Beyond

Home Decor Deals {End of Summer Clearance Sales}

August 9, 2018

Hi friends. I hope everyone is having a great week. I’ve been struggling this week trying to stay on top of my to-do and it hasn’t been easy. I was up early today and needed to take a break from the computer so I did some online shopping. Man-oh-man there some great end of season sales going on right now. There are lots of great home and outdoor decor items on sale. If you haven’t had a chance to do a little retail therapy lately, here’s your chance. Today I’m sharing eight really amazing clearance finds I spotted online. If you see something you like, you’ll want to add to cart quick because I don’t think any of these items will be around for long. Happy shopping!

POTTERY BARN TEEN–While most people think the product are Pottery Barn Teen and just for youth, it’s one of my favorite places to shop of unexpected home decor finds. I recently spotted this preppy personalized tapestry on clearance for just $16.99. The minute I saw it, all kinds of creative ways to use it started popping into my head. I ordered one and am planning to use it as a table linen. It measures 42″ x 35″ and will look great layered on top of a white or blue tablecloth, draped across the middle of a dining table. There’s also a black and white dot pattern if that’s more your style.

WEST ELM–I’m slowly moving away from glass vases and buying vases that you can’t see through. I like to have the water and flower stems concealed. One of my go-to sources for vases is West Elm. They always have a great selection and I just picked up this faceted metal vase that is on sale for $24.99. I love the shape and the brass finish. There are other sizes available starting at just $6.99.

WORLD MARKET–If you love the idea of gold picture frames but want something with more of a vintage feel, you’ll want to snap up a few of these brass clad picture frames. You can hang the frames on the wall or use them on a tabletop. Two sizes available, 5″ x 7″ ($19.99) and 8″ x 10″ ($23.99). These brass loop frames are also on clearance and would look great as part of a gallery wall display.

TARGET–Barcarts have become a design staple over the last few years. In addition to using one for a bar, the can also be used to hold towels and toiletries in a bathroom. I also like using them in an office to hold a printer and office supplies. I don’t need another bar cart but this Project 62 modern bar cart is a steal at $59.99.

TARGET–When it comes to pillows, black and white designs are a great investment. Black and white are easy to accessorize with other colors and like I shared in this Design Guide, every room needs a touch of black. This overused black and white lumbar pillow is on sale for just $18.47 and will look great on a sofa or on a bed.

H & M HOME–I own my fair share of cute serving trays but can’t help to add a new one to the mix when I find a great deal. This tropical leaf tray is a winner and the perfect accessory for serving drinks on the patio or using as a decorative piece on the coffee table. At $8.99 this one will sell out fast. **this would also make a great Christmas gift.

WORLD MARKET–Nothing like bold, colorful piece of artwork to make a statement with your home decor. I could see this abstract floral art over a foyer table or hanging above a sofa. The gold frame is the perfect finishing touch. On sale for $79.99.

PIER 1–Now is a great time to buy outdoor furniture, decor and entertaining pieces. While perfect for outdoor use, this blue acrylic stemware can also be used indoors. Just think how amazing it would look paired with Blue Willow china. There are a variety of styles and other colors available ranging in price $5.18 to $5.48 per glass. Free shipping on a $49 order with code FreeShip49.

NORDSTROM–Since moving from Seattle where Nordstrom is headquartered, I don’t shop in the store as much as I use to. And I often forget that they carry home decor items. This J. Alexander gold lamp is large and substantial and is a really stunning piece and is on sale for $100.

MARK & GRAHAM–It’s never to early to start thinking about holiday gifts and Mark & Graham has some fabulous gift items on clearance. This monogrammed glass bud vase ($19.99) would make a great teacher or girlfriend gift.

BALLARD DESIGNS–I’ve always loved the idea of using a wood riser like this one the kitchen to hold decorative items. I first spotted this idea over on Dear Lillie where Jenni uses a similar riser as a decorative display piece. Unfortunately the large riser is sold out but the small riser is on clearance for $59.99. If a round shape will work better for you, this carved pedestal is also on sale.

