SIX Easy Switch-Ups For Spring!

    

 I know we are in the dead of winter but now is the time to start sourcing and planning for your Spring time decor. I have already started doing some sourcing for some of the changes I want to make this season. More on that one later.......

Spring is by far my favorite time of year. I love all the colors, the fresh grass greens, pretty pink and yellow blooms, clear skies and white puffy clouds.

When Spring is getting close I like to add some elements to my room that will make my room feel a bit more fresh and happy.

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I usually do this with pillows as I have shown in previous post, but there are other ways to decorate for Spring without becoming a totally thematic room, full of birds nest, eggs and bunnies. (all of which I dearly love)

First and foremost we have to be careful and use some……

RESTRAINT!

We are not decorating a store so we need to keep a handle on just how much decorating we do so we don’t look like things just might have a price tag attached to our displays.

First Step!

Choosing Spring Accent Colors

Before we begin remove everything except the pieces that will always stay in your room, furniture pieces, wall décor and lighting.

Next look at the colors in your room and think about the colors that you love that could be added to your room to freshen it up.

Take a look at a color wheel if you need help in finding complimentary colors for your room. 

Find the main color in your room and go directly across to find it’s compliment. The group of colors directly across are the strongest compliments but you can choose color families from each side of the compliment color as well.

Such as Blue’s compliment is orange, yellow-orange or red-orange. Using any of these color families will make the blue more vibrant in your room.

If you want a softer compliment choose the color families on each side of blue, such as blue-green and blue-violet.

 

Another way to pull colors out in your room is to look at any existing patterns in your room and pull the colors from there.

These are just a couple of very basic guidelines.

Next is time to make a list of  Spring elements that are pleasing to you that you might want to add to your room.

Keep in mind to not choose things that are overtly Spring that could make your room look like a store display, as I previously mentioned.

Try to add elements with texture, color and life.

SIX SWITCH-UPS!!

 #1

FLOWERS

Flowers are a natural choice when it comes to Spring décor, but so are touches of natural greenery, or blooming twigs.

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I like to use flowers and greenery in my home all year long, but especially during the Spring months.

This is the perfect time of year to display your favorite blooms.

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White tulips are a favorite of mine and using this rough hewn bowl full of tulips will make anyone get in the mood for Spring!

#2

 COLORFUL GLASSWARE

Using clear colorful glassware is a nice touch to add a bit of sparkle to a room. You can use a single piece or a group…..

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Adding some blooms to your composition looks very fresh and perfect for Spring…..

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Simple greenery from your yard is a favorite element I like to use in the Spring.

 

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#3

BOOKS

Brightly colored books used as lifts for a decorative item, or just stacked on a table can add a touch of Spring…..

If you will notice the books colors are pulled together with the floral arrangements colors. The black of the vase is accentuated with the black and white spines of the books. 

Bright pink as in the flowers and even a pop of orange as in the center stamens of the flowers. Details, details! 

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Another great example of how the flower and vase colors are pulled into the stack of books.

If you don’t have just the right color of book spine, take a trip to the thrift store and purchase what you need for very little cost.

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Another option is to cover your existing books with colorful papers or material.

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This is fun! Use brightly colored markers to color the ends of the pages!

#4

ARTWORK

If your artwork is not expensive, and it can easily be replaced for a minimum cost, changing it out can totally change a room.

I have found Etsy to be a great resource for some lovely prints that can be easily framed in standard size frames from hobby stores.

Let me show you a few that have caught my eye…….

This particular piece has all the elements I love in a room for my own home so naturally I gravitated towards this piece.

Kerri Ship has some brightly colored watercolors that will be sure to please your design aesthetics. You can find her work here. Colorful and affordable.

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Art.com has some very affordable options in all different styles of artwork. I chose this one from my artwork pinboard which has many pins of artwork that is appealing to me, personally.

This particular piece is done by Lou Wall. There are many more colorful pieces on his page, HERE!

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Green is the color of Spring. Nothing prettier than the color of fresh, new grass. I love the depiction of this knot garden to add freshness and a touch of Spring to a room. This is neutral and could work in just about any setting. Found HERE!

 #5

THROWS AND RUGS

If you are like me, you like a throw to wrap up in even in the warmer months. When I quit for the day, and lay down on my couch to watch some mindless TV, I like an adult blankie/throw!

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This is where you can add pattern and/or color easily to your room. Your imagination is your only limitation when it comes to choosing. 

There are so many sources for both rugs and throws on the internet.

Ikea and Target are probably the least expensive with some great variety to choose from when it comes to Home accessorizing.

If you are looking for more of an investment piece then your options are pretty limitless.

Just keep in mind your over all feel, color scheme, and patterns in the room. Keep patterns, and texture of the throw, light and airy for a Springtime feel.

However sometimes a pop of a solid color throw is a great way to introduce interest, and maybe a new color in a room.

#6 LAMPSHADES/LAMPS

If you room can accommodate some pattern and or color take a look at the options for lampshades. Target is a great source for affordable lampshades and they offer both color and patterns.

A happy yellow Ikat can mix well with many patterns.

I like to switch out my darker lampshades with white shades for summer.

You can add a little trim around the top, and bottom if you feel the need for a bit of embellishment, but keep it simple.

