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    Wallpaper in the Guest Room

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    If you want to add a bit of color and style to a room, but don’t want it to be overwhelming, consider adding an accent wall using easy to install wallpaper from Love vs Design. By adding a color and pattern to a wall can take a room from boring to stylish in an afternoon and will provide more interest than simply painting a wall in a solid color.

    And if you are thinking you don’t like wallpaper since it can be hard to remove, no worries with Love vs Design wallpapers. Once the wallpaper is up, it is just as easy to remove when you want to change the decor of the room in the future.

    I recently shared a post about how I was sampling different wallpaper to create an accent wall in what I call my pretty guest room.

    In that post I shared a selection of 6 wallpaper patterns and colors from Love vs Design. Since that post I have sampled a few more wallpapers and came up with a winner.

    The company makes the process of choosing the right pattern and color of wallpaper for your room fun and easy right on your computer or phone using their wallpaper picker. You can even upload a photo of your room to get a general idea on how the repeat of the patterns you consider will look on the wall.

    Once you find a paper and color combo you like you can get their custom oversized samples mailed to you so you can hang them on your wall to see how a pattern and color actually look in your room to help you make the right decision.

    The wallpaper pattern I chose for the wall is called Vine Thread. After lots of experimenting with color combinations, I chose the color combo of white and wheat.

    I wanted whatever wallpaper I chose to be neutral in color so that it would not only go with the chartreuse and purple decor accents I use in the warmer months of the year, but also the barn red plaid I use in the colder months.

    Wall BEFORE:

    Here is a photo of how the bed wall in the guest room looked before installing the Love vs Design wallpaper.

    Wall AFTER:

    I have hung a good amount of wallpaper in my life and this wallpaper by far was the easiest. I had the wall covered in just under 2 hours.

    I love how it looks with the bold purple and chartreuse – two of my favorite colors.

    Since this is a guest room, I didn’t want to clutter the table tops with decor so guests have room to place their belongings on them when they stay with us.

    I did however, cover a few white books with scrapbook paper that I use as a riser to make the lamp higher.

    On the other side of the bed, I still need to find a small nightstand or table. Until I find the right piece, I use this metal stool with the tray attached with Velcro on top.

    Why I Loved Using Love vs Design Wallpaper

    As I mentioned earlier, wallpapering the wall was one of the fastest wallpaper installations I have ever done and here are the reasons that made the process easier than I expected:

    Instead of selling the wallpaper in rolls, Love vs Design sends you pre-cut panels so there is no having to cut every piece to the height of the wall that you normally have to do with wallpaper that is sold by the roll. No need to have to cut each length of wallpaper to the room height saved so much time.

    All you have to do is spray the wall to wet it before placing the wallpaper on the wall. With traditional wallpaper that comes on a roll you have to “book” and wait for the adhesive to activate before placing the paper on the wall.

    Being able to easily slide each panel of wallpaper into place made all the difference along with the soft fabric sided squeegee to smooth the paper on and then push out air pockets without tearing the paper.

    How to Install Love vs Design Glissade Wallpaper

    Love vs Design wallpapers are all available in 3 different types of wallpaper – Peel & Stick, Woven which is a peel & stick with a soft fabric finish and Glissade which is a traditional style of wallpaper.

    I chose to use the Glissade as there is no paper backing that has to be removed as peel & stick wallpaper has.

    supplies needed:

    Wallpaper in the amount needed to cover your wall area

    Love vs Design squeegee – included with your wallpaper order

    Spray bottle filled with water

    70% isopropyl alcohol

    Craft knife

    Large pair of scissors

    Bubble level

    Pencil

    Soft cloth or sponge

    Step-stool or ladder

    Step 1

    Let paint dry on wall for 30 days prior to installing wallpaper to prevent peeling or bubbling. To test unknown paint, install one panel and wait two weeks before finishing the rest to make sure the paper adheres.

    Step 2

    Clean the wall with 70% isopropyl alcohol mixed with 30% water. Wipe on with a soft cloth or sponge. Let the wall dry, and then repeat up to 3 times.

    Step 3

    Put the wallpaper panels in order. Some wallpaper designs need to go up in a certain order. Check your panels for numbers at the bottom. Be sure to start with panel one. (The Vine Thread pattern I used all were the same so I could add them in any order. I did have to still match up the design with the previous hung panel when installing.)