GRANDIN ROAD–Even at full price, this rattan bench was a great buy but now it’s on sale for just $199. This would be such a fun accent piece in a living room or at the foot of a bed.

Don’t forget when you out shopping to check the end-caps (end of the aisle) at your favorite stores. This is where many stores merchandise their clearance items.

Thrift Score Thursday–Fab Finds For Just $1.00

August 2, 2018

Most of the time when I go into an antique store or thrift store, I’m not looking for anything specific. I enjoy looking through clutter shelves, under tables and inside overflowing boxes. The thrill of the hunt is one of the main reasons I love to thrift.

Every now and then I’ll pop into one of my favorite stores and come home with a great deal. That’s what happened when I stopped by one of my favorite consignment stores last week. Not only did I find a couple of great items but the best part was everything I found was $1.00. Yes, fold you read that right…four quarters or 10 dimes or 20 nickels.

Everything was just a buck!

The first piece I found was this beautiful ceramic platter. It was the blue and white that initially attracted me but then I noticed the flowers. The tray is a great size for serving appetizers and would also look pretty hung on a wall. And it also has a beautiful flourish design stamped on the back, on each side of the tray.

design tip: decorative ceramic trays make great wall decor, hung in a group or as part of a gallery wall. These are the plate hangers I use when hanging a ceramic piece on the wall.

The next piece I found was this beautiful green floral cachepot. It’s small but large enough to hold a handful of rose stems, a small plant or I may even use it as a serving piece.

Here’s the stamp that is on the bottom of the green pot. I did a little research online and found a cachepot with the same design except it didn’t have the side handles. It’s selling on Ebay for $50! #score

gift giving tip: when paired with a bottle of wine, a small porcelain vase or urn makes a great hostess or housewarming gift.

I love blue and white pottery and will buy a piece even if it’s missing the lid. This small square container will make a great vessel to straws when entertaining or a chic vanity accessory.

design tip: use small ceramic containers without the lid as stylish desk accessory to hold pens/pencils, scissors or eye glasses.

My final $1.00 find was the set of 5 blue and white ceramic napkins rings. These will work with all of my blue and white dinnerware patterns so I’ll be getting lots of use out of them.

I love my new finds and love the fact that all of this only set me by a $4.00.

Do you love thrifting as much as I do and have you come across any great deals lately?

Home Office Tour: Design Is In The Details

August 1, 2018

Finally is the word that comes to mind when I think about todays post. I FINALLY put the finishing touches on my home office space and I’m excited to share it with you.

When we moved into the house almost a year ago, I started planning how I wanted to decorate my office. I knew I wanted to do something bold and dramatic. I also wanted the color theme to be black & white with a pop of color. Well friends, I think I checked off all the boxes and I’m so happy with how the space turned out.

Before I share more pictures, let me show you what the room looked like when we purchased the house. We have a three-story townhouse and my home office is located on the lower level. The walls were painted a cadet blue color, the doors black and the carpet was in desperate need of replacing. You’ll also notice that the ceiling light was broken. Even though the space is on the lower level, it gets pretty good light because of the large windows on one side.

Just a few weeks after moving in, I came up with a design plan for the space. It included bookcases along one wall, a large desk and blue & white accessories. I also wanted gold light fixture for the ceiling. But the most exciting design detail was the Smith Honig Bryony Storm Noir Wallpaper I wanted to put on the ceiling. In a nutshell, the space was designed to have a classic but modern vibe.

Here’s my newly decorated home office space…

One of the first things we did before we moved into the house was rip up the carpet and replace it with hardwood flooring. The floors are Brazilian Cherry to match the floors on the 2nd level. I love the look and the color contrast the floors provides against the grey walls, white trim and black furniture.

The wallpapered ceiling is the crowing glory of my office and really takes your breath away when you walk through the door. After I created the design plan and shared it with Kellie at Smith Honig, she graciously provided the wallpaper and manpower to install the wallpaper.

