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      How to Decorate a Room with Color (While Keeping the Mood Simple and Calm)

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

      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

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      Inspired By: Scalloped Patterns in Decor and Furniture

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

      I love to play with various textures, shapes and patterns in a room as they add a lot of interest! The scallop has been having a moment in the design world, but of course it’s a classic shape so don’t be hesitant to bring it into your home. The possibilities are endless for how to incorporate them, these days you’ll find scallops on furniture, accessories, dishes, wallpaper, napkins, lampshades, mirror, trim or backsplashes, fabric and linens and more.
      Here are some whimsical scalloped design pieces we found online and some inspiration photos below to show you the fun they add to a space!

      Sources for above:
      Scalloped wall mirror
      Scalloped pillow sham (color options and comes as duvet as well)
      Rattan scalloped pendant light
      Scalloped basket
      Scalloped seagrass tapered hand-woven lamp shade
      Navy pillow with scallop pattern and tassels
      Scalloped teak wood round serving board
      Scalloped edge planter
      Round scalloped bone picture frame
      Scallop woven side table
      Scallop wooden plant stand
      Brass sconce with scalloped shade (also has a woven shade option, and comes as table lamp)
      Wicker weave photo frames with scallop edge (set of 2)
      Capiz shell scalloped hurricane
      Round marble petal shaped scalloped tray
      Framed green artwork with scallop waves
      White scalloped bone and wood picture frame
      Tall scalloped woven basket (great price!)
      Scallop edge jute rug (also has a navy trim color option)
      Scallop woven tray
      Woven scallop baskets (set of 2)
      More inspiration for scallop design:

      More scallop decor (click images below for details) More

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      Dining Room Mood Boards: Simple Swaps

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      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

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      Traditional & Collected Coastal Style: Get the Look Mood Board

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      Cozy and Inviting (Get the Look!) is a fun periodic “mini-series” on The Inspired Room!
      To get that “cozy and inviting” mood many of us crave for our home, in this series I share a variety of inspiration rooms that feel cozy and inviting to me (for a variety of reasons!). Then I quickly brainstorm a list of whatever elements I see that I think help create that mood. We will also feature items or tips to “get the look” into your own home.
      Today’s inspiration rooms are all from a beautiful home I found in New England Home Magazine. It is a traditional look with a bit of a coastal vibe, it feels so cozy and collected! Enjoy the inspiration images below and then you’ll find some design observations and get the look sources below.

      Wallpaper – KASAI Wallpaper at Thibaut

      Here are some of my observations and notes on what stands out to me about this home. At end of this post you’ll find a design mood board and more pieces I would consider including in the design if I was styling a similar space!

      Rattan accent pieces
      Antique looking dining table and bed
      Soothing paint colors
      Fun pops of green
      Accessories and furniture with a collected look
      Fun patterns used in the window treatments, garden stools, wallpaper, artwork, pillows and furniture
      Warm wood in every photo
      Unique accent lighting
      Twisted taper candles
      Natural rugs with subtle patterns
      Books (I have a fun post full of rooms decorated with books here)
      Interesting details on furniture and accessories like fringe, tassels, trim
      Fun pattern lampshades (gingham, scalloped woven, pleated with pattern)
      Landscape paintings and chinoiserie botanical artwork
      Decorating with collections (blue and white pottery, books, baskets, the green cabbage dishes, books etc)
      Inviting seating areas (window seat, plenty of dining seating, conversation area in living room)
      Lively plants and flowers

      See more photos of this home here: New England Home Magazine

      Mood board sources (click links below):
      Turquoise twist taper candles
      Green and white geometric ottoman
      Gold metal adjustable wall sconce
      Framed landscape summer mountains artwork
      Round rattan wall mirror
      Green and white floral vine curtains
      Green ceramic lamp
      Blue and white ikat pillows
      Taper turned wood candlesticks
      Green ceramic cabbage plate
      6 light brass round chandelier with white shades
      Taper turned wood candlestick set
      Blue and white ceramic garden stool
      Teak oval wood stool
      Blue and white ginger jar
      Blue and white ginger jar with lid
      Striped jute sisal rug
      Cane back wood dining chair (and here is a woven wicker dining chair with blue velvet seat)

