Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: decor ideas

  • 8 LGBTQIA+-Owned Businesses to Shop for Home Goods

    As every home design enthusiast knows, it’s hard not to get a little thrill from finding the exact accent table you were looking for or stumbling across the perfect candle you didn’t know you needed. But, when you’re limited to the same four websites you typically scour for home goods, things get boring pretty quickly.

    For more colorful, imaginative objects and pieces that can’t be found on your everyday big box sites, we’ve sourced eight fantastic LGBTQIA+-owned businesses that have no short supply of design goods. These brands should be added to your bookmark bar for purchases for your home.

    Boy Smells-

    Candles have the fantastic ability to tie a home together. It’s amazing how much a room is impacted by the invisible scent that wafts from a small glass vessel. Though there are many candle brands on the market, none do it quite like Boy Smells. Founded by Matthew Herman and David Kien, the tongue-in-cheek names, technicolor jars and fabulous combinations of scents make the company’s candles a winning trifecta.

    Though candles like Thé Fantôme, Polyamberous and Slow Burn are what Boy Smells is mostly known for, they have a few other categories of products. The Genderful line of fine fragrances is full of perfumes made for everyone and anyone, many of which are the same scents as the candles.

    Coming Soon

    Home decor can feel a little bit uninspiring at times. But our spaces are meant to be personal and include a collection of pieces that shout “This is me!” Perusing a store like Coming Soon ensures this happens.

    Dreamed up and executed by Helena Barquet and Fabiana Faria, the shop provides products that inject more pizzazz into homes. It’s impossible to find a blasé item in its catalog. The duo curates picks from artists and designers who excel in their fields, leading to a kaleidoscope of home goods with funky patterns, modern shapes and sleek lines. Pink velvet love seats, abstract rugs and bulbous sconces are just a small sampling of the elevated and cool, yet wonderfully distinct pieces.

    Jonathan Adler

    For anyone in search of splurgy pieces that stay timeless and contemporary (but have a fun twist), Jonathan Adler’s store has your name written all over it. Though Adler went to school for semiotics and art history (and eventually worked in show biz), the design world got lucky that he instead decided to follow his dream of creating pottery.

    The famed potter and interior designer’s collection has grown massively since its inception in the early ’90s. Stores are dotted throughout the country and you can shop numerous products, from simple, plush bedsheets to unique, modular coffee tables. There are plenty of sleek pottery pieces, too.

    Otherwild

    Wavy-handle pitchers, pastel dinnerware, patterned coffee mugs, amoeba placemats—Rachel Berks’ store Otherwild has exactly the accent pieces needed to spice up a space. Ethical and conscious make up the brand’s ethos and affect which items are sourced and sold.

    Not only can shoppers pick up homewares, but there are apparel, accessories and wellness and skin-care products as well. Even better is the brand’s general store, where an emphasis on sustainability reigns. Refillable, low-waste products can be purchased, whether you need a new cleaning solution or a top-up on hand wash.

    K Dawn Clay

    Katherine Dawn of K Dawn Clay reworked and molded her clay hobby into a full-blown business. Based in Tacoma, Washington, she creates planters, mugs and berry bowls, among other pieces. One special item doubles as a wall hanging and a mini cheese board—meaning you have both everyday decor and the perfect piece for entertaining on a whim.

    The speckled pieces are modern and earthy at the same time, and many have playful pops of color. Her creations could easily fit into any style of home—atop a table, nestled in a corner or hanging on a wall. Aside from her studio, she teaches at Illuminated Clay, which provides pottery classes and a creative haven for for BIPOC ceramicists and art enthusiasts.

    Minna

    Sara Berks founded the New York-based business Minna back in 2013. The company is far more than just a compilation of gorgeous home decor products—it has a mission, too. It’s B-Corp certified and works with artisans across the world, ensuring they’re paid fairly and have good working conditions. There is also a huge emphasis on transparency and preventing designs from being stolen and appropriated. These ethics make purchasing from the brand all the sweeter.

    Pillows, blankets, baskets, pot holders, trays and even scrunchies are part of Minna’s selection. The color palettes and patterns are often minimal and soothing, meaning anything you pick will serve as a stylish addition to your home.

    Pagodahome

    Based in the UK, Pagodahome’s founder Izzy creates the chicest minimal art with playful images and colors and both uplifting and inclusive messages. The digital downloads can be printed in plenty of different sizes and framed for walls, shelves and side tables.

    Chic Kissing Cowgirls, desert backdrops with “Y’all Means All” text and subtle Pride prints are just a few of the lovely pieces that can be shopped through Etsy UK.

    Roger + Chris

    The Roger + Chris slogan is “home of the unboring home,” which is music to anyone’s ears who may be shopping for large furniture items (like a couch) and can’t seem to escape the monotony of what’s out there. Built by—you guessed it—Roger Hazard and Chris Stout-Hazard, the company offers a wide array of couches, ottomans, chairs and sleeper sofas.

    All the furniture is customizable. The hand-built frames can be wrapped in various materials and colors in order to create a personal piece that fits your home (and your design tastes) to a T. Mid-century modern to modern farmhouse fans and both traditional and contemporary lovers will be able to create something they adore on the site.

