When patience pays off! My amazing second hand dining table find.

I love this method of shopping because I can browse at my leisure (usually
right before bed ), or if we’re looking for something very specific, it
allows me to “save” a search for specific keywords and/or set up alerts to
notify me of new listings.

There was one big item I’d been looking into for some time. I’ve looked here
and there for years, but more recently the hunt started when I
painted this cane buffet table
earlier this year:

It turned into a pain of a project, but it was all worth it — we LOVE the
end result. That warm wine color is so lovely!

But as often happens, one little change created an itch to make another one.
We’ve had our dining table for seven years and I loved the wood top:

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your convenience.

I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links. 

But the more farmhouse style tabletop and metal base were not meshing with
the changes I’d made in the room. I’ve been dreaming up ways I could change
out the metal legs, but never moved forward with it because the planked wood
top was what really didn’t fit in.

Plus, it was starting to drive. us. crazy. that we couldn’t push the
upholstered chairs at the ends all the way in.

As time passed, I was envisioning a more traditional table in this space. It
would be nice to have something larger as well.

The dining room is part of our open concept living area. It was labeled as a
“morning room” on our plans and is full of windows and natural light.

It’s not a traditional, stuffy dining room, but I was craving a little bit
of a traditional style in there. 

All that to say…I did some research looking into new dining tables —
maybe something with a darker wood tone and a simpler design? Turned legs
with a bit of character, but nothing too fussy.

Um…it’s been a long time since we’ve bought a table I guess, because I
about choked at the prices. Everything remotely similar to what I wanted
(decent quality) was $2000 to $4000.

It was then that I decided I needed to be patient. And stalk Facebook
Marketplace. 🙂

Months later the skies opened up and THE TABLE was on my phone
screen. I poured over the pictures and enlarged all them to study every
detail — it was exactly what I wanted! The size, color and design were all
perfect.

The best part was the price…only $100! I couldn’t even believe it.
It all fell together — I was even able to borrow a truck from a neighbor to
pick it up.

The stain color was perfect in our home. The turned leg design was exactly
what I had envisioned for this room:

It’s not in perfect condition, but the imperfections are minor. Most
noticeable were some spots along the sides that were worn off. (You can see
some of them by the chair in the photo above.)

 

The top has a few spots and scratches, but you really have to look because
of the glossy finish:

There are a few water spots:

I’ve heard that mayonnaise will remove water spots on wood — has anyone
tried this? I’d love to know how it went for you!

The glossy finish on top is the only thing we’ll have to get used to…I
like furniture we don’t have to worry about. We entertain a lot and have a
number of animals, so I don’t want anything too fussy.

But I also don’t mind a lived in look. 🙂 I’m not going to babysit it, and
if we have issues I’ll refinish the tabletop. It has a wood veneer so I
would need to be a little more delicate than normal, but it’s always an
option.

Overall I’m absolutely thrilled with it — I think it is just
gorgeous:

The brand name Hooker was on the underside of the table so it isn’t as old
as I thought — only from 2019! But get this…I looked up the
product number and it’s the
Tynecastle dining table
and is still available for more than $1700!

The sweet woman who sold it to us just wanted it gone, as they are moving
out west and building a house in the middle of the mountains. It sounds
absolutely amazing and I wish I could friend her to follow along on their
adventures!

I literally just happened upon my best secondhand find ever!

Our old table was around 80 inches long, and I was feeling like we could go
quite a bit bigger in here. The table as is runs the same length, but a bit
wider.

But with the two leaves added, it can go as long as 114 inches. We have one
leaf in and with that it’s 96 inches long. It fits this room so much
better!:

Now we will be able to sit ten people around the table if needed. This will
be wonderful when we have a house full of people at parties and especially
at Thanksgiving.

The quality isn’t quite as good as my other ones, but it’s still
a beautiful rug and is holding up well. The price for a large rug is hard to
beat!

I purchased it about a month after painting the console and the colors work
so beautifully together. I LOVE the rug with the dark table:

I feel like there’s nice balance in here…I didn’t want the room to get too
fussy.

I’ve always added character to our home with DIY projects, but over the past
year or so I’ve been leaning into adding it with furniture too.

