Tag Archives: decorations

Lil Red’s Art Gallery

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Lil Red’s Art Gallery

Hellooo everyone! One of the last things that I need to do in my apartment is adorn one of my blank walls in my living room with pictures. During a shopping trip to Goodwill last month, I purchased at least ten framed quirky paintings for forty bucks total. All that’s left to do is find a picture hanging kit and have my dad over to help with the process as he promised when I moved in.

I love secondhand shopping and I wanted to show all of you my finds because it’s like a treasure hunt every time you step foot into a Goodwill or thrift shop. But, first, I wanted to share with you two wall arts that are not from a thrift store but are still really pretty and sentimental all the same. Check it out:

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I love both of these pictures so much because they remind me of my clients. The small “home” block was a gift from one of my families after I told them the good news about my apartment. I was so touched by the sweet gesture when I opened the gift bag during my shift the following week. It is simple and pretty and the rustic wooden feel will be just right in my living room with its hardwood flooring and the dark wood paneling on my loft space up above.

The vibrant “welcome” sign was a Party City purchase when I was with another one of my girlies. She loves going to that store and when we saw that picture, we both thought that it would be perfect in my new place. I normally don’t care for pictures with wording on them but I liked how simple both of these were and how they made a statement without saying much of anything. Now, let’s see if I can get them hung up some time this year!

Where do you like to shop for wall art for your home? What is your style when it comes to home decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Welcome To My Crib: My Room Edition

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Welcome To My Crib: My Room Edition

Hi, MTV, and welcome to my crib! It has taken me a while to get a post up about the room where all of the magic doesn’t happen AKA my bedroom. Mainly, this is because my room is dark AF and it took me two weeks of being moved in to decide to assemble the lamp that I got to brighten things up. Lol, WHOOPS. Anyways, you guys have seen the amazing walk in closet that my room offers but you haven’t seen the rest – so take a look:

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Even with all of the lights on in my room and a huge skylight looking over it, it is still pretty dark so I am open to suggestions on how to fix that problem! But, other than that, I am in love with my loft space and the big open bedroom that it created. Obviously, the walk in closet is my favorite part but it’s so nice to have a large room to sprawl out in.

And, this includes my bed! Because I ball on a budget, I refused to buy a bigger bed. Rather, I just put the two twin ones from my family home together to make an ultimate mega bed. Surprisingly comfy and insanely roomy, there is nothing better than tucking myself into it every night!

Again, because I ball on a budget, almost all of the furniture in my room is from the family home. However, I purchased the gorgeous vanity, stool, and full length mirror from Abbey Ann’s along with my living room furniture. (PS: If you have a vanity but don’t have a matching stool, you could consider purchasing some classroom stools and customizing them as a cool DIY!) I have yet to do my makeup in front of the vanity like I intended because bad lighting but I still love it so much. And, I have always wanted a full length mirror like the one I purchased so they were both an amazing secondhand find. :’)

I am really proud of how my apartment is coming together and I am so happy that I got to share my Moving On Up journey with all of you. Thanks for reading!

How do you create good lighting in a dark space? How is your bedroom decorated? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Home Decor Tricks To Help You Relax In 2019

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Home Decor Tricks To Help You Relax In 2019

Whether you want to do a major overhaul of your home or just a simple design update, these easy and practical decor ideas are perfect this 2019 to add a relaxing esthetic to your space:

Add Natural Elements:

In today’s world, we’re constantly facing our computers and mobile devices so it would be nice to come home to a place with naturally relaxing elements. Even if you regularly take a walk in nature, it’s always good to have a touch of green around you. You can add houseplants and flowers in your urban home to incorporate nature and art pieces that feature the great outdoors or animals. Additionally, be sure to browse for decorative accessories that have earthy touches and are made up of soothing, natural colors like taupe, chocolate, and green. Wood furniture is also a great idea to make your home feel like an escape from our tech-obsessed world.

Use Furniture as Functional Decorations:

Speaking of furniture, it’s always smart and practical to choose pieces that can also serve as home decor. It’s a great way to save space and also make your home more interesting both for you and your guests. Pick a bookshelf with a material that complements your wall and flooring. Wood almost always goes well with anything but you can be more creative with modern-themed homes.

One of the best things you can add to your home this year is a mini wine fridge which can go in your kitchen, dining area, or your living room. Some wine coolers can be installed as part of an entire counter and some can stand alone and still add quite a statement in the room. You can keep your favorite wine bottles chilled at perfect conditions so you can offer them to your guests or have a glass yourself anytime you feel like it. Feeling relaxed now?

