Design Chat: Decorating Her First Home

I’m back with another installment of my Design Chat series.  This time around I’m helping Krystian who recently purchased her first home and needs some help with space planning and decorating.  Here’s the message I received…

Hello Shelly!  Good morning!   I found an article you’ve written online a couple of years ago. Although it’s older, it is still relevant to me. I recently bought a home, I’m younger and horrible at decorating. I have a brown sectional, yet I’m trying to lighten things up. What accent color can I use to lighten things up other than teal or coral? I feel these would darken things. I can’t afford to change the couch right now, so I have to work with what I have. I’m looking at a lighter colored area rug, but I’m not sure on how to position it. Would you be able to offer help? Would it go under the couch at all, or just in front? I’m really confused, all of the rule of thumbs seem a bit overwhelming! Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I asked Krystian to send me a few photos of her home so that I could see what she was working with.

THE LIVING ROOM NOW:

When you enter the house you walk directly into the living room.  The space is open with no walls or architectural details to define it.  In a space like this, the furniture and rug will that will do that.

There are three large walls within the room which make it possible for several different furniture arrangements.

With only two small windows to provide natural lighting, the colors used in the room need to brighten and enliven the space.

There is one small challenge when it comes to decorating this space. The location of the cable jack and the large wall vent that limits what you can put on that wall.

After looking over the photos and tossing around ideas, I outlined two design plans for Krystian.

This first plan uses the existing sectional and adds in new furniture pieces to finish off the space.  To add more storage and display space to the room, I recommended a console table on the wall between the windows and another on the wall to the left inside the front door.

I’m also suggesting a set of bookcases, a new tv cabinet and table lamps to enhance the lighting throughout the room.

DESIGN PLAN #1

The second plan replaces the sectional with a sofa and a pair of accent chairs. It also orients the furniture so that the sofa is on the largest wall in the room.  As with plan 1, this plan also includes a console table for storage, a new tv cabinet and side tables.

DESIGN PLAN #2

 

To address Krystian’s concern about the room being dark, I selected decor and accessories that will brighten the room.  Here’s a look at the decor plan I created.

 

AREA RUG:  I choose an area rug with a neutral background ad colorful pattern. Patternwork and color create visual movement and in turn give the impression that a room is larger than is actually is.

When it comes to selecting the right size rug, it’s always best to tape off the size on your floor to determine what will work best.  Ideally you want the front legs of furniture pieces to sit on rug.  In Krystian’s room, I recommend either a 6′ x 9′ or a 8′ x 10′.  A large rug will help define the sitting area and anchor the living room.

PILLOWS:  A good rule of thumb when buying accent pillows is to pull colors from the area rug or artwork.  Krystian can remove some of the brown and tan pillows on the sofa and replace them with more colorful options.

COFFEE TABLE:  A round coffee table is best for this room and will provide a contrast to the square and rectangular furniture pieces. A glass top will make the room feel more open.

 

CURTAINS:  Ivory curtain panels will add soften and another light and bright element to the room.  Framing the window with curtains will actually make the windows look larger.

CONSOLE TABLES: I’m recommending console tables in two different finishes and styles.  The iron and wood table has an open base which will add to the openness of the room. The sectioned console will be great under the TV to hold electronics and decor.  Adding a few baskets to the shelves will bring texture into the room.

ARTWORK:  Colorful artwork is one the best ways to add interest and personality to a room.  The colors in the floral artwork tie back to the colors in the rug and pillows.  And the artwork will create a focal point within the room.

LIGHTING:  Krystian’s living room can benefit from additional lighting so I’m recommending a couple of table lamps.  Ivory ceramic lamps incorporate another material into the room and ties into the other ivory elements in the space.

*****

Krystian has a great living room space to work with.  Using one of these space plans along with adding color and personality through decor will give Krystian the space she’s dreaming of.

