or beautiful photos, I think plants make a house feel more “homey.” While I always recommend trying real plants whenever possible for their health benefits and natural beauty, there are certainly times and spaces where faux might be the way to go.
I recently bought a couple of faux plants for our basement! Our lower level gets a good amount of natural light so plants can be quite happy down there, but sometimes I forget to water them. Faux plants were a great solution. I love this artificial potted jade plant, and these artificial potted moss plants. They need hardly any care, can be moved around anywhere, they always look green even when I neglect them. They make this room feel happier and more welcoming, and that makes me happier, too!

Artificial potted moss plant

Jack likes them too. 😉
PS. If you missed the full tour of our cozy cottage basement, click here!

Scroll and click the images below for details!

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

More Sources:
Navy paint color: Hale Navy Benjamin Moore
White brick paint: Simply White Benjamin Moore
Flooring Details
Faux jade potted plant.
Faux potted moss.
Neva Sofa from Sixpenny in Jasmine Rice. Read more about our sofa here.
Blue and white patterned rug
Similar coffee table.
Similar leather pouf.
Our Leather Sofa
Similar blue and white pillows.

Want to know more designer secrets?
Click HERE for the secret ingredient every room needs!
Click HERE for my How to Decorate page (decorating inspiration room by room).
Click HERE for a post in my “Take Away Tips” series, sharing ideas from a charming home on Martha’s Vineyard.

Click HERE to subscribe! More

This post is in partnership with Walmart
One of the most enjoyable things for me in decorating is to focus on enjoying the season we’re in! Why keep your spaces the same all the time when you can feel inspired with a few simple changes? We aren’t headed off on a tropical vacation this summer, but the sun is out right here so we’re savoring every moment of it. Last week I brought in some fun elements to our bedroom from Walmart Home to give it the feeling of a tropical retreat!
The things I chose for our space from Walmart Home are so cute and super flexible so they’ll work in other areas of the home and in other seasons, too. It’s really easy to switch the whole feeling of a room by simply changing a few accessories, so you don’t have spend a fortune.

Here are my Six Favorite Tips for Decorating a Summer Bedroom:

1. Decorate with what you love, but be willing to try something fresh and new! I got this floral white ceramic lamp with a teal shade. I’ve had simple white lamps in my room for a long time, but I have to say, I ADORE this quirky colorful lamp. I’m so glad I tried a new look! The style really spoke to me and gave my room a really fun personality!

After I fell in love with the lamp and brought it home, I saw one similar at a high end shop. Don’t you love when you get a deal on something you love and then find one similar but more expensive elsewhere? You have to know where to shop, be true to what you love and yet willing to try something new, and window shop often enough to jump on good finds when you discover the gems.

2. It’s OK to decorate spaces so they are pretty now, even if you think you are just going to change them later. I got this botanical wall art set because they are just so fun! This wall has felt uninspiring to me for a long time, but I kept debating what I was going to do about it. Now it makes me so happy to see it looking so finished, fresh and cute! I thought these pieces would be great as an accent anywhere you want a little splash of color. I think sometimes we are afraid to get or hang art because it seems too permanent or it makes a statement we might not be sure we want to commit to! I learned a long time ago to just HANG THE ART! You can always change it later, but you might also wonder what took you so long to fall in love with your space.

3. Try throwing in a touch of moody to a space, even in the summer. You don’t have to do all light and bright in the summer. A deeper tone in a shade you love can bring more contrast and dimension to the space. I got this faux suede peacock color pillow. I loved the color because it ties in so well with the lamp, but also it brings in a contrasting tone and a slightly more moody vibe which will be really nice as we head into fall, too.

4. Look for versatile layers. I got this white chenille 3 piece duvet and sham bedding set. I really wanted a simple lightweight textural white coverlet for our bed that would be easy to layer with other bedding throughout the year, or could be folded up and stored in the winter. When I saw this duvet cover I knew it was going to be perfect! You can use it like a coverlet, but it also has a button closure with ties so I can put in my faux-down insert to make it extra cozy and FLUFFY when I want to, or as we head into fall! I’ll show you how that looks next week. This will be really fun and cozy to use all year round. It came with the shams, too.

5. Don’t forget texture! I loved this little round wicker tray for texture, but also the versatility. Texture is an often overlooked element that really transforms the feeling of a room. I love setting up a little tray like this on a bed for guests, but it could also work on the wall as pretty decor or as a basket to corral anything on a counter or dresser.

6. Look for pillow covers with zippers. I was thrilled with the pillow covers I got in this blue and white patterned pillow set. They look so great with my style and can work in any room of our home. Plus, they have zippers, which I love for two reasons. One is you can fill it with the fluffiest pillow inserts so it’s super plump! Plump is good when it comes to pillows :). The other reason I love pillow covers is when the season is over or you just want to change the look, you can easily switch out the insert and put the cover away until next time you want to use it.
I loved how these pillows looked in our living room too (below).