    Step 4

    Use a level to draw a vertical line 24 inches in from the left side of your wall. Doing this will ensure your pattern is level.

    Step 5

    Remove outlet and vent covers as needed.

    Handy Tip: After removing outlet covers on wall, make sure to cover with plastic wrap secured with painter’s tape to keep the sprayed water you will need to spray on the wall to install the wallpaper away from the outlets.

    Step 6

    Spray and saturate the first section of the wall with water. Apply your first panel along the vertical line you placed on the wall. Leave a 1-inch overlap where the wall meets the ceiling and also where the wall meets the baseboard or floor.

    Step 7

    Slide each panel over the wet wall to align. Panels do not overlap. Smooth the wallpaper downwards with the squeegee that comes with your wallpaper.

    Apply more water as needed to make sliding the paper over the wall easier. If you find an air bubble under a section, you can peel the paper off and spray more water on the wall, then place the paper back on and smooth.

    Step 8

    Trim off excess paper along ceiling and baseboard/flooring with a sharp knife and a ruler.

    All Done!

    After installing the Love vs Design Glissade wallpaper I don’t think I would ever go back to using wallpaper that comes on a roll.

    I highly recommend using Love vs Design papers, not only for ease of installation, but also for the wide range of color and pattern choices along with being able to upload a photo of your room to see patterns/color combos and then order oversized samples to hang on your wall before making a decision.

    To Permanently Remove the Wallpaper

    Spray the paper until wet with water and slowly peel each panel off.

    See all the Wallpaper Colors and Patterns

    Love vs Design sells hundreds of wallpaper patterns and color options for you to choose from. You can see all of them on their website: Love vs Design.

    You can also see how many of the patterns are used in real homes.

    More Wall Decorating Ideas

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    How to Make an Upholstered Headboard

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    Making your own upholstered headboard is easier – and more affordable than you think. In this post you’ll learn the easy steps to making a classic DIY upholstered headboard for any size bed with minimal tools and materials.

    Not only is the process of making this headboard simple, you’ll also save money and be able to customize the shape of the headboard as well as choose the fabric color and style.

    When it comes to decorating a bedroom and adding a headboard to accent the bed so it becomes the focal point of the room, there are many DIY Headboard Ideas that are quick and simple from Making a Headboard Using Old Doors to adding cushioning and fabric to an Existing Wood Headboard you may already own.

    A few months ago I got a new mattress and upholstered bed frame for one of the guest rooms in my house.

    I wanted to add a matching upholstered headboard to the bed frame since the one that came with the frame I got had massive wings with a tufted look that I didn’t like. I knew I could make some sort of headboard on my own that I would like better.

    I considered making a Simple DIY Fabric Headboard with fabric yardage placed over a curtain rod above the bed or a Reversible Padded Headboard Cover if I could find a queen size headboard at the thrift store to use as the base and even a No Sew Padded Headboard using foam and fabric. All of these would have worked, but none had the modern lines I was looking for.

    So I decided to make my own DIY custom made headboard from scratch in the style I envisioned.

    The hardest part of making the hardboard was trying to find a fabric that would match or coordinate with the fabric on the new bed frame. After looking at dozens of fabrics online and at a few local fabric stores, I ended up finding a very close match at Hobby Lobby.

    How To Make a DIY Upholstered Headboard

    When making an upholstered headboard you can make the wood frame any shape you want and simply hang it on the wall above the bed.

    For a more secure and sturdy headboard, I added 2 legs to my headboard that were attached with screws to the back of the bed frame that holds the box spring and mattress.

    As you consider what you would like your headboard to look like, ask yourself a few questions before beginning the project.

    What size bed to you have? How high should the headboard be to look in proportion with the bed and furniture around it?

    Do you want a plain or tufted headboard? One with nailhead trim or button tufting? Adding tufting makes the project more labor intensive.

    Do you want extra padding? This can be added by first stapling thick upholstery foam over the wood frame.

    It may also help to have a photo of a headboard you like as your inspiration or draw a sketch to help you figure out the best size for your bed and wood you will need to create it.

    supplies needed:

    All the supplies you will need to make an upholstered headboard can be purchased at your local hardware store or home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowes. Using an electric staple gun will make the process of attaching the fabric to the frame easier.

