Tag Archives: decorating

May7

Affordable Upgrades To Create A Relaxing Home Environment

Posted on May 7, 2023 by lifewithlilred

With the fast-paced nature of our world today, creating a calm and relaxing home environment is more critical than ever. Your living space should be a sanctuary where you can unwind, recharge, and be at peace. Let’s explore some affordable upgrades that can help you transform your home into a calming oasis:

Lighting:

The right lighting can have a significant impact on your mood and create a calming atmosphere in your home. Try swapping out harsh, fluorescent bulbs for soft, warm-toned ones, like yellow or orange. You can also incorporate string lights or candles to enhance the ambiance and provide a warm, cozy feel. Lighting dimmers are also an affordable and easy upgrade that can help set the mood. Simply adjust the light to your desired level for a gentle, inviting atmosphere.

Declutter:

Clutter can cause stress and anxiety, so take a few moments to declutter your home. Donate or sell things you no longer need and create storage systems to organize what’s left. Tidying up can help promote a sense of calm as you remove excess items and create an organized, relaxing space. You can also use baskets or decorative boxes to store things away without sacrificing your home’s aesthetic.

Color:

Color can have a significant impact on your mood, so think about which hues create the most calming environment for you. Light blues and greens can be soothing, while oranges and yellows evoke feelings of warmth and happiness. Choose colors that make you feel relaxed and at peace, then incorporate them into your living space. This can be as simple as adding a few colorful pillows or painting an accent wall for an easy refresh.

Aromatherapy:

Scents like lavender, vanilla, and eucalyptus have soothing properties that can help you relax and reduce stress. Consider incorporating aromatherapy into your home by using essential oils, candles, or diffusers. You’ll be amazed at how much a simple scent can transform your living space! You can also combine aromatherapy with soft lighting to create an even more calming effect.

Art:

Art can have a significant impact on the atmosphere in your home, whether it’s a painting, photograph, or sculpture. Choose pieces that bring you joy or have a calming energy to them. You can also add texture to your walls with tapestries or decorative fabrics – the possibilities are endless!

Biophilic Design Elements:

Biophilic design is an interior design concept that emphasizes the connection between humans and nature. This will help to create a calming atmosphere by bringing the outdoors inside. You can create a biophilic home by following these tips:

Invest in a living wall:

A living wall is an easy and affordable way to bring nature indoors. It can be as simple or complex as you want, with a variety of plants that suit your needs. You can also opt for moss walls that are easy to maintain and look beautiful.

Add natural materials:

Natural materials like wood, stone, and clay can provide a tactile element to your home and enhance its calming aesthetic. Try adding baskets woven from seagrass or wooden furniture for a rustic feel.

Bring in natural light:

Nothing says relaxation like natural sunlight pouring into your home! Open up curtains and blinds to let the sun shine through and create a pleasant and inviting atmosphere.

Add water elements:

Adding a water feature like a fountain or waterfall can help create a sense of tranquility and relaxation. The sound of running water will lull you into a calm state, perfect for unwinding after a long day.

Creating a calm and relaxing home environment doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Take the time to invest in yourself by creating a sanctuary that is uniquely yours – one where you can relax and recharge!

Apr29

Better Design Your Family Home With These Tips

Posted on April 29, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Better Design Your Family Home With These Tips

When it comes to designing a family home, you want to get it just right! There will be many different things that you need to take into consideration, one of them being the safety of your kids. You shouldn’t buy things for your home that are risky to them like breakable vases or sharp corners. If you are looking to design the perfect home for your family, this post will help get you started:

Add Plenty Of Textiles:

A family home won’t feel like home unless you add in some textiles. You should think about including curtains, cushions, and throws in most rooms in a range of materials so you can create a warm and inviting space. Steer clear of natural materials as these can soak up stains and that’s not what you want with children in the house. Try not to add expensive rugs or sentimental soft furnishing in the main rooms where the kids are because no matter how hard you try, something will always get spilled!

Think About The Maintenance:

One of the best ways you can look after your family home is to think about the maintenance that will be needed when you are designing it. For example, if you are adding an AC system, you need to remember that you will need to add AC maintenance to your yearly list of tasks to get done in order to look after your home. The same applies to things such as your outdoor space. Always think about what it will take to look after the features you are adding to your home before you commit to them.

The Ideal Furniture:

Finding furniture for your family home can be difficult. You want it to look great, however, you don’t really want to spend too much on it. As your family gets older, you will be able to upgrade and buy more expensive pieces, but there is no point while the kids are young. The same applies if you also have pets. Try to avoid any jagged edges and lighter colors. Young children are prone to walking into sharp edges and making a mess on light-colored furniture.