For those of you not familiar with Smith Honig, it’s a fabulous company owned by Kellie Smith and Melanie Honig. The Boho Luxe inspired products they sell are bold and dynamic with lush colors and statement making patterns. Inspired by their travels around the world, every product is infused with global influences that make them unique and distinctive. The line includes wallpaper, fabric by the yard, throw pillows, tassels, art and personal accessories. You can check out the entire Smith Honig Collection here.

All of the wallpaper that Smith Honig sells is peel and stick which makes it ideal for any room in the house. It’s a breeze to hang and can be taken down whenever you want a new look. Since I was hanging the wallpaper on my ceiling, the installer used wallpaper adhesive along the edges and seams to get the best application. If you’re considering hanging peel and stick wallpaper on a ceiling, you’ll definitely want to use a little glue to make sure it’s secure and stays in place. I absolutely love how the ceiling turned out am I so glad I wasn’t afford to add such a bold and unexpected design detail.

There are vintage pieces sprinkled around my home office. I bought this vintage typewriter at The Longest Yard Sale a few years ago for $40.

Because my home office space needs to serve multiple purposes (design work, crafting etc), I needed lots of storage. I went on the hunt for a white cabinet and found the Lainey Credenza on Wayfair. The minute I saw the door detail and acrylic handles I was sold. This cabinet holds fabric books, paint decks and other items I use in my design business.

I hung a gold starburst mirror above the credenza and accessorized the top with design books, a ceramic bust and a few vintage pieces. The lamp is one of my favorite thrifted finds of all times and only cost $13.

I placed three Ikea Billy Bookcases along the back wall and have a collection of blue and white jars displayed on top. Most of the jars I bought at antique stores but you can purchase the small lidded jar here. I replaced the wood cabinet door knobs with ceramic pulls from Hobby Lobby.

I own a ton of design books and have just a small portion of my collection in my home office. And I’m always finding new vintage pieces so I’m constantly reworking the accessories on the bookshelves.

When it came to artwork, I wanted to use abstract artwork and these black and white designs by Steve McKenzie were perfect. Each piece is a limited edition Fine Art Giclee print from Steve’s Alchemy collection. You can view all of the Steve McKenzie artwork here. The frames are from Ikea, painted gold.

Instead of using a chair on the other side of my desk, I have a long bench for additional seating. I found this one at HomeGoods and while the blue stripes work in the space I am planning to re-upholster it in a royal blue velvet.

A Chinese Chippendale style chair was part of my original design plan and I was thrilled when I lucked upon a black one at an estate sale for under $50. I bought the pink pillow from Steve McKenzie’s and it ties into the touches of pink in the wallpaper. And the rug was a great find at HomeGoods. The texture and subtle black and white yarn mix add a lot of visual interest to the space. You can buy the rug here.

During a normal work day, my desk is covered with papers, fabric swatches and other design supplies so a large desk surface was a must. Instead of an office desk, I’m using a large dining table as my desk. This is the Brookwood Dining Table from Wayfair.

There were several lantern style light fixtures I considered for my office but I ended up getting the Park Lane Lantern from Ballard Designs. This was another lucky find which I scored at the Ballard outlet for $25. The lantern was originally forest green but I gave it a coat of gold spray paint and totally transformed it.

As I mentioned above, I am thrilled with how my home office space turned out. From the ceiling to the furniture selections, it’s exactly as I envisioned it. I hope you enjoyed the tour. If you have question about anything, just leave me a comment below. In a future post I’ll share how I keep my office space organized and how I store supplies like ribbon and items for my Etsy shop.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be finishing up a few more rooms in the house and will share those with you.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.