    To get the best deals on fabric when making a custom headboard, fabric stores like JoAnn Fabrics and Hobby Lobby have a good selection of upholstery fabric that is often on sale.

    2 x 4’s – cut to size

    Plywood – 1/8″ or 1/4″ thick, cut to size needed

    Upholstery weight fabric

    Batting – enough for 2 – 3 layers

    Saw

    Staple gun and staples (1/4″ and 5/16″)

    Fabric Scissors

    Measuring tape

    Optional if Attaching the Headboard to the Bed Frame:

    2 metal braces with a hole on each end

    Drill and drill bit to pre-drill screw holes

    2″ – 3″ long wood screws

    Time needed: 4 hoursHow To Make a DIY Upholstered Headboard: Step-By-Step Tutorial Instructions Determine Size of Headboard Using a measuring tape, figure out the dimensions of the bed. Measure how wide and high you would like the headboard to be. Cut the Wood Using your width and height measurements, cut the wood – 2 x 4’s and plywood to size.Use wood screws to attach the cut wood pieces as shown. Attach Plywood Using wood screws attach the plywood to the 2 x 4 frame. Cut Cushioning, Batting and Fabric When making a headboard padded, you need to cut the foam, batting and fabric large enough to wrap around to the back of the headboard. To determine how long to cut these so you have the right amount of excess fabric, foam and batting for wrapping the wood frame of the headboard, add the length of the entire headboard, plus the side depth x 2. Do the same calculation for the height of the headboard, including the amount needed if your adding upholstered legs to the headboard.Once You Have the Measurements – Add at least 4 inches for each side or enough extra that will wrap around the wood frame that will be secured on the back of the headboard. Layer the Materials on Top of Each Other Place fabric right side down on work surface or floor. On top of the fabric, place a few layers of batting depending on how padded you would like the headboard.If the fabric you are using has a pattern, make sure you place it on the worktable or floor so that the pattern is straight before cutting and then again when attaching the fabric to the wood frame.Using scissors, trim the fabric and batting to the shape of the headboard (as shown below) making sure to leave enough fabric all around to wrap around the back of the headboard frame. Optional: Cut Fabric on The Diagonal If your headboard has legs that you want to seamlessly upholster, then cut fabric at the corners of the bottom edge of the main headboard on the diagonal. This will make wrapping the frame as a whole without the need of seaming the legs and body of the headboard separately. Attach With Staples Starting on the top of the headboard, gather the fabric and batting and bring it to the back of the headboard. As you do this, check if using a patterned fabric that the pattern is staying straight as you pull the fabric taut.Use a staple gun to attach the fabric and batting to the back of the headboard. Continue pulling the fabric and batting taut to the back of the headboard to ensure there are no wrinkles in the fabric, then staple until you have the top section of the headboard covered and attached. Wrap the Top Corners When wrapping the fabric and batting around the top corners, fold the excess fabric as you would gift wrap when wrapping a box. Carefully cut off excess batting so the fold over at the corners will not be thicker than the rest of the upholstered headboard once it is completely covered. Continue attaching the fabric and batting around the headboard and legs if your headboard design has legs that will be attached to the bed frame. Attach to Upholstered Headboard to Bed Frame If your headboard has no legs, attach it to wall as you would when you hang framed art on the wall.If your headboard has upholstered legs, use the bed frame hardware or wood screws and a flat metal brace mounted on the back of the headboard to attach the headboard to the bed frame.

    Helpful FAQ’s When Making a DIY Headboard

    How Much Does It Cost to Upholster a Headboard? The cost of making your own upholstered fabric headboard will be determined by the size of the bed and how much wood you will need as well as the cost of fabric yardage.The cost of my headboard came to $54. This included the 2 x 4’s, plywood, batting and fabric yardage. How Thick Should an Upholstered Headboard Be? You can construct a headboard any thickness you want. The one I made is 4 inches. How Much Wider Should a Headboard be than the Bed? Ideally when making a headboard it should be the exact width of the bed frame or mattress. Does an Upholstered Headboard Need to Have a Layer of Foam? No, but if you want extra cushioning, you can wrap and attach a layer of foam in a thickness you want on to the headboard before attaching the fabric and batting. Depending on the thickness of the foam, you may need to evenly pleat and fold the batting and fabric around the corner areas of the headboard to get a nice finished look. Why Do You Need Batting When Upholstering a Headboard? A few layers of soft batting bought at a fabric store will soften the edges of the wood frame making it look professionally done.