And here it is a year later with richer accent colors and wood tones:

 

The rainy days we’ve had lately made for the perfect moody vibe in here!
🙂

I have a few smaller updates I’d like to make to the built in and window
seat, and I’ll share those soon. Would you paint the built ins around the
window the same color as the room, or leave it white? I go back and forth on
that!

Looking for a project to try this weekend? These decor diy ideas might hit the spot. 

When your home could use a refresh, but your budget says otherwise, a little creativity goes a long way. Because you don’t need a designer or a hefty price tag to create a space that feels thoughtful and elevated.

With a few smart materials and a free weekend, you can make something that will make you (and your wallet) happy. From large scale artwork and easy curtain rods to DIY bookshelves and reupholstery projects, these DIY ways to decorate at home strike a balance between stylish and surprisingly affordable. 

Smaller Decor Projects for your Home

Each decor idea you’ll find below is meant to help make your home feel curated and unique. Think linen storage ottomans, custom wall hooks, chic office organizers, and everything in between.

Whether you’re decorating a rental, refreshing your living room, or just want to make something beautiful with your hands, these smaller decor projects prove that great design doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Sometimes it just takes a bit of imagination.

1. Transforming wired wall sconces into wireless wall lamps sconces is easy with this tutorial. And don’t forget to add a fresh coat of spray paint, for a custom look that rivals designer lighting. 

2. A DIY way to transform inexpensive rugs into something with a bit more character.

3. I love a long lumbar pillow. And as it turns out, you can make your own almost as easily as it would be to go out and buy a brand new one.

4. Dress up your entryway with unique diy wall hooks that won’t break the bank.

5. A simple idea to get the creativity flowing – painting glass vases.

6. As it turns out, carving a wood bowl (beginners guide) is not as difficult as it sounds. You just need the right tools and a little bit of practice. Who couldn’t use a tiny wood bowl for little odds and ends? 

7. Bet you didn’t have refurbing a wood serving board on your list of weekend projects. But maybe now you will! 

I found a quirky serving board for less than $10 and turned it into something I can now use everyday. Click through for the tutorial.

8. I will literally never stop making candles. It’s just so fun…and easy…and satisfying. And I happen to have a guide for how to make candles ready to go for you. 

Larger Decor Projects for your Home

9. Make an incredible dining table, with the help of this tutorial from Smor Home.

10. If you’re in need of cheap curtain rods I have you covered. This diy idea costs less than $10 to make. I don’t even think you could buy a curtain rod from the thrift store for less than ten dollars, at this point. 

11. Have a collection of things? Make a ‘mug house’ wood shelf (from Collective Gen). 

12. A little inspiration in case you wanna tackle DIY flooring.

13. Recently found this amazing mirror makeover from Duygu Turgut Gökpınar. The tile work is so cool. I just love it!

14. Ever wondered how much to reupholster a chair? I break it all down and show you how to do it yourself, if you wanna learn.

15. This DIY wall organizer has been through it with it me. And let me just tell you, it’s a workhorse! I used it in my office for years, organizing all of my art supplies and crafting stuff. And now it hangs in my son’s room as a heavy-duty toy organizer.

16. This one could be as big or as small as you make it. The size will determine how long it takes to make DIY patchwork artwork. You’ll just need some paper, paint, and a few other supplies. 

17. In a room that feels ungrounded, unfocused, or just simply too big, these diy bookshelves can work wonders. 

Admittedly, this may be the most expensive project on the list, coming in at just under $1,000. But I included it because it can easily be made with less expensive wood a fraction of the price (around $300 all in). When you compare it to what this would have cost to have custom-made or purchased from a high end big box store, we felt like we saved a lot of money by doing it ourselves.

18. Where can you buy a console table for less than $30?! Literally nowhere! But if you’re willing to make it yourself, this diy console table is a big win for your wallet.

19. When you want a standing desk, but not the standing desk price tag, head to Ikea for a couple of items and try this ikea desk hack. I used it for years and loved it so much. Plus, it had storage! What more could you want?

20. When we moved to our current home, I ditched the standing desk in favor of a built-in closet desk. No regrets! The standing desk was great, but so is the one I have now. 

21. My son’s room is the perfect example of making use of what you already have. We desperately needed storage and seating in here, so I reupholstered an old ottoman that was previously in the office and now it houses all of his bulky toys and random costumes. Learn how to reupholster a round ottoman here.