Wall Color—Whisper by Benjamin Moore

Trim Color—Simply White by Benjamin Moore

Door Color—Black Satin by Benjamin Moore

Wallpaper (peel and stick adhered with glue)—Smith Honig Bryony Storm

Lantern Light—Park Lane by Ballard Designs painted gold (discontinued)

White Cradenza—Wayfair

Starburst Mirror—Amazon

Acrylic Lamp—vintage

Typewriter—vintage (great options available on Etsy)

Ceramic Bust—HomeGoods (similar here)

Pink Abstract Art—Etsy

Black Bookcases—Ikea

Cabinet Door Knobs—Hobby Lobby (in store only)

Black and White Abstract Art—Steve McKenzie’s

Frames—Ikea (painted gold)

Blue and White Ginger Jars—antique stores/thrifted (similar styles here and here)

Black Desk—Wayfair

Black Desk Chair—Estate Sale (similar here)

Rug—Rugs Direct

Gold Desk Lamp—Target

Rattan Desk Caddy—thrifted (similar here)

White Ceramic Desk Tray—Target (on longer available online)

A few of my favorite design books:

HomeFront by Windsor Smith
Things We Love by Kate Spade
William Yeoward At Home
Elements Of Style by Erin Gates
Flair by Joe Nye
Modern Mix by Eddie Ross
Beauty At Home by Aerin Lauder
Soiree- Entertaining With Style by Danielle Rollins
French Accents by Erin Swift

SIX Ways to Personalize Your Desk (Under $50)

July 30, 2018

Happy Monday friends. If you’ve been reading the blog for a while you know that we moved into a new house last August. I’ve slowly been working on each room and have FINALLY put the finishing touches on my office space. The space is being photographed tomorrow so I’ll be sharing the space with you on Wednesday. I love how it turned out and can’t wait for you to see it.

Before the big reveal, I wanted to pop in today and talk about accessorizing an office space. Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a home office space feel stylish and personalized? Besides artwork and a nice desk, it’s the decorative elements that can transform a workshop into a wow space.

Whenever I’m decorating a room, I like to think outside the box and replace common functional items with more stylish options. And in a home office, a few strategic changes can UpStyle the space in a flash. Here are SIX Easy Ways To Personalize Your Desk–all under $50.

No. 1–The paper trays you find in office supply stores have come a long way in the design department. However, one my favorite ways to add functional style to a desk is by using a decorative tray as an inbox. Since I love blue and white, I was immediately drawn to this chic Blue Zebra Tray from Emily McCarthy. The square shapes makes it ideal for holding paper and the $26 price point makes it an affordable option.

No. 2–One thing you’ll never find on my desk is a plastic pen/pencil cup. There’s nothing wrong with them, I just think there are more stylish options you can use to hold writing instruments. My go-to vessel is a fun vase. I love the whimsy of this Stoneware Hand Vase from H and M and think it would be a fun addition to a desk top. Plus it’s just $7.99!

No. 3–I usually have stationery on my desk or on a bookshelf nearby and love finding decorative letter holders to hold my paper products. Anything in gold or brass is a winner in my book which is why I love this Gold Letter Holder from CB2–$12.95. design tip: Letter holders can also be used to hold file folders or in the kitchen to hold paper napkins.

No. 4.–I’m always looking for unique ways to store small office supplies like push pins, paper clips and binder clips and this Wood Apothecary Box is ideal. The entire unit is compact (12″w x 7.5″ h x 4″ d) and the metal label holders on each drawer make it easy to identify the contents. $44.99. design tip: This box would also be great in the kitchen to hold tea bags.

No. 5–Clutter on your desk top can impact the productivity to you have while working. These decorative Keepsake Boxes from Wayfair are perfect for holding items like the stapler and tape dispenser. The boxes come in two sizes and range in price from $37.99 to $51.99. You could also use these to hold business cards or scrap paper for jotting notes.

No. 6–UpStyling your desk lamp is one of the easily ways to enhance the decor of your office. Opt for a stylish tabletop lamp like this Walnut Lamp ( $49.95) instead of a traditional desk lamp to accent the corner of your desk. When shopping for a lamp, pay attention to the size to ensure it will work with your desk size. You’ll also want to make sure it puts off enough light to provide adequate task lighting.

