One Simple Decor Trick to Bring a Room to Life
Call this part three of the Bless’er House Confessions (ya know…besides admitting to a bookworm life and America’s Next Top Model binge days), but seasonal decorating isn’t my thing.
I get completely giddy decorating a room when planning fabrics and paint colors, but decorating for every change in the weather? Ain’t happenin’.
At Christmas, we go crazy festive with it, but with all of the other holidays and seasons, I’m not big on using lots of bunnies around the house at Easter or beachy coastal themes during the summer. I love seeing it done, but I can never keep up.
So when I decorated our dining room for summer over the weekend, I made it a one and done deal. No seasonal theme, just simple that could easily transition year-round.
Up until this point, our dining room was looking a little bland. I love me some neutrals, but there’s always that fine line between calm and inviting or just boring vanilla.
Whenever you feel like a space in your house needs a perk, put greenery anywhere you can. Lots of it. And poof! A room comes to life.
Lots of green leaves paired with rough, reclaimed wood makes a space feel like home in my book.
A sweet friend of ours gave us these old wooden shutters recently that were just lying around in her garage. Aren’t they beautiful?
I’ve come to terms with the fact around here that I can only keep one thing alive in this house, either our child or the plants. We’re pretty fond of our silly kid, so the plants have no hope at all.
I love using dried greenery every chance I get because thankfully, I can’t kill them.
That dried eucalyptus wreath I found at Target gives those wooden shutters the punch of color they need.
I picked up those three faux plants from Ikea that are chilling out in my repurposed shelf turned vintage crate.
And that little dried boxwood was a Marshall’s find over a year ago. I want 5 more of those little guys because it shows up everywhere in our house. That basket is well traveled.
Without all of that green going on, the rope chandelier, dining chairs, and buffet cabinet look a bit lonely.
We still have so much more we want to do to this little room, and Robert and I still talk about switching up the space entirely to make it more kid-friendly. We’ll see. But for now, I love having this fresh set up for summer.
If you have a room that’s feeling lifeless, find a few plants to give it some oomph. You’ll be amazed. Really.
And if you have a black thumb like me, I feel your pain.
Okay okay, Confession Part 4, my herb garden that I posted two weeks ago is already close to being dead. But hey, our two year-old is alive and happy. #winning
Are you a seasonal decorator? Or a simple year-round gal like me? Or maybe a #winning parent with dead plants?
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Great article, lauren! Sometimes it’s the simple things that make the most positive impact. Thanks for sharing and welcome to Knock on Wood to see some stuff.
I am so glad you enjoy the post. Thank you!!
Very, very pretty. ty for so many good ideas.
We have a space issue at our house and your coffee mug tree caught my eye. Found some but all were too small. As Goldilocks would say – the one at your house looks ‘just right’. Can you provide me with the name of the store?
Rally look forward to your blog. lyn
Thank you, Lyn! So glad you’re enjoying it! I found my mug tree at World Market last year. I like the size of it too.
Looks great, Lauren! Target has the best wreaths…I love their small boxwood wreaths, especially at Christmas, but they are almost always sold out. Love yours. Thanks for linking up at the Pretty Preppy Party!
Ooh! I’ll have to be on the lookout for the small boxwoods. I don’t think I’ve seen those. Thanks, Christy!
Oh this is simply stunning! I just love everything you do. And I am totally with you, I never decorate for holidays except Christmas! It takes me too long to even finish a room in the house in general!
Thanks so much, Taryn! I absolutely love everything you do too. And I know exactly what you mean. I have a hard enough time keeping up with the home improvement projects. Our house is usually a disaster zone 90% of the time. Seasonal stuff just adds to my clutter. π
This cracked me up! I can’t keep plants alive inside the house no matter how hard I try. I’m loving greenery now too, and your dining room looks lovely!
Haha Just keepin’ it real. π Thanks so much, Teresa!
Love the look of those shutters! So beautiful with the green!
Thank you, Becky! I’m loving it too.
You’re spot on with this one! I’m a neutral girl too and I think adding greenery completely pulls a room together. Considering I just took my fall wreath off my front door last week, I have to admit I’m not a big seasonal decorator. Not because I don’t want to, I just don’t have the time for it right now. Maybe when my kids are older :).