    More Bedroom Decorating Ideas

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    DIY Home Decor: 43 Stylish Projects For 2023

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    Decorating your home is no small feat, especially if you’re doing it on a budget. I know this for a fact, as I have completed all of these DIY home decor projects and ideas to update my home and saved a lot of money along the way.

    Now is the time to get over the idea that dropping big bucks on designer catalog furnishings, decor and accessories is the only way to decorate your home. You have another option – turning to DIY projects that will have you inexpensively sprucing up your home in style this year.

    When you use your own two hands, you can paint, install a floor, or build a coffee table or headboard to fit your needs while saving money at the same time.

    This list of 43 DIY decor ideas can be referred to all through the year when you need easy budget-friendly, DIY home decorating inspiration. Not only are these home decor ideas inexpensive, all of them can be easily customized to coordinate with your home’s style and decor.

    There are a variety of DIY home decor items here from wall decor to furniture painting and more. All the supplies used to make and decorate with can be found at thrift and craft stores, hardware stores and home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowes.

    If your ready to start a DIY home decor project to create the surroundings you always wanted, start with one of the DIY home decor ideas listed below. I’d love for you to pick your favorite DIY decorating ideas and let me know what it is.

    42 DIY Home Decor Projects

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    Pottery Barn Table Lamp Knock-Off
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    Learn how to give new life to stained, dark wood dining room chairs to white or any color. This chair makeover post is the second of two. Recently I showed you how I changed the color of the rush seats on my set of wood ladder back chairs. 

    Gallery Glass Front Door Sidelights DIY
    How to create the look of beveled glass on any window in your home for around $20. It is an easy, inexpensive and a fun project that adds a decorative element that can last a very long time.

    How to Make a Fake Topiary
    How to make a faux topiary that looks like a real one that will last for many years, even if you don’t have a green thumb.

    High Gloss Rolling Doors for My Studioffice
    How to transform thrift store bi-fold doors into rolling doors that will visually separate a room where a swing out door won’t work.

    Making a Fixer Upper Oversized Farmhouse Wall Clock
    Are a fan of the oversized wall clock that is actually a clock face in the Fixer Upper home of Chip and Joanna Gaines? I am. I love it and came up with a way to make my own large farmhouse wall clock to resemble it.

    Create Faux Wallpaper Using Paint and a Stencil
    How to use an all-over wall stencil to create the look of wallpaper.  I call it faux wallpaper. Wallpaper can be pretty pricey even for a relatively small space, an all-over stencil costs a lot less.

    How to Install Armstrong WoodHaven Planks to Cover a Popcorn Ceiling
    Learn how to cover a popcorn ceiling using classic Armstrong® WoodHaven Ceiling Planks with Easy Up® tracks and clips. No need to scrape the ceiling first! The pre-finished planks can be installed right over popcorn ceilings.

    Faux Woodgrain Finish on My Front Doors
    A front door makeover showing how to paint a faux woodgrain finish or faux bois effect on entry doors using paint and liquid glazing medium.

    Outdoor Tuna Can Lantern DIY
    How to make outdoor lanterns to attractively light up your outdoor patio or living space using a tuna can and a few basic items.

    Wood Slat Wall DIY for a Home’s Exterior
    If you’re looking to spruce up the exterior of your home or even the interior, have you considered making a wood slat wall to create a point of interest where there is none.

    More DIY Decorating Ideas

    If you would like to see more decorating project ideas, don’t miss browsing through my DIY Decorating category where you will find dozens of more doable and stylish ideas.