    © Dotdash Media. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

  • Cozy Winter Decor Ideas That Will Delight Until Spring

    Are you searching for winter decor ideas to keep you feeling cozy and inspired during the frosty months ahead? Winter decorations go far beyond the traditional holiday delights. From candle lanterns to versatile porch styling, there is a wide range of options for anyone who wants to give their space a refresh that won’t feel dated when the new year arrives. Read on as we reveal some of our favorite (and easy to implement) winter decor ideas. 

    Introduce a Soft Glow

    There is something remarkably inviting about the soft glow of candlelight in the winter. In fact, it inspired one of Better Homes & Garden’s favorite winter decor ideas: Garland candle lanterns. The Magazine recommends taking your hurricane lanterns out from storage (or thrifting them) and encircling the glass with fabric wire. From there, they suggest that DIYers “use greenery and white berries or even fresh herbs or juniper berries to decorate.” This is such a simple DIY project, but you’ll love seeing their cozy presence on mantels, buffets, and dining tables throughout the season.  

    Add Textile Wall Hangings

    Do you have an empty white wall that has been hard for you to decorate? Consider adding a natural textile wall hanging. If you are interested in purchasing something for the space, pick a piece made from natural fabrics like wool, hemp, or even bamboo. In fact, you might be surprised to learn how popular 1970s-inspired macramé is right now. There’s a cozy nostalgia to these knotted art pieces made thoroughly modern with a reclaimed wood support beam. If you are looking to DIY the hanging textile, Better Homes & Gardens reveals: “Simply loop chunky yarn pieces around a piece of driftwood and cut ends at an angle to form a center point. Embellish with beads and tassels to add color or add knots to add structure to the wall hanging.” Before you know it, that empty wall will be so eye-catching, you will wonder why you didn’t try this project sooner.

    Ward Off the Winter Chill

    As soon as the temperature dips, it’s time to wrap yourself in luxurious textiles made from natural fabrics. Midwest Living recommends “[replacing] bright summer florals with subdued blanket plaids, or [nestling] into tactile fabrics in soft colors,” as well as “[draping] a couch with a fuzzy angora throw (and [wrapping] up to watch TV)….” Flannel sheets are always a delight to sink into, and you’ll love sleeping in a room darkened with thick velvet drapes. Not only will the fabrics help you ward off the chill, but this winter decor idea brings instant visual warmth to your space.

    Layer Textured Blankets

    Real Simple describes this time of year as a “season of nesting,” which makes it the perfect time to enjoy “‘chunky knitted blankets, cozy throws, and lots of textile layering, [to add] warmth and coziness to the home in the colder months,’” according to home design expert Justina Blakeney. If you have a metal frame bed, you can embrace this winter decor idea by draping a folded earthy-hued blanket over the frame to create a cozier looking headboard. You also can achieve a layered look even with your summer-weight duvet. As Real Simple explains, you can just as easily “layer a knitted cotton throw over your linen duvet” before snuggling in for a much-welcomed nap or some serious reading time.  

    Transition Your Accessories

    Small changes can transform your space into a haven during the blustery winter months. Midwest Living loves the idea of replacing a simple lampshade with “a velvety suede alternative.” Soften your lightbulbs so that you can enjoy a subtle golden cast in late winter afternoons and evenings. You can even “skirt a table and layer on a nubby wool throw” in warm earth tones to bring visual interest, as well as a general feeling of being cocooned and insulated against the elements.  

    Spray a Calming Scent

    A particular scent can inspire memory, a sense of comfort, and peace. If the winter season has you feeling stressed, Justina Blakeney tells Real Simple readers that it may be time to spray aromas that are calming – like Lavender. Blakeney is also a fan of “‘earthy scents like myrrh, frankincense, and sandalwood [which] are great for the winter because they are grounding, promote balance, and are the next best thing if you (like me) don’t have a fireplace to cozy up next to!’” Every person has one or two scents that they respond to more strongly than others. Vanilla is also a classic choice, and it might just inspire you to start baking to brighten a wintry afternoon.  

    Bring Your Winter Decor Ideas Outside

    Design experts at Martha Stewart Living are urging readers not to forget their favorite summer perch: The porch. With a few quick changes, you can create a snug nook to enjoy even when the temperatures plummet. Of course, adding cozy throws is among the Magazine’s favorite winter decor ideas, but they also applaud the additions of versatile wooden benches, which can be made “seasonally appropriate by changing out your summer or fall outdoor pillows for a set that feels more wintery.” They also love adding handcrafted doormats that “can withstand the heaviest dirt, mud, snow, and more,” log hoops for some rustic charm that is “both functional and stylish,” lustrous string lights, and a welcoming wreath. 

    While it is true that wreaths are often associated with the holidays, Martha Stewart Living suggests trying a fragrant wreath that will instantly put you in a positive mood. Among their favorites is the Creekside Farms Fragrant Pod Wreath. It’s a picture-perfect winter decor idea “made up of three kinds of eucalyptus leaves, nigella flowers, and sculptural lotus pods.” You might love it so much that you may be tempted to leave it up long after the snow has melted.

  • Fall Centerpieces Perfect for Entertaining – Home, Hearth and Holidays with BHGRE®

    Autumn has arrived, and the holidays are on the horizon, which means looking for tablescape and fall centerpiece ideas may be on your to-do list. From fun, creative projects that involve the whole family to simple designs that incorporate the best produce of the season, the options are endless. If you are stumped for unique ways to help you make the most of the season’s celebrations, read on as we reveal some of our favorite tablescape and fall centerpiece ideas perfect for busy hosts who are looking forward to entertaining this holiday season. 

