Cheap Wall Decor Online

by RoxanneK, in category cheap decorating ideas, Home Decor

You should know by now, I’m all for budget decorating. Decorating your home really can add up fast, so I’m always on the lookout for ways to do it for less. I also change out my decor often. Home decor is what I do, so I need to keep it interesting. One thing I switch pretty often is my wall art. The constant urge to keep things looking fresh around here has inspired me to create my own wall decor by opening a Shopify store. I wanted to bring you (and me) cheap wall decor online.

This shop has been open for some time now, I haven’t shared it yet because I still have so many prints that I plan to add to it. However, I realized this will be an ongoing project, much like my home so why not share it now? These are mostly all digital prints, that you can immediately print at home or download to print at a printing shop. I use Walgreens and Staples when I need photos printed that are larger than my printer can handle.

Botanicals are huge right now. I was browsing through a design catalog recently and saw these botanical prints for $75 each! To buy the set of four would cost $300! I’m happy to say, my shop has something similar (I actually like these better) and they are under $6 each! You can find these and more botanical prints here. You may have noticed one of these in my armoire makeover post. I’ll be using more of these in my living room when it’s finally done.

Another item I’m working to get more of in the shop are these coastal prints. I have these in my family room, and I get asked often where to find them. I bought mine in a store years ago, and I’ve searched everywhere to find them now, but they seem to be obsolete. So I recreated them myself. I’ve only gotten to NJ and NC beach towns so far but I will be adding states soon, drop me a comment if you’d like to see your state featured. These are one of the few things in my shop that is not available for digital printing. Because of the unique size of them, to print them would be difficult and costly. I started researching companies that will put these on canvas for you and most of them were crazy expensive! I did end up finding one that is totally reasonable, so I teamed up with them on Shopify to offer these as canvas prints.

If photography prints are more your style, I have that covered too. I have some very talented friends and family who have an eye for photography. The photography prints offered are a mix of coastal and country. All are nature inspired, which is why I love these so much. You can see all the photography prints offered so far here.

If you are interested in inspiration style wall decor, you will probably like some of the typography prints we offer.

With the exception of the canvas prints, everything in the shop is under $10. Cheap wall decor at it’s best!

I wanted to also include some resources to make your digital prints look the best they possibly can. A good printer helps, this one* can print larger sizes (up to 13 X 19″). Also, I highly recommend printing on photo paper, using a piece of regular printer paper will not have the same effect.

As far as framing, Michael’s has the best selection of frames in my opinion. They always have coupons for 40-50% off. You can get a great deal on a good quality frame when they have those sales. I also recommend selecting frames one size up, especially for smaller prints, and using a mat. This will make the prints look more high-end, no one will ever know it’s cheap wall decor!

If you have any type of wall decor in mind that you’d like to see offered, let me know in the comments and it may just end up in the shop!

May172018May 16 2018

7 Decorative Mirrors for Above the Mantel

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor

We are still working on our living room makeover over here. It’s painfully slow, but it’s getting there. The floors are in, and the board and batten is about 3/4 done. We still have to add it above the fireplace and on one other wall. In the meantime, I am working on the fun task of spackling a tiny million nail holes. Once that is done, I can get to painting it. I’m also making small decor changes in this room, one of which is replacing the mirror that is currently above my fireplace. I know what I want, but these types of decorative mirrors can be a bit expensive so I’ve been searching for something similar that costs less.

I like this style of mirror, one with a bit of an arched top. Even though this one is a bit ornate, it’s my favorite. Of course, this is one of the most expensive on today’s list.

Beaudry Mirror

Here are some more of my favorite decorative mirrors for above the mantel* that I’ve found so far, in a variety of price ranges.

Arch Wall Mirror

I am feeling like a metal frame is what is going to look the best here.

Brayden Wall Mirror

Though I never can rule out a beautiful wood finish.

Arched Accent Mirror

I absolutely love this one, but with my rustic, chippy-paint mantel a chippy-paint mirror might be overkill.

