Tag Archives: home decor

Jan23

Halloween Pop Up Tree

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Halloween Pop Up Tree

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:

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^^^ 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

Jan13

Give Your Home A Face Lift With These Ideas

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Give Your Home A Face Lift With These Ideas

Just like everything in life, houses get old over time and it can really start to show from the exterior. It’s easy to understand why – years and years of hot, cold, snowy, and rainy days can definitely take its toll! If you are looking to sell your home soon or are ready to sink your teeth into a new project, giving a face lift to your home’s exterior is one of the best ways to boost your property value. Let’s explore a few ways to get your home looking as good as new again:

Painting:

Addressing peeling and chipping paint should be the first and most important order of business to refresh the exterior. This is also an opportunity to change things up! You can give your home the ultimate makeover by changing its color. This will instantly refresh your home once the dull paint has been removed with something shiny and new.

If repainting your home isn’t necessary or wanted and you’re still craving change, you can always paint your front door! Vibrant shades are so fun, eye-catching, and welcoming. For the full effect, adorn with a gorgeous wreath.

New Windows:

The windows are the eyes into the soul or something right?! Over time, windows can warp and become less functional at holding heat in the home. This can also be a culprit as to why your heating bills are higher than usual. Whether your new windows are for cosmetic purposes or necessity, it will give a huge boost to both your property value and the way your home looks. You can enlist the help of experienced window contractors in Ontario or local professionals in your area for a consultation. Just please be sure you paint the shutters after your new windows are installed!!

Landscaping:

You could have the most beautiful looking home on planet earth but no one will ever notice it if you have a dilapidated front yard. Dead grass, cracked soil, and overgrown trees are an eyesore and improving your green thumb is a cheap way to refresh your home’s exterior. Research which types of plants, grass, and flowers thrive in your climate. Just take into consideration what your limits are in maintaining it. Then, you can invite your friends to a literal garden party to help get everything planted. 😀

Beautify the exterior of your home with the ideas above and enjoy when your curb appeal goes through the roof!

Jan13

Renovations That Make A Huge Difference

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Renovations That Make A Huge Difference

Many people choose home renovation for their New Year’s resolution and for good reason. Renovations are beneficial to you and your family both now and later. It enhances your comfort and enjoyment now while increasing your property value when it comes time to sell. Let’s take a look at a few examples of these projects that your family will be happy that you finally stuck with:

Deck Out Your Backyard:

Installing a deck in your backyard is the perfect way to welcome spring. There is so much potential that comes with a deck – patio furniture, raised garden planters, grills, oversized checkers and chess. It will be the perfect place to sip lemonade in the summer and enjoy a hot chocolate on a warm winter’s day. It will turn your backyard into the place to be for garden parties and family get togethers!

Paint It All:

There is truly something to be said for transforming your interior or exterior space through paint alone. Boost your curb appeal with a brightly colored front door and shutters for an instant face lift. Explore color combinations indoors with accent walls, stripes, and filigree. This is your opportunity to show your creative side inside so have fun with it. While painting can be DIY, it might not be your forte. If this is the case, specialists from Surepaint or a similar company in your area can help with that!

New Flooring:

Outdated flooring with newer appliances or furniture in the kitchen and living areas can be an eyesore. Investing in new flooring can make a world of difference and will transform your home from the ground up. Think sleek tiles in the bathroom and kitchen and warm hardwoods in the living and dining rooms. Don’t forget to add throw rugs and runners where appropriate. This will catch your floor up with the rest of the modern furnishings in your home for an amazing update.

Add-Ons:

Add-on rooms through renovation will be a huge boost in your property value and will provide extra space for your family right now. Popular add-on rooms are finishing a basement or attic. Finished basements could include home gyms, game rooms, and storage space. Attic updates could be a book nook, home office, or craft studio. Sun rooms also make a fantastic addition to a home for the perfect space for house plants and morning coffee. These additions could become major selling points when you put your house on the market.

Home renovations are an exciting undertaking that provides long-term benefits. Send your home into 2023 and enjoy your new year in a newly updated space!