Reinvent Your Walls:

If you’re bored with your surroundings, adding some life into your walls can always make things more interesting. You can place a large-scale art piece in one area like an oversized painting or photograph. It can be a black and white photo if you want to be minimalist in your design or a vibrant abstract piece to energize the room. In other areas, you can also create a gallery wall, filled with photos from places you’ve traveled or interesting people you’ve met. Showcase a fabric on top of your bed’s headboard. This can be a tapestry or wall hanging with patterns which can add a sense of softness into the space.

Of course, wall art isn’t the only way to reinvent your walls. How about using books?! If you are interested in learning how to create a dark academia home the best place to start is with books. This could be with floating shelves, built in shelves, or shelving units that vary in height and size. A dark academia home is the ultimate in comfort as it invokes the feeling of cozying up in a leather armchair with a good book. Search for unique colors and binding for your books to add pops of visual interest for the best results.

Maximize Lighting:

Adding mirrors around your home is an old trick that works all of the time. It adds the effect of a larger space because the mirrors reflect light and spread it across the room. Another way to add more natural light is to open your windows or choose light curtains. Maximizing natural light in your home has a general positive effect both in your mind and body. It helps you relax easily and it also conditions your body to get to sleep when the sun goes down.

These are just a few cool decor tricks that you can do to make your home a more suitable place for rest and relaxation. So kick back and unwind in your newly decorated relaxation station!

Six Improvements To Make In Your Home

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Six Improvements To Make In Your Home

If you’ve lived in your home for a while, it can sometimes get a little boring having the same furniture and features that you’ve had for years. With general wear and tear, there are improvements that you might look to make when you have the budget and time to do it. So with that in mind, here are six improvements to make to your home:

Reinvent A Room:

Depending on how many rooms are in your property, you may have one or two spaces that are empty or are currently a storage space for extra bits and pieces that don’t have a home. This might be a great opportunity to reinvent a room and turn it into something that could be useful. When clearing out the room, try to declutter as much as possible. Then, look at the size of the space and figure out what might work well. Perhaps a walk in wardrobe or maybe a mini cinema room!

Improve Outdoor Space:

Outdoor space, unless you consider yourself a keen gardener, will often get ignored. It might be that the garden is too high maintenance or you’ve not invested any time or attention into doing it up. No one wants to spend their time in a space that might be messy or ugly to look at. So if you’re looking for ideas to improve your outdoor space, here are a few suggestions:

Be Bold With Color – When it comes to your garden, you can go crazy with color. The brighter the colors, the more appealing the space will look to you and your guests. Also, having a variety of plants and flowers will attract more wildlife.

Install A Pond – A pond is another feature that attracts wildlife and it also feels like you’re giving your outdoor area some extra luxury. When making a pond, make sure to dig the right size and in an area that is easily visible. Make sure the base of the pond and the sides are well sealed before filling it in with water. Add a variety of fish friends, too!

Add Levels And Different Materials – Adding levels and using different materials is what gives your garden space that wow factor. It’ll make your guests think that you’ve really put some effort into the space. Think about using more than just grass, perhaps marble, stones, and bark. Add decking for levels and hire patios builders to help with the more complex work.

Update Your Bathroom:

The bathroom can end up becoming a little dated, especially if you haven’t done anything since you moved. If you can’t renovate the bathroom fully, then start with the smaller items and work your way up. Tiling and painting can help dramatically transform it and adding new taps, a more modern toilet, and a rainfall shower can be the slightly bigger buys later on down the line. Make sure that the room is well ventilated and that you accessorize it with soft furnishings that match the theme of your bathroom.

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Pexels Image

Rearrange The Furniture:

Improvements don’t need to cost a thing, you can simply rearrange the furniture. When you first moved into your property, you will have likely put everything where you first thought it could go. Now is an opportunity to change up the space a little and rearranging the furniture can make a big improvement without spending any money. Start on each room individually and try changing the position of the biggest piece of furniture. If that’s not possible, then look at moving the smaller pieces of furniture and seeing if that makes any difference. To finish it off, replace or update your soft furnishings, and it’ll feel like stepping into a new room.