22. For the reader room makeover I completed in Atlanta, there was a quirky (and cool) fireplace that needed a teeny upgrade. If your fireplace could use something similar, I have some fireplace and hearth ideas for you to check out.

23. This diy coffee table is a whole lot easier than it looks!

24. On the topic of furniture DIYs, if you’re feeling bold, I have a bunch of dupe furniture hack ideas that are budget-friendly and totally worth the effort. 

26. My diy king headboard in our primary bedroom is still one of my all-time fave decor projects. At the time of writing this post, we’ve had it for more than 5 years now – still going strong.

27. Last but not least… If you’re looking for something a little different in the bedroom, I have a roundup of 21 unique diy headboard ideas you may like. 

From delicate serving pieces to sculptural vases, vintage glassware comes in every color, shape, and style imaginable. Many of the pieces you’ll find in thrift stores or antique shops date back to the Mad Men-era of martinis, old-fashioneds, and formal dinner parties. Or even farther back. While we may not entertain in quite the same way today, vintage glassware can add a whimsical charm and style to day-to-day life. The key is to use them intentionally. (Gone are the days of filling a cabinet with matching sets that only gather dust!)

The good news? These versatile pieces can be used in countless creative ways throughout your home. From bold centerpieces to chic office storage, here are 12 ways to repurpose vintage glassware.

My whole plan for our bedroom foyer is coming together very well. A couple of days ago, I shared that I had narrowed down my ceiling light options to five choices. Yesterday, I made my decision, and I went with this one from Wayfair (affiliate link).

The reason I selected that one is because it’s the brightest of the options with four light bulbs, but it’s also dimmable. But also, I do plan to have a gold-framed full-length mirror in the foyer, so using one of the options that were mostly gold plus a gold-framed mirror seemed like a little too much gold. Plus, I just love the shape of this one. I think it’ll be perfect in the bedroom foyer.

And speaking of mirrors, I’ve found the perfect mirror at Hobby Lobby. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. It’s 60″ high and 30″ wide, which is a perfect size. And the shape is also great. I didn’t purchase it when I saw it because my van was full of molding, so I’ll have to go back today and pick it up. It’s only $99! Here’s what it looks like…

I really do want to use sconces on either side of the mirror, but I’m still undecided on those. My preference would be to use hardwired sconces because having lighting hardwired is just so much more convenient than having wireless rechargeable lighting. I’m not very good at keeping up with rechargeable lighting. And I do still have the sconces that were in our previous bedroom that I can reuse. I like the simple design, and those white shades would look beautiful against the teal grasscloth wallpaper.

But if I decide to go with the wireless/rechargeable route, I really like these sconces from Amazon (affiliate link). And you can’t beat that price! Two sconces for $59.99.

And finally, I’ve wanted to put an upholstered bench in the foyer where I can sit down and put on my shoes. Basically, the foyer is an extension of my closet. I didn’t want to take up valuable space inside the closet for a chair/bench and a full-length mirror, so those things are going in the foyer right outside the closet. And I just happened to have two benches in the breakfast room that I don’t plan to use anymore.

I have to laugh because I keep poaching things from this area to use elsewhere. I used the French doors to make a cabinet for our bathroom. The artwork is now in my closet. And now, one of the benches will be used in the foyer.

I thought one of these benches might work in the foyer, but I didn’t realize just how perfectly it would work. I mean, the size looks like it was made to go here! I’m pretty excited that I won’t have to build anything from scratch for the foyer.

Obviously, the color is all wrong, so I will need to reupholster it. And I still think that I’d like the bench to have a little pleated skirt on it. I don’t want the skirt to go all the way to the floor, though.

And even when the doors are open, there’s still plenty of room to sit on the bench. Again, I just need a place to sit and put on my shoes when I’m getting ready.

And with the bench in place, there’s still plenty of room to get by. There’s at least five feet of space between the corner of the bench and the opposite wall.

Reupholstering that bench will be a very quick and easy project. I just need to find the perfect fabric. That’s easier said than done these days since all of our local fabric stores have disappeared. I think all that’s left locally is Hobby Lobby, and they never have a great selection. So I might have to search online for the perfect fabric. Or maybe I’ll design one myself and have it printed at Spoonflower. I’d love to find something that has all the colors in it — teal, light blue, pink, orange — but I don’t want it to be busy. That might be a tall order.