I know exactly what you mean, Amy. When my kid can fend for herself a bit more in a few years, then maybe MAYBE I’ll be more into the seasonal thing. That is too funny about your wreath. Haha!
WOW! Such a helpful and doable post…you have a stunning blog! Thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you, Janelle! π
I also don’t do seasonal decorating, I can’t afford it nor do I have a place to store it, and I don’t want the extra chore. Plus I don’t like clutter. I did a wreath for a while for holidays and seasons, and lately I haven’t been motivated to do that. You just have to re-do it and put it away.
I went to Target after this post and wow are those wreaths EXPENSIVE. I only bought one branch of manzanita leaves for $9.99 to put on the fireplace mantle. Too high for this girl.
I’m totally with you on the storage thing. There’s only so much our little storage loft in our garage can handle. For the Target wreath, I bought mine during a spring sale, so it was much cheaper. Paying retail is for the birds!
Such a gorgeous room! I love how you are using those shutters! The greenery definitely perks up the room!
Jill
http://www.dousedinpink.com
Thanks, Jill! Greenery is magical stuff. π
This is GORGEOUS! I love love love the combination of the shutters and the green. I’m always looking for cute ways to use shutters and might have to steal this! Thanks for sharing!
Steal away, Lauren! I always love that combo too. π
Glad your two year old is alive and well! Too funny. Love those shutters Lauren. Great find on that wreath from Target, so pretty. I love using green to freshen up spaces. It is my favorite color…well, besides aqua.
Yes! Greenery and aqua are my two faves too! π I have Duck Egg Blue on so many things in our house. Thanks for the love, Michelle.
Don’t you just love faux plants? They are so easy. They don’t die on you, they don’t frown when it’s too hot, and they never complain when you forget to water them for … days on end. π
“They don’t frown when it’s too hot.” Haha! That’s cute. Yep, faux all the way! When the little is old enough to feed herself, maybe there will be more hope for real ones.
I love shutters and every time I go into Habitat ReStore I want to buy some but never know quite what to do with them. Thanks for the idea. I have big rooms that need big wall decor. And about the Herb project, don’t feel bad about killing your herbs. I consider myself a pretty green thumb and I can not get them to last past a few months. I think they need to be planted outside so their little roots have more room to grow. Thanks for your inspiration!
Thanks Linda! I’ve seen them made into wall shelves too, and I thought that was pretty cool. Hopefully you find some next time you visit the Restore. I never see any in my area. Thanks for the reassurance with my lack of gardening skills too. π I think mine needed more sunshine and bigger pots…maybe one day I’ll learn.
I’m with you…not much in my house changes during the year, unless it’s Christmas or there is a big reno going on…glad to know I’m not the only one that can’t keep up with seasonal decorating!!
Simply not possible to do it all. π I’m glad I’m not the only one too.
I once could not keep a houseplant alive. I finally googled a list of houseplants that clean the air and went looking for which ones were easy to keep alive. I now have five that I’ve kept alive over a year. They each need watering just once a week. That I can remember! π And the three kids are still alive also.
Thanks for the tip! I need to look into that. Good to know your kids are still alive. Five plants and three kids? You’re Wonder Woman. π
Looks fab! Greenery really does perk a neutral room up and looks appropriate throughout the year. Love, love, love the look of those old shutters against the wall. Your room has totally come together!
Thanks, Jamie! You know I love your style so that means a lot coming from you. π
Hey Lauren,
Love, love, love the old shutters and how you used them in your dining room! They made a huge statement in your decor, with the greenery. I’m a seasonal decorator, somewhat…not like bunnies, chicks & ghosts, but more so using colors and natural elements, as well as things I already have on hand. Thanks for sharing!
Lanita
Thanks, Lanita! I know exactly what you mean. I love using the natural elements of the seasons but never am drawn to the figurines and store-bought stuff as much. I’d rather just walk around with gardening sheers, bring my clippings inside, and call it a day. π
I love those shutters and all the greens Lauren! I’m the same…I need me some everywhere…not a beachy decorator. I can do a bunny, but get me some topiaries and I am a happy lady!
Oh topiaries all the way! Those are my fave too. Thanks, Deb! π