      More similar sources below (click thumbnails for details):

      You can find other posts in the Cozy & Inviting Get the Look series below!
      Cozy & Inviting: Dining RoomCozy & Inviting: Coastal Living RoomCozy & Inviting: Kitchen More

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      4 Important First Steps to Take When Designing A Room

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      Do you ever feel overwhelmed with where to start when designing a room? If you want to give a room a refresh, here are the first four steps I usually take to get started, to organize my thoughts, needs and style preferences so I can move forward with a plan!
      1. Assess the Space
      First I look at the space I have. What do I like about it? What do I not like? Do I like the colors, the arrangement, the furniture? Most importantly, how does it feel to be in here? Consider the current mood and what you’d like to change about it. Are there any cluttered spots that need to be addressed? Are there certain corners or particular angles that don’t inspire you? Do any initial ideas come to mind? I don’t have to solve it all…I just use this time to observe what’s working and what isn’t. You can write down your observations in a notebook if you’d like!
      2. Gather Inspiration
      Next I begin to gather inspiration! I start by looking for anything and everything that inspires me. I don’t worry too much yet about the practicality of the idea or the why behind my inspiration…I’ll get to that next! If an image, idea or art or piece of furniture speaks to me in any way, I save it. If I use books I flag them with little sticky notes (I shared my favorite home design books HERE). If it’s online inspiration, I will pin them to a Pinterest board, or if it’s on Instagram I use the little flag button on the bottom right to save them to a specific folder.
      3. Observe and Find Takeaway Tips
      Now that I have some inspiration saved, I try to analyze my photos and take note of what elements I like (I’ve done several posts about this called Takeaway Tips, see all here!). Sometimes I find I will save an inspiration photo but don’t know why it was that I gravitated toward it. Look closely and observe what specifically you like. Maybe you saved a photo of a kitchen that looks nothing like the style of your home. Upon observation, you note that it is a bright white kitchen with colorful cookbooks on built-in shelves. The takeaway from that might be that you feel inspired by bright white spaces with pops of color on open shelves.
      4. Look for the Patterns
      Next I look for patterns in the inspiration photos I chose. It could be literal patterns (like stripes or plaid!) but I’m mostly looking for color schemes, furniture elements or room styles that I seemed to choose repetitively. Did I save lots of photos with moody dark walls? Do I seem to love the look of a room full of antiques? Do I like the streamlined look of built-ins? I also refer back to the takeaway tips, because that can help refine the specific elements I want to incorporate. I might have saved several photos of white rooms, but once I look for patterns I realize what I really was inspired by was the architecture of white paneling, or maybe I really like the way vintage wood furniture looks against the white walls, for example.
      Also I find it helpful to ask myself honestly if any of the patterns are mostly driven by current trends, rather than what I actually like for my own home. I might save a lot of moody earthy toned rooms, but it’s helpful to remind myself that while I might love them in photos that doesn’t mean they will be the right choice for my home. It’s OK to discover that you love a certain look in photos and yet not choose it for your home.
      After completing those four steps….I start to feel much more equipped to begin making the specific plans and design decisions for my own space!
      In my next post I’ll share some of the inspiration photos I’ve started to gather as I brainstorm ideas for my new kitchen remodel!
      I’ll also give you an update on my bedroom and plans for that for “A Lovely January”. If you missed the details about that challenge, you can catch up and join us here.
      More inspiration on The Inspired Room:
      How to Find Your Style (+ My Favorite Home Design Books) – VIDEO
      How to Get Inspired and Find Your Decor Style
      How to Decorate with Inspiration Room (Takeaway Tips)
      More Takeaway Tips Posts