More About Our Bedroom Suite Foyer

see all Bedroom Suite
Foyer diy projects

read all Bedroom Suite
Foyer blog posts

Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.

It’s fall, and you love to decorate, but you don’t want to break the bank. No worries – fall decor doesn’t have to be expensive. You can have a Pinterest-worthy, fall fabulous home with a few simple pieces that give you a lot of bang for your buck. Whether you’re a DIY lover, a thrift store treasure hunter, or just someone who wants to sprinkle a little autumn magic around the house, this list is packed with chic and budget-friendly ideas.

Let’s fall into fabulous! Grab your favorite pumpkin-spiced drink and your coziest fall blanket as you enjoy this list of stylish and totally doable fall decor ideas.

1. Pinecones in Bowls or Vases

Pinecones are nature’s free decor (you can literally find them outside, depending on where you live). Toss them in a pretty bowl or glass vase, and boom — instant fall decor. Bonus idea: Lightly dust them with cinnamon essential oil for a subtle seasonal scent.

2. Candle Clusters

Group candles of varying heights on a tray. Consider color: Mix in brass or gold holders for a warm glow and orange or deep red candles to amplify the fall feeling. Choose traditional seasonal scents like apple cider, pumpkin spice, or vanilla chai.

3. Cozy Textures Everywhere

Fall is all about being warm and cozy with cooler weather making its way through the season. Layer your space with chunky knit blankets, faux fur throws, and velvety pillows.

4. Acorn Accents

Fill small jars or bowls with acorns (real or faux). They’re small, easy to find, earthy, and perfect for adorning bookshelves, mantles, and coffee tables.

5. Statement Vases with Faux Flowers

Swap out summer blooms for faux or dried fall florals. Features floral colors in burnt orange, mustard yellow, and deep burgundy. Pampas grass and eucalyptus are also great neutral options.

6. DIY Fall Wreath

Grab some floral wire or a wreath frame and add twigs, feathers, faux leaves, and even cinnamon sticks to create a wreath that’s beautiful and uniquely yours. Hang it on your front door or above your mantel.

7. Rustic Centerpiece with Gourds

Create a fabulous fall dining table centerpiece with a mix of mini pumpkins, gourds, and candles. Add a burlap or velvet runner underneath for extra charm.

8. Apple-Inspired Decor

Fill a wooden crate or basket with red and green apples, thoughtfully place faux apples around your home, and use apple-scented essential oils. It’s simple and fresh.

9. Crafty with Cinnamon Sticks

The smell of cinnamon invites warmth and fall feels. Add a little throughout your home by tying cinnamon sticks together with twine and tuck them into your centerpiece or place settings. They smell amazing and look rustic-chic.

10. Pumpkin Spice Everything

Pumpkin spice screams fall. From drinks to scents, it’s everywhere. If you’re a fan, you can affordably add them to your home with candles, hand soaps, oils, and more.

11. Front Door Glow-Up

Add a fall-themed doormat, a wreath, and a few stacked pumpkins to make your entryway feel warm and welcoming.

12. Thrift Store Treasures

Add some character to your decor with vintage brass candlesticks, amber bottles, or old books with warm-toned covers. These cost next to nothing and instantly give your home decor a rustic feel.

13. Layered Textures

Texture doesn’t just stop at bedding, pillows, and cozy blankets. Mix burlap, wood, and metal pieces to create some country charm and make the space feel warm and inviting.

14. Neutral Fall Palette

If your home decor leans more neutral, skip the bright oranges and go for creamy whites, soft browns, and muted greens. It’s on theme and adds a chic touch.

15. Dollar Store DIYs

The local dollar store is a gold mine for DIY fall decor. Start by grabbing faux leaves, mini pumpkins, and glass jars, and get creative. Remember to have a plan before you go in, like choosing colors that match your fall decor theme. You’d be surprised how luxe everything can look with a little creativity.

16. Blanket Ladder Display

Drape your coziest throws over a wooden ladder for a functional and stylish display. Vary it up in texture and color based on your overall decor.