For more office decor inspiration, check out a some of my favorite office spaces.

When it comes to decorating your office space, what do you do to make it feel special?

The New Ballard Designs Store | Atlanta

July 23, 2018

Last Friday I popped into the new Ballard Designs store here in Atlanta. The store recently moved to a new location and more than doubled their space.

For years, Ballard Designs has been a great design resource for accent furniture, decorative accessories, tabletop items and linens. Over the years I’d pop into their store to find accessories for a project or the perfect pillow to finish off a bedding assemble. The array of products makes it easy to find that perfect finishing touch.

Walking into their new store was absolutely breathtaking and was like seeing the page of the catalog come to life. The expanded store space has a bright and open feel that really shows off the products. There were beautiful at every turn and even the smallest design element like a coffee table book was styled as part of a beautiful lifestyle vignette. As I walked though the store I snapped lots of pictures of things that inspired me.

Ballard Designs | Atlanta

**Modern Mix is one of my all-time favorite design books. If you don’t have a Ballard Designs near you, you can pick up a copy here.

Twine in a bow!! Such a simple but chic decorative accent.

One of my favorite parts of the store was the outdoor living area which showcased Ballard’s outdoor furniture and decor. It’s so nice to be able to see these pieces in person and get a real feel for the scale, details and quality.

In addition to furniture and decor, the store also has wallpaper, fabric and drapery hardware for sale. And there is an on-site monogram station where you can have a Jute Tote bag personalized.

I know I’ll be making the trek to the Ballard Designs store more often and can’t wait to see the store all decked our during the holidays.

For those of you in the Atlanta area, here’s the new store location:

The Works at Chattahoochee
1235 Chattahoochee Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30318

Design Chat: Small Living Room Design Plan

July 18, 2018

Hi friends. You might have noticed that it’s been pretty quiet around the blog lately. I was at the Atlanta Gift and Furniture show all last week and the blog took a back seat to work.

I’m back and have a new Design Chat post for you today. If you’re not familiar with my Design Chat series, it’s where I help one of my readers with a design challenge they are facing. Today, I’m helping Ulochi with a decor plan for her living room.

Here’s the message that Ulochi sent me…

Hello, I bought a remodeled mid-century ranch and with these old homes, the layouts can be “interesting”. For instance, the living room is driving me nuts. Its rectangular and small, with a picture window. Even the TV placement is a hassle. I want to add plants or standing art but I have to fool-proof it from my 8 month old daughter. The home has an ‘urban farmhouse’ feel with elements like barn doors and shutters. I bought a tufted gray large sectional and it makes me want to do something romantic and cozy. I can’t seem to find a way to design this space and make it feel like home. Please help.

Here’s a photo of the living room, facing the front door…

and a couple of different angles looking into the room...

and a view of the wall space that anchors the sofa.

Decorating small rooms can definitely be challenging so before I share my design suggestions for Ulochi’s living room, here are a few tips for small space decorating.

SMALL SPACE DECORATING TIPS:

Don’t be afraid to use larger scale furniture in a small space. Larger furniture will actually make the room feel bigger than it is. With that said, do pay attention to how furniture would fit in a room and it might impact the traffic flow in and out of a space.
Small spaces often times lack much architectural or visual detail so create your own by painting one wall in an accent color. The furthest wall in the room is a good option because it will draw the eye into the space and actually make the visually recede, creating more depth.
Hang curtains on the wall with the rod as high as possible to make the ceiling appear taller.
Add decorating elements in the room that create visual height and width like bookcases and artwork. And when selecting artwork, don’t shy away for large pieces will can create a focal point within the room.
Create an interesting accessory mix so the eye has lots of pretty things to look at around the room, taking the focus off of the size of the room.
Make sure there is sufficient lighting in the room. Lighting enhances a space and there should be multiple lighting options within a room.