Walmart Home has so many fun accessories for the home!
By the way, there is also a new Wow and Now category at Walmart with fun trendy home items at really affordable price points. You can check it out here!
Shop my bedroom look:

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Sources:
Floral White Ceramic Lamp with Teal Shade
Fronds Wall Art Set of 2
Round Wicker Tray
Rattan Open Weave Round Storage Basket
Rattan Weave Woven Storage Crate
Natural Fiber Rug
White Chenille 3 Piece Duvet and Sham Bedding Set
Faux Suede Peacock Color Pillow
Ceramic Floral Round Wall Hanging Mirror
Metal and Glass Terrarium
Other source: Blue and White Patterned Pillow Set
More Walmart Decor Favorites (click thumbnails below for details): More

New England Home
I love most styles of homes but my heart is drawn to the architecture in a Cape Cod style home. It’s fun to analyze photos of rooms, by paying special attention to design elements I love. It helps me to think more creatively about my own home.
As I study a photo, I always ask myself questions about what I’m drawn to, such as how I could incorporate that architectural detail? What are the colors are represented in that space and would they be pretty in my own? Even if you’re on a tight budget or your home is a different style, there are often ideas you can take away from any home you love. If not, the best the take away tip is that it might be best to just appreciate or admire the look from afar or save it for the future!
I was scrolling through the photos of this lovely Cape Cod style house from New England Home and thought I’d share some of my take away tips with you! Enjoy the house below, then you’ll see my tips at the end of this post.

Here are 5 Take Away Tips from this Charming Cape Cod Home:
Add character with architecture
Box beam ceilings, wood wall paneling, and substantial molding and trim add a sense of history, warmth and character. Open shelving in the kitchen and living room provide a more laid back, casual feel and allow display space for personal collections such as books, mementoes, accessories and personal touches.
Create a cohesive color palette
This home used a cohesive color palette both inside and out, keeping the look simple and classic with white wall backdrop with neutrals, blues, and warm accents.
Incorporate many types of textures for a warm and cozy feel
Incorporating many different types of textures throughout is what creates a warm and cozy atmosphere. If you were to take away these textures, the feeling in the space would be more cold or sterile. Notice the warm wood floors, woven baskets, cozy throw blankets, woven mirror, fabric roman shades, rattan, glass hurricanes, warm metal lighting, warm woven chairs in the kitchen.
(See my post on texture: The Secret Ingredient Every Home Needs)
Mix patterns
Mixing patterns is a fun way to add unique personality to your home! You can use a combination of patterns in a cohesive color palette (try two colors!) for a more restrained look. I love the mix of larger scale geometrics, small scale pattern, subtle stripes, and solids in this home.
(See my blog post on pattern: The Best Secrets for How to Mix Patterns in Your Home)
Use wall lighting for ambience
Sconces make rooms feel extra cozy and charming! They spread light around the room, making a whole space feel warmer and more inviting. This home utilized wall sconces by the fireplace, and by the built-in bench in the dining area. I’m sure it looks so cozy at night!
(See my blog posts on lighting: Adding Character with Wall Sconces, and The Light-Changing Magic of Rechargeable Bulbs for Sconces + Lamps, and Charming Inexpensive Decorating: Non-Electric Wall Lights with Battery Candles)

More Take Away Tip Posts on The Inspired Room:
6 Take Away Tips from a Beautiful New England Home
5 Take Away Tips from a Charming Home on Martha’s Vineyard
A Memorable Kitchen: 4 Take Away Tips
17 Take Away Tips from an HGTV Dream Home
5 Budget Friendly Take Away Design Tips
3 Take Away Tips: Make Home Your Coziest Place to Be More

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

Blue and White Lamp // Botanical Art // Rug // End Table Cabinet
This post is in partnership with Wayfair
Lamps and lights are my favorite ways to make my home instantly feel more personal, cozy and stylish. I always opt for classic styles and even timeless statement lamps that can set the tone how I want our home to feel. Lamps can bring so much personality to a room, why choose boring styles?
Did you know Wayfair has stylish lighting? I have been updating the lighting around our home and have found so many pretty fixtures and lamps I love.
Today I’ll show you many of my most recent additions! It’s a great time to refresh your home not only for the winter months but for a fresh start to the new year. You can shop for so many home essentials during Wayfair’s End of Year Clearance sale to get big savings, including up to 60% off and fast shipping!
I’ll share some tips throughout along with a round up of the lighting I have in my home and favorite sale items from Wayfair at the end of this post, too.
Source: Semi Flush Mount Light
This little hall had a builder basic ceiling light that we recently replaced with this classic beauty. I love the traditional look! It never fails to amaze me how a lighting change can update the feel of a home.
Checkered Shade Navy Lamp
We needed a table lamp for our puzzle table in this book nook. This darling one has a fun style with a timeless shape.
Lamp
It’s a perfect size and height — it doesn’t get in the way of doing puzzles! Form and function in a room is essential in a personal decorating style and in a cozy home.