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    How To Create a Layered Mirror Gallery Wall

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    If you enjoy decorating your home, I am sure you have seen gallery walls in interior decorating magazines, on Instagram and Pinterest. Where a collection of framed art, photos or mirrors in varying sizes are grouped on a wall in a variety of ways to create decorative interest to a room or space.
    In this DIY home decor post, I have created a twist on a classic gallery wall by layering framed mirrors, each in a different frame style. It creates even more of a dramatic effect on a wall.
    Creating a layered gallery wall in your home is inexpensive and easy – a wall decor project that you can get done with a little planning and a free afternoon.
    It is created using wood blocks that you can easily make with scrap wood. When these blocks are attached to a wall it makes the framed mirrors or framed art or photos come out from the wall.
    Table of Contents
    DIY Layered Mirror Gallery Wall

    Layered mirror gallery wall done with a thrifted mirror collection
    I didn’t use specially made gallery wall mirrors, instead I used inexpensive framed mirrors on the wall space above the dresser in my guest room that sits across from a large window.
    The mirror reflections bring in bright and natural light into the room as well as let my guests see themselves when needed.
    A gallery wall using unique mirrors can be created on a full wall or even at eye level above a sofa or console table. Creating one in a hallway, along a staircase or in an entryway will add a touch of visual interest on a blank wall.

    After creating the layered mirror gallery wall, I gave the brown dresser under it a new look.  You can find out how I did this in How to Update a Hand-Me-Down Dresser.
    How to Choose Mirrors for a Gallery Wall
    I had a few mirror frames sitting down in my basement and I got the smaller ones at the thrift store.  I even found a few at the dollar stores that added to my group of decorative mirrors.
    Mix a thick golden frame with smaller modern black and white frames or consider using vintage mirrors to create an unexpected statement. Or use all antique mirrors or similar mirrors in one color to fit the color scheme or interior design of the room to create your mirror wall.
    How To Make A Layered Framed Mirror Gallery Wall
    Time needed: 4 hours. This gallery wall of mirrors is not hard to create. Follow these steps to create your own mirror gallery wall in your home.supplies needed: Gather a Collection of Mirrors Figure out how much space on the wall you want to cover.When creating layered mirror gallery walls, gather a curated collection of enough mirrors to cover this space. Lay them on a floor or work surface to figure out the placement for the grouping. You may need to add or remove one or two frames to get the best fit.  How to Arrange a Mirror Gallery Wall Trace each mirror on newspaper or brown kraft paper to make a template for each frame. Number each tracing and frame so you know what frame goes with each tracing,. Cut each tracing out.Use painter’s tape to attach the tracings to the wall in a layout you like where some of the smaller frames will be layered on top of the larger frames. How to Hang The Frames in Layers To create the layered effect for the framed mirrors, you need to create two layers.  The first layer of frames are mounted the usual way right on the wall. The next layer of frames will be mounted on wood blocks.  To make these blocks, I used some scrap wood and cut it into blocks, each about 2″ x 2″.NOTE: The blocks need to be as thick as your frames so when you place a frame on a block it lays above or level with the wall mounted frames. Paint the Sides of Blocks To keep the mirror galley wall looking nice and neat, paint the sides of each block the same color as the wall.  Since the wall I created my gallery on is next to the entrance door to the room, I wanted the blocks to blend in as you might see them from a side view. Attach Blocks to Wall Drill a hole in the center of each block so you can screw the blocks onto the wall.The block becomes the wall for the frames that are going to be raised away from the wall to create the layered effect.  I added a nail and hung a framed mirror on it. Place the Largest Mirrors First Start by hanging the largest mirrors on the wall first and then work to each side. Next place the second layer of mirrors on the blocks. Tips for Hanging the Mirrors on the Blocks When it comes to hanging overlapping frames to create the gallery wall, the trick lies with the placing of the blocks:  The frames on blocks have to be centered on a block as this is where the hangers are on the back of each frame.Line the top of the block up with the top center of the frame where the hanger is.Note that some hangers on the back of frames are right on top, others are lower. Keep this in mind when placing the blocks on the wall. You should not see the block when the frame is hanging. Create Two Layers or More I only created two layers for my mirror gallery wall, but you could add a 3rd level by using thicker blocks that will hold frames on top of ones already on thinner blocks.

    Closer view of the layer effect of the mirrors.
    More Mirror Hanging Tips:
    In case you need some help hanging heavy mirrors or frames on your walls, here are the easiest ways I have found to hang them.