17. Found from Nature

Nature can be our biggest inspiration and gift us free decor. Take walk and gather twigs, leaves, and pine branches. Arrange them in a vase or use them in a DIY garland.

18. Gourd Garland

Gather together mini gourds or faux pumpkins to create a festive garland to hang across your mantel or staircase.

19. Scented Simmer Pot

Fill your home with autumn scents by simmering a pot of apple slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peels on the stove. You can do this once a week for a natural, cozy scent that pairs perfectly with your fall decor.

20. Decorative Tray Styling

Use a tray to feature candles, mini pumpkins, and a small vase of fall florals on your coffee table or kitchen island.

21. Budget-Friendly Throw Pillows

Here’s an easy and quick fall decor solution: swap out your pillow covers. With the right measurements, your pillow covers can easily become the perfect fall-inspired accent piece. Look for plaid, velvet, or faux leather and various colors like brown, orange, green, and red.

22. Seasonal Dishes

Display fall-themed mugs or plates on open shelves or in a hutch. It’s a subtle way to bring in the season without investing in too much decor.

23. Mantel Magic

A mantel is the perfect functional space to feature layers of garlands, candles, and seasonal items like mini pumpkins or vintage books. Turn your mantel into a cozy focal point, then sprinkle similar accents throughout your home to create a warm, inviting vibe.

24. Baskets Full of Fall

Fill woven baskets with various textured blankets, florals, and surround them with your favorite guards or pumpkins for a luxurious, lived-in look.

25. Branches and Twigs in Decor

Branches and twigs signify the changing seasons. Place them in a tall vase or use them as part of a centerpiece. Mix in faux sunflowers and eucalyptus in a vintage pitcher or amber bottle for a farmhouse feel.

27. Copper Accents

Copper mugs, trays, or candle holders add warmth and a touch of glam to your fall setup.

28. Feather Fun

Tuck a few feathers into your faux flower arrangements for texture and a touch of whimsy or simply add a few standalone feathers to your favorite vase.

29. Amber Glass

Use amber glass-shaped decor or bottles (which are great as vases or candle holders). They’re moody, chic, and perfect for fall.

30. Essential Oil Diffuser Blends

Fill your home with the scents of fall by adding oils like clove, orange, cinnamon, and cedarwood to your essential oil diffuser.

31. Lantern Love

Place lanterns around your home, surrounded by candles, mini pumpkins, or fairy lights, for a magical glow.

32. Pears as Decor

Keep it super simple by adding faux or real pears to bowls or centerpieces for a fresh, unexpected twist.

If you love fall, these ideas will help you add a few fabulous touches to the warm and cozy season. All you need are a few key pieces to refresh your space with cozy textures, warm colors, and charming details. And don’t worry about breaking the bank, there are so many budget-friendly ways to make your home feel like a luxurious autumn retreat.

So light a pumpkin spice candle, turn on your favorite fall jams, and start decorating!

Other fall favorites you’ll love:

I almost didn’t blog about these, because they’re so basic. But I think they really do make a big difference, so here we are!

The first tip couldn’t be any easier and removes the glare on your artwork, the second does the same but also gives prints the look of actual brushstrokes. 

I’ll use my wall of Audubon bird prints as an example for the first trick: 

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.

I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links. 

Notice how you can see the art, instead of a reflection in the glass? 

That’s because I removed the glass that came with the frames. I don’t toss it of course, but instead store it away behind the art in the frame: 

It’s such a basic thing, but in certain rooms with a lot of overhead lighting or natural light…it makes a bigger difference than you think!

Now I can see the artwork instead of a glare. 

Would I do this with precious art like watercolors or pencil drawings? Probably not. But for free artwork I printed at home, I think it’s a great idea!

The second little “hack” is one my blog friends and I were doing nearly 20 years ago. I had forgotten about it till recently. 

I’ve done this on both store bought artwork and shiny art prints I’ve printed at home on photo paper or at quick print places. 

You can create a matte, brushstroke look with a small paint brush and some matte Mod Podge: 

The matte version of this decoupage is key here, as well as an actual bristled brush and not a foam brush. 

I did this on inexpensive framed art I found at Hobby Lobby last year. This will go against everything in you, but dunk your brush into the Mod Podge and then start “painting” it onto your print:

In my experience, this is safe to do on any art medium like an mdf base, wood, or shiny high-gloss photo paper. 