Jan13

Spoil Yourself With These Home Enhancing Projects

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Spoil Yourself With These Home Enhancing Projects

What would your dream home feature? A movie or game room? A swimming pool or sauna? A home office? Spoiling yourself doesn’t always mean spending time at the salon or on a shopping spree – sometimes it means turning the dream features for your house into a reality! Turn 2023 into the year of renovations to make chez vous the ultimate place to be. Let’s explore some dream worthy options to get started on:

Home Office:

Since the pandemic, working from home is no longer just an option for the lucky few. Almost any job can be completed from a distance! If you have been working from home for the past few years and are still doing your job from the kitchen table, then you most definitely deserve your own office. If you don’t have the space for an entire room dedicated to your work, there are still ways to incorporate an office vibe. Set up a spacious home office desk and computer chair by a window and deck it out in adorable office supplies or pictures of your kids. It’s not so much as having an entire room for an office as much as it is having a dedicated place to work every day.

Gazebo Goals:

A gazebo will make a big difference for your backyard and a gorgeous enhancement. Gazebos are the perfect addition to your backyard for family photos, coffee and drinks with friends, and weather and bird watching. From fresh out of a fairy tale with curves and greenery to sleek lines and a strong presence, there is a gazebo for every taste and style. Spring and summer will never be the same!

Entertainment Center:

Turning a finished basement into an entertainment center is an extremely popular project and will provide endless hours of family fun. Whether you’re splurging on plush furnishings for the comfiest movie watching experience or are installing a pool table, it will be so nice to have a space in your home solely dedicated to chilling. Complete your entertainment room with accessories like a mini fridge with drinks, snacks, movie posters, or a record player to keep the good times rolling.

Book Nook:

A book nook is an amazing way to build a space in your home for quiet time for yourself or children. Choose an area of your home that gets a lot of natural lighting, install some shelves, and add a squishy armchair to curl up in. Don’t forget a small table and coasters for your tea and coffee! Stuff your shelves with all of your favorite literature and if you don’t have enough books to fill them – spoil yourself with a trip to the bookstore. 😀

Creating designated spaces in your home for specific purposes is a great project to take on in the new year. By 2024 you will be spoiled in what feels like a brand new home!

Jan12

Think Spring With These Backyard Projects

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Think Spring With These Backyard Projects

We are in that stage of winter when we have officially reached the “blah” phase. We’re cooped up, nothing is appealing on streaming services, and the warmer days of spring are heavy on the mind. While we still have a few months of winter to go, it never hurts to start daydreaming now! Let’s explore some backyard projects that you can get to work on as soon as the snow thaws so you can rid yourself of cabin fever:

Pergola Party:

What is your ideal outdoor space? Lush greenery? A garden, pool, or patio? Breathtaking pergolas for your backyard? I can see it now, a barbecue on the warm days of spring and cozy cocktails at night. Pergolas turn any backyard into the ultimate hang out that you can deck out with furniture, grills, and games. Deck out in fairy lights for best results and perfect selfie lighting.

Swimming Pool: 

A swimming pool in the backyard really is the tops and will turn your house into the place to be all summer long. Pools are great for parties, exercise, and relaxing. Not to mention that they are a huge property value and curb appeal boost. Remember if you are getting a pool installed or already have one that maintenance is key. If you don’t have the time or energy to properly care for your pool, you might want to look into some services like this https://pinnaclepoolservice.com/pool-service/texas/plano/ to keep it in excellent condition.

Speaking of maintenance, sometimes a problem with your pool isn’t as visible as debris on the water’s surface. It could be a leak which can be very difficult to pinpoint an exact location. A leak in your pool can turn your backyard escape into a money pit quickly and needs to be tended to immediately. Take the time to research “pool leak detection cape town” (or your local area) so you can always have a trusted team on standby should you notice your water levels lowering. Once the problem is solved, you can go back to making a splash all summer long!

Fairy Garden:

An especially fun idea for those with little ones is to create a fairy garden together. Your local craft stores are sure to sell fairy garden supplies like toadstools, houses, characters, and scenery. Spoiler alert: It’s going to be adorable. Take a trip with your kids and create the fairy garden of your dreams! You can even create a special backstory for each of your characters. Keep an eye out because your garden is sure to attract all kinds of wild life.