    Create Pear Place Cards

    If you want to get into the entertaining spirit and incorporate the flavors of the season while decorating, try setting table place cards using your favorite fall fruits. From delicate lady pears to small pumpkins, you can craft the perfect place card holder by cutting a tiny slit onto the top skin of the fruit and inserting the name card. Want to add a unique touch that won’t break the bank? Meredith Waga Perez, a celebrity florist, suggests to InStyle that people try “the same trick with miniature albino pumpkins, which she says, ‘are a little more stylish and unexpected than traditional orange—plus, in white, they blend in seamlessly with any style decor.’” 

    Light a Lamp Chimneys Centerpiece

    Are you looking for a fall centerpiece idea that offers a lovely glow, doesn’t wilt, and won’t take substantial time to create? You’d be surprised how much your guests will appreciate a simple yet inspired lamp chimneys centerpiece. One of Martha Stewart Living’s favorite fall table décor ideas, this affordable centerpiece involves “simply [placing] candles on small glass dishes and [covering] them with curvy lamp chimneys (which you can find for dollars at hardware or antiques stores).” Then, to complete your celebratory tablescape, you can easily fill in gaps with items like mini-gourds, pears, and colorful leaves. 

    Arrange Golden Branches

    If you are creating a tablescape for a long dining room table or sideboard, you may have room for larger centerpieces. Luckily, the fallen leaves and branches in your backyard can not only be part of an affordable centerpiece but a gilded and inspiring one at that. Begin by grabbing some gold spray paint and adding a beautiful metallic sheen to your chosen leaves. From there, the designers at Martha Stewart Living explain that you “hot-glue [the gold leaves] to the branches, then arrange in a vase.” And, voila! You now have a gorgeous centerpiece that you can use throughout the fall and even into the winter holidays. 

     Surprise with Succulent Pumpkins

    If you find yourself with leftover, uncarved pumpkins in November, you will be delighted to discover that they can be repurposed as an unusual, nature-inspired vase. This beautiful fall centerpiece idea comes from the editors at Southern Living. All you need to do is “add a bit of damp florist foam to the top of the pumpkin and arrange [assorted small] succulents” on it. No need to deeply water the centerpiece to keep it looking festive throughout the season. Succulents survive on very little water; mist the succulents periodically, and you (and your centerpiece) should be ready for another day or night of hosting.  

    Craft a Fall Garland

    Eye-catching centerpieces do not need to be limited to the literal center of the table, and they don’t require professional styling. Another one of Martha Stewart Living’s favorite fall centerpiece ideas is a crafted garland that flows down the table from end to end. While that sounds like it might be expensive, the Magazine’s tutorial focuses on “a centerpiece [that] can be foraged from outdoor materials—fallen leaves, seasonal flowers, or gourds and pumpkins (many of which are abundant at this time of year).” They love using magnolia leaves and apples as part of the runner, but you can also incorporate small lanterns or candles. While these work well for any dinner party or luncheon you might host this fall, they can be fashioned to look particularly joyous at Thanksgiving. And if you have small children, you can even have them help you by adding homemade turkeys made out of leftover mini-pumpkins to the center of the garland. 

    Add Glowing Vases 

    Are you searching for fall centerpiece ideas that work for both indoor and outdoor entertaining? String lights may be your answer. Designer Rosanna Bowles suggested a “super-simple, one-step design” to Rachael Ray In Season: “Pile strings of white holiday lights into colored glass vessels and turn them upside down on the table.” You can also use colored lights in clear vases or mix-and-match. No matter which way you go, you are sure to have a delightful fall tablescape in no time at all. 

    Include Fall Bud Vases

    Bud vases are always a popular decorative element, whether you are upgrading your mantel or styling your Thanksgiving table. Food & Wine is a fan of taking the no-fuss decorative approach to fall and holiday entertaining so that you can focus on family, fun, and food. The Magazine raves about the idea of “[scattering] several small clear glass vases (we’re talking eight to ten, depending on the size of your table) with different flowers of the same color down the center of your table.” The bud vases can be different heights and widths. They even can have different decorative elements, which gives you substantial leeway as you set your festive dining table. 

    Spruce Up Votives

    Do you have dozens of plain white votive candles in the cabinet? Designer Mark Brunetz reveals to Rachael Ray In Season a terrific way to spruce up the votives (even battery-operated ones) without spending a lot of money: Add lentils! One of the easiest fall centerpiece ideas really does rely on some extra beans. Brunetz explains: “[grab] some juice glasses, [fill the bottoms with lentils], [add] votive candles and [tie] it all together with raffia from the craft store.” Before you know it, you have elevated your décor game and wowed your guests.  

    Build Pinecone Turkeys

    Are you searching for a kid-friendly craft that can be incorporated into your Thanksgiving tablescape? Southern Living loves the idea of having kids create pinecone turkeys. The supply list is small – brown pipe cleaners, an assortment of colorful synthetic feathers, glue, pinecones, and wiggly eyes, which can be found at most craft stores. Their tutorial takes you through the steps of creating some truly unique pinecone turkeys – a charming addition to your fall decorations. 

