It’s that time of year again. In the midst of all the new releases you are surely seeing from all your favorite businesses, it is easy to get overwhelmed with all the options. We want to make sure you are as prepared as possible as we head into the busiest time of the year – and what better place to start than with a few of our current favorite pieces!
Ahh, the sweet smell of November. Can you hear those sleigh bells ringing? Or smell that pumpkin spice scent? We sure can. Now that we are that much closer to the two major holidays of the year, we are (inevitably) that much closer to having to make sure our homes are as clean and tidily kept as possible for all those guests and parties. It can seem like a daunting task, so we wanted to let you in on two tips to get you started in decluttering your stuff while still making sure your home is nicely decorated and presentable.
Categorizing
Categorizing your items into seasonal uses is one of the first things you could do in order to minimize which items you still want to leave out on display. Take down any summer-esque decorations, random knick-knacks, or anything that doesn’t fit your fall theme. Thinking about it in terms of what fits the season will make it a bit easier to determine what you should stay and what should get put away (for now).
Storing
Once you’ve determined what is staying for the fall and winter seasons, it’s time to put them away. How, you might ask? There are many options you can take when it comes to how you organize things that are not currently in use – you can throw them under the bed, pile them up in the garage, or in the corners of your house and hope that no one asks about it. But is that most effective? Certainly not.
Instead, we suggest investing in a few boxes (very cost effective) that double as decor. You can find these at Target, Walmart, or IKEA to name a few places. Most of the time, you can buy a small shelf to store them in – feel free to mix and match patterns, colors, etc., to also spruce up your space at the same time. We have also included a few of our favorite picks for shelves (on sale)!
If you are wanting a more durable, stylish option, investing in a chest or storage ottoman might be one of the best decisions for you. Easily a statement piece, they can really liven up the appearance of your living room or bedroom, and often times double as a small table/space to place more decor on top. Be sure to check out a few of our picks (that are also on SALE)!
Have any other tips for decluttering your home? Be sure to leave us a comment below!
Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.
It’s hard to believe that summer is drawing to a close and school will soon be back in session. Regardless of how old your children are, gearing up for school is a big task, especially if said child is heading off to college.
From books to organizational tools and that rite-of-passage shower caddy, there are many must-haves for an easy transition into dorm life. In order to make the transition a little easier, I suggest making your student’s dorm room as homey and functional as possible with these five essentials.
Area rug
A colorful area rug will instantly make a dorm room feel more like home. Most dorm rooms are tiled with unsightly linoleum, making for a sterile environment that lacks personality. An area rug will not only add a dose of color to a bland room, but it will also help maintain warmth when the temperatures drop. Don’t know which color to choose? Try something dark or bold. That way, if something spills on the rug during the school year, it won’t be a big deal!
Good lighting
Dorm rooms have notoriously bad lighting. Whether your child likes to study solo or gather with friends in their room, a soft glow will create a nice atmosphere they’ll want to spend time in. Place a functional lamp on the desk for those long evening hours spent writing papers, and a fun standing lamp at the bedside. Since dorm rooms don’t allow residents to mount anything to the wall (lighting included), it’s up to you to find lighting that fits the space without taking up too much real estate.
Storage
Good storage is a priority in all dorm rooms. Many rooms are equipped with a desk and a dresser, but an extra drawer or two can never hurt. It’s a great idea to raise your bed and then use space underneath for multi-drawer storage. Still need more space for clothes, papers and the like? You could also try a nightstand with organizational components.
Small couch
If space permits, spring for a small couch. A couch is a great way to instantly transform a dorm room into an inviting space for entertaining. As you select your couch, keep in mind color scheme and size. You’ll want to make sure your couch complements your space and doesn’t dominate it.
Added comfort
Last but not least, a dorm room isn’t a haven without a few added layers of cushion. Dorm rooms aren’t necessarily known for their comfortable mattresses, so put yourself ahead of the game with memory foam, an egg crate or a pillow-top mattress cover. From there, add throw pillows for color, and don’t forget a seat cushion for your desk chair, too!
Which dorm room essentials did you rely on in college?
Bree
Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.
As the weather cools down, help your kids make the most of the season with plenty of indoor activities. Crafts are a fun way to keep kiddos occupied and out of trouble. Who knows, you might even get a few decorative additions to your home while they’re at it!
Move over pumpkin carving. The following ideas are festive and require less clean up after the fun is over.