Bird Feeding Stations:

Okay, let’s be real for a second – nature windows are awesome!! Set up a bird feeding station in front of one of your lower floor windows and enjoy! The entertainment is in itself because there is never a dull moment when it comes to birds and squirrels. Anyone who says it isn’t fun to watch is lying. Include bird baths and feeders at various heights for the ultimate effect!

Fire Pit:

It is so easy to want to burst down the doors on the first days of spring but it is still going to be cold, regardless of the date on the calendar. Beat the chill in the air with a fire pit, which will be so amazing for hosting outdoor movie nights, cocktail hour, or afternoon coffee. How about hot chocolate and s’mores during a brisk night? Fire pits are a great investment for all year round enjoyment. You can even add more of a wow factor to your gatherings if you enter a search for “fire pit glass near me“. Adorning your fire pit with colorful, heat resistant glass will provide a unique pop that is sure to impress and enhance the atmosphere.

Think spring by envisioning your perfect backyard with the tips above. It will be here before we know it!

Jan10

Transform Your Home In 2023

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Transform Your Home In 2023

The new year is a time for new beginnings. Even if you have already scrapped your new year’s resolutions, there are still plenty of ways to bring forward change in your daily life. How about using this as an opportunity (or excuse) to finally redecorate or renovate your home? With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to transform your home in 2023:

Tap into your own creativity:

Your home should be your safe space, a place where you can truly relax and be yourself. As such, your design choices should be a reflection of your personality, not the catalogues of the latest interior design magazines. Tap into your own creativity and create the kind of home you’ve always dreamed of. For example, while neutral tones are set to be one of the biggest design trends of the year, if you love bright, bold colors, don’t be afraid to showcase them throughout your home!

Seek out some inspiration:

Many people feel as though they are unsure of where to start when decorating their homes. However, reading some Amazing furniture and home guides could serve as an excellent starting point. This is because it will help you to understand what colors, furniture, and styles pair nicely together – or even help you find the perfect pieces for your home makeover.

Learn about color psychology:

Whether you’re redecorating your entire home or a single space, learning about color psychology (The way in which different colors impact our mood) can help you create the kind of space you enjoy spending time in. If you are struggling to get enough sleep, you may want to feature soft, pastel colors in your bedroom. This is because “cooler and more neutral tones are less visually stimulating, so they are more restful to the body and mind.”

Remember, the finer details make all the difference:

Spoiler alert: you do not need to carry out a complete remodeling of your home to create a meaningful change. In fact, smaller details often make the biggest difference. The right lighting can make a space appear bigger, brighter, or more welcoming. An art feature, such as a photo wall or canvas piece, can create an interesting focal point. Paying attention to the smaller details that are often overlooked could also add luxury to your home.

Embrace the change of a new year starting in your home with these tips!

Featured Image By: Spacejoy on Unsplash

Jan7

Add Luxury To Your Home With These Improvements

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Add Luxury To Your Home With These Improvements

Home is where we spend most of the time in our lives and at some point, you have to think about how much you enjoy that time. There’s nothing wrong with loving your home or wanting more from your home – which is why people put a lot of money into renovations and remodels. It’s important to consider how much your home impacts how you feel on a daily basis. You want the place you spend the majority of your life to be a happy place, something that makes you proud, and somewhere you can relax and unwind. Making small improvements to add luxurious touches to your home will freshen your place up as well as increase your home’s value. Let’s look at a few ways to begin this process:

Start with the bathroom:

If there’s one place in your home that should offer a lot of comfort, it’s your bathroom. Newly done bathrooms have a lot fewer issues with dampness and leakage, so it’s one less thing to worry about. Luxury is important everywhere, but your bathroom is the first place you should start – unless your bedroom is in dire need of an update. Take a look into bathroom, kitchen, and home remodeling services if you want to learn a bit more about what you can do. Great places to start include tile flooring, updated fixtures, and fresh paint.

Your sleeping arrangement:

Your bedroom is another place that needs heavy focus because life is going to be a daily struggle if you aren’t sleeping well. Even if you’re used to it, a lack of sleep can contribute to heightened stress and multiple health conditions. Invest in a high-quality mattress and bed to make sure you’re getting the full amount of sleep you need each night. It might not seem like it, but a new bed alone can make a huge difference. You’ll be looking forward to sleeping each and every night – the only problem you’ll have is getting out of bed in the morning!