Renovate Your Kitchen:

Kitchen renovations are sometimes necessary as it’s one of the most used places in your home. Therefore, the wear and tear will be clear on most of your appliances, particularly your everyday essentials like the kettle and oven. Kitchen cabinets are also the first things to fall off their hinges. Kitchen renovations are expensive but well worth the investment. It might also be financially beneficial to get it done if it needs doing as it can add value to your property if you sell it at any point in the future. Even if you start with replacing or painting the cabinets, that’ll make a difference. To begin your kitchen renovation, simply enter a search for “Queens kitchen renovations” (or your local area). The professionals you choose will be able to work with your vision while using their own expertise for an end result that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Insulate Your Property:

Insulation is important to your property, especially during the colder months. Overall, it helps to keep the heat in and the cold out. This can also save you a lot of money further down the line as you’re likely to save on energy because of it. So, to insulate your property, make sure your windows are either double or triple glazed. Insulate them with heavier blinds or curtains. Darker colors are going to attract sunlight which should, in turn, make your rooms a lot warmer. Insulation doesn’t need to be expensive as there’s a range of materials that are available at different costs. Try insulating your walls if possible and the loft space. If you have the DIY skills, you can always try it yourself, but it might be handy getting in a professional to do it.

Adding improvements to your home can help your space feel brand new, like when you first moved in. Change things up and see the difference for yourself!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Moving On Up: Family Dollar Haul

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Moving On Up: Family Dollar Haul

Hiya! The discount stores during my shopping hauls for moving have been my most frequented. And, my neck of the woods has a ton of them. Lol, us Akronites are partial to our Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General, and Five Below. 😀 But, for good reason. I was able to knock off some items from my “to buy” list for a fraction of what I would have paid at Target or even TJMaxx, ready for when the movers come. Take a looksee:

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As I’ve mentioned in a few of my previous posts, the lighting in my apartment sucks on ice. It is really dark in there with not a ton of windows so I’ve been on the prowl for different lamps to brighten things up. I paid twenty bucks for the two lamps seen above, which will be perfect for my office and my bedside table. I also purchased four jumbo candles for five dollars apiece to create a nice glow that will smell really good! Especially the watermelon one – yum!!

And, finally, my storage bench. I have always loved these, but I have not been able to find just the right one so I was really happy to have snagged this one at Family Dollar. I got it for thirty-five dollars, which I consider a steal. I love the fabric and the shiny silver design and the inside storage is actually very deep so I’ll be able to fit a lot my things in there that I can’t quite find a place for. A successful haul, indeed. 😀

What is your favorite discount store? How do you create good lighting? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Moving On Up: Hobby Lobby Haul Edition

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Moving On Up: Hobby Lobby Haul Edition

Greetings! While shopping for my new apartment, I have had a little help. My clients have loved coming with me to pick things out and it has been so nice to have their personal touch in some of the items that I purchased. I told all of them that I want to use decorations that they chose in my home office and it has been such a blast seeing what they come up with.

During a shopping trip with one of my clients to Hobby Lobby, I ended up buying a new dinosaur and mermaid friend compliments of his recommendation. Check it out:

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This particular outing was really special to me because the client who I took is blind. So, we went down the aisles of Hobby Lobby and I would describe to him the things that would catch my eye and then we would give a yes or no verdict from there. However, I was told to get basically everything that I would tell him about!

As much as I would have loved to buy out the store, we went with the mermaid and dinosaur. I suggested something nautical because he loves to go to the beach and that idea sat very well with him. And, I friggen love the dinosaur and green is his favorite color so that was a no brainer! It was so special to me to have his help picking out some decor for my office and I can’t wait to put my new pals on my desk. 😀

How do you have your office space decorated? Are you partial to a particular theme of decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

What Is Visual Weight And How Can You Use It To Improve Your Home Decor?

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What Is Visual Weight And How Can You Use It To Improve Your Home Decor?

When you’re decorating, it’s important that you have a good sense of balance and symmetry in a room. It’s also important that you’re considering the size of the room that you’re decorating so that you don’t end up with large rooms that feel too empty or smaller spaces that are cramped and uncomfortable. Often, the furniture choices that you make have a big impact on this, but that’s not the only thing to consider.

Visual weight is an interior design term that refers to the weight that an object or surface appears to have, rather than how much it weighs on a scale. Understanding how to use visual weight to your advantage when you’re decorating your home will help you design the best space possible. Read on to find out more:

Color And Material:

The first thing to consider is the color and material of things around the room. As a general rule, darker colors and materials have a higher visual weight. Red tends to have the highest while a pale yellow has the lowest, blues and greens are somewhere in the middle. That’s why a room that is painted entirely red will feel very claustrophobic and so will a room where all of the furnishings are red.

That doesn’t mean you can’t use colors with a high visual weight, but it’s important that you balance them with lighter colors, as well. The same goes for materials; using reclaimed wood in the home is a great way to get a rustic look, but it has a high visual weight. If you design a room with reclaimed wood on the walls and then fill it with wooden furniture, the balance will be off. You need to choose one or the other and offset the wood with some light furniture or pale shades on the walls.