Rustic Arched Mirror

This one is budget friendly compared to some of the others, and I am loving the black frame, though I don’t know that’ll work above my fireplace.

Contemporary Black Arched Mirror

This one is the least expensive of them all but is currently sold out. This store usually restocks their sold-out pieces, so keep a watch on it if you love it.

Decorative Arched Mirror

I’m planning on spending some time visiting Home Goods and Marshalls. I think that will be my best bet to find an affordable option. If I can’t find one there, then I will likely buy one of these. Which one is your favorite?

If you missed Monday’s post ( I had a tech issue with my email provider, so that post didn’t get sent out) there is still time for you to enter to win tickets to the upcoming Country Living Fair in NY! The reason I had that tech issue is because I have created something special for my email subscribers only and I’m working on getting that set up. I love DIY and home decor, but the tech side of blogging – not so much! If you are currently subscribed, watch your inbox for this freebie soon! If you aren’t a subscriber, you can sign up below!

*This post contains affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure here.

Apr232018Apr 24 2018

Wooden Wall Hooks Giveaway

by RoxanneK, in category Giveaways, Home Decor

Hi guys, I’m just popping in today with a fun giveaway. I’m finally getting back to some projects around here, I was starting to have DIY withdrawal! Awhile back, I shared this post on how to organize your entryway. In that design board, I shared these fun wooden numbered wall hooks* and today I have a set of them to give away to one lucky reader!

Organization is key in a small space and these cute wooden wall hooks will help keep things off the floor and within easy access. You can enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Leave a comment and tell me where you would use these hooks in your home!

*This post may contain affiliate links, this giveaway is not affiliated with Wayfair or Wildon Home. You can read my full disclosure here.

Apr192018Apr 19 2018

Watercolor Paintings from Etsy

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor

Projects around my house have been on hold the last few weeks, we have been really busy getting my daughter prepared to leave for school. Once things settle down we will get back to my living room project, we still haven’t added any moldings after finishing the floors. In the meantime, I’ve been loving all things watercolor. Have you noticed this trend everywhere lately? I wish I could paint my own watercolors but until then I’ve been browsing around Etsy and I’ve found some beautiful watercolor paintings. Here are some of my favorites, and they’re all super affordable coming in at under $30 (except for one)!

This cottage watercolor painting speaks to the farmhouse style that I love.

White Poppy watercolor – If you like minimal decor, this pretty set is for you.

Ocean City boardwalk – Summer is just around the corner (though it doesn’t feel that way at all!) and this pretty watercolor painting just sums up those lazy boardwalk days.

Set of Four Peony watercolors – These are so pretty, the peonies are the perfect shade of blush pink. They come in a set of four but I like how they are displayed here with a set of three.

Nantucket Watercolor-This perfect depicts that New England charm that we all love.

Beachy watercolor – This simple abstract would make a good base for a room’s color scheme.

Cotton art watercolor – This one is so creative, look at the detail of the flowers.

London watercolor – I’m more of a homebody but this one is for you world travelers out there.

Stunning hydrangea – The artist behind this one is seriously talented!

Greenhouse-I wish this were a real space in my house, so charming!

Wisteria -Similar to the hydrangea painting above and just as beautiful.

Watercolor paintings are such a great way to brighten up a room. As I mentioned above, all of these would make a great starting point for a room’s color scheme. Which one is your favorite?

Apr122018Apr 11 2018

Custom Framing and The Property Brothers!

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor

You guys may have seen this picture of me with the Property Brothers that I posted on Facebook and Instagram. Today I wanted to tell you how that all came about. I’m still pinching myself to be sure it really happened! The Property Brothers have a new line of custom framing available at Michael’s, and the store was having a media event to announce this new line. I’ve attended media events before and you really never know what to expect until you get there.

This one was held at a gallery in NYC. The Property Brothers were already there when we arrived. They were every bit as personable and energetic as they appear on tv, maybe even more so.