FYI–Knowing that budget is important to Krystian as she decorates her first home, I shopped Wayfair for all of the decor.  Wayfair is one of my favorite sources for stylish and budget-friendly furniture and accessories.

 

Hillsby Saffron Area Rug

Camber Round Coffee Table

Navy Knot Cotton Throw Pillow

Elliott Knit Throw Pillow

Edwards Velvet Lumbar Pillow

Miltiades Table Lamp

  Rena Console Table (wood and iron)

Salinas TV Stand (multi-section)

Solid Room Darkening Curtain Panels

French Cottage Bouquet Floral Art

Round Minerva Accent Mirror

 

***this post is not sponsored by Wayfair.  I’m just sharing one of my favorite resources and wanted to show you how you can create a beautiful space using their products.

 

 

Easy DIY Fringe Napkin Rings

DIY Fringe Napkin Rings by ConfettiStyle

I’m so excited to share this fun (and easy) DIY Napkin Ring project with you today.  As I’ve mentioned on the blog before, I love creating tablescapes.  I’m always looking for china and tabletop decor when I’m out shopping and have had lots of luck with dinnerware.  Not so much with it comes to finding chic and styling napkin rings.

When I created my tablescape for the Flavors Of Fall blog hop, I couldn’t find napkin rings for my table.  The idea of making them popped into my head and then I found this gorgeous brown brush fringe from The Ribbon Roll.  And my fringe napkin rings came to life.

DIY Fringe Napkin Rings by ConfettiStyle

DIY Fringe Napkin Rings by ConfettiStyle

 

DIY FRINGE NAPKIN RINGS

These fringe napkin rings are one of the easiest DIY/craft projects I’ve ever made.  At first I made the napkin rings using a singe band of fringe.  They turned out cute but they were lacking the pizzazz I wanted. I decided to cut another length of fringe and thought about how I could layer them together.

tip: to prevent the fringe from unraveling when you cut it, place a piece of clear tape over the looped edge  Cut down the middle of the tape and then slip stitch each edge to secure the loose threads.

DIY Fringe Napkin Rings by ConfettiStyle

To make my napkin rings really plush, I sewed the two lengths of fringe together along the looped edge. This gave my napkin rings a fringed edge on the top and bottom and made them much wider than original.  Once the two lengths of fringe were sewn together, I formed a circle and sewed the ends together using a needle and thread.

tip:  stitch directly over the tape to cover it up as much as possible.  Once you’re done stitching the ends together, cut away any exposed tape.

DIY Fringe Napkin Rings by ConfettiStyle

DIY Fringe Napkin Rings by ConfettiStyle

There are so many color and style possibilities when it comes to making these napkin rings. The Ribbon Roll has brush fringe in a range of solid colors and they also sell this cute tassel fringe that would look great.  And for Christmas entertaining, this fringed velvet ribbon would be fun.

DIY Fringe Napkin Rings by ConfettiStyle

DIY Fringe Napkin Rings by ConfettiStyle

DIY Fringe Napkin Rings by ConfettiStyle

 

I’m excited to make more of these for the holidays.  It’s a great project to do while watching your favorite Netflix series.

I hope this project inspires you to make napkin rings for your next party or to give as hostess gifts this holiday.

 

Flavors Of Fall | Virtual Progressive Dinner Blog Hop

,Flavors Of Fall Progressive Dinner Blog Hop--Tablescape by ConfettiStyle

There are a few more days until we can officially ring in the fall season, but I’m joining some blog friends to jumpstart the season with a fall blog hop.  Welcome to the Flavors of Fall Virtual Progressive Dinner Blog Hop.  If you missed the party inspiration we shared earlier this year, check out the spring soiree  and summer soiree blog hop.

If you’re coming over from Viva La Vintage For Your Home, thanks for stopping by.  Jamala’s Blueberry Molasses Wings look finger licking good.  For those of you just now jumping in, no worries, I will provide a link to the other party stops at the bottom of the post so you won’t miss any of the Flavors Of Fall entertaining fun.