    Variation for a Layered Gallery Wall

    If you don’t have mirrors, you can also create a layered gallery wall of empty frames for an eclectic look. Learn how to do this:

    MORE GALLERY WALL IDEAS:

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    Creative Shelf Styling Ideas Worth Trying

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    When it comes to styling shelves for our home decor, many assume that the only decorative objects to use on shelves are books, vases, plants, family photos, artwork and small decorative accessories. These are standard shelf styling items, but I know of a few more that you may not have thought of.
    To help you make the most of your shelves and bookcases, I gathered some creative shelf inspiration or shelfie ideas that are not only easy to do, but will add color and personality to your decor.
    Table of Contents

    Decorative Edge Trim For Shelves
    Adding shelf trim falls into the decorating category I call the “little details“. These details when decorating a home can make a big difference. They are not really needed, but can make something look so much better.
    This shelf styling tip is my favorite easy trick.

    Adding a decorative element on the outer edges of shelves can make a boring bookcase or shelving unit come to life.

    Using ribbon to do this is the easiest way, but consider how wood trim molding bought at the home improvement store would look across each shelf.
    Adding trim of any kind will take a plain bookcase up a few notches on the style scale.

    Narrow craft store ribbon attached to the shelves in a pantry closet using decorative nail head tacks.

    The shelf edges in this linen closet were gouged and rough. Something the builder of the house just painted over.
    To hide it without having to sand and repaint. I added white grosgrain ribbon the same width as the shelf edge and attached it with tacks.
    Doing this was not necessary, but every time I opened the closet, I smiled to see something pretty instead of ugly.

    For open storage shelf styling on a budget, use dollar store baskets or cover shoeboxes with decorative paper in the way of maps or leftover wallpaper from another project.
    I used purple ribbon and white thumbtacks to add a pop of fun color to the open shelves.

    If you are crafty you can make DIY trim from paper to decorate the front edge of open shelves in holiday or any style you want.

    If you like to be organized, you can add clear plastic label clips to the front edge of shelves.
    This can done on any shelf. They will help you easily find everything at a glance and will keep the shelves organized since you will know exactly where to place them.

    Decorate Open Shelving Using Backdrops
    Open shelves, cabinets and bookcases in a living room, bedroom or home office can become one of the most decorative elements in a room.

    Instead of focusing on what to place in open shelves or bookcases, think about how adding a colorful or patterned backdrop to the back of the shelves can make the items in front of it look even better.

    I make my shelf backdrops using corrugated cardboard or dollar store foam boards and choose what I wrap them with depending on the color scheme of the room.

    There is another nice aspect of adding a shelf backdrop when using the same wallpaper or wall paint color that a bookcase is on. It can make a closed back bookcase or shelf look like it has an open back.
    This can create a focal point and make the bookshelf or shelves look really nice when viewing the wall with the bookcase as a whole.

    I have even made shelf backdrops for a medicine cabinet in my previous home to add a pop of color and pattern.
    To find out how I make the backdrops, head over to this blog post:

    Consider Neutral Shelf Decor to Add Impact

    Create instant impact on open shelves by displaying a collection of similar objects or using items all in the same color.
    Having many items on your shelves that are all the same color makes the overall impression look less cluttered and more styled.

    Office Shelf Styling Ideas

    When it comes to office bookshelf decor, sometimes you may need the shelves to be purely functional to hold printer paper, files, etc without using any decorative accessories.
    If this is the case for you, then add color to the organizers you have. Plain cardboard file holders can be covered with gift wrap to add style. Shoeboxes can become decorative boxes in which to hold smaller items.
    Store printer papers in low sided rectangular baskets. Make the most of everything with square shapes by stacking them.
    Use the top shelf for the non-functional items where they will add to the overall look of the open shelves or bookcase, but not be in the way.

    As you can see, shelf styling doesn’t always have to be about adding decorative items to the shelves.
    Take a look around your home to see if any of the shelves or bookcases could use a little detail or infusion of color.

    Shelf Filler Ideas

    Decorative Objects for Shelves
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    Fall Mantel Decorated With Pumpkins

    How to decorate using two mirrors and a collection of pumpkins over a mantel to create a warm and inviting look when decorating your home for fall.
    Did I ever tell you what one of my favorite things about fall is – besides crisp air, falling leaves, cornstalks, football, that cozy nesting feeling, and cider.  It is PUMPKINS!!!
    I love decorating with pumpkins.  I am a classic orange pumpkin lover – no chic white ones for me.  I love the pop of color the old fashioned orange pumpkins provide in my neutral color scheme, especially when display on a fall mantel.