They introduced themselves to us and we had the opportunity to interview them along with the other media people that were there. The gallery was filled with their new line of custom frames.

Of course, I had to try one of these custom framing options for myself. My oldest daughter recently graduated college and I wanted to frame her diploma. This diploma means more to us than you know, so I wanted it to be special. I have to also share the backstory on that with you.

Scott Living Black leather frame with rivets* at Michael’s Store

When my daughter was little, she always said she wanted to be a veterinarian. I thought it was just the usual kid talk but as she grew she never wavered on that and never once said that she wanted to be anything other than a vet. Looking back now, she did show signs of an extraordinary love for animals. I remember visiting a friends house who I hadn’t seen in years when my daughter was around 4. At one point, I realized my daughter had disappeared. After searching, we found her under my friend’s bed trying to coax her cat out from under it.

When she was in grade school I subscribed her to Cat Fancy and Dog Fancy magazines. One month Cat Fancy had a pull-out poster showing the anatomy of a cat. My daughter loved that and it hung on her wall for years. While in middle school she applied to go to a specialized animal science program for high school and was accepted. In freshman year she started volunteering at a local vet, which later turned into her part-time job, where she still works today. I remember her coming home from there and telling me that she felt like this is where she really fit, it just felt right.

Deciding on my custom framing layout in-store

In senior year of high school, she applied to another specialized program for college at Rutgers University. It was a tough one to get in to and I shed many tears when she was accepted. My husband and I did not go to college, it wasn’t even on our radar in those days. We are not very academically inclined and were not really able to help her with her studies in high school. Most kids in our area go to extensive SAT tutoring, but that wasn’t in our budget.

Steel Rivets with Black Leather Frame by Scott Living

Moving on to Rutgers, academics became much more challenging for her. The pre-vet curriculum at Rutgers is known to be one of the toughest around and it was a struggle. There were many a tearful phone call home. At one point she failed chemistry and was placed on academic probation. If you know anything at all about applying to vet school, then you know its the toughest of them all to get into, it’s even more difficult than med school. Especially for NJ students, because there are only a few vets schools in the country (none in NJ) and they will accept in-state students over out of state first. Her chances started to look bleak.

Many people tried to dissuade her from wanting to go to vet school. Even myself at one point, purely for financial reasons (the cost of vet school is outrageous) and not because I thought she wouldn’t make it. She never gave up. She suffered through her studies and brought her grades back up all while also working part-time. She would get up early on Saturday morning after working and studying all week and attend open houses being held by universities for prospective vet students in NYC.

In-store computer mach-up for custom framing

Even though she suffered academic setbacks, bouts of anxiety from the stress and roommates from hell, she accomplished what she set out to do and graduated with a degree in science from Rutgers University.

Custom framed diploma

Finally, it was time to apply to vet school. When my daughter asked her mentor from Rutgers for a recommendation letter, the woman said: “Yes, but I don’t think you’re ready for this”. That was a huge blow to my daughter’s ego but she didn’t let it stop her.

She applied to only one school.

After several months of anticipation, she got the call. She was accepted! She will be leaving in just a few short weeks.

Shadowbox custom frame

As you can see, this diploma is much more than a piece of paper to us. It represents sheer determination and a passion to follow your dream! As Joel Osteen says, “When God puts a dream in your heart, nothing can stop it!”.

Even if the odds are all against you.

*This post is in collaborations with Michael’s, all opinions are 100% my own. The Scott Living collection of custom framing from the Property Brothers is available exclusively at Michaels stores. You can find the desk chair shown above here. This post may contain affiliate links, read my full disclosure here.

If you’d like to follow along with my daughter’s journey through vet school, you can follow along with her brand new blog here.

Mar292018Mar 28 2018

Home Accessories to Pull A Neutral Room Together

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor, interior design ideas

I like to keep all of the major elements in my rooms neutral. Mostly because I like a soothing color palette but also because that allows you to change out smaller home accessories seasonally or when trends go out of style without having to replace big-ticket items. You can completely change the look of a room by simply switching out a few items, such as curtains, throw pillows and wall decor.