Flavors Of Fall Progressive Dinner Blog Hop--Tablescape by ConfettiStyle

Now that you’ve indulged in a cocktail (or two) and enjoyed a delicious appetizer, it’s time to sit down at the table for the main course.  I was in charge of creating a fall inspired tablescape and I’m pretty jazzed with how it turned out.

The inspiration and focal point of my fall table was this beautiful pumpkin and ribbon centerpiece that I created.  I gathered some faux pumpkins, made ribbon pics using ribbon from  The Ribbon Roll and assembled all the elements on a wood tray.

.p.s.  Those of you that have been reading my blog for a while know that I have a thing for ribbon!!  I’m excited to let you know that I am joining one of my favorite ribbon companies, The Ribbon Roll as part of the design team.  Each season I will be making DIY projects showcasing their beautiful ribbons.  The projects will be shared on their blog (coming soon) and I’ll also be sharing them here on my blog. Until then, you can shop their assortment of ribbons here and follow The Ribbon Roll facebook page here.

update:  The full DIY tutorial for making this centerpiece is now live on The Ribbon Roll blog

Flavors Of Fall Progressive Dinner Blog Hop--Tablescape by ConfettiStyle

Using the colors in my centerpiece as inspiration, I built the place settings around brown and ivory.  I used my brown and white English transferware plates and placed them on top of brown faux crocodile chargers  The linen colored leaf placemats were a great find at Bed Bath Beyond–just .85 cents ea.  The striped napkins are from HomeGoods.

Flavors Of Fall Progressive Dinner Blog Hop--Tablescape by ConfettiStyle

  Instead of place cards at each placesetting, I printed out the menu, placed it to a small clip board and set it on top of each plate.  It’s an easy and inexpensive way to add an unexpected touch to the table.  The natural color of the clipboards worked great with my decor but you could paint or decorate them to fit any party theme.

Flavors Of Fall Progressive Dinner Blog Hop--Tablescape by ConfettiStyle

Flavors Of Fall Progressive Dinner Blog Hop--Tablescape by ConfettiStyle

DINNER PARTY TIPS:

Create a color theme for your party decor so all the elements work together.

Keep the centerpiece low so your guests can see and converse across the table with ease.

Incorporate unscented candles into your table decor for ambience.  I mean everyone looks great by candlelight, right!

Layers are key to a beautiful table so add them into your place setting, centerpiece and table linens.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match metal finishes when you’re setting a table.  I used silver flatware alongside brass candleholders. The two tones work great with the colors in my centerpiece and add visual contrast to the arrangement.

Flavors Of Fall Progressive Dinner Blog Hop--Tablescape by ConfettiStyle

Aren’t these fringe napkins rings just adorable?  They were so easy to make and added a fun touch to my table.  I’ll be sharing how to make these on the blog tomorrow.

Flavors Of Fall Progressive Dinner Blog Hop--Tablescape by ConfettiStyle

I had lots fun creating this tablescape and even though fall might not be here just yet, I’m ready to entertain!

Flavors Of Fall Progressive Dinner Blog Hop--Tablescape by ConfettiStyle

Flavors Of Fall Progressive Dinner Blog Hop--Tablescape by ConfettiStyle

Well friends, dinner is about to be served so head on over to Home On Poplar Creek to see the yummy main course that Nicole has planned for us.

Don’t miss any of the fall party fun.  Be sure to check out the links for all the participants below:

Cocktail Hour–Atta Girl Says

Appetizers–Viva La Vintage For Your Home

Tablescape–ConfettiStyle (your truly)

Main Course–Home On Poplar Creek

Dessert–M. Jones Style

Hostess Gifts & Party Favors–Positively Southern

 

Colorful Fall Touches Around The House | 2018

Fall Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

Hi friends.  We moved into our new house just over a year ago and while I haven’t done an official house tour, I have shown you bits and pieces of our decor.  To be real, I’m still decorating, searching for the perfect piece of art to go over the sofa, and adding finishing touches to our decor.   I’m hoping to finish up a few things before I start decorating for Christmas and plan to create a video tour to share with you.  Until then, let me show you my fall decor!