      Find decor advice in my books The Inspired Room, Simple Decorating, and But Where Do I Put the Couch + Answers to 100 Other Home Decorating Questions.
      Check out my “How to Decorate” page to find decor inspiration room by room.
      You can also follow my new Instagram @theinspiredroomstyle for style advice and our thoughtfully curated selection of timeless furniture and charming accessories! More

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      Introducing: The Inspired Room Style

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      I am a big fan of creating your own authentic style. Rather than just going with what is trendy or popular or what someone else says is in style, I have always stayed true to what I love. While I no longer do personal design consultations like I did before I started blogging, I have spent the past fourteen and a half years teaching others how to use what you have, to collect things you love over time, and to surround yourself with pieces that tell your stories in order to create a truly meaningful home.
      I’ve been asked for years if I would consider doing decorating courses or hosting private education groups, but right now I teach through my books, this blog, and social media. I also have a fun new way to help ya’ll with your homes. Introducing The Inspired Room Style! It’s a brand new Instagram destination where we are offering our thoughtfully curated selection of timeless furniture and charming accessories so you can create your own “inspired style.”

      The Inspired Room Style is a completely free design service that is so simple to use! You’ll be able to scroll through our favorite daily finds in Instagram stories, click to shop any item that interests you, as well as browse the categorized highlights to inspire and help you find just what you’re looking for! 
      Tip: be sure to watch our daily stories at @theinspiredroomstyle because now and then my daughters and I will post one-of-a-kind finds or items you can buy from our own homes, too!
      We’ll also occasionally post simple design tips for how to create your own unique and authentic Inspired Style! It’s going to be so much fun to share this new resource with you and we hope you love it as much as we do.
      If you’re ever looking for inspiration for your style, or even want something new or vintage to add to your home, I hope you’ll find this resource helpful.
      Follow @theinspiredroomstyle for more!
      Happy decorating! More

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      Bedroom Design Mood Boards (4 Winter Looks)

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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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      Simple Christmas Mantel Decor + Letting Your Personality Shine

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      It’s important to me that our home feels cozy and inviting, as well as tells the story of the people and personalities who live here. One way I let my personality shine in our home is to bring in a bit of the unexpected to our seasonal decor in subtle ways. I’ve long been a fan of quirky animals in decor, so when I found this darling fox and bunny I couldn’t resist!
      You might recall I’ve had bunnies and even a fox or two in the decor of many of our homes, so when I saw these they just felt like they belonged here, too! I adore them for the holidays, but they will also be so charming all year round. I picture their bowls filled with something new in every season — Easter eggs, spring flowers, candles, pine cones, greenery, seashells, Christmas bells, ornaments, the options are endless! They can also be moved from the mantel to be tucked into bookshelves and serve as bookends. I love flexible decor!

      This arrangement is what we have now on our mantel as of Thanksgiving weekend. We have a bit of greenery, some candles, a strand of wood beads a few pinecones, a bell and a bit of sparkle in the bowls of the bunny and fox. It’s pretty simple, but it keeps evolving. In the coming days I may add a wreath on my mirror and some garland across the mantel (and maybe swag our beads across it) but even if what we have now is all I do, it’s enough to feel festive and cozy.

      That’s what I have always loved about letting our decor evolve slowly through the seasons. We can always add more if we feel inspired, but whatever we did can be enough at any point. Of course, we can even take some away if the holidays start to feel too cluttered or overwhelming! It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If your home is truly going to reflect your personality and be authentic to you, the feel of your home should evolve with you (and the seasons!) so you always feel at peace, cozy and comfortable in your surroundings.

      Sources (scroll and click below):

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      More Christmas Decorating Ideas on The Inspired Room:
      Last Year’s Christmas House Tour + Video
      Christmas Decorating with Mini Trees
      Simple and Beautiful Christmas Decorating Inspiration
      Christmas Decor Ideas with Garland Greenery
      Effortless Christmas Decorating Ideas
      How to Make a Winter Charm Snow Globe
      9 Creative Ideas for Extra Festive Christmas Stockings More