If you need some visual examples, it can be helpful to visit a Furniture store in Rockwall, TX (or your local area) for inspiration. Browsing through the displays and fixtures in person can really help you start to picture your home in a different way. Be sure to snap pics as well as inquire about different color options to the staff for any pieces you might like.

Size:

Size plays a big role in visual weight so it’s important that you consider it when choosing furnishings and ornaments to put around a room. If you’re using thick curtains on the windows, for example, they have a heavy visual weight. If you combine that with a lot of large pieces of furniture, the room will start to feel cramped. If you wanted to have a big coffee table and some large armchairs in your living room, you’d be better off looking into blind installation rather than sticking with the heavy curtains, so you can balance out the furniture. When it comes to decorations around a room, you need to group them by size. So, if you’ve got a large sculpture on one side of the room, you need to balance that with something of a similar size, or a grouping of small objects on the other side of the room.

Transparency:

Any items that are transparent seem to have a lower visual weight, and you can use this to your advantage. If you’ve got a room where the walls and furniture already have a high visual weight, you can offset that by using clear vases or bottles to decorate with. This is also ideal for darker rooms where you want to improve the flow of sunlight and brighten the space up a bit.

If you experiment with visual weight and remember these rules when you’re decorating, your home will be stunning and guest ready in no time.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Refresh The Parts Of Your Home That Fade First

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Refresh The Parts Of Your Home That Fade First

It’s a sad feeling when the home you once loved and cherished is fading away, but it will no doubt get to the point sooner or later. New home or not, the general wear and tear that it faces will lead you to want something more. You might even consider moving homes to something a bit more modern but, even then, the cracks will begin to show eventually, and it could be one of the biggest regrets of your life. Because we know how easy it is to think that a new home will be one without problems but, in fact, they can sometimes have more!

So, when you do feel like your home is beginning to fade, you need to think about how you can perk it back up again and make it look like a million dollars. It’s easy enough to bring an aging home back to life, you just have to think about the parts of your home that are fading first and what you’re going to be able to do about it. Luckily for you, we’re on hand to help and we think these top tips will bring a fading home back to life.

The Windows & Doors:

If you think about how often you mess with all of the windows and doors in your home, it should come as no surprise to you that they’re going to be one of the first things that fades away. It’s so easy for them to become chipped or damaged, especially the fragile paint that you’ll usually find surrounding your windows. Vinyl windows are the best thing that you can bring into your home and they’re going to look so good compared to your old ones if you feel like they’re wasting away. Plus, having new windows and frames installed is only going to improve the green side of your home, meaning you might just notice those bills dropping a bit more than you thought!

The Interior Decor:

The interior decor is going to be something you hold very close to your heart. You have your own style and we’re not about to try and change that. But, we do think that it’s so important that you take some time to update it yearly. Wallpaper may last two years or so, but after that it just becomes outdated. And if you inspect it closely enough, you will notice the wear and tear. So keeping it fresh every single year is a must and you have to admit that redecorating isn’t that expensive and is so fun once you get into it. You’ll often find that fresh decor is all you’re going to need to spruce your home up.

The Vibe:

The vibe of your home was probably something electric when you first started out. You had so much going on, so much happiness, and there just would have been a buzz about it. But, now, things can easily change when you realize how hard owning a home is and how the novelty wears off after a few months. But, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t host monthly gatherings to keep a good vibe going in your home. As long as you surround it with fun, you will feel great!

With spring just around the corner, give your home a little makeover and watch it come back to life in full bloom.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

How To Set Up A Welcoming Guest Room

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How To Set Up A Welcoming Guest Room

If you have guests staying with you, then you want to make them feel both welcomed and comfortable during their visit. In a previous article, https://lifewithlilred.com/how-to-prepare-your-home-for-guests/, we provided you with some general tips on preparing your home for your guests but, in this post, we are going to go into greater detail on the guest room itself:

#1: Provide essential furniture

You don’t want your guests sleeping on a mattress on the floor or living from their suitcase. In terms of feeling welcomed, that isn’t very welcoming at all! You need to provide those pieces of furniture that should be considered essential. We are, of course, talking about a comfortable bed, a dresser for their clothes, and a mirror, so they can beautify themselves in the morning before joining you for breakfast. You can buy all of this and many more essential pieces of furniture at discounted rates at https://shopdiscountdirect.com/shop/bedrooms; perfect for you if you’re on a budget! Alternatively, shop around online or on the high street but, for the sake of your guests, do try to get the best that your money can buy.