    Style a Fall Terrarium

    Is there an empty fishbowl in your garage or closet? If so, you’ll love being able to put it to use as you DIY a cozy fall centerpiece. Real Simple offers a straightforward how-to guide to creating this seasonally-inspired décor idea. All it requires is some moss, as well as a couple of pinecones, acorns, and mini pumpkins. Add the moss to the bottom of the fishbowl (or round vase), and “then arrange the mini pumpkins, acorns, and pinecones on top of the greenery.”  In minutes, you will have a fall centerpiece that you will be proud to display into December.

  • Decorating for the Holidays Using Supplies You Already Have – Home, Hearth and Holidays with BHGRE®

    If you are searching for holiday decorating ideas, you may be surprised at how many fun and creative options are just waiting to be discovered. From dazzling centerpieces to eye-catching wall art, a festive home can be just a few DIY projects away from being a reality. And you don’t have to wait for a shipment to arrive or brave crowded shopping malls to create that warm, comforting feeling of the season that you remember from being a kid. Read on as we explore some of our favorite holiday decorating ideas that can use supplies you may already have in your cabinets, craft bins, refrigerators, or garages. 

    Creative Leaf Art Ideas

    One way to decorate your home for the holidays with supplies on hand is to gather the stunning autumn leaves that are already falling outside. If you have young children, they’ll love helping transform your home by creating leaf rubbings using crayons, leaves, and parchment or tracing paper. You can then cut out the leaf rubbings and string them together to hang across a fireplace mantel or on a child’s bedroom wall as festive Thanksgiving décor. Real Simple also loves taking deeply hued fallen leaves and then “affixing them to pretty pin boards as wall … art” for a gorgeous nod to the upcoming holidays in kids’ rooms or offices. 

    Eye-Catching Centerpieces

    Traditional Thanksgiving holiday décor often includes a cornucopia basket filled with goodies. If you like the idea of this but don’t want to run out to buy a basket that you’ll only use once a year, Southern Living has a solution: “Skip the basket and opt for a wooden dough bowl for this centerpiece.” You can fill the bowl with the vegetables, fruits, and flowers that thrive during the season (and might be sitting in mesh bags in your kitchen right now). You can even showcase any small pumpkins or other gourds that are still in good condition following Halloween. And if you do go the gourd route, consider spray painting them in silver, gold, or even white to make them extra festive.

    Martha Stewart Living loves taking a bread bowl (or wicker basket) and dressing it as a dazzling centerpiece. What is their favorite bowl or basket centerpiece suggestion? The Magazine adores the idea of crafting a “lush centerpiece [by inserting] a plastic liner, [that is filled] with a mix of neutral, silvery-leafed plants along with flowers in deep purples and soft magentas.” 

    Pretty Place Cards

    Are you hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year? Martha Stewart Living suggests you take the colorful leaf art in a new direction when decorating for the holidays. The Magazine explains that you can “turn leaf rubbings, made with thin colored paper and standard wax crayons, into gift tags or place cards by trimming around the edges of the paper leaf” and then “[writing] the names of your dinner guests or gift recipients in a contrasting color.”  

    Is your home’s craft bin full of pretty silver paper (or stickers), craft paper, and ribbon? The editors at Martha Stewart Living adore “[giving] simple table settings a touch of finery with craft-punched place cards backed with silver paper.” The pros at the Magazine go on to explain: “We used menorah, Star of David, and dreidel craft punches to make Hanukkah place cards….” For step-by-step details, read more here. 

    If you have a supply cabinet full of 5×7 and smaller picture frames, they could be the perfect placeholders for your fall and winter holiday meals. How? Southern Living explains that instead of a written placecard, you can “show off your family’s personality with individually framed” photos of each one. The frames can hold pictures of childhood visits with Santa, holiday card photos repurposed, or solo shots from any time of year that highlight your loved ones in light-hearted moments. 

    Inviting Mantels

    Are you wondering how to welcome your family and friends to your home for the holidays in a unique way? The answer may be a pear (or seven) away. Martha Stewart Living reveals: “Simply arrange seven pears on a mantel” and then write your “welcome” across the pears. From there, you can add a scented surprise by “[pressing] whole cloves into the flesh along the lines.” They are a gorgeous, autumnal addition for Thanksgiving celebrations! And if you want to use them to decorate for the winter holidays, a dip into your supplies for metallic spray paint or a frozen white glaze will transform them into wintry decorative delights. 

    Holiday Wall Art

    Do you already have holiday wrapping paper in your home? In only minutes, you can “wrap” hanging wall art, complete with a bow, to bring a festive air to living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. 

    Captivating Vases

    Do you know those tall, clear glass vases that you have hiding in your cupboards? Instead of an annoyance, those vases can become a treasured holiday decorating idea. For something subtle yet seasonal, take Midwest Living’s suggestion and “[nestle] a candle [or battery-powered votive] in popcorn kernels or other seasonal materials, such as candy corn or colored clear round stones.”  

    Do you have extra colored ball ornaments? Picture them filling a series of tall glass vases. Whether you choose to add blue, silver, and white ornaments for a wintry feel or add deep red and green tree ball ornaments for a Christmas-y vibe, you’ll love how quickly and easily the mood of your mantel, hall table, or dining room table is transformed. 