You can apply it in a thin layer or pretty thick — the fun part about this technique is that you can change it up depending on how obvious you want the brushstrokes to be. 

The thicker you paint it on, the longer it will take to dry, but if it’s a thin coat it only takes about 10-15 minutes. 

Here’s a closer look at how this looks when it dries: 

The more you get comfortable with it, the thicker you can go with the Mod Podge. 

Also, your brush technique will give you a different look. You can try an “X” application across the art, or add it with a swirly texture. It’s up to you!

I LOVE to use inexpensive prints I’ve found on Etsy for my frames, especially during the fall and holiday seasons. I found this pretty printable for my office bookcase last year: 

I had it printed at CVS and when you pick it up the same day, a glossy print is the only option. You can have it printed in matte, but it is shipped and takes longer. 

I’m not that patient, so this method is a quick fix that makes the prints matte in mere minutes: 

The colors on the print will not bleed, so no worries about that. It doesn’t buckle or wrinkle the paper at all either. 

Best part about this little trick is you can’t mess it up! No matter how you apply the brush strokes, it will look purposeful. 

Now when I walk into my office, I see the art and not a glare from the glass or the glossy print: 

Usually the brushstroke look is subtle, but as I mentioned,  you can make it as thick as you want. I’ve never done more than one coat, but I’m assuming that would just add to the look. 

These small changes are as simple as can be, and incredibly affordable! 

I think removing the glass makes the biggest difference, and the brushstroke technique is more subtle. But the latter definitely adds a custom, matte look to even the cheapest art prints! 

Beautiful DIY ways to display mementos and keepsakes around your home. 

Framing photos or filling photo albums isn’t the only way to display memorabilia — these are simple ways  honor your special memories and create some fun conversation starters as well! 

It’s been a sentimental few months for our family! Our son is graduating high school in a soon and we’re experiencing a lot of “lasts” with him lately. (I know many firsts are to come too, it is very bittersweet!)

And as I shared in my last post, we recently had to say goodbye to our sweet dog of 14 years, Peanut. Needless to say, I’ve been a bit emotional.

During that decrapification I found so many items with such wonderful memories attached to them, and I was determined to figure out ways to display them in our home.

Most of these ideas are easy to complete and don’t cost much at all. 

A lot of our keepsakes are small — I’ve struggled with adding them around the house because they look cluttered instead of cherished items. I’ve found that grouping them together makes them look more purposeful (and pretty!).

When we moved years ago, I packed away a baggie of these matchbooks from our travels. I was so excited to find them again!:

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.

I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links. 

This one was easy — I just placed them in a decorative bowl by a candle. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone through them in the past few months, reminiscing about the exact dinner or travel that corresponds to each one. 

Here are some more ways to display matchbook covers: 

• Attach them to the back of a shadowbox frame to create artwork. 
• Hot glue magnets to the back for a fun way to display them (this would work best with match boxes).
• Have an artist make custom artwork with your match covers — this would be perfect if you don’t have the physical book but can find examples online. 

I love the custom artwork idea, probably because we have something similar that a friend made for us: 

When my husband retired from teaching (he was a band director), a close friend had this beautiful art made with every school musical he had conducted over the years. 

It’s one of our most treasured pieces and I think it would be a brilliant idea for a student who’s involved in theater or the arts. You could make something similar with playbills from theater productions, artwork for marching band shows, or program covers from concerts. 

What a special way to honor a student or teacher! If you are knowledgeable with photo editing programs, you could make one of these yourself. 

During my purge I found a little container with a bunch of tiny keepsakes. It made me sad that they were hidden away, so I grabbed a display case I had and started adding the items: 

The case (I think I got it from HomeGoods) has a glass lid, so the items are protected against debris and dust, but I can easily see them when I go to turn my lamp on and off every day. 

It makes me smile every single time! The items probably wouldn’t make sense to anyone else, but each one represents a memory or place that I love. Some are items I’ve picked up, a few are gifts from my husband’s travels and a couple are just goofy inside jokes and gifts that make me happy when I see them. 