Using Non-Slip Mats:

If you have hard floors around your home, then you should really think about adding some non-slip mats. They will help to prevent slipping from your children. They run around a lot so you need to make sure you add some protection for them. If not, hard floors can spell disaster and they could seriously injure themselves. Make sure to try to cover as much of the floor as possible, non-slip mats aren’t overly expensive and they will make sure your kids are kept safe.

Bring In The Sunlight:

You really want to bring in as much sunlight as possible to your home. If you blackout your windows or dress them wrong you could be creating a dark home. Ideally, you want to create a bright and airy space to enjoy. It will not only create a more positive environment but will boost everyone’s moods. With energy prices continuously going up at the moment, letting in natural sunlight will also help to heat up your home. If you struggle to get more light into your home, think about adding blinds where you can control both the privacy and the light coming in. You could also think about changing the type of bulbs you are using so you can get the vitamin D that you need.

Creating More Privacy:

Your home is supposed to be the most private place that you can be. This means that you definitely don’t want anyone to be able to walk past and see inside. Think about adding some trees to your front garden, or even a fence or trellis. You are only going to feel comfortable in your home if it is private so make sure you put the steps in place to ensure that you get the privacy that you and your family need. If you are thinking about planting trees, make sure you use semi-mature trees so you don’t have to wait years for them to give you the privacy that you are looking for. Consider the point above, about letting in more sunlight to your home. You need to ensure that the trees or fences that you are putting in aren’t preventing the natural light from entering your home. It’s about the right balance.

When designing a family home, it is all about the steps you can take to keep your kids safe, cut costs, and keep upkeep and maintenance low key. These tips will all help steer you in the right direction!

Featured Image By: Paige Cody on Unsplash

Mar27

Let The Light Shine In Your Home

Posted on March 27, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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If your home feels dark and cramped, you may be interested in learning how to achieve a brighter, airier look. This can be done by doing some simple decorating and home improvements. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Paint the walls a lighter color:

Painting the walls a lighter color is an easy and effective way to brighten up and air out your home. Lighter colors such as white, pale gray, and taupe give rooms a feeling of spaciousness, while deeper colors can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. To maximize the light reflection in any room, opt for glossy paint finishes instead of flat or matte paints. Additionally, using a semi-gloss finish on the trim around doors and windows will help to enhance the brightness of the space.

For maximum impact, consider painting just one wall in an accent hue to create visual interest without overwhelming the room. When selecting lighter colors, it’s important to look at sample chips in different lighting conditions throughout the day so that you’re confident that they will work with your existing decor. With a few simple changes like these you can easily achieve an airier home with plenty of light.

Install some bigger windows:

Installing larger windows or increasing the existing window sizes can significantly brighten up a space. Natural light is key to achieving an airy feel and making small spaces appear bigger. When selecting new windows for the window company to install, opt for designs that have multiple panes of glass, as this will help to maximize sunlight in your home while also helping to trap warm air during the cooler months. You could also consider installing some skylights, as they’ll provide more natural light and add character to any room.

Add more lighting fixtures:

Adding additional overhead lights is another way to bring much-needed illumination into the dark corners of a room. Consider replacing old light fixtures with modern ones that direct the light downwards for maximum brightness without being too stark or overwhelming the space. Installing dimmers is also a great way to conserve energy while allowing you to adjust the lighting in each room depending on how much light you need at any given time.

Hang some mirrors:

Mirrors are great for reflecting light around a room and making it feel more spacious. Place one near a window to make the most of natural sunlight and to help create an airy ambiance in any room. Alternatively, group several small mirrors together on a wall for maximum reflection and visual impact.

These simple tips can help you achieve a brighter, airier home with minimal effort. But if you want to go the extra mile, consider adding indoor plants or nature-inspired art pieces that will bring life and energy into your living space while adding color and texture to your decor. With these few changes, you’ll be able to enjoy the bright, open atmosphere of your newly refreshed home in no time!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar14

Modernize Your Home With These Tips

Posted on March 14, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Do you have a smaller home and feel like it doesn’t look as stylish as it could? A lot of this could come down to your lack of floor space. Interior designers are always looking to turn petite homes into stylish spaces, and there are a number of tricks that you can adopt to try and make a positive change. Want to find out more? Let’s get started:

Draw a Scale Plan:

Even if you have a large home, you still need to make sure that you plan everything out before you start the design process. You have to know what space you are working with so you can then sketch out every room. This will help you to see the size and the shape of what you have before you go ahead and make changes. You don’t want to find out the couch you ordered is way too big when it’s being installed!