I put together several design boards* featuring home accessories that will pull together any neutral based room. The idea is to have coordinating colors and textures without it being too matchy-matchy.

For the first board (which is my favorite of them), I started with the curtains and based everything else from those. The blue pillows and wall art distribute the blue around the room, letting the eye travel. The basket, candle holders, and lamp all bring out the tan in the curtains while also adding texture. The texture of the basket and lamp also works well with the hint of coastal vibe in the canvas wall prints.

wooden candle holders/curtains/lidded basket/patterned pillows/solid pillow/throw blanket/sisal lamp/canvas wall art/canvas wall art

For this next board, I started with the floral pillow. I wanted to use the pink and blue tones without it looking too childish. The ice blue tone of the curtains works because if it were too vibrant it would appear juvenile. The soft throw has just a hint of pink and the cool silver in the lamp, mirror and candleholders add an elegant vibe.

wall art/mercury glass candles/curtains/floor mirror/throw blanket/blue pillows/floral pillow/table lamp

Have you noticed the trend toward botanicals lately? For the home accessories here, I wanted to use those as well as mix patterns. Even though there are several patterns going on in this space, they are all understated and work well together.

botanical wall art left/botanical wall art center/botanical wall art right/picture frames/curtains/floor lamp/area rug/floral pillow/solid pillow/table lamp/throw blanket/lanterns

I just discovered this area rug and plan to order it for my living room. I love the muted pattern on it, and how it goes so well with the soft stripes of the curtains. The curtains felt slightly coastal to me, so I went with that. That blue pillow has the word “home” embroidered with jute rope, which is just a touch of coastal, and the white pillow has a very subtle pattern that looks like starfish. The wooden bead chandelier goes well with the wood end tables (I have these and love them) and the art and the throw blanket tie the deeper navy tones together. The varying shades of blue help give this space a layered look.

beach wall art/coastal wall art/lighthouse wall art/picture frames/chandelier/curtains/throw blanket/side tables/table lamps/area rug/blue pillow/white pillow

All of the wall decor featured on these boards is available in my new digital art shop. I haven’t yet announced this shop on the blog yet because I’m still working on stocking it and getting it organized but it is up and running so check it out! If you’d like to see some other mood boards I’ve put together check out the design board section of my project gallery page.

Would you like to see more of these boards featuring coordinating home accessories? Any color scheme in particular that you are drawn to?

Pin it for later:

*This post contains affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure here.

Mar222018Mar 22 2018

Removable Wallpaper Ideas

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor, Inspiration

Dandelion Removable Wallpaper

I love the look of wallpaper but I don’t like the commitment. If you’ve ever tried removing wallpaper, you know what I mean. It’s not a fun project! There are so many great designs in removable wallpaper now that you can get the look without worrying about the trends changing in a few years. I don’t know why any companies would make non-removable wallpaper anymore. Not to mention it’s SO much easier to put up!

Here are some great designs in the peel and stick wallpaper that I’ve found while browsing around. I have ideas for a few of these!

A few weeks ago I asked on my Facebook page if you guys think shiplap is a passing trend or if it’s here to stay. I was surprised the majority of the comments said it is a passing trend. I disagree, but if you want the look without the commitment, this peel and stick shiplap* wallpaper is a perfect solution.

A neutral botanical wallpaper will add a bit of elegance to any space.

I love floral prints and this pink floral peel and stick wallpaper is no exception. Perfect for, but not limited to, a little girls room.

Buffalo plaid prints are trending right now. Get the look without the commitment!

In the house I grew up in my mother added a wallpaper with leaves in the main hallway. We loved it so much that she kept it up for years. We still talk about how much we loved that look. This botanical wallpaper has a similar look.

Removable wallpaper isn’t just for walls. Think outside the box and use it on furniture, I like the look of this weathered wood.