#2: Clear the room

If your guests are staying for an extended period, you should clear the room of any clutter or personal possessions pertaining to you. Clear table spaces for their personal items and ensure that there is enough floor space for their bags, etc. When it comes to the guest room, less is more, so don’t over stuff it with things you think they might like. Stick to the basics, such as a clock, calendar, and the furniture we mentioned, and let your guests have the room to make it just how they like during their stay.

As you clear the guest room of any personal clutter, you might find that these items are cluttering the rest of the house! Fear not and and consider smart storage furniture in the guest room as you remodel it. Furnishings from millie and jones, for example, often feature storage options built directly into their bed frames. You will be able to tuck your own mementos away and prevent it from overflowing into other spaces in your house.

#3: Focus on comfort

Okay, so you have bought them a bed, but don’t forget to buy a comfortable mattress, too. And remember to buy quality bed linen, pillows, mattress toppers, and extra blankets to add to their comfort level. If they are staying for a while, you should also have extra bed sheets and pillowcases available, with the option of room service if you are happy to change their bedding for them! Aside from the bed, consider putting an extra armchair or a small sofa in there, as well. Alongside a table and a lamp, they will then have somewhere to relax in the room, without having to sit on the bed when they are in the need for some alone time.

#4: Provide a home away from home experience

You might need space away from your guests at certain times of the day and, with no offense to you, they might need personal time with their own company too! Therefore, give your guests a room that is worth living in. A miniature refrigerator stocked with drinks and snacks will satisfy them should they need refreshments. You might include tea and coffee facilities too, as well as a bowl of fruit, cookies, and other snacking items.

Then, think about giving your guest something to do in the room. Perhaps a magazine rack stocked with the latest editions or a bookshelf with both fiction and non-fiction. You could also add a television and DVD player with films and box sets to go with them. Finally, a desk and chair which will be useful if your guests are bringing their computers with them to do some work during their stay.

After putting some effort into creating a welcoming guest room, your guests will want to return to you again and again. Unless, of course, you are trying to deter anybody from staying with you. In which case, do as we told you not to, and give them that mattress on the floor of your cluttered room! Of course, we’re sure you’re not that unkind!

Featured Image By: Pxhere

Bathroom Brainwaves

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Bathroom Brainwaves

What’s your favorite room in your home? Is it your kitchen where family and friends gather round to eat, drink, and chat? How about your bedroom, a haven away from the hustle and bustle of a busy day? Maybe it’s your bathroom, where soaking the dust and smells of a day at work is your favorite way to unwind. Unless, of course, your bathroom is not in the best shape and has you racing through your bedtime routine to avoid the moldy tiling and leaking shower.

If that’s the case, then you need to think about creating a bathroom that provides more than just running water and gives you the tranquil haven you deserve. How to go about this transformation? We’re about to talk you through your bathroom overhaul:

Plan to succeed:

Do your research, read the posts from lifestyle bloggers and decorating gurus, and start creating a reasonable and budget friendly plan. You certainly don’t have to spend thousands on your makeover, but you do have to have a realistic budget in mind before you start. There’s nothing more frustrating than starting a job and then abandoning it halfway through as the money runs out and you have to begin saving again.

Start the work in a logical sequence. This means the messy stuff has to happen first, such as removing unwanted bathroom furniture, tiles, and so on. Once you’re done there, you’ll probably want to start repainting the walls. Think creatively, not all bathrooms have to be a brilliant white and you might opt instead to wallpaper one wall or paint it another neutral color. Try choosing contrasting colors from your bathroom essentials to create a striking juxtaposition.

Pick a priority:

Are you more of a long soaker or a shower kind of person? Whichever you prefer, why not treat yourself to a luxury bathroom suite that’s going to last and give you pleasure for years to come? You don’t have to spend a crazy amount on a new suite. You might find plenty of options online and in second hand stores or salvage yards.

Start getting excited today about transforming this room in your house. Keep an open mind on how and where you source your bathroom furniture from and keep costs down by doing as much of the work that you can yourself. If you’ve got friends and family that can help, tempt them in with the reward of food and beer!

Plan the refurb properly and have everything that you might need in place before you start. If you’re unsure about your DIY skills, then find a YouTube video that will provide you with some top tips to get you started. Then, once you’re done, you can sink into a bubble-filled bath, shutting out the outside world, proud in the knowledge that you’ve created your new favorite room in the house. Just be sure to get in ahead of the rest of your household who’ll also want to make the most of your decorating skills!

Featured Image By: Pixabay