The case is very unassuming, but I love that it holds so many of my favorite little mementos: 

At first I used this huge DIY upholstered pin board for work items like paint samples, pages from magazines I’ve been published in, inspiration pics — stuff like that:

But over the past few months I’ve filled it even more with little trinkets from friends, our travels and my childhood: 

I hung handwritten notes and cards from friends and family, photos that I love to see everyday, whatever makes me happy. (I even hung the back of my folding chair from the La-Z-Boy Design Dash event that I won years ago. )

If it makes me feel good, I put it up there. Anywhere else, this might feel overwhelming to me, but in my office it feels just right:

The method of grouping items together works well here — having the items contained to only the bulletin board keeps it meaningful but collected. 

If you have a lot of similar small items, my DIY picture ledges are a great way to display them! 

I’ve grouped plenty of framed photos on these of course, but we also use them to display my son’s Funko Pop collection: 

It worked so well! They are the perfect size for these little figurines. You could also do thinner ledges for Lego minifigures collections. 

If you have ton of similar artwork, photos or plaques, I recommend using these ledges. My husband’s office is a work in progress, but I shared a peek into this room and the ledges that corral all of his plaques: 

He has a TON and we’ve tried hanging them all on the wall…but it gets overwhelming and cluttered VERY fast. These ledges make them into a cool collection, and they stay nice and secure because of the lip on the front. 

I recently picked up a shadowbox from Micheal’s to create a memorial for our dog Peanut. I got the 6 x 14 size shadowbox and it was perfect to hold some of his things as well as a few precious gifts we’ve received:

We all cried when I finished it. 🙂

It’s something little that we’ll see every time we walk into our laundry/mud room:

 

His harness and leash always hung on those hooks, so this spot seemed fitting. 

A shadowbox is such a sweet way to memorialize a loved one, pet, or a special trip or event. This would be a make a lovely gift after a wedding or birth as well. I wish I had thought of this sooner! 🙂 

My family implements one more idea that I wanted to mention, but I don’t have a photo because they are packed away with our holiday decor. 

I have many clear, glass ornaments with pieces of fabric tucked inside from loved ones who have passed away. Sometimes it’s from a favorite piece of clothing, or a blanket, a handkerchief…anything will do! It’s a sweet way to remember people we love during the holidays. 

Have you added any special displays of memories around your home? So many of these would make great DIY gifts to celebrate life’s milestones — a new baby, graduation or marriage. Or just to show someone you love how much they mean to you.

Replacing our farmhouse style decor and furniture without spending a ton of money!

It’s inevitable that your design preferences will change over time, and it can get really expensive to replace furniture and decor with new items.

I’ve been experiencing that over the past few years…craving more traditional touches over some of the farmhouse design pieces I’ve added to our home in the past. 

But overall I’ve been making an effort to transition some of our farmhouseish items to more traditional decor that will stand the test of time. 

I’ve tweaked most of these for very little money — with equal parts patience/online stalking and DIY projects. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier with our home! 

Large living room chandelier.

When we built our house eight years ago, the huge “wagon wheel” chandeliers were all the rage.

I actually did like them (and still do) — if you have a really tall ceiling or need a large fixture, these fill up the visual space nicely without becoming overwhelming: 

Plus they put off great light! 

As much as I like the light, I see it everywhere, most often in farmhouse style decor. But I definitely didn’t want to spend the money to replace it. 

I got up on the ladder (did I mention I’m terrified of heights?) and popped them onto each bulb. Easiest transformation ever, except for the 14 feet off the ground part!

The pretty gold tone inside the shades adds such a warm glow at night!:

Obviously the shades also diffuse the light a bit, which is fine when you have 12 bulbs.

I spent $60 on the shades (there are six in an order)…instead of paying for a new light fixture and the installation. 

Dining room buffet makeover. 

Earlier this year I took on what I thought was going to be a super quick painting project on the cane buffet table in our dining room. 

I bought this from a friend’s decor shop years ago and liked that it’s such a solid piece. I really loved the cane doors as well: 

It fit in perfectly with our decor back then. I wouldn’t say this one is blatantly farmhouse style (none of these items are), but the wood tone and rustic finishes leaned that way. 

So what I thought was going to be an easy paint job turned into about a week of work. The new, rich wine paint color made the biggest difference, but I also added some trim to the front of the cane doors.