Grasscloth wallpaper will add the most beautiful texture to a room. Or use it to line the back of bookshelves. This will make even inexpensive shelves look high end!

Framing pieces of wallpaper makes for easy, inexpensive wall decor (you can see how I framed fabric here and burlap here), this dream big wallpaper would be beautiful framed and added into a gallery wall.

Another idea is to use it as a backdrop like I did with my vintage mantel surround. Everyone that comes over asks about the backdrop on this fireplace and they’re always surprised when I tell them it’s brick wallpaper.

Which one is your favorite?

*This post contains affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure here.

Mar152018

Mudcloth Pillows & A Giveaway

by RoxanneK, in category Giveaways, Home Decor

I not only love design, I also love the process of designing. Maybe even more than the finished project. Mudcloth is a fabric that is centuries old and used an interesting process in the design. It’s hand woven (giving it lots of texture) and hand dyed. It’s been popular in design for years now, and I think that popularity is growing.

Mudcloth is one of the best known African cloth traditions. Bogolanfini (as it was originally called) is a handmade cotton fabric that was dyed using fermented mud. The mud was collected and then hand painted onto wet fabric in patterns that would stain the fabric as it dried. This process was repeated again and again until the desired shade was achieved. The patterns and symbols had meaning and the cloths were passed down to the next generation. You can see a chart of the symbols and their meanings here and here.

These days it’s embroidered, but it’s still full of texture and interest, which is why I love it. My friends at One Fine Nest have given me this beautiful mudcloth pillow cover* (shown below) and will also be giving one away to one of you!

They come in a variety of colors and patterns, and a few solid colors as well. Here are some more of my favorites mudcloth pillows from my friends at One Fine Nest.

Blue with Fringe

African cover in black

Black and White

Striped

Laguna Rust

White African

And there are so many more I love, you can view them all here. They even make mudcloth Christmas stockings which are so cute and original. Enter below for your chance a mudcloth pillow cover of your own. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pin for later:

*This post contains affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure here.

Mar122018Mar 11 2018

My Favorite Indoor Plants

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor

Let me start by saying these are my favorite indoor plants because I haven’t killed them yet. If I can keep them alive, you definitely can too! I’m sharing this for another round of the Back to Basics series (you can see last month’s furniture makeovers here). Sometimes we get so caught up in design and DIY over here that we forget to talk about the basics. We already know that plants are good for purifying the air, I like them because they add a natural element to a room which every space needs.

I try to stick with small house plants so they don’t overpower my small rooms. I love plants but I don’t want my house to look like a jungle. This peace lily is one of the largest plants I have. I had kept this alive for years but last summer I put it outside and it burned in the sun. Oops. It never recovered, but ironically my niece gave me another one for my birthday not even knowing that story. I guess they’re called indoor plants for a reason.

I have two Pothos plants and these are my favorites because they are the easiest to maintain and I love the trialing leaves. They seem to do well anywhere I put them and can tolerate drought well. 😉

I like to use different plant pots than the plain ones they usually come in. I turned this basket into a planter by using a liner under the dirt. You can find plastic plant liners* here, they come in a variety of sizes.

This succulent plant (I don’t know the technical name of it) has done really well, I have had it for about 2 years. It also seems to do well in any light and if I forget to water it.

This string of pearls succulent is another of my favorites. Sadly, it doesn’t look this healthy anymore. I’d say he’s on life support right now. Even though it’s hanging on by a thread, I’m not giving up on it. Hopefully I can bring it back to this state.

Another of my favorite indoor plants that is tough to kill is the Aloe. Obviously it’s good for burns, but I was surprised when I read this article about how many other things it’s useful for. I might need to get a few more of these now.

If you have tough time keeping indoor plants alive, I would definitely try one of these. If I can’t kill them, noone can. I read somewhere recently that plants also help to lower high blood pressure. I’ve heard that about pets too. So if you have high blood pressure, get a plant. And a dog.