    Are you searching for unique decorating ideas for Hanukkah? Martha Stewart Living suggests creating a modern “glass vase” take on the menorah using extra flower bud vases. They explain that to make this simply beautiful menorah, you just need to “arrange eight bud vases in a row, with a taller one in the middle, and place tapers inside,” with “a bit of candle glue in the bottom of each vase” if added stability is required.  

    Winter Wreaths

    If your home supplies include washi tape, embroidery hoops (even large hoop earrings or thin metal bracelets), and clothespins, you are only a couple of steps away from creating fun and festive holiday wreaths. Parents loves these colorful mini-wreaths because “these graphic rings are terrific for kids and parents to do together.” 

    And the Christmas decorating project is done as quickly as you can apply the washi tape and clip the clothespins to the hoop. You can hang them up with string, spare ribbon, or nylon thread.

    Fall foliage wreaths are simple to make, and they will bring a smile to the faces of your friends and family as they arrive for Thanksgiving. You can decorate a ring made out of florist foam, glued cardboard rings, or wire. Once shaped, the fun begins. What are Southern Living’s favorite additions? The Magazine “[adds] in foliage and pinecones” and then “[fills] it out with oregano, preserved plume reed grass, and phalaris grass.” However, you can use mini gourds, wooden beads, straw, wheat stocks – whatever supplies you already have. 

    When the winter holidays come closer, you can swap out the elements for more seasonal foliage. Wreaths made from an assortment of acorns and other hard-shelled nuts can be sprayed with winter white or silver. If you have a pre-made wreath that can use some love, add gold-sprayed pinecones and an eye-catching ribbon. 

    Festive Yards

    When choosing holiday decorating ideas, don’t forget the yard! You may already go all out with lights and Christmas displays, but even small additions to your home can make it feel festive. Do you have large boulders as part of your landscaping? A little craft paint and a steady hand can turn them into showpieces filled with drawn snowmen, snowflakes, or turkeys. Mason jars can light a path to your door – you just need to add some white sand or Epsom salts to create a sense of snow at the bottom of them and some battery-powered votive candles. 

    Finally, a light display can be yours when you repurpose your yard’s mini lights. According to Martha Stewart Living, all you need to do to “[create] a striking outdoor lighting display [is wrap] wire wreath forms with white mini lights and [string] the “shooting stars” between several trees” for a dramatic vision that is sure to usher in the holiday spirit.

    © Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

  • Cozy Décor – Home, Hearth and Holidays with BHGRE®

    Your home should be a warm and inviting space where you feel happy and can gather with your loved ones. Below you will find tons of décor inspiration to help you transform any space into a cozy spot.

    • Give tall glass vases a rustic feel by wrapping the bottom third with yarn or twine.
    • Hang artwork and photographs that have a calming effect on you and make you happy. Many people find nature and landscapes to be soothing. Dress up your walls with these DIY pressed botanical artworks.
    • Create a gourd-geous centerpiece by carving out a squash or gourd and turning it into a vase. Nothing is more beautiful than a DIY pumpkin planter filled with your favorite flowers. Don’t forget to add pieces of pine.
    • Discover how to make your house feel homey by incorporating various textures to create a sense of coziness. By layering and combining different fabrics, you can transform your home into an inviting space. Textures also add movement to a room, so these 3D felt pillows are a great addition to your home.
    • There are many ways to make your home warm and welcoming this winter. Read about how simple decorating touches can transform your home.
    • If you want a cozy home, these warm colors can help evoke a sense of comfort. Learn tips and tricks on which colors you should embrace in your rooms when working with a warm color palette.
    • For a rustic finish, wrap a foam wreath in burlap. Use a hot glue gun to add burlap flowers to the wreath. Glue pinecones and twigs with berries around the entire wreath.
    • Learn how to make elegant Hanukkah decorations that will add a heartfelt touch to your home.
    • Place wood logs in your fireplace as décor. Whether you have a working fireplace or not, you can wrap a few logs together with twine and place them in a corner.
    • Recycle mason jars to create marvelous candles. Wrap your favorite holiday ribbon around the bottom half of the outside of the mason jar. Use a string or twine and wrap it around the middle of the ribbon and tie a bow. Stick little pieces of spruce branches and pinecones around it.
    • For beautiful and elegant décor, fill various sizes of glass cloches with your favorite fall and winter items.
    • Bring charm into your living room with these farmhouse mantel décor ideas.
    • Discover how to make mason jar lid ornaments. Transform the lid rings into stunning miniature wreaths.
    • Get inspired with these winter-warming decor ideas and tips.
    • Create shimmery DIY candle holders that generate a beautiful ambiance in any room. First, spray a light mist of water into a glass holder. While the water is wet, spray a light layer of metallic gold paint over the water beads. Let dry, then add a layer of gold glitter spray.
    • Bring the outdoors in. Natural and earthy-looking materials such as wood, greenery, and stone can make a space feel warm and welcoming. Create a festive winter tablescape with these nature-inspired crafts. Learn how to make a rustic bouquet, woodland centerpieces, or a snowy tabletop display.
    • Cane furniture and designs are trendy and bring a warm and natural texture into a space. Check out DIY caning projects so you can bring the multi-directional woven pattern into your home.
    • String lights are an affordable and easy way to add ambiance or mood lighting to any room. They are easy to move around and hang wherever you’d like. You can also place them inside an empty wine bottle, glass vase, or lantern.
    • Spruce up your home with these Kwanzaa decorations.
    • Create simple and elegant decorations with glass. You can create many pieces using old glass vases or things you can find around your home.
    • Get cozy and uncover ways to design with cottagecore.