Or you can add trim just to the bottom like this homeowner did……

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RECAP:

Clear room of all accessories.

Choose your color scheme based on existing permanent elements. (one primary color with two accents is a good guideline)

Start with one main print or star, if you are choosing any patterns, then work off of that pattern for colors and other prints that will coordinate.

Add Spring colors to your room by using lighter and brighter values of complimentary colors in your room.

Add texture with spring time branches in bloom.

Add life to your room with fresh blooms or simple greenery in vases.

Use everyday colorful book spines to use as lifts on tables, mantels etc.

Purchase some fresh, colorful artwork and frame in simple black or white frames purchased from the Hobby store.

A new fresh, cheerful color/patterned throw is comforting and will add a touch of Spring easily to your room.

Area rugs are easy to change up. Use one for Fall/Winter months and one for your Spring/Summer months.

Remember, none of the above have to be costly, just well chosen. Make your plan of attack before making any purchases so you know it will all work well together.

Once your plan is made then the fun can begin. It takes time and patience, but in the end you will be so happy with your end results.

“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

Switching it up for Spring!

 

 

My 2018 WORD For The Year!!

   

As other's celebrate at parties to bring in the new year I tend to be a little more introspective. I start thinking about what WORD will be on my heart throughout the upcoming year.

Sometimes the word will come to me quickly and other times it slips in on me in a conversation.

I think of many words and I pray for God's guidance in my life in all things, especially my thoughts!

I thought I had my word, but there was something that was telling me it wasn't quite right, it was close and I was on the right track but it wasn't MY WORD.

The word that I thought was going to be my word was, " Intention!" I felt as if this year was going to be a year of living with intention. 

It was during a conversation with a very dear friend that I found my word, it was so obvious once I said it out loud.

I was telling her that I had such an excitement inside about the upcoming year and how much I was looking forward to many things that I knew would possibly be in my future if God allows.

I have had this over whelming excitement inside of me lately that I really could not explain, but now I know why it was there!! It was just guiding me to find my word for the year. 

I not only want to live my life with intention but I want to be excited with great anticipation to see what God has in store for me this year.

My Universe is GOD!!!

The gift of life that God has given each of us should be cherished and treasured each day is a new promise of something for us to experience.

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

 

 

My New Years GIFT To My Readers!

   

"TIME!"

It is almost here!! 2018! It hardly seems possible.  We all have been given the gift of another year.

Some of you will read the words I have written here, others will just skim over the images.

For those of you that have taken the time to come by my blog today I hope you will take the “TIME!” to read what I have written.

My gift to you, my dear reader is I am about to share with you a lesson that I learned, that you might benefit from it in some small manner....

.....I look at my upcoming year a bit differently than I use to when I was younger. 

It is not so much about how much I will get done this year, or how much stuff I will get, but I look at the time I have been given as a gift.

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I choose to use my time as a precious gift, and when I get the opportunity to spend time with my loved ones, or friends, I am going to use my time wisely.

Most of us feel as if time goes by faster these days, but trust me we have  the same 24 hours in a day as our ancestors.

What is different, is how we choose to spend our time.

Life has taught me a couple of really good, and meaningful lessons about how I use my time, some were hard lessons, and some were wonderfully pleasant lessons, but I did learn from them……..

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One lesson, and the hardest lesson in my life, was taught to me at the age of twenty four when my Dad at the age of 47 died of a heart attack.

My world crumbled at that very moment. You see I was a Daddy’s girl, through, and through. I basically thought this man could walk on water.

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Through losing him I realized at a very young age, that it was the sweet moments, the time I could never get back. 

I might have pictures, or gifts he had given me, but I never could get back the time, that precious gift of time to spend with him.

If only I could just have 30 more seconds back to tell him once again how much I loved him, and  how much I appreciated him.

As hard as it was to no longer have my Dad in my life, I did learn a very important lesson about time, and how you should spend it with the people you love, and care about.

My other lesson was a happier lesson, and it came in the form of a little 6 year old boy.

We had our boys, and their families here for some occasion, and all of the girls were in the living room talking about, design, hair, make-up and the latest fashions. 

I was in the middle of  telling a story when my 6 year old grandson came up to me, and asked me if I would play beach ball volley ball with him. I told him, "sure, just give me a few minutes to finish my story."

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A few minutes to a little guy is an eternity, so of course he came back in a very short period of time.

I stopped my story, and looked into those blue eyes and said, “Sure, Grammy will play with you!”

We went down the hall, got the beach ball, and started tossing it back, and forth down my almost thirty foot hallway.

All of the sudden, that little guy came running down the hall, hugged me around the waist, and ran back to his end of the hall, and we continued our play. 

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Not a word was spoken, but I knew! He was telling me how much he loved me, as only a small child could with such a heartfelt demonstration of love.

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It did not take hours, truly it was maybe 10-15 minutes, but the point had been made.

I took the time to put him, and spending time with him above everything else, and he knew without a doubt how much his Grammy loved him.

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You see it is not the amount of time, it is the quality of time, and how you choose to spend your time that matters.

So with that my dear readers, I leave you with this……..

.....Time is a gift! We all get to choose how we will spend it, and who we will spend it with.

I pray that this year you all spend your time wisely and lovingly with the special people in your lives……….

Happy New Year, and May God bless each and everyone of you with precious, precious “TIME!”!