Tree Painting
This is a great keepsake project for older kids. Better yet, it isn’t fall-centric, so you can keep it on your wall year-round!
Materials:
4 square canvases of the same size
Paintbrushes
Oil paints
Directions:
Styrofoam Owls
Bring fall indoors with these Styrofoam owls. Place the colorful creatures on a windowsill or mantle for an super-cute addition to your seasonal décor.
Materials for one owl:
4-inch Styrofoam ball
2 googly eyes
Felt sheets
Glue gun
Scissors
Directions:
Faux Stained Glass
Why adorn your windows with store-bought seasonal appliques when you can make your own? Faux stained glass in the shape of a leaf is just what the season calls for!
Materials:
Glue
Tissue paper in fall colors such as red, yellow, orange and green
Waxed paper
Small paintbrush
Fall leaf template
Scissors
Craft paper
Directions:
Bird Feeder
Attract some avian visitors to your yard with an alluring bird feeder filled with tasty treats.
Materials:
Pinecones
Twine
Peanut butter
Birdseed
Directions:
Tin Can Bowling
Kids feeling a little stir-crazy cooped up inside? Keep them active with tin can bowling.
Materials:
6–10 empty tin cans
Paintbrushes
Oil paints
Bouncy ball
Directions:
Happy crafting!
Bree
Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.
It was a long time coming, but the seasons here in North Texas seem to have finally clicked into place. Mark the transition with a much-needed front door update. Whether your home’s entry consists of a grand wraparound porch or is just a simple doorstep, you can create an inviting entrance for your family and friends to enjoy this season.
With so many fall objects and colors to choose from, it can be overwhelming to nail down a cohesive look that fits the existing style of your home. Follow these steps for your chicest, most inviting entryway yet.
Color scheme
The first step to creating a fall-ready doorstep is to define your color scheme. For a traditional, rustic look, go with shades of orange, brown and red. Combine gray and white with black details for a more modern approach. Another option is to use a mix of jewel tones. These shades, including emerald green, ruby red and amethyst purple, dominate chic fall wardrobes, so why not incorporate them into your décor? Highlight these luxe colors with neutrals such as white or beige wherever you can.
Think transitions
In order to make less work for yourself, keep your front door décor transitional. Halloween is quickly followed by Thanksgiving, so instead of tying your door décor to a Halloween theme (skeletons, bats, witches and so on), go for a more general fall theme that will last you through Thanksgiving. A few pieces might even last through the holidays with just a few minor tweaks. Pumpkins, gourds and leaves are classic yet versatile fall décor accents. Make traditional elements your own by using an interesting color palette or unique configurations. This fall, I love the idea of decorating our pumpkins with our house number using glitter.
Fall foliage
As always, a front door is not complete without seasonal foliage. If you’re not the gardening type, fake a green thumb with a pumpkin topiary. All you have to do is stack successively smaller pumpkins on top of each other, either on a planter or on the ground. It helps if your pumpkins are of the more flat variety! For those who enjoy getting their hands dirty, plant species that not only add color to your doorstep but are also hardy enough to withstand cold weather. English ivy and ornamental cabbage are two of my fall go-tos. Other options for instant foliage include hay bales and large vases filled with bare branches. These additions will lend some autumnal texture to your entryway, however when the holidays roll around, you could remove the hay and winterize the branches by glitter-dipping the ends or wrapping them with tiny twinkle lights.
Wreaths
A tried-and-true way to bring the fall season to your doorstep is with a handmade wreath. Wreaths can be made out of all kinds of materials, from burlap to twigs, and can be personalized to fit the style of your home. Even if you choose to buy a wreath instead of making one from scratch you can add a personal touch by gluing on fallen leaves from a tree in your front yard or sticking on figures made by your kids. Cornhusk figures are a fun project to tackle with kids this time of year!
Porch accessories
For those with a porch, be sure to continue your chosen décor theme there as well. If you have a porch swing or an assortment of weatherproof furniture, incorporate fall-appropriate pillows and cozy throw blankets. Pillows in a stylish, yet durable fabric such as burlap are perfect choices. Personalize these pillows by painting a stencil on them. Make the most your pillows by taking advantage of their two sides: Put a Halloween motif on the front and a Thanksgiving design on the back!
Take these ideas and run with them, and soon you’ll have the most stylish doorstep on the block!
Bree