    When decorating your home, it’s important to surround yourself with items and things that make you feel happy and relaxed. Go from room to room and remove items that merely add to the clutter. Ask yourself how you feel when looking at each item, and if it doesn’t make you feel happy, get rid of it or donate it. Keep the things that make you feel more serene.

    Click for more Home, Hearth and Holidays with BHGRE®

  • The Ultimate Fall Décor Guide

    You will fall in love with these autumn-inspired decor ideas that can transform any space. Below you will find tons of clever ideas to help you welcome fall and bring magic and coziness into any room.

    • Give a plain plastic pumpkin a makeover and rustic feel by wrapping it with yarn or twine.
    • Create a gourd-geous centerpiece by carving out a squash or gourd and turning it into a vase. Nothing is more beautiful than a DIY pumpkin planter filled with your favorite fall flowers. You can also cut the top off a faux pumpkin and add drainage holes in the bottom.

    • For a rustic finish, wrap a foam wreath in burlap. Use a hot glue gun to add burlap flowers to the wreath or any other autumn-inspired items you want.
    • Discover how to make gold-leaf pumpkins to bring a classy fall feel to your home.
    • Fill a tall glass vase with pinecones, acorns, or apples. Another great option would be to fill glass cloches of different sizes with your favorite fall items.

    • Nature truly is nurturing. Place colorful leaves in a glass frame with no back.
    • Create a leaf-shaped dish to hold jewelry, change, or your keys. Press a leaf that you like onto a rolled-out piece of clay. Using a knife, carefully trace the leaf. After you’ve outlined the leaf, slowly pull the leaf off and gently curl the sides up. Place newspaper under the edges so it holds its shape and takes the form of a dish. Once it’s dried, paint it any color you want and seal it with a gloss or matte sealer to protect the finish.
    • Learn how to bring instant coziness to your home with these farmhouse fall decor ideas.
    • Paint old mason jars or upcycled glass bottles gold and white and use them as vases.
    • Put the petal to the metal… door and learn how to make your very own stunning sunflower wreath.
    • Create a beautiful succulent pumpkin planter. Fill a hollowed-out pumpkin with fresh succulents and moss.

    • Here are tons of crafts with leaves you can try.
    • Treat yourself! Make fall candles using seasonal scents such as cinnamon, pumpkin, or apple. First, find a glass jar you want to use as the holder. Double the amount of wax you would use to fill the container and melt it in a double boiler while stirring frequently. Mix in the fragrance oil you choose and place the wick on the bottom of your jar before you slowly pour in the wax. Secure the wick while the wax hardens by placing it between two chopsticks that are balanced on the top. You can also glue cinnamon sticks onto the outside of an old candle to make your home smell incredible.
    • Check out fall door decor ideas that go beyond wreaths.
    • A few things to use as décor that have an autumn vibe include amber bottles, throw blankets, plaid pillows, and leaves spray-painted gold.
    • Uncover farmhouse mantel decor ideas that add cozy charm to your space.
    • Here are some fall plants and grasses you can place around your home:
      • Mariachi ‘Salsa’ Helenium
      • Chrysanthemums
      • Black-leaf millet grass
      • Bayberry
      • Fuzzy kangaroo paws
      • Gerbera daisies
      • Chinese lanterns

  • Guest bedroom makeovers

    One of the luxuries of homeownership is having a bit more space than you need so you can expand to fill it. One of the others is having a home large enough to entertain without having to leave home. Sometimes that means having people over for dinner or brunch; other times it means having out-of-town friends and family stay over.

    Guest bedrooms, like cottage furnishings, often suffer from “not good enough to get rid of, not good enough to use every day” syndrome. If your guest bedroom looks like the not-quite-final resting place for the mismatched and ready-to-be-retired, here are a few bedroom interior design ideas for a makeover.

    Create a bunk room in your attic

    Since you’re probably going to be in your house for a while and your own and your friends’ families may be expanding, rather than designate a ground or second floor bedroom as a guest room, why not create a bunk room in your attic? That way you don’t need to worry about whether your guests can share a double or need a queen or king-sized bed. Buy as many twin beds as the room will easily fit or repurpose your children’s twin beds as they graduate to doubles and queens and an entire family (or two of your old college friends) can easily share a guest room.

    This works particularly well with the sloping ceiling aesthetic of most attics. Choose similar (they don’t need to be matching) wrought iron bed frames at a flea market and paint them white (or black). Install wall-mounted lighting above each bed and the tiniest of bedside tables in between. Pick a color theme (blue and white, for instance) and use a different blue and white quilt on each bed. A bench or trunk at the end of each bed will give guests a place to store their suitcases. If the attic doesn’t have a closet, make sure you’ve got some hooks for guests to hang their clothes.

    If your attic room does indeed have sloping ceilings, consider painting the ceiling and the walls the same color. That doesn’t mean white: even small rooms look bigger if there’s no contrast between ceiling and walls. If you choose a strong or dark color though, stick to neutrals or whites for your bed linens and pick up the wall color with throw cushions.

    More than any other bedroom in your home, your guest bedroom is going to be used primarily for sleeping. Keep things bare but functional.