Ok, here’s one more look at Ulochi’s living room…

Design Plan:

The room really needs some finishing touches to create the romantic and cozy vibe the Ulochi wants. The first thing I could recommend is painting the back wall in a soft aqua color like Benjamin Moore Heavenly Blue. The color will work great with the grey sofa and keeps the room feeling light and airy.

Then I’d add a few accent furniture pieces and decor to bring the room to life. All of the pieces I’m recommending for this space are from Wayfair, Target and Pier One and this entire look is less than $900.

Design Plan Details:

Sawhorse Ladder Bookcase from Wayfair–leaning bookshelves are a good space-saving option that still provides for storage and display space. Ulochi can place plants on the higher shelves so they will be out of the reach of her daughter. The lower shelves can be use to decorative accessories and books. And a basket on the bottom shelf will provide concealed storage and add texture to the room.
A round coffee table like this Carolyn Coffee Table from Wayfair will help to visually break up all of the rectangular shapes in the room and anchor the sectional. A round coffee table also makes it easier to move around the seating area in a small room.
The Dmitry End Table, also from Wayfair will anchor one side of the sofa and provide an additional surface for someone to use. I recommend a light grey finish to provide visual contrast to the stained wood floors and furniture.
Right now the only light source in the room is the overhead ceiling light. The Adesso Hamilton Floor Lamp placed behind the end table will provide additional lighting and add an element of visual height.
The wall opposite the window is an ideal spot for a piece of artwork. The goal would be to create visual impact and that can be done with one larger piece of art or a grouping that reads as one statement. With the fabric and furniture colors, I think the Watercolor Poppy 1 art from Wayfair would be dynamic. This piece is available in several sizes and also had a coordinating mate if someone wanted two pieces of art.
The finishing touch beyond accessories would be pillows. Pier 1 has a great selection of pillows to fit the color story I’m building. I choose the Textured Striped Mineral Pillow along with the Luxe Velvet Mineral Blue pillow for the sofa. Pairing a solid and stripe are a great balance with the floral art.

When it comes to shopping for accessories, there are so many some great options for budget friendly decor. In addition to Pier 1, Wayfair and Target, here are a few of my favorite stores to shop for decor:

ACCESSORY RESOURCE LIST:

Kirkland’s has lots of options that will fit a farm-house decor theme and it’s also a great resource for artwork and bookcase accessories.
HomeGoods is a given when shopping for bookcase decor. I love their selection of trays, vases and decorative objects. And it always pays off to take a stroll through the pillow aisle.
I recently discovered that At Home has a great pillow department. Even though lots of their pillows don’t have down inserts, many of the cases have zip closures so it’s easy to change the insert out. I also like their selection of inexpensive accessories.

Ulochi has a great foundation started for her living room and with a few additional pieces and some accessorizing, she’ll have the home of her dreams.

What I Bought–My Thrift With Tyler Purchases

May 25, 2018

Happy Friday friends. As you read this, I’m on the road head to Florida to set sail on your cruise. To say I’m excited is an understatement because I really, really, really need the vacation. I’ll be sharing my adventures over on Instagram and hope you’ll check in from time to time to see what I’m up to. There’s a chance that we might be dodging hurricane weather so things might be more adventurous than I planned.

Anyhow, I wanted to pop and share what I purchased during the Thrift With Tyler event that I attended last Saturday. In case you missed the highlights of the tour, you can read about it here.

In planning for the trip, I made a shopping list with the items I wanted to look for while we were shopping. I was shopping for a bench for our guest bedroom, vintage scarves (because I’m kinda obsessed with them right now) and blue and white pottery. I’m happy to say that I was able to check a couple of items off the list.

WHAT I BOUGHT–MY THRIFT WITH TYLER PURCHASES

This blue and white urn was one of my first purchases. This piece came from the Marietta Antique Mall and was under $10.00. The deep rich blue and flourish design are what caught my attention. II’m planning to use this in my office to hold a plant or orchid.

Another pottery piece that I bought was this octagon dish that also came from the Marietta Antique Mall. I’m slowly starting to add a few colorful pottery pieces to my collection so I’m glad I found this.