    I have created my own little pumpkin patch right on my mantel.
    XO I could eat them all up!  Visually as well as making pie and munching on toasted pumpkin seeds.
    How to Easily Create a Fall Mantel Decorated With Pumpkins

    I have two mirrors layered on the wall to add more interest. The larger one is hung on the wall.
    The smaller on is on the mantel and leaning against the larger mirror.

    Either one alone didn’t look right – together they make a much better style statement.

    I also like decorating with bigger pumpkins. Placing them in urns is my “go to” way to display fall pumpkins inside my house and out.
    Simple and classic – no fuss. I used book pages I shredded in my paper shredder to use as bedding in my jack-be-little pumpkin patch basket.

    The white ceramic urn I found for a few dollars at yard sale. The vase is from HomeGoods.
    Classic ceramic white urns are hard to find affordably online. Your best bet in finding one that isn’t plastic is a HomeGoods.
    You can also display pumpkins on candle holders like I did in this post:

    I made the fireplace screen out of a cardboard pattern cutting screen. It was super easy and hides a multitude of sins.
    You can find the tutorial here:

    A Variation on Decorating With Two Mirrors Over a Mantel

    For this mantel, I liked the look of layering mirrors on the mantel, but I only had one white framed mirror.
    So instead, I hung an empty white frame over the larger wall hung mirror – so it looks like two mirrors.
    I used clear fishing line to hang it. The top of the fishing line is attached to the top of the mirror with a thumb tack.
    So what do you think? You may have a few mirrors in other rooms of your house or in your decor stash that you can give a second life- using as is or giving the mirrors a coat of spray paint to coordinate with the room’s color scheme.
    For an even easier mirror over the mantel look, you can simply lean a larger mirror against the wall, and a smaller one in front of it. Instant Decorating at its best!!!

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    How I Decorated My Fireplace Mantel for Summer

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    Today I’m joining a few of my talented blogging friends for the Summer Seasonal Simplicity Series. It is all about summer mantel decorating ideas! If you have a fireplace mantel in your home, a sideboard or even a piano where you like to decorate the top for the changing seasons, you will enjoy these 15 doable and fresh DIY summer themed mantels ideas.

    Now that we are in the summer season, it was time to change up my fireplace mantel to decorate it for summer. Last summer, I loved how I decorated my fireplace mantel and will use the large planter I made for it again someday.

    This summer I wanted to see something new and different on the white mantel that is on a stone fireplace in my living room.
    You may recall this mantel was repurposed. It was once the top to my dining room hutch that we no longer could use, so we took the top off and turned it into a mantel.
    I didn’t buy anything new to decorate the mantel this year, but shopped my house to find decorative items in other rooms to use, as well as one large thing from my attic decor stash.

    I went in search of neutral colored and green items.
    I found a planter pot, candles, a wood beaded garland, tulips, a large basket and some greenery.
    Arranging Decorative Items on the Mantel

    To arrange the items in a stylish way, I tried to arrange the items across the mantel to keep a flow going. I used items with various heights, textures, colors and shapes to create interest.
    I played around with the items until I like what I saw.
    I was happy with how it looked in the above photo, but I felt the mantel needed more punch. I went on a search again to find something that would add it.

    Up in my attic stash, I found what it needed in the way of a large glass cabinet door I had used once before on my mantel one Christmas.
    It had been painted red, so I stripped it to the bare wood and then placed it on the mantel.
    Summer Styled Fireplace Mantel

    The stripped glass mullioned cabinet door gave all the items I placed on the mantel a cohesive look.

    The beaded wood garland is usually in a large dough bowl on my sofa table. I was happy to find a new way to use it.

    We don’t use the fireplace in the summer, so the garland will not be in the way. It adds an energy that I didn’t expect.

    I was happy with my efforts and also that the mantel goes with my White & Woodsy decorating style.
    Tips on What to Do With Your Fireplace in Summer

    When I decorate the mantel for summer, I also remove the large black fireplace screen that covers the fireplace and store it in the hidden closet in the foyer.
    In its place I put a basket filled with flowers or greenery.