Even though I don’t traditionally do much decorating for fall, I did add little touches to our living and dining room.  If you’re expecting traditional fall colors and lots of plaid and leaf decor, hold tight because my fall decor is a little untraditional.  It’s all about color.

THE COLORS OF FALL

I LOVE COLOR and have lots of bright tones and patterns throughout my house. So as not to stray too far from my design aesthetic, I used bright elements to decorate for the season.  I replaced the pink peonies that were on the coffee table during summer with these beautiful yellow sunflowers.  Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers and I just love how bright and cheery they look.

I moved the decor around and switched up some of the books.  And I filled a vintage brass pedestal bowl with handmade felt acorns.  Even more color!

Seasonal Decor--Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

The acrylic tray got replaced with an animal print tray that I snagged for under $5 at a flea market.  I always have a touch of animal print in my decor and fall is the perfect season to showcase it.  You might have noticed that I didn’t change the pillows on the sofa (yet), but think I’ve found the perfect fall combination.  Stay tuned.

Autumn Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

Fall Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

There are no big changes to the fireplace hearth except the addition of white pumpkins nested amongst my blue and white jars.

Fall Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

We have a small console table that sits next to the door leading out to the deck.  The pink and gold pumpkins along with the orange peonies give this little vignette a fall feel.  In case you’re wondering, the beautiful peony stems cam from Hobby Lobby.

Fall Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

FALL FLOWERS

Fall Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

Over in the dining room, I dressed up the buffet with an eclectic mix of items.  I grouped brown tortoise hurricanes with small blue and white ginger jars and a velvet pumpkin under a glass cloche.  Then I added small green and white pumpkins to the mix.  I love the reflection in the mirror at night when the candles are burning.

design tip:  to prevent candle wax sticking to the bottom of a glass hurricane, place a few drops of water in the container.  The water will prevent any candle wax that drips from hardening.

Fall Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

Fall Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

Have you noticed that I have pumpkins of all shades and sizes.  I found some really cute ones this year and couldn’t resist.  The green pumpkins are from Micheals and orange velvet pumpkin is from HomeGoods.  The white ceramic pumpkins are from Hobby Lobby but I painted the stems gold…just because!

I sat a grouping of colorful pumpkins on the kitchen peninsula and love this little spot of happiness.  Grouping pumpkins in different finishes and materials makes the grouping more interesting. The gold pumpkin is from HomeGoods, the small orange pumpkin from Target Dollar Spot and the pink pumpkin is from Michaels.  I shared a picture of the pink and green pumpkins on Instagram and so many of you loved them.

Fall Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

Fall Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

I even got my cocktail bar in on the fall fun by adding small pumpkins to the monkey bowl. Sometimes it’s the little things that make the best decorating moments.

Fall Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

To finish off the dining area, I did decorate the table for fall.  Here’s a sneak peek.  I’ll be sharing the full tablescape tomorrow as part of a fall blog hop so make sure to check back.  You can see my fall tablescape from last year here.

Fall Home Tour--ConfettiStyle 2018

That wraps up my fall home tour! I hope you enjoyed looking around and seeing the just like my decor, fall comes in a variety of colors.   If you’re new to my blog, I hope you’ll consider subscribing.  You can do that by filling in the pink box in the sidebar.

 

 

Fall Pillow Finds | My Favorite Picks For The Season

When it comes to fall decorating, I don’t go overboard with my decor. I like to scatter a few pumpkins here and there and replace spring flowers with fall blooms.  I also change out the pillows on the sofa for ones with more of a fall feel. Since I’m not big on pumpkin designs, I look for patterns that represent fall through their colors and/or texture. Investing in these types of design gives me more versatility when I’m decorating and I can keep them out until I start decorating for Christmas.