This is up there with some of my all time favorite furniture makeovers. 

I love how it turned out!: 

The total cost for this project was well under $50 for the trim and corner pieces. I had the paint leftover from another room makeover. 

Secondhand find for the dining room.

There were a few other details in the space that had a bit of a farmhouse feel as well. Years ago I changed out the rustic mirror (I moved it to our guest room):

I found a large round mirror from Ikea (pictured with the new paint color above) to replace it. 

These changes happened over many years, and the room was thisclose to looking as I had envisioned for such a long time. The only remaining item with a farmhouse look was our planked wood dining table: 

The spaces in between the wood planks drove me a little crazy, because food would get stuck in there. But otherwise it was a beautiful and sturdy table — it just didn’t fit the space anymore. 

I sat on it for a long time, considering trying to change up the metal “X” legs to transform the base. Overall the wood top was looking out place the most. 

So I started stalking Facebook Marketplace, as one does. It took several months, but I finally found THE ONE: 

The darker wood tone and traditional rolled legs fit so much better in this room and the rest of our house. I absolutely love it. Definitely my best home decor find ever!

From farmhouse to traditional in the foyer.

This next update was in our foyer and involves a piece of furniture I’ve loved for years — this Everett console table: 

It’s SO popular, because it really is a lovely piece. I just envisioned something more substantial, with richer wood tones in that spot. 

Once the idea of a great transformation creeps into my brain, it’s hard to let go of it! 

Thankfully my desire to save money usually wins out over my impatience. I looked on Marketplace here and there but couldn’t find what I wanted. 

Finally the idea came to me…we should try moving a dresser we already had (in our son’s room) down to the entryway. 

(He likes a more modern look better anyway, so we replaced this wood dresser with an old Ikea one from his closet.)

As soon as we placed the wood dresser in the foyer, I was giddy. It was perfect!:

I believe there’s a few sizes available, this is the smallest. 

It’s SO pretty and unique. I absolutely love it!: 

I sold our old fixture so that ended up paying for a good portion of the new light. 

All of the changes added up to under $300, and I think they made a BIG difference! I love all of these transformations and I’m so thrilled with the character and charm they add to our home. 

Hopefully these ideas will give you ideas as your decor style changes over time. You really don’t need to buy all new to refresh your home. 

Consider what you have and how you can change it or move it around to better suit your new style! Don’t forget to check out online sales and thrift stores as well. 

I love door baskets and this one is so easy to make, so I wanted to share it with you. This basket is a basket I bought for my 7 speed bike and it’s a Nantucket bike basket, so it’s roomy and probably larger than most door baskets, but I like that it really makes a statement. I’ll link everything that I used at the bottom of the post, so you can source it if you’d like to make one too.

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I got out my bike basket to use, since we changed over to E-bikes, this one no longer fits on my new bike, so it’s repurposed as a door basket. I bought a pack of 5 blue hydrangea stems from Amazon and the rest I had, but I did find similar items to share with you. All I did was snap off the stems a couple of inches so that the hydrangeas would fit down in the basket and not be too long. You don’t even need cutters for this part. Snap and bend and they will break off.

I added 3 hydrangea blooms in the front, two in the back and then plopped in 3 ferns, one in the middle and one on each side. I did add a crumpled sheet of packing paper, you know the kind you get in packs for wrapping gifts? It helps keep the middle fern elevated enough. I used a black and white ribbon I already had and tied a bow around the middle hydrangea stem and that was it. Voila! Instant door basket, you can’t get any easier than that.

I used two clear suction cups to hold it up as this basket has two leather loops on either side. I added the suction cups on either side of the middle strip of wood on the door to even out the basket and slipped the loops over the hooks. It has stayed in place very well with no issues.

For the 4th of July holiday, I added little flags and also some Americana bunting to the front railing that I got on Amazon.

Added two more flags to the boxwood urns and I’m all set for Independence Day celebrations. Here’s to the red, white and blue! Of course, you can use whatever color hydrangeas you like the most. There are so many colors to choose from, but I’m partial to blue since that’s a lot of what grows in our yard.

You can find all the things I used below in the shopping widget. The ferns are similar and not exactly mine, but the hydrangeas & basket are what I used. I love how this turned out and it can be used year after year. I hope you’ll try it too!

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