Use Earthy Tones in Smaller Rooms:

Neutral earth tones tend to have a knack for making a small space look way bigger than it is. The great thing about earth tones is that they are contemporary and they can make your room look modern too. If you want to do something about the space you have, then it is helpful to make sure that the ceiling and the trim are lighter than the walls. You can also replace the windows in the room if you want to let way more natural light in. Look up local energy efficient windows if you want to know more.

Vivid Colors Are Great for Adding Personality:

Modern homes are not just about neutral colors. If you want to add a lot of style and personality to your smaller home, then make sure that you are incorporating bright and vivid shades. This will help to draw the eye; if people are looking at a chair that is bright blue, then they probably won’t be paying much attention to how big or how small the room is.

Indoor Garden:

Indoor gardens are very popular and you would be surprised at how much you can use them to your advantage. You only need a very small amount of space to work with, such as under your stairs. You can then transform this and make a contemporary statement as a result.

Don’t Overlook the Kitchen:

The kitchen is the heart of the home. If you want your home to be more modern, pay special attention to this room. Brushed metal and even industrial tones work well together and they are ideal if you want to get that functional look. If you aren’t quite sure how to get the result you want out of your kitchen, look up inspiration online. When you are good and inspired, you will soon find that it is easier to work with the space you have.

Whether your home is big or small, it is only as stylish as you make it. Use the tips above to get started today!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan23

Halloween Pop Up Tree

Posted on January 23, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past holiday season, my client’s mom offered my family her pop up Christmas tree to use since we didn’t put one up. She also learned that Johnny and I didn’t have a tree, either, but if we ever got one then, of course, it had to be black. As a bonus Christmas gift, I was surprised once again by her generosity because Johnny and I got the Christmas or should I say Halloween tree of our dreams! Check it out:

^^^ Lol, please don’t mind our corral of bunny supplies in the background!

When I originally brought the borrowed pop up tree to my family home, I had no idea what it entailed because I had never heard of it before! It is, however, exactly what you would think it would be and is so very cool. A pop up tree is basically a base, poles, and a “tree” to place over them. The Christmas pop up tree that we used was five feet tall and came pre-decorated with ornaments, ribbons, and lights. Similarly, our Halloween tree came pre-lit and adorned with glittery pumpkins. 😀

It took me less than two minutes to assemble the tree and I couldn’t believe its perfection. Everything about it is just right for me and Johnny. The narrow size is also ideal for our apartment setting and we will be able to put it anywhere without taking up too much space. Every year for Christmas, Johnny’s mom gifts us with a couple of ornaments apiece and they have all been sitting on our knick knack shelves. Now, we finally have a tree of our own to decorate and I can’t wait to dress it up with our fairly extensive ornament collection!

I am obsessed with my Halloween Pop Up Tree and am so appreciative to my client’s mom for the amazing gift. And, yes, just like all of our other Halloween gear, the tree will be staying up all year round!

Do you use real or artificial Christmas trees? What is your favorite Christmas ornament? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct23

Sweet Surprises: Spooky Decor Edition

Posted on October 23, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Whenever Johnny and I are running errands individually, we always seem to come home with a little treat for each other without fail. This has especially rang true throughout late September and the entire month of October because it is spooky season, baby! In our bigger apartment, it has been impossible to say no to all kinds of Halloween decor to deck our place out in. Thanks to Johnny stopping into Walgreen’s, we now have these new additions to our collection:

Halloween is a state of mind and Johnny and I live in that mindset year round. Constantly watching scary movies, wearing spooky sweaters, and having a huge decor collection also really helps the cause! We have been living our best lives this October between date days, movie marathons, and all of the Halloween shopping. I suspect we will also be living our best lives in early November when all of the candy and decorations are on sale! 😀

It has been a rough few weeks in Lil Red’s world and Johnny always knows how to cheer me up. Sometimes it’s just turning on one of my favorite shows or, in this case, returning home with some surprises! We have yet to hang up the Prisoner Of Azkaban wiggle picture but I literally gasped when I saw the skeleton couple on their boat. The best part? It lights up! Its new home is on top of one of our book shelves and it makes a perfect little nightlight now that it is getting so dark early in the evening. I think the resemblance of me and Johnny is uncanny. ❤

As Halloween draws closer, it is becoming impossible to contain the excitement! Keep it posted on lifewithlilred for more scary good content including some must see horror flicks and my plans for the ultimate movie night on Halloween weekend!

