Simple Design Ideas Archives - Page 2 of 44

Expecting Company? Easy Ways to Cozy Up Your Home

Dec142018

I love to have company over during Christmastime. As a bonus, it has a way of making my house look better in a hurry. . . I’ve learned over time that nobody looks at my home as closely as I do. (Have you ever examined someone else’s floors for crumbs? Me neither.) It’s more about a feeling when you walk through someone’s door and less about the tiny details we tend to fret over. Here are a few easy ways to cozy up your home for holiday entertaining.

Christmas music! It’s easy enough and instantly makes your home feel festive. I like to stick this small bluetooth speaker in the corner of the kitchen and play Pandora. (A few of my favorite stations: Audrey Assad Holiday, The Christmas Song radio, Holiday Instrumentals, Jadon Lavik Holiday, and Michael Buble Holiday.)

Votive candles. They’re inexpensive and add a warm glow all around. (See more of how I used them in our living room here.) Buy the unscented so you don’t overwhelm your guests.

If you have the time or inclination to shop for a few new things, my top five would be: a small lamp (so versatile–the mantel, a entryway table, or even a bathroom), fresh pillows with down inserts, a cozy throw blanket (HomeGoods is a great source), new hand towels, and a yummy candle for the powder room.

An easy powder room update: add a patterned hand towel, soap in a pretty dispenser and a good candle. (I’ve found a lot of cute hand towels at H&M home lately.)

Fresh greenery with battery-powered fairy lights. Easy, fragrant and festive. I did this in our powder room since there was no place to plug in a lamp or Christmas lights.

Make coffee. The easiest way to make your home smell warm and cozy when guests walk through the door.

If you have the space, set up a separate beverage station in a room besides the kitchen. It’s nice when guests can help themselves to drinks, and it’s fun to spread the joy around the house!

What are you easiest entertaining tips?

The Easiest Christmas Decorating Idea

Dec62018

You know I love a simple decorating idea and this can’t be any easier. It also proves that you don’t have to have a ton of collected Christmas decorations to give your home holiday sparkle. You can use this idea for a coffee table, entryway vignette or a dining room centerpiece. You just need a tray, a glass hurricane candle holder, fairy lights, votives and some fresh greenery. (Leftover Christmas tree clippings work great.)

See my step-by-step set up here:

Making A Cozy Bed

Dec42018

There aren’t many things better than a cozy bed when it’s cold outside. Here’s what’s currently on mine:

Since I have mostly white bedding, I like to start with patterned sheets. I have two pairs of pillows for sleeping, including this super firm pillow from Amazon.

When making the bed, I use a set of monogrammed euro shams. I bought a pair of inexpensive white shams several years ago and my sister embroidered them for me. (If you are looking for something already monogrammed, I love this Etsy shop’s work. Also, I like these sets of down pillow inserts.)

I add color with a pair of these floral pillows (I think I’ve used these in every room at some point!) and a velvet lumbar adds cozy texture.

I rarely ever use a bedding set together. Usually, I mix the sets between different beds in our house. For our room, I layer with a lightweight quilt and use a down alternative comforter inside a duvet.

Here’s a tip I learned late in life: to make your duvet look extra fluffy, fold it in thirds, starting with the bottom third first and then layering the top third over it. (You can fold the whole thing back one more time if you want extra fluff.) I also find it much easier to spot iron the duvet cover once it’s already on my bed.

Finally, fresh flowers and a boxwood wreath add a little happy on dreary days.

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