I’ll be sharing my fall home tour on Wednesday where you’ll get to see the pillows I’m using in my fall decor.  Until then, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite fall inspired {and budget-friendly} styles for you to shop.

 

FALL PILLOW PICKS

No. 1   There is so much to love about this Carpet Print.  From the vintage inspired design to the soft, muted colors.  This pillow would look great paired with a chunky wool throw.

No. 2   I love the texture, colors and boho vibe in this lumbar pillow.  It’s a generous size and would look great on a sofa or accenting a bed.

No. 3  The colors in this floral lumbar pillow just scream fall and the plush fabric gives it a cozy feel.  With so much color, this is a great pattern to mix and match with other colors.  I also like this velvet design and this floral pattern.

No. 4   How fun is the diamond shag pillow?  The combination of rich, warm colors and soft texture made this a fun pillow to add to a family room or play area.

No. 5  This multicolored pillow just might be my favorite fall inspired pillow because of all the color. And I love the black over-stitch that gives the pillow even more dimension.

No. 6  Tapestry designs are trending right now and this woven tapestry is a beauty.  The colors are rich and warm and the design is perfect for traditional or eclectic design styles.

No. 7  This hook and loop pillow from Wayfair has a global look to it.  I love the nubby texture and abstract pattern.  Definitely a fun accent for more modern or boho design styles.

No. 8  I think animal prints are perfect for year round decorating, but for fall they are a great way add an elegant fall feel.  This hide cheetah print  is a showstopper and will pair beautifully with stripes of floral patterns.

 

What’s your favorite way to decorate your home for fall?  Do you go all out or do you make minor changes to welcome the season?

A Pink Rug For The Win! {It’s pretty & budget friendly}

New Dining Room Rug by ConfettiStyle--Dorset Oriental Rug from Wayfair

After hanging our new dining room chandelier, I was on a mission to find a rug to go under the table.  The hubs usually doesn’t have much to say when it comes to our decor but he let me know he wanted a rug with some color in it.

With my marching orders in hand, I set out to find a rug.  I looked at wholesale options, stalked HomeGoods and checked out RugsUSA.com.  Nada! Nothing.  Then one day I decided to look at Wayfair because as the jingle goes…Wayfair you got just what I need!   And they did!

I originally started looking at blue rugs but nothing made my heart flutter.  Next I looked at pink rugs, hot pink to be exact since that’s one of my favorite colors.  Plus there were already touches of pink in our living room so I knew a pink rug would work.  When I typed pink into the search box, lots of pretty rugs came up like this one.  I kept adding rugs I liked to my shopping cart and once I had the choices narrowed down, I reviewed them with the hubby.

We chose the Dorset Oriental Fuchsia Rug and we love it. The rug is the perfect combo of pink and navy with small accents of other colors. And the price was amazing–$ 142.99 for the 8′ x 10′ with free 2-day shipping.

 After ordering it, I was concerned that the pink would be too bright.  It’s actually muted in person (below) and all of the colors are blended nicely within the pattern.

New Dining Room Rug by ConfettiStyle--Dorset Oriental Rug from Wayfair

New Dining Room Rug by ConfettiStyle--Dorset Oriental Rug from Wayfair

Here’s another look at the rug under our table.  If you’re wondering why I’m not showing you our entire dining space, it’s because I have a fall tablescape in progress. I’ll be sharing the entire space next week as part of a Fall Soiree Progressive Dinner Blog Hop so stay tuned.

New Dining Room Rug by ConfettiStyle--Dorset Oriental Rug from Wayfair

New Dining Room Rug by ConfettiStyle

If you like the style of the rug but pink isn’t your color, it’s available in three other colors.

 

Weekend Wrap-Up | Design, Shopping & More-Vol. 11

I don’t know about you but  I’m really trying to make the most of the long weekend before the hustle and bustle of fall and holiday activities start.  First up on my to-do list is cleaning out the storage closet in my garage.  If you don’t hear from me next week, send out a search party.  Here’s a round-up of my favorite reads and inspiration from the week.  Enjoy!