    Accentuate the room’s function

    If the only room you can spare for a guest bedroom is tiny, rather than try to cram too much into a small space or make it look bigger, adopt a Japanese sleeping pod/old time railway berth approach to decorating and center a four-poster bed (with or without curtains, but keep them sheer if the room is very small) in the room on the shortest wall.

    An over-the door hook, small triangular corner shelves on both sides of the bed, and either a wall-mounted lamp at the head of the bed or two small ones on each shelf and you’re done. If you’ve got room for a storage ottoman at the end of the bed, you’ll have seating for your guests and a place to store the linens for the guest bedroom (including extra blankets, pillows, and throws).

    Give your guests a powder room

    If you can make the plumbing work, consider repurposing your spare room’s existing closet to create a tiny powder room in the guest room. Just a toilet and a sink will make all the difference in giving your guests a sense of privacy and make their stay less disruptive for the rest of the family. They’ll still have to share one of the main bathrooms for baths and showers during their stay, but at least they’ll be able to brush their teeth and splash some water on their faces before they join you for breakfast in their robes.

    Repurpose a closet and add sliding barn doors with a stop as your guest powder room. Add some shelving above the sink and you’ll be able to store guest room towels and linens there. Bonus: seeing all the towels there will make them feel they’re staying in a luxury hotel suite. And if the room is big enough, consider adding a single-serve coffee machine so your guests are caffeinated by the time you see them. A little note on their pillow with the WiFi password and some light reading material, including copies of your local city or regional magazine and a thriller or two, should do the trick. For more design ideas, check out our Interior Design channel.

  • How to Decorate a Master Bedroom – Creating a Peaceful Oasis

    It’s possible one of the reasons you’re not sleeping as much as you should is that you haven’t invested enough time or thought in how to furnish or style your bedroom. Here are some tips on how to decorate a master bedroom to create a peaceful oasis you can retreat to at the end of the day.

    Paint the master bedroom a color you find soothing

    When choosing a color, remember that it’s not going to be seen in natural light very often. That may mean going a shade or two lighter if you’ve picked a darker color. Think about your bed linens and the color range they’re in. While black and white high-contrast subway tiles work well in bathrooms and kitchens, try to choose a color palette for the master bedroom that incorporates different shades of the same color and save the accents and “pops” of color for throw pillows, decorative objects, artwork, and plants.

    Digitally declutter

    While we all unwind in different ways, there seems to be consensus that digital devices hinder the process. Consider performing a digital declutter of your bedroom, removing everything from televisions to digital clock radios. You may still need to set an alarm to wake up, but if you use your cell phone’s alarm with the ringer turned off, you won’t really need another alarm clock. Try to ban computers from the master bedroom entirely. If you really want to watch TV in bed, invest in an armoire with doors that close so you don’t have to look at it when it’s not in use.

    Consider investing in a four-poster bed or an upholstered headboard

    Regardless of your decorating style, there are four-poster beds that can work in both modern and traditional bedrooms. Whether you choose to add curtains or not, a four-poster gives you a visual sense of isolation that makes the bed seem like a sanctuary.

    If you read in bed, an upholstered headboard can make a world of difference to your comfort, too.

    Follow the rule of threes

    Keep decorative items to a minimum in your master bedroom and follow the rule of threes. Dresser and nightstand tops can easily become very cluttered. If you love pottery or glassware, collect three different pieces and arrange them on a dresser. Bonus points if the decorative items are also functional—small jars in which you can stash earrings, tie pins, or loose change, seagrass baskets that can hold scarves, or boxes of different materials and materials.

    Green it up

    Plants (and water) are what makes a room an oasis. While you’re not likely to be able to keep a date palm alive in a master bedroom, adding a big plant gives you not only visual interest and a huge shot of green, but the oxygen plants produce at night can help you sleep better. Since you’re probably going to have the curtains or blinds closed most of the time in your master bedroom, consider plants that thrive in low or diffused light, like peace lilies.

    Add a seating area

    Depending on how big your master bedroom is, you may be able to create a seating area with a couple of chairs and a small table, or build a window seat (with storage for extra blankets and pillows, out-of-season clothes, or board games) so you can watch the world go by on rainy days or read a book. If your room isn’t big enough, a blanket box or sturdy storage ottoman at the foot of the bed will work, as will an armless slipper chair in a corner.

    Invest in window coverings that work for you

    You may want to consider investing in both curtains and blinds or heavy lined drapes to keep light out. That goes for natural light and the sun’s tendency to poke through eastern exposures long before you actually want to wake up, as well as street lights whose glare might make getting to sleep harder.

    Splurge on your bed linens

    Good sheets may be the best investment you can make when decorating a master bedroom. Quality cotton sheets won’t pill and they start to feel like silk after multiple washings. Rather than choosing sheets with busy patterns, consider buying only plain colors, sheets with satin stripes, or very small patterns, and save the patterns and textures for your throw pillows, which are meant to be decorative.

    Ultimately, how you choose to decorate a master bedroom is up to you. Now that you’re an adult and “go to your room!” is no longer a punishment, your master bedroom décor should reflect that while ensuring you get the kind of rest you need.

  • Laundry Room Renovation Tips

    The average lifespan of washers and dryers is less than 15 years these days, although your mileage may vary. While no one jumps for joy at the expense and inconvenience involved in replacing major appliances, replacing your washer and dryer is a great incentive to do a laundry room remodel.