I’ve shared my love for milk glass on the blog before. I’m always on the hunt for new pieces to add to my Etsy shopand saw several pieces that were tempting. I bought this beautiful pitcher at Woodstock Antiques & Consignment for under $10.00. I’ve never seen this design before so that made for an easy buying decision.

Another top selling item in my Etsy shop are brass trays. This rectangular tray came from Woodstock Market. The pretty details and petite size make it the perfect size for a vanity tray or desk accessory.

This square brass tray also came from Woodstock Market. The etched pineapple design on the inside and pierced rim of the tray sold me. I’m planning to add this to my shop unless I find the perfect spot somewhere in my house.

One of the most unique stops on the tour was Nancy’s Vintage Shop in Marietta. This small shop had a lot of treasures and the minute I walked through the door I spotted this vintage handbag. I love shape and petite size and will definitely get lots of use from this bag.

The last two items I purchased came from Woodstock Market. As I was walking around the store, I spotted one of the other ladies on the tour sitting on the floor looking through a basket. Her excitement made me stroll over to see what was inside. The basket was filled with vintage scarves, most priced between $3.25 and $6.00. I dove right into the basket, right along side my new friend and came away with these two silk beauties.

I found some pretty great pieces, don’t you think?

The Thrift With Tyler event is typically held during spring and fall and I’m already looking forward to the next outing.

One Project At A Time: Outdoor Decor Plans

May 7, 2018

One of the many projects that I’ve been slowly working on around the house is our deck. I’m excited to get this outdoor space completed so we can enjoy the beautiful (and hot) spring and summer weather here in Atlanta.

We live in a three level townhouse so the deck is located off the second floor at the back of the house. It’s not a large space but spacious enough to create a cozy lounge and entertaining space.

One of the first things we’re working on is adding privacy. When you walk out on the deck, you’re looking at the neighbors behind us on one side and at the street on the other. For the side facing the street, we’re going to add a privacy fence to match the one between us and the house next door. And to give us some privacy facing out, we’ve added some potted trees. We purchased the pots from At Home and after quizzing all the garden pros in town, we decided on the JJapanese Privet, Ligustrum. We’ve also purchased an outdoor rug, umbrella and a few lanterns. Now the hard part–selecting furniture.

Just like when I’m working with design clients, I decided the best way to envision the space was to create an inspiration board (or three). If you’re working on decorating your house, I highly recommend creating an inspiration board. Having a visual reference will allow you to see the space in totality and make the best decorating decisions.

Here are three inspiration boards I pulled together with the furniture sets I’m considering. And at the end of the post I’m sharing a few outdoor decorating tips in case you’re decorating your outdoor oasis too.

*****

OUTDOOR DECOR–THE VISION

The vision for our outdoor space is to create a space that is conducive to lounging, entertaining and socializing. I want to maximize the seating as much a possible while still keeping the small space open.

Option #1: Neutrals with a pop of red since its my favorite color. The overall look is classic with the red and aqua color combo adding energy and spunk. The only downside to this plan is the seating is a bit limited unless I add an additional chair or two which could be an option.

Option #2: It’s no secret that I love blue and white so that’s what inspired this inspiration board. This look is subtle without being flat or lifeless. There are two downsides to this plan– 1) the design of the furniture is not my absolute favorite–I prefer furniture with a square frame versus rounded. And second, the blue furniture cushions are more limiting when it comes to switching out accent pillows.

Option #3: This third inspiration board is a nice mix of classic and transitional styling. I love the dark, rich colors in the pillows and also the metal garden stool. The only downside here is the color of the furniture–I’d love it if it were a little darker.

I really can’t go wrong with any of these designs, it’s just a matter of going with the one that feels the most like us. If you have a favorite design board, leave me a comment and let me know which one you think I should pick.

Here are those decorating tips I promised…

I’ll share updates as I work on the space over the coming weeks. My goal is to pull it all together right after we get back for our cruise in early June.