An InLinkz Link-up

*This post may contain affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure here.

Mar52018Mar 4 2018

Mixing Antiques with Modern Decor

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor, How-to, Inspiration

via BHG

Hi guys, I have a treat for you today. My friend Hannah is guest posting here today. You may remember she popped in here once before with 9 Easy Ways to Freshen up Your Living Room. Today we are talking about Mixing Antiques with Modern Decor. Here’s Hannah.

Did you just move into a modern home or apartment with a load of antique items in tow? Conventional wisdom will have you believe that old-style furnishings and modern decor don’t mix with a contemporary interior. This is not true at all; you can absolutely adorn your home with antiques from any period. The antiques, though, have to be displayed in a certain way; otherwise, your home runs the risk of looking more like a museum than a living space.

1. Concentrate the Antiques in a Specific Spot

Ballard Designs

As we just mentioned, it’s important that you achieve a harmonious look and don’t turn the interior into a museum. For this reason, it is better to keep the antiques concentrated in a single area as opposed to having them scattered. Plus, by having them in a single location, that area becomes the room’s focal or accent space, or the area you want to draw eyes towards.

Some good spots for antiques include:

● In a living room corner

● Behind a sofa (where you may normally place a coffee or halfmoon table)

● The fireplace mantel

● Where the entertainment center would go (use an antique secretary for your TV, game consoles, etc.)

2. Group Items by Color

via

In museums and exhibits, antique collections are usually grouped according to antique type, geographical region, time period, etc. Since your home is not a museum, you do not have to group according to any of these parameters. With that in mind, though, we do recommend grouping by color. This helps create uniformity; it strains the eye and creates chaos when the room is dominated by non-matching hues.

When it comes to color grouping, you can also take into consideration non-antique décor. In other words, feel free to put that brown antique candle holder on the contemporary brown coffee table you purchased from Pottery Barn.

3. Make the Most Use of Leather

via Pottery Barn

Leather goods often don’t come to mind when it comes to antiques. People often think more along the lines of ceramics and wooden items or furnishings. Leather, though, has such versatile use when it comes to display.

Leather especially goes great in a home office. Concentrate leather décor and accessories around your desk. This is quite easy to achieve using everyday office items. Consider a leather mouse pad, leather blotter, leather document case, etc. This takes away some of the white-collar and corporate vibe and more of an elegant yet adventurous appearance.

Leather is also great if other antiques around the home are of the rustic and country variety, such as cottage and distress-style cabinetry. If country living is the theme you’re aiming for, then certainly incorporate leather for a western or outback ambiance.

4. Keep Them Accessible

via Honestlywtf

There’s a natural instinct to keep valuable antique items out of reach. Common areas include the top of a shelf or behind a display case. This is reminiscent of how collections in a museum are displayed. This gives off almost an “off limits” look. Since we are trying to move away from the museum look, keep the antiques close by. By close, this means on a coffee table, in the center of the living room, or even use an antique rug. Of course, this means you’ll have to take greater care and exercise more caution to keep the items in good condition, but this helps retain a homelier appearance.

5. Mix Old and New

via Design Sponge

This was touched upon briefly, but it warrants more analysis. Just because you have antique furnishings doesn’t mean you can’t have modern decor style items as well. In fact, it makes sense to include modern items since the home interior is based on modern architecture. Seemingly incompatible items can complement each other. If you have a 17th-century floral or portrait painting, for example, feel free to place it next to a work from a contemporary artist. This works well because it shows the evolution of the different types of art.

If you have antiques, don’t be afraid to proudly display them even if you have a 21st-century home. Blending past with present is in fact a creative way to decorate your home and create immense visual appeal.

Thank you Hannah for this inspiring post! Learn more about Hannah below!

Hannah Hutchinson is an interior designer based in London, currently blogging for Westland London. She’s always chasing new ideas and likes thinking outside the box when it comes to incorporating fresh ideas to her clients new homes.