    The good news is that by choosing the right new appliances and renovating your laundry room, you can create a space that maps to your workflow. Whether you do laundry on a daily basis or have family laundry marathons once a week, designing a layout that works for you and your family will make this chore less onerous. You’ll also be able to invest in energy-efficient appliances that will save you money over time and may also save you major wear and tear on your clothes.

    Here are some laundry room renovation tips to think about before starting your remodel.

    Upgrade your lighting

    No matter where your laundry room is located, good lighting is almost as important in this area of the home as it is in the kitchen. You can’t pretreat a stain you can’t actually see. This is especially important in basement laundry areas without a lot of natural light.

    With so many lighting options out there, get rid of any fluorescent tubes and harsh lighting that can create shadows and glare. Invest in some ceiling pot lights and make sure you’ve got good lighting over your laundry sink and washer area, since that’s where you really need to see stains that need to be treated before hot water and hot air cause them to set permanently.

    Get some storage systems

    Depending on how you organize family chores, doing laundry may be a centralized or a decentralized chore. Does each member of your family converge on the laundry room with their individual baskets of dirty clothes to do their own laundry? If so, you probably won’t need as much storage space as a family that’s delegated the task to a single person. If dirty clothes are stored in the laundry room before being washed, you’ll need more storage space and some pre-sorting bins to speed up the actual process. Pull-out bins in lower cabinets will help.

    If you have the space, a hanging rack for clothes that may not need much (or any) ironing will let you get on with the necessary folding without letting wrinkles set in freshly washed clothes, creating more work for yourself later on. A drying rack for clothes that can survive machine washing but will shrink in the dryer is a great idea too.

    And of course, an area set aside for ironing in the laundry room is a necessity unless you iron somewhere else. There are lots of space-efficient ironing board over-door systems available now with racks to hold both the board and the iron.

    If you don’t have any cabinets in your laundry room to hide bottles or boxes of laundry detergent, bleach, stain treatments, and dryer sheets and you’re replacing your appliances anyway, invest in under-appliance drawers to store these items. They need to be accessible, but they don’t need to be on display.

    Create the counter space you need

    Front-loading washers are game-changers in many ways. They use less energy and less water, and the fact that they spin rather than agitate means less wear and tear, and therefore longer life, for your clothes. But they are also amazing space savers. If you have enough space to install your washer and dryer side by side rather than stacking them, a two- or three-sided countertop that fits over your washer and dryer gives you a flat surface for folding.

    If space is at a premium and you have to stack your laundry appliances, you can install a folding table that doesn’t take up space or get in the way as you try to get to the washer and dryer.

    Make it pretty

    For those who consider laundry a thankless task, an undecorated, poorly designed space just makes it worse. And for those who actually like doing laundry, why spend time in an ugly room with no redeeming features? Invest in some bold paint or wallpaper or a piece of art that isn’t going to be adversely affected by heat and humidity and give it pride of place on the wall above your appliances or the one you’ll be facing while folding or ironing. Small quilts, handmade rugs and wall hangings that bring you joy are perfect.

    You don’t need to paint or wallpaper the whole room. Think of the area behind your appliances as a feature wall. It’s a small, low-traffic area that can be transformed with a pint of paint and no more than two rolls of wallpaper. And once you’ve finished your laundry room remodel, you may find you don’t hate doing laundry anymore.

  • Chic and Classy Ways to Keep Your Dining Room a Comfortable Yet Beautiful Gathering Place

    The dining room as a family gathering place has been challenged in recent years as we lead busier lives. Sunday dinners featuring a roast shared with extended family are mostly long gone/nostalgic. Projects like Harvard’s The Family Dinner Project emphasize the need for families and communities to schedule regular times to share meals.

    If your dining room is the most underutilized space in your home, you may need some dining room inspiration to help you reclaim it. Whether you have dinner together as a family seven nights a week or can only manage a regular Sunday brunch, scheduling time to break bread with family and friends is important. Discover five decorating ideas to ensure your communal meals are held in a place that’s not only comfortable but beautiful.

    Dining room with mismatched chairs
    Dining room with mismatched chairs

    1. Mismatched dining chairs

    One of the biggest trends in home decor is dining chairs that don’t match. Introducing an eclectic component to your decorating scheme can have many benefits, including heightening the sense of individuality and belonging in what is often the most formal room in a home.

    Additionally, if different chairs really don’t appeal to you, modify the concept by painting identical wooden chairs different colors (just like color-coding family toothbrushes). Or, you can choose a series of complementary fabrics in colors that match your decorating scheme to reupholster the seats. It’s the same idea as throw pillows: not too focused on matching, but with a unifying color theme.

    Dining room with modern LED Lighting fixture
    Dining room with modern LED Lighting fixture

    2. New lighting

    There are so many beautiful and energy-efficient lighting fixtures available today that there’s no excuse to settle for something you don’t love. Changing an overhead light and installing a dimmer switch is one of the easiest and cheapest home renovations you can make. Good, adjustable lighting will dramatically increase your comfort.

    Lighting trends for 2019 include wicker and other natural fibers to add texture, asymmetry and even avant-garde shapes. If you’ve got a long, narrow dining room and rectangular furniture, add some curves with a few pendant lights that spotlight the head and foot of the table.

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