simple design ideas Archives

10 Pretty (+ Relaxing) Navy Paint Colors

Jul162019

Navy is one of those can’t-go-wrong paint colors if your goal is cozy. (According to this study, it’s also the most relaxing color, even reducing your heart rate. . . Maybe I should paint my repaint my kitchen top to bottom.) It might seem like a pretty straight forward choice until you start trying to find the right shade of blue and suddenly, there are hundreds of options. I’ve put together a quick list of great go-to navy blues and a few tips.

paint // art // bamboo shade // subway tile

One reason that choosing navy can be tricky is that some shades can read purple in certain light. Don’t trust your computer screen! Case in point: we painted our boys’ bathroom this shade which looks way different in their small space than the online swatch.
Pick up the actual swatch and live with it for a few days or better yet, grab a sample in store. You can always use it for other small projects.
You can’t beat the combination of navy with crisp white trim and/or accents. It’s a classic, clean look.
On the other hand, don’t let navy walls keep you from using black accents. This is totally acceptable, regardless of what the imaginary book of decorating laws might say.

New Art + Vintage Frames

Jul92019

This post is sponsored by Walmart.

If your decor is starting to feel a little stale, new art is one of the easiest ways to freshen up a vignette (or an entire wall). Artwork doesn’t have to be expensive or even a huge effort to find, thanks to the huge Art.com collection that you can now shop online at Walmart. You can find almost any style and size you’re looking for, framed/unframed/canvas, you name it. I recently updated this little space in our dining room/office with a vintage inspired blue heron print and a vintage frame I already had.

If you come across a good custom, vintage frame when you’re thrifting, it never hurts to ignore the art and tuck it away. This was custom with a good mat that had faded over time. I disassembled it and sponge painted the existing mat to give it a whole new look. I ordered the 16×20 print for just $9–a pretty and super affordable update.

With so many Art.com options, the hardest part can be narrowing down your favorites. (Seriously, they have everything from a portrait of George Washington to a chinoiserie panel.) I’ve pulled a few other pieces that caught my eye. Quick tip: you can save anything you like as you shop by clicking the “Add to List” button found just above the product highlights on each listing page.

My Pieced Together Frames + Mats

Jun202019

Just like there are good dupes for high-end cosmetics and designer clothing, there are also a few good ones to know when it comes to decorating your home. Custom framing is pricey and if you like to change things up as much as I do, it’s pretty much out of the question. I pieced together these frames and mats years ago for our last house and still get asked about them every time I post a picture. I’ve recycled them several times!

They’re actually plastic all-purpose frames I picked up at a craft store. They’re usually sold in multiples–because they’re so cheap! Mine are 16×20 and are almost identical to these. I just gave them a couple of light coats of a metallic gold spray paint. Once they’re hung, it’s almost impossible to tell that they’re plastic and not metal.

The key to making them look custom is the matting. I like to use an online shop like this one on Etsy that offers lots of sizes with almost any opening size in tons of colors.Mine are 16×20 mats with 5×7 openings. (You can get a 5-pack for $35.) I’ve changed the art up in my frames from room to room and they make anything look better–even my own little abstract paintings.