Repainting:

The paint you choose for your home can do a lot for the overall atmosphere that you want to create in each room. Opt for soft tones in rooms that are meant for relaxation and bright shades for rooms to entertain like the kitchen and living room. Old coats of paint aren’t going to leave your home feeling luxurious, and while comfort doesn’t come into it here – how you view your home does affect how you feel while you’re there.

Spend the remaining months of winter in a cocoon of comfort and all of the lux vibes with the simple improvements above!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Dec20

Happy Haulidays: Bestie Edition

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Happy Haulidays: Bestie Edition

Hello!! My best friend, Lea, and I have celebrated fourteen Christmases together and we had our annual holiday hang out this past weekend. It was a hoot! I made us a big baked ziti dinner and our husbands had a man date playing banjo together while Lea and I girl talked the evening away. After almost a decade and a half of prezzies purchased, you would think that Lea and I would be fresh out of gift ideas. That’s far from the case for us, though, and Lea is one of my favorite people to shop for! As always, she knocked it out of the park for me too. Check it out:

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Until a week or so ago, I never appreciated the joy of fuzzy socks. However, one of my clients gifted me with an amazing pair of slipper socks last week and I am obsessed. So, I was insanely excited to receive some more pairs from Lea! These holiday socks are the softest, most comfortable things that I have ever put on my feet. They keep my tootsies toasty and they are too cute to boot. The polka dot pattern is so sweet and how adorable is that little hedgehog?! 😀

Lea loves to frequent craft fairs during the holiday season and the jewelry dish and T-shirt were both bought at one she went to with her mom. The jewelry dish is going to be perfect for housing my stud earrings, which is just what I need. I have so many pairs throughout the house that I have taken off and never bothered to put back smh. This dish is so pretty and simple and the cream base with the mauve rim is divine.

The piece de resistance from this holiday haul is, of course, the hilarious T-shirt that Lea got me. I have never owned any type of Christmas themed clothing and this shirt is the one to have. Its sentiment speaks to me on a spiritual level and I would have bought it for myself if I saw it while shopping. What can I say, after fourteen years of best friendship, Lea knows a thing or two about me! Although this is a holiday shirt, I will be wearing it year round. In fact, it just might make an appearance in an OOTD coming soon!

I had the best time celebrating Christmas and comradery with my best friend. I look forward to our holiday hang every year and here’s to fourteen more years of them!

Do you have any holiday traditions with your bestie? Where do you like to shop for holiday gifts? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec10

Happy Haulidays: Blogging Bestie Edition

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Happy Haulidays: Blogging Bestie Edition

Hello!!! Kate from Live In The Nautical has been one of my best friends for well over eight years. She was one of the first people who I came in contact with when lifewithlilred first began and the rest is history. These past few months have been difficult on our friendship. No, we absolutely did not have a falling out – we have both just been crazy freaking busy. My poor bestie was severely under the weather and my life was insane with a month of almost daily trips to downtown Cleveland to visit a loved one at the Cleveland Clinic.

They say that the holidays bring people together and this was so true for both of your favorite bloggers. This past Monday, I received Kate’s Christmas prezzie in the mail and the best friend telepathy was still as strong as ever. I had been waiting since Friday for Etsy links to the gifts I wanted to purchase for her!! As always, Kate spoiled me rotten and I can’t wait to relax with all of these goodies from Lush. I can feel my worries soaking away already! Check it out:

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Anyone who follows me on my blog or social media knows that my husband and I share a deep love for Halloween and all things macabre. As you can see, Kate knows this too and turned my Christmas gifts into a part two celebration of the happiest time of the year for me. As soon as I opened my package, I knew that there were Lush products involved because I could smell them right away! Kate is so thoughtful because she knows that I would take a bath with a Lush bath bomb every day if I could but I literally never buy them for myself.

I cannot wait to pamper myself with all of these wonderful bath time treats and it is truly a two part present because it gives me the gift of content! Keep it posted for brand new Bath Bomb Blitz posts to see the scary good results of each product. While I am looking forward to using all of my gifts, I think I am most excited to try the Black Rose bath bomb. And, of course, I am especially partial to the vampire bubble bar or, as Lush cleverly calls it, the Bubble Lugosi lol! 😀

Kate’s Halloween themed Christmas gifts were all treats and no tricks. Not only did she go above and beyond with Lush goodies galore but she also got me a super cool music sheet of This Is Halloween from the Nightmare Before Christmas. It is going to look so amazing framed and hung up on mine and Johnny’s art wall! Anything that adds to the Halloween decor in my apartment is a GREAT SUCCESS of a gift and I also love the front and back of the protective covering she put the music sheet in. The skeleton couple on the back is definitely me and Johnny!