What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? What is your favorite store to shop at for seasonal decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct7

So Luxe: Hotel Vibes In Your Own Home

Posted on October 7, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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There are a lot of reasons why you might want to make your home look more like a hotel. Hotels have this feeling of luxury and comfort, which is likely to be something that you would appreciate in your home too. So if you’re wondering how to make this a reality for your home, how are you going to achieve that? Let’s find out:

Deep Clean All Surfaces:

One thing that hotels do a lot is thoroughly deep clean every surface that you can see, as well as those you can’t. This requires hard work and constant diligence, but it is the kind of thing that you should think about doing if you are going to make your home more hotel-like. There are many surfaces that you need to think about here, including all of the counters and tabletops, and these should definitely be cleaned on a regular basis if possible. You should also make sure to get some professional carpet cleaning carried out occasionally and consider doing the same for all the upholstery too.

^^^ Pexels Image

Upgrade Your Lighting:

For your home to be more like a hotel, you will want to opt for show-stopping lighting which is at once sophisticated and elegant, as that is going to produce the right vibe every time. You should also consider some soft and gentle lighting for focal areas in rooms, as you might find in hotel rooms. This lends a certain calmness to rooms that are all about relaxing. Good lighting can really make a world of difference.

Use Symmetry:

If you look at the room layouts of many of the best hotels, you will notice that there is often a definite symmetry to them. This doesn’t have to be an absolute rule all of the time. However, if you do make some use of symmetry in a clever way, you are going to find that your home looks a lot more like a hotel and much more interesting and stylish for it too.

There is also something to be said for a little tasteful asymmetry, and if you can marry these two together in the right way you might be surprised at how much it can work. You can achieve both of these ends by simply moving furniture around or remodeling a room if you are keen to make a huge difference.

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Be Wary Of Clutter:

A hotel would not have any clutter whatsoever so it might be time for an overhaul of unneeded items in your home. This is especially great to do during changes in the season to give your home a breath of freshness. Make use of clever storage options for things that can’t be parted with and donate and recycle the rest. And, do try to keep the clutter from returning!

The Bed:

Finally, remember that the most important thing of all for a hotel is the bed. The more comfortable and luxurious this is, the better. Treat yourself to a good quality bed frame and mattress. Don’t forget some great linen, throw pillows, and plush blankets too. This alone is going to make your home a lot more luxurious in no time at all.

Who needs a five star hotel when you can have a five star home, instead? No room key required!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct3

Revamp Your Yard For Spooky Season

Posted on October 3, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Spooky season is in full swing and what better way to pay homage to the best time of the year than in your own yard?! Sure, your house might be full of Halloween decor like mine but the outside is just as important to set all of the vibes come trick-or-treat night. At least, I sure think so, especially because I so wish that I had a yard to decorate! Let’s look at some fun projects to revamp your yard just in time for Halloween:

Decor Galore:

How cool would it be to have a front yard filled with twinkling orange lights, fake bats hanging from the trees, and zombies poking up from the ground? While you don’t have to go crazy with giant inflatables or twenty foot skeletons, a little decor goes a long way. Fake cobwebs, home made jack-o-lanterns, and makeshift ghosts in the trees works just as well!

Better yet, so many of the DIY aspects of Halloween decorating can be done as a family. You could make a bunch of creepy spiders by tracing your hands on cardboard or silly ghosts by sticking your feet in some paint. And, of course, there’s nothing better than a pumpkin carving night while watching all of your favorite scary flicks.

Autumnal Landscaping:

Mum is the word and you can purchase tons of glorious flowers to add some colorful cheer during the day. This is also another great activity to do as a family, perhaps by making a trip to your local pumpkin patch for some potted flowers? What’s more, you could paint jack-o-lantern faces on them for all of the fun of pumpkin carving without the pulpy mess!

Don’t forget to make the most of all of the fallen leaves adorning your yard too. They could easily be turned into garlands to hang around your door or porch railing. Add some fake cobwebs and you can’t go wrong. Or, just have a leaf jumping competition and warm up with some hot chocolate afterwards.

If you’re crunched for time or have no green thumb to be found (And, no, Frankenstein green paint on your hands doesn’t count!), then you could hire a reliable landscaping company that delivers great results. You can even consult with them to turn your yard into the ultimate autumn oasis.

Trick-Or-Treat Tips:

Arguably one of the most fun parts of Halloween is seeing all of the adorable costumes come trick-or-treat night. Rather than answering a ringing doorbell all evening, how about setting up shop outside? My husband and I plan on doing this in my parent’s neighborhood! We will have a crackling fire and the Monster Mash playing on repeat, obviously.

You don’t have to stop there, though! You could host a neighborhood costume contest or set up a scavenger hunt in your freshly decorated yard. Expertly placed pine cones, mini pumpkins, and fake spiders could all be things to find. The prize? Extra candy! If you don’t have a fire pit, be sure to place lots of twinkling or floodlights around your property so everyone can find their way!