    Shop the Look

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    Other ideas on how to decorate a fireplace when it is not going to be used for the summer are:

    More Summer Mantel Decorating Ideas
    Do you have a mantel to decorate in your home? If not, do you have a sofa table or a piano that can be decorated the same way a mantel is?
    If so, play around with items you already own or even new items to style your mantel for the summer.
    And be sure to check out how what my talented blogging friends decorated their mantels this year for summer by visiting the links under each of the images below.

    The Happy Housie // A Pretty Life // Modern Glam // Cassie Bustamante

    Rambling Renovators // In My Own Style // Finding Silver Pennies // Dans le Lakehouse

    Craftberry Bush // Maison de Pax // She Gave it a Go // Hallstrom Home

    Deeply Southern Home // My Sweet Savannah // Willow Street Interiors
     
     

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    One Last Decorating Detail to Update

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    When it comes to making your house truly your home – every little decorating detail matters.
    I have pretty much transformed every surface in my house over the 5 years since we moved to the lake. I still had one small detail to update though. It was not a big deal in the grand scheme of updating and decorating a house, but for me getting this last detail updated by adding my own style was a very big deal.
    It is the last part of the house where the previous owner’s tastes still exists and it has taken me 5 years to get it done…. talk about procrastination!!!
    Before gearing up to decorate the house for fall, I thought I would finally get this detail updated.

    I am 5’5″ tall and only see the bottom shelf when I open my kitchen cabinets above the stove where the previous owner had blue and white shell motif Contact Brand adhesive shelf liner. Shell motifs were a thing in the house – both bathrooms also had shells as a decorating theme. 🙂

    When I made over the kitchen, I tried ripping up the adhesive Contact shelf lining paper, but only got a small section removed as it was not going to budge. At the time, I figured I would cover it eventually. 5 years is a very long eventually. 🙂
    There is never a time like the present to get something done, especially now that I am spending more time at home.
    To get the cabinet’s bottom shelf covered in something more to my liking, I went to my gift wrap stash and found the black and white plaid that I used to line the drawers earlier this year. That gift wrap also seemed like the right solution to line the cabinets.

    It took all of 10 minutes. 🙂
    This gift wrap is not like ordinary paper gift wrap. It has a vinyl component to it which makes it wipeable.
    You can find wipeable gift wrap at HomeGoods, TJMaxx, and Marshalls in many different patterns and colors. In my previous house, I used it to make a runner for my kitchen table.

    So nice now to see color and pattern that fits my personal decorating style.
    How to Line Cabinet Shelves with Gift Wrap
    supplies needed:
    Wipeable gift wrap or any decorative paper – sold at HomeGoods, Marshalls, and TJMaxx
    Iron-On vinyl or Clear Contact paper if using regular gift wrap or paper
    Scissors
    Tape measure
    Optional: glue stick

    Use a tape measure to figure out the depth and length of the cabinet interior.
    Cut the gift wrap to size with scissors.
    Place gift wrap into cabinet.
    If you want the gift wrap to stick, after placing it in the cabinet, lift the corners and add a few swipes of a glue stick on the underside of the paper.

    When I painted the kitchen cabinets, I didn’t paint the insides or the inner lip where the cabinet doors sit when they are closed. Keeping the lip paint free allows the doors to close all the way, with ease.
    Don’t Have Wipeable Gift Wrap?
    If you can’t find wipeable gift wrap or a color or pattern you like to line your cabinets, then the next best thing to use is any gift wrap you like which can be covered with clear Contact paper or iron-on vinyl as I did when I lined my kitchen drawers.
    Or line your cabinets using the real thing – shelf-lining paper. Here are a few stylish options:
    Stylish Shelf Liner Options

    Black and White Plaid Gift Wrap (similar to mine)
    Gripping Shelf Liner Non-Adhesive
    Contact Brand Cork Self-Adhesive Liner
    Wood Grain Shelf Liner
    Clear Contact Brand Shelf Liner
    Lining cabinet shelves is a small detail that may not seem worth the time, but adding your own style to even the smallest detail in your home does contribute to making a cohesive look throughout a room and entire home, even when behind closed doors.

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