A month ago, I was not looking forward to Christmas at all. However, the holiday season got started with a bang after I received my gift in the mail from Kate. We are reunited and it feels so good and this Grinch’s heart is bursting at the seams!! ❤

What is your favorite Lush product? What gets you in the holiday spirit? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec5

5 Ways To Increase Your Home’s Value

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5 Ways To Increase Your Home’s Value

Increasing the value of your home is a great way to improve your financial situation. Whether you are looking to sell your home or just want to increase its value, there are several smart ways that you can do so. Here are five creative and cost-effective ways to increase the value of your home:

Remodel Your Home:

If you are looking for one of the best ways to increase the value of your home, consider investing in a home remodel. A well-executed remodel can add significant value and appeal to your home without breaking the bank. As an added bonus, many remodels will also increase the functionality of your home, making it more comfortable and convenient for you and your family. With guidance and assistance from a team of qualified architects, you can create a home remodel that fits your needs and budget.

Before booking an appointment with contractors, it’s a good idea to create a list of the things that you would like your remodeled home to have. If you need inspiration for what’s fresh in the world of design and home technology, check out this home remodeling contractor or pop on some HGTV! Simply browsing through completed projects on a website or even watching a show can help get your creative wheels turning.

While it’s good to have a list of what you would like to have in a remodel, it’s best to establish a solid budget first. What is the most you are willing to spend? Is there the potential for wiggle room? It’s essential to have a budget in place before you enter a search for “home remodeling spring hill tn” (or your local area). Then, the contractors you choose will be able to tell you exactly what they can do within your budget. 

Add New Technology:

Smart homes are becoming increasingly popular as more technology like those offered by Lelch AV and other savvy devices becomes available for homeowners. They offer homeowners a way to automate or streamline simple menial things like turning lights on or tracking the temperature of their house, allowing them to pilot the ambience of a room or save money easily. Installing a few pieces of smart technology like security cameras, connected thermostats, and automated lights can give buyers peace of mind when they purchase your home. It’s also an easy way to add some extra convenience; Who doesn’t love having their lights come on automatically when they walk into a room?!

Give Your Home Curb Appeal:

First impressions count! If buyers don’t like what they see from the outside of your house, chances are they won’t even bother coming inside for a look around. Make sure that your lawn is well-manicured and free from debris. Add plants and flowers for color, paint or replace old shutters, doors, and windows, power wash siding, repair broken fences, install new outdoor lighting, and more. These simple fixes can make a big difference in the attractiveness of your home and they won’t cost you much time or money, either.

Update Your Bathroom:

Updating an outdated bathroom is one of the best ways to increase your home’s value quickly and may even be cheaper than you would think. Consider installing new tile, adding a frameless glass shower enclosure, updating your faucets and fixtures, and switching out or refurbishing worn-out cabinetry. These simple updates can dramatically impact your home’s value, leading to much higher offers when it comes time to sell.

Giving your bathroom an upgrade can be done step by step or you can opt for a complete overhaul. Whatever fits your budget, is most convenient, and will have the best return on investment will typically be the best choice for you and your home. If you decide on a full remodel, search online for a “bathroom remodeler in Orlando, FL” or a similar contractor in your local area. You will want to find someone that comes highly recommended as most bathroom remodels will require proficiency in plumbing.

Invest In Energy Efficiency:

Investing in energy efficiency measures such as insulated windows and doors, solar panels, high-efficiency water heaters, LED lighting, or efficient HVAC systems can save you money over time while increasing the marketability of your home when it comes time to sell it. Not only will those features make potential buyers feel confident about their purchase, but they will also save them money on their utility bills each month, something every buyer wants!

With these tips, you can boost the value of your home quickly and easily. It will make things better for you and your family now and much better on your wallet later when you are ready to sell!

Featured Image By: Pexels