One of my favorite things about spooky season is all of the great outdoor decorations. Turn your yard into one that would make me stop and stare and have the best time!

Oct1

Mini Halloween Haul

Posted on October 1, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! It is spooky season all year long in mine and Johnny’s world and the decor in our apartment reflects this. We love all things horror and true crime and Halloween is the happiest time of the year for us. Now that we are settled comfortably in our new apartment, we really wanted to upgrade our spooky decor since we have so much more additional space.

After a wildly successful haul at Marc’s, a discount store in my neck of the woods, I was itching to go back. I got all kinds of cool Halloween goodies and the best part was seeing the same items I purchased at Walgreen’s for triple the cost. The haul below costed me a whole ten bucks at Marc’s and from the Akron Zoo when I went with my nieces and sister. You can peep the OOTD from our outing tomorrow! Now, let’s take a look-see at my new Halloween treats – no tricks necessary!

^^^ The little ghost and pumpkin are from the zoo, the rest is from Marc’s.

My Johnny has a huge collection of Halloween themed socks and he actually just bought a ton more from TJMaxx when we went last week. I was so proud! I’d be a liar if I said that I wasn’t a tad jealous so I was so happy to find some socks of my own at Marc’s. They are also the same brand of the Frankenstein socks that Johnny surprised me with last year and that I’m currently wearing right now! While my collection will never achieve Johnny level, it’s a pretty good start. 😀

The skull candles were a whopping two for a dollar and I am obsessed with them. 1) Talk about a STEAL and 2) they will be perfect for our scary movie marathons every weekend! The piece de resistance of my haul, however, is the skeleton hand candle holder. This costed me two dollars and I couldn’t believe my good luck. It reminded me so much of this year’s Bath & Body Works Halloween line and probably would have been selling for twenty or more bucks from there. Talk about an amazing find!

And, finally, who knew you could find some Halloween cuteness at the zoo?! At the Akron Zoo, you have to exit through the gift shop and it’s a total money trap lol. I love spoiling my nieces with a new stuffed animal every time we go, though, so what can ya do except buy a treat for yourself too! Every year, Johnny and I work on instilling a love of Halloween in our oldest niece, Val. It’s definitely working and she picked out the pumpkin for herself. She also plays with the decorations on our spooky shelf whenever she comes over. Proud aunt and uncle alert!! ❤

Not bad for a ten dollar haul, right? Mine and Johnny’s apartment is filling up nicely with Halloween decor and it is what we have always wanted. A local discount store with the coolest spooky treats is really helping the cause!

What is your favorite discount store? Do you have your Halloween decorations out yet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep20

Fun Ways To Personalize Your Home

Posted on September 20, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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If you do not want your home to be like every other one on the block, then there are lots of things you can do to make it more interesting than the average home in your neighborhood. Have some fun with these ideas that people will be sure to take notice of:

Paint the exterior doors:

Painting the exterior doors in a unique color is a good way to really put your stamp on your property and show the world that you are unique. A fuchsia door or an orange porch might not be the norm, but if it’s what you love, then why not go for it?! It will be worth it if it makes you smile and is something that your neighbors will take joy in too.

Create a mosaic:

One of the more unusual things you can do to personalize your home is to create a mosaic either on a wall or floor indoors or to the exterior of your property. You can buy ready made mosaic wall art or make your own and it is a great way to tell your own personal story in an artistic way that is likely to add value to your property too. Decorative and unique, it will look great, add meaning, and impress potential future buyers all in one fell swoop.

Make your own soft furnishings:

A fun way to personalize your property is by making your own soft furnishings such as cushions, quilts, and blankets. Having things that you have made yourself in your home is a really good way of making it feel more like yours. If you are looking for something really special, then why not use transfers to put your own photographs onto cushions and throws? It’s a unique way to display them, and will ensure that no one else has the same decor as you.

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Use washi tape:

Washi tape is basically decorative tape that comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. It can be used to decorate your home in a cute, non-permanent way, and because there are so many designs available, it is an easy way of making your home more personal to you. For example, if you love floral designs, you can line your shelves with poppy print washi tape or if you love gold, you can create gild frames around light switches and other fixtures. It will also only cost you a few dollars to do so!

Buy your favorite flowers:

Buying your favorite flowers, whether they be roses, geraniums, or lilies, and displaying them in every room of your home is an easy and uplifting way to make your property more personal to you. Nothing is better than the scent of fresh cut flowers in your home!

Personalizing your property is a fun way to make it more your own, stand out more, and adds value to potential buyers, so why not try out some of the ideas above today?

Featured Image By: Pexels

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