******

Fun Read and Inspiration

I was looking through my Pinterest account the other day and was shocked to see that I’ve pinned almost 30,000 images and have over 950,000 monthly viewers.  If you don’t already follow ConfettiStyle, just click here.

How To Organize Your Life According To Your Zodiac Sign.  When it comes to me, the insights about Aries are pretty true expect I prefer a pretty notepad to post-it-notes.

Wow, knowing this makes me love Trader Joes even more.

After seeing this beautiful giftwrap, I’m going to keep a stash of brown paper bags and silk flowers on hand.

Love this fall fabric wreath I spotted on Etsy.

*****

Labor Day Sales

Old Navy: 50% off all Sweatshirts, Tees, Jeans and Dresses.  It’s a great time to stock-up on basic and layering pieces for fall.  My favorites are this scoop neck top and this plaid swing dress.

Loft:  40% off your entire purchase.  I never shopped the Loft until recently and so far I’m loving everything I’ve purchased.  I just ordered this striped poncho.

Mark & Graham:  Add’l 30% off Sale Items.  It’s a great time to pick up stocking stuffers for Christmas.  My picks are this leather mouse pad, this denim tote and these nylon travel bags.  And the best part, all of these items are monogrammed.

Nordstrom:  Their annual Summer Sale is in progress with savings up to 40% off.   This Kate Spade handbag is a great price and I love this cashmere wrap.

Pier 1:  Buy more, save more including sale and regular priced items.  These napkin rings and these plaid plates are great for fall and Thanksgiving entertaining.

Z Gallerie:  20% off Art & Decor.  I love these navy lidded jars and this colorful art is stunning.

Anthropologie:  Extra 40% off sale items.  This tea-for-me would make a great teacher or girlfriend gift. And this statement necklace is a great deal.

*****

On the blog this week

My latest thrifting finds

End Of Summer Coffee Table Decor

The Art Of High / Low Style Mixing

*****

 Before I sign off, I wanted to remind you that the voting is still open for the Amara Interior Blog Awards.  I’m honored to have been nominated for Best Design Inspiration Blog and would love your vote.  You can vote here.

 

5 Minute DIY FaceLift | UpStyling Plain Pillows

DIY Designer Pillows by ConfettiStyle

If you’re looking for an instant makeover for your decor, think about changing your pillows.  Refreshing your pillow mix is an easy and affordable way to change the look of a room.  Store like Ikea and HomeGoods are a great source for basic pillows but sometimes your room might call for pillows with a little more detail.  That’s where the 5 minute facelift comes in.

 Earlier this week I UpStyled the look of a pair of navy velvet pillows I have on my sofa.  The pillow covers are from Ikea and at $9.99 the quality is pretty good.  To give these plain covers a whole new look, I added some beautiful woven trim along each edge.  In just 5 minutes I elevated the look of the pillows and the decor in my family room.

Here’s what you need to do to UpStyle your own pillows…

  1.  Measured the length of the pillow and added 1″ to each end.
  2. Then using a Tailor’s Chalk Pencil, I draw hash marks 3 1/2″ in from each side.
  3. Next I turned each end of the trim under 1″ and stitched it down using a needle and thread.
  4. The final step was gluing the trim in place using Unique Stitch fabric glue. Once dry, the  adhesive is water-soluble, non-toxic and creates a permanent bond.

DIY Designer Pillow Covers by ConfettiStyle

While these aren’t designer pillows, they are a budget-friendly way dress up plain pillow covers and create a fresh new look for your decor.

DIY Designer Pillow Covers by ConfettiStyle

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  I hope you’re inspired to give your decor a facelift.

You can read all about one of my favorite trim resources here.  And learn my tips for building a pillow assortment here.

 

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