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    Valspar Bistro White Paint: View Real Room Photos

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    Bistro White by Valspar (7006-4) is one of the best white paint colors to consider when decorating a home.
    It is one of my favorite white paint colors for interior walls and trim in almost every room of my house.

    Valspar Bistro White: RGB, LRV and Undertone
    The reasons I like Bistro White over other popular decorator shades of white paint is the paint color, Bistro White has a warm quality to it, but has no yellow undertone.
    It is truly white and has a nice light reflectance value. It lacks blue undertones which can make a room feel cooler.
    Many warm whites – can look too beige. Ultra whites can look grey, especially in a north facing room. Bistro white falls right in between.

    Finding The Right Shade of White Paint
    I like white walls in my home and have used many shades of it – even white paint right off a store shelf labeled “White”. I don’t recommend using this though.
    At first glance – white paint can look all the same, but when you hold up what you may think is a white paint chip against a white piece of paper you can see a strong undertone that makes the paint look more beige or blue.
    For most paint brands ready-made off the shelf white paint that is simply labeled – white – almost always has a blue tinge to it.
    For a true white paint, it is best to get it mixed at the paint counter using a color from all the white paint chips on display in the store. Look for paint colors with names like Pure White and True White.

    Valspar Bistro White in Entry
    Valspar Bistro White is one of these true whites. It looks good in natural light during the day.

    And just as nice in the evening. The shade will change a bit depending on the warm/cool factor of the lightbulbs used in the room. The far wall and trim are Bistro White.

    Examples of Valspar Bistro White Paint in Real Rooms
    In the following photos you can see how I used this perfect white color in many rooms in both my previous and current home.

    Bathroom Board and Batten & Trim

    I first used Bistro White in the hall bath in my previous home. It is on the board and batten, doors and trim in the perfect sheen – semi-gloss.

    Fitness Room

    When I was turning a bedroom that was no longer being used in my previous home into a fitness room. The previous color was lime green so a primer was needed for coverage so no green undertone would show through.
    I rolled on the walls in an eggshell finish and brushed it in semi-gloss on the doors and trim for durability.
    The color gave the room cheery energy – just what was needed for workout motivation.

    Dining Room Walls

    After trying many moody dark colors in my dining room, it was not until I painted the walls in Bistro White that the room finally came together in a way I loved.
    The color transformed a dark dining room into a bright and pretty one where I used pops of fresh and vibrant color accents.

    Living Room and Kitchen Walls

    When we moved to live on Lake Murray in SC, I made the mistake of having the paint color mixed at a local paint dealership that did not sell Valspar.
    Valspar is a Lowe’s Home Improvement specific paint brand and is available at all their stores nationwide, but I didn’t live close to the store anymore.
    I was told at the local paint store, that their computer could match any formula of Valspar paint colors, so they could make the color for me.
    I was happy with this until I got home and started rolling the paint on the walls and realized it was not Bistro White – it had too much beige in it.
    Lesson learned. I wasted money not buying the Valspar brand with their exact tint formula.
    The next day, I set out for a 45 minute trip to Lowes to get true Bistro White made up in Valspar’s Signature line of paint. It is an acrylic latex, interior paint designed for “ultimate hiding.”

    I also used Bistro White on the vertical planking surrounding my living room fireplace.

    Craft Room Walls

    Bistro White in eggshell on walls. Sherwin Williams Pure White in semi-gloss on Trim.

    Entry Walls

    Freshly painted Bistro White in a satin finish on the walls in a foyer. Semi-gloss on trim.

    GATHER PAINT CHIPS – Every computer monitor will read white paint colors viewed online in images differently. It is always best to bring a variety of white paint chips home that vary in hue from warm to cool. TAPE TO WALL – Tape the paint chips to all four walls in the room, not just on one, as each wall gets different light. Group the warm white colors together and the cooler ones separate. Make sure you like how the white looks on all the walls during all times of the day – morning, noon, and night.PURCHASE – When you have edited the colors and decided on the right white color, buy a sample jar or a few paint samples of the paint in the sheen you want so you can paint it on the wall or a poster board to make sure it will look good in the room.  Once you see the actual paint on the wall and like it – then that is when you should buy it and start to create decorating magic with a roller or brush.

    My Other Go-To White Paint Color
    When I can’t get to Lowes to buy Valspar paint, my other go-to white paint is Pure White by Sherwin Williams.

    You can see it here on my kitchen cabinets: Pure White (7005) Sherwin Williams. It is a pristine white.

    I also used SW Pure White on my staircase makeover and hallway.
    Another reason why I like Valspar is as a manufacturer of paint – their paints are more affordable.

    Both of these white paints are not too yellow and not too blue and go with any color which makes them the perfect white paint to use when decorating your home.
    What are your go-to white paint colors for your home?

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    Dining Room Mood Boards: Simple Swaps

    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

    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

    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

    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)

    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

    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

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    Small Entryway Solutions

    Hello, Kylee here! After sharing my entryway post (about how to decorate when your front door opens into your living room) , many of you reached out to me saying you also have an extra small entry space! So, I did a little digging to see what kinds of solutions I could find for when you don’t have much space for furniture. I rounded up some of my favorites that are multi-functional or well suited to a small space. Enjoy!
    Sources for the graphic above:
    1. Entryway Cabinet (lots of color options)
    2. Valet Hook
    3. Entryway Wall Mirror with Hooks
    4. Coat Rack with Shelf and Hooks
    5. Storage Bench
    6. Iron Entryway Shelf Set with Baskets and Hooks
    7. Wood Bench
    8. Entryway Storage Mirror
    9. Swivel Hanging Rack (two color options)
    10. Entryway Shelf with Hooks
    11. Wood Hall Tree with Hooks
    Looking for more small space inspiration? Here are some related posts!
    More Solutions for a Small or Non-Existent Entry
    10 Small Space Decorating Mistakes
    How to Get Organized in a Small House
    5 Clever Ways to Make a Small Space Cozy and Inviting
    Small Space Solutions: Furniture Ideas
    Ideas for Small and Budget-Friendly Kitchens
    Making the Most Out of Hallways, Entries, and Small Rooms
    Click HERE for a gallery full of small space idea blog posts! More