This classic blue and white chinoiserie lamp is a beauty! I fell in love with the birds on it. It’s the little things.
Chinoiserie Lamp

I prefer to mix and match timeless pieces in my home for many reasons but I love that it results in an inviting, charming, collected over time feel. That is applicable to our lighting as well!
Lamp
This little cutie fits everywhere, I love it so much I bought three in two different shapes and colors. How many of these lamps would be too many? Asking for a friend.

You really can’t have too many lamps this time of year. Am I right? Lamps are an investment in our personal well-being as well as in our home.

Floor Lamp // Botanical Art
I suggest considering a floor lamp in every seating area. Task lighting has been wonderful for cozy winter nights reading in the snug! Pharmacy lamps are a classic style.
One of the many design principles I teach in my HomeBody community is to use lighting effectively, not only to set the style of the space but to make people comfortable in the room.
It’s my philosophy that our home should be our sanctuary. Everything we choose to include in a room is opportunity to make a difference in how we feel! It’s not about spending a lot of money or following design rules, but choosing elements with intention. If you need help making decisions for your home, join us for the new year in HomeBody Gathering Place and I’d be happy to help answer your questions.
Click here for above sources
New year, new you? Start by making your home your sanctuary. Save up to 60% off and get fast shipping when you shop during Wayfair’s End of Year Clearance event.
Below are some recent decor finds I love from Wayfair, many of which are on sale. Click each image below for details. More

Photos in this post: New England Home
Before I begin to decorate or remodel a home, I first try to picture how I want it to feel to be there in every season. Now that we have our new home, I’ve been spending lots of time daydreaming about our life here (as I’m packing up our old house to move our belongings in, that is haha)…
For fall and winter, I visualize our home feeling like the most inviting charming bed and breakfast hotel in a seaside town. A place where you’d come in from a day of adventuring to get warm by the fire. You’d be able to curl up in a comfy spot to spend the evening in a cozy chair reading a book, listening to music or having lively conversations over hot spiced cider and hors d’oeuvres. 
I already love calling our new house our home, and I know I’ll have so much fun making it our own. As I’ve been looking for inspiration, I found this amazing guest house on Martha’s Vineyard in New England Home (where all the photos in this post are from) and it got my creative wheels turning for cozy ideas. This home also gives me lots of fall feelings and ideas…hope you are inspired by it, too!
I’ve shared many times here on The Inspired Room that I like to observe interior design from many different sources and styles. This practice helps me to begin to think of my own style in fresh ways and inspires me to create more interesting spaces.
Enjoy the photos in this post! Below each photo I share a few design elements that stood out to me. I call this the observation game (I’ve been sharing posts like this from the beginning of The Inspired Room back in 2007!). If you observe and study good classic design, it will inspire you for years to come!

Observations: Grasscloth wallpaper, green painted doors, substantial statement lighting that also adds contrast, an interesting pattern mix, a cozy sisal rug, botanical artwork, lots of texture, paneled ceiling and wood beam

Observations: inviting wood dining table, mint green vase, candle-style lantern for mood lighting, rustic tray

Observations: soft blue/green painted paneled ceilings, fun teal chairs, nautical stripes, cozy lamp in corner, black lights, walls of windows/doors

Observations: simple mantel styling, cozy fireplace, texture and pattern combinations

Observations: island paint color in a soft minty blue, warm wood floors, green Dutch oven on display, casual woven baskets, interesting architecture, covered range hood, covered dishwasher, mostly clear counters, dramatic greenery

Observations: rich wood furniture, simple linen window treatments, cozy conversation area, simple coffee table styling with stacked books

Observations: matching navy twin beds, footed nightstand, simple greenery, fun blue and white patterned bedding, botanicals throughout home, coastal striped rug

Observations: interesting wallpaper, unique but simple black light, cute reading chair with side table and brass pharmacy lamp, plaid rug, four poster bed, blue and white bedding, little round mirror, substantial lamp, wood secretary desk, simple curtains with black rods

Observations: charming rocking chairs on the porch, shingled exterior, beautiful glass French doors, black pendant light

See more of this lovely guest home here: New England Home
Do you dream about how you want your home to feel before you start decorating? 🥰 Tell me about your home over in our free community Facebook group or in my Instagram comments! What do you envision your home feeling like? I’d love to know!  More