Does Spring Make You Smile?

Easter is just a few weeks away and Spring is officially here. I love this time of year. I especially love Easter/Spring colors. They make me smile.



I am sure you all have certain color combinations that remind you of Easter. The color combination that always reminds me of Easter is pink and yellow. Whenever I see that combination I am instantly  thrown into memories of Easter baskets, new dresses and white patent leather shoes.

I thought it would be fun to look at rooms and  some accessories that can go in rooms that look like Easter!!! Obviously none of us will be doing a room completely over for Easter day, but I think we can look at each of these rooms for some fun ideas to add to our own rooms.


Shall we do a little Easter/Spring exploring?………….

via Pinterest

In the above image I can see a couple of items that  could possibly go into other rooms. Why not cover some of your books with spring colored papers for your book shelves. A couple of spring colored boxes on your coffee table to hold your remote controllers would be an easy thing to add to your room.

 

via decorpad

Purchase small artist canvas’s and paint them with Easter egg colors.You can use them in a grouping as they did here. Brightly colored lamp shades are another easy idea. Purchase inexpensive smooth white shades and use a high gloss paint in the color of your choice.

Decorpad

I think the addition of some Spring colored pillows is a quick and easy way to give your room a pop of Spring. Maybe lighten up your coffee table with a white table or wicker. Even an acrylic table would lighten the room up.

Sarah Richardson

I am not sure what the prints are above the sofa, but you could buy some great scrap book papers and inexpensive chrome or white frames from Ikea  and you will have some Spring art. Fabric is also a good option or vintage scarves.

The addition of clear or white objects will also lighten and brighten a room.

Don’t worry I am not suggesting that you paint your appliances pink!! I do like the colorful ceramic bowls on the shelves and also in the little hutch in the background. Even the spatula is bright pink. How about taking inexpensive wooden spoons and painting them Easter egg colors.

Etsy

This seller on Esty has made a wonderful collage of varied sizes and shapes of frames and candlesticks. I think this could be so fun on a mantel. The frames would not have to be new they could be from Thrift stores or garage sales.

 

Notice the brightly colored lamp base and shade (spay paint!!) can be our friend. It also looks as if they took some brightly colored ribbon and added it to their ottoman. Look around this room and see what ideas you can use for your own home.

House Beautiful

House beautiful

Tobi Fairley

House beautiful

An inexpensive wooden chair in a bright color really adds an extra smile to this room. Notice all the pretty sherbet dishes. Even the spines of the books work in the color scheme. I have purchased books from Goodwill for years based on the color of the spine when I am doing a display of books or using them to elevate an object. I call these color spots.

Porterhouse designs

Willey Designs

Did you see any of your favorite Easter color combinations? I hope you were able to get a few ideas from this post!!!  I know I did!!! I am thinking about where can I add a small bright chair, a stack of boxes and maybe make some book covers!!!

“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

Finding inspiration for your Spring/Easter decor.

Kathysue

BTW: Hop on over to Karen's blog Strictly Simple Style for more Spring/Easter ideas.

Too Much Of A Good Thing?!!

I love color and I love patterns mixed in a room. In fact I have been known to use as many as five different patterns in a room.

Right now bold graphic patterns are very in vogue. When you mix bold graphic patterns with the bright pops of colors that are also in vogue, I believe one must be careful in how many and what kinds of patterns we mix together.

There is no definite science to mixing patterns just some good guidelines.

A nice mix will consist of a common color story and also a mix of scale to keep it interesting as seen below………

You can see the color story was taken from the floral. The patterns are varied. The scale is large in the floral, medium in the stripe and a bit smaller for the Ikat and the grid patterns. A nice mix of patterns, color and scale.  This is just a good guideline that will almost always work nicely in a room.

Below are the bold graphic patterns that are being seen in many room designs right now............

TRELLIS

 

CHEVRON/ZIG-ZAG

 

IKATS

 

As you can see they are very bold in nature and they will demand attention in a room.

My question to you is, are we over-using these patterns in our rooms?  I know there are no absolute rights or wrongs in design, it can be very subjective to the taste of the observer.

I have been observing what I would call an over-use of too many graphic patterns in one room. I think we as consumers can sometimes go over board on a good thing, especially in design trends.

I am going to show you several rooms.  I will let you be the judge whether you think the room is done well or possibly it has an over-use of graphic patterns. I have several examples of both.

I have my own opinion but will not be giving it on each room that I show. I was just made very aware of the over-use of these patterns while perusing blog land the last two weeks and that is what has prompted this post.

I will let you be the judge……….

There you have it!! Did you notice the rooms that had  variations in scale and colors in the patterns they chose. Could you pick out the color stories origin in the rooms? 

I hope this little exercise will help you be discerning in the amount of graphic patterns you choose to mix in one room. I know that once I started seeing it’s over-use in blog land it really made me much more aware of how patterns were being mixed, and which rooms were pleasing to my eye.

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Editing the patterns you use in a room according to:

• Color
• Scale
• Style

Kathysue

What Is On The Other Side?

Do you ever feel as if  you are about to go through a new door in life and you are not sure what is on the other side?

I look at my life as a journey and I have gone through many doors. I will have to admit I am always a bit hesitant to fully open the door and go through to the other side.

Sometimes I only open the door just a bit so I can peek in to make sure it is safe . The only problem with doing this is if I do not open the door completely I will be stuck where I am.

When I change my focus from fear of the unknown, and put my focus on God and what he has for me, I willingly go through the door ready to experience what God has planned for me.

At this stage of my life I feel as if I am about to embark on yet again a new journey through a new door. I will admit I am a bit reluctant and my fears crop up from time to time, but I am willing to refocus and walk through to see where life’s journey is about to take me.

quote by William Blake

I have so much to look forward too!!!!

Each day is a gift, ready to be opened and experienced.

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Going through the doors of life’s journey.

Kathysue