End Of Summer Coffee Table Decor

August 28, 2018

Happy Tuesday friends. Is anyone else having a hard time wrapping their head around the fact that September is just a few days away? Where has this year gone? While I’m sad to see summer slip away, I must admit that I’m ready for fall.

Fall is one of my favorite decorating seasons and I’m already thinking about how I want to decorate for the season. I can’t wait to cozy up my home!

Today I want to give summer one last hoorah by sharing my end of summer coffee table decor. Just like summer, my table is bright, bold and filled with fun!

“A room should never allow the eye to settle in one place. It should smile at you and create fantasy.” –Juan Montoya

I make seasonal changes to my decor and the coffee table is one that gets a new look often.

My coffee table is square and fairly large so there’s lots of area to display books and collectibles. The centerpiece of the table is an arrangement of silk pink peonies in a brass bowl. I love adding flowers to the mix because they add color and softness. Surrounding the flower arrangement are five groupings of coffee table books (one of my obsessions). I placed decorative accessory on top of each stack to create the eclectic look I like and to add dimension to the table.

I love using some of my vintage decor on the table. This ceramic monkey was a given to me by a client and the brass bowl was a flea market find.

Candles are an essential part of my decorating style so there is always a candle in my coffee table arrangement. If you’re shopping for fall candles, this autumn candle and this black ginger candles are two of my favorite fall scents.

It’s no surprise that there’s some blue and white pottery on my coffee table.

With fall approaching, I’m planning to refresh my coffee table decor in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to see how the look changes.

For more tips on styling a coffee table, check out my post– Anatomy Of Styling A Coffee Table Tray.

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Accessories: Monogram Coasters (similar) // Money Dish (vintage) // Silk Peonies // Vintage Blue and White Lidded Bowl (similar)

Accessories: Magnifying Glass // Wood Slice // Silver Matchstick Urn // Gold Wishbone

Coffee Table Books: Passion For Parties // Pizzazzerie // Veranda Entertaining // Designers At Home

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I might make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What Decorating and Life Have In Common

August 10, 2018

Happy Friday! I’m popping in today to share a post I originally shared over 5 years ago. I remember at the time I was contemplating with whether to make some big changes in my decor. And looking back, I was also feeling a little uneasy in my life as well. The idea of change wasn’t sitting well with me so I wrote this post.

Here I am some 5 years later thinking about change again. So what better way to refocus my thoughts and energy than to take my own piece of advice. This post has as much to do about design and decorating as it does about living life to the fullest. Sometimes you need to step back and look at things in a different way before moving forward.

DESIGN LESSONS FOR YOUR HOME and LIFE

1. Styles Change and So Should You—I know that not everyone is like me and has their décor in a constant state of change, but I do believe that as people change the décor they surround themselves with should change as well. This doesn’t mean changing every piece you own, just change the things that no longer fit your lifestyle or taste. Surround yourself with only those things that bring you joy. Life Lesson: This also goes for the people you surround yourself with! Life is too short to have people in your life that don’t lift you up.

2. If you Love it, Buy it–If I had a penny for every time I’ve said those words to a client, I’d own a private island. If you buy things you love, you’ll always find a place for them in your home. Be fiscally responsible but don’t walk about from things that spark your happiness. And remember, bringing something new into your home may shine a light on something you should let go of. Life Lesson: You never regret anything you do out of love!

3. Trust your Gut–Design is as much about looking good and it is about feeling good. If something doesn’t feel right about your décor, take the time to study it and figure out what it is that bothers you. Your home should make you feel comfortable and at ease! Life Lesson: Pay attention to the feeling in your gut when you are around people and situations that don’t make you feel good. Instinct and intuition are all-powerful. Learn to trust them.

4. Design Should be a Marathon, not a Sprint–I do it and I know many of you do it as well….rush the design process. We want immediate gratification instead of holding out for the right thing. Decorating your home should be a process, with time given to understanding the look you want, the way you live in the space and the way you want your home to feel. Taking time to create the living space you dream of will result in a home that you’ll love for years to come. Life Lesson: Whenever you want to make a change in your life, work at it each day and make it a habit and not expect it to all happen over night.

5. Design for the Space you Live in, Not the Space you Dream Of–I’ve worked with clients who buy things with the idea of it working in the home they “hope” to live in one day and not the home they actually live in now. While it’s always good to buy pieces that can function in different ways, don’t get caught up in buying furniture or decor that is not suited for your current living environment. Make the most of what you have, with where you are! Life Lesson: Find and appreciate every moment and every thing that exist in your life today. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone and neither is that water front mansion that may be your dream home.

6. Too Much of a Good Thing can be Bad–Good design is about lots of little things coming together to create a beautiful space. Too much of the same thing whether it be color, a pattern or an item can turn tasteful décor into décor gone bad. Life Lesson: All things in moderation.

7. Sometimes You Have to Challenge Yourself–Getting in a rut with your design style is easy to do. We all become comfortable with what we have and the idea of implementing a change can feel overwhelming. As with life, you need to challenge your design style from time to time. Try incorporating a new color into your décor or rearrange your furniture to create a different look for a room. Change your thought pattern from “I’ve always done it like this” to “What if I did it like this?”. Life Lesson: To grow and be the best that you can be in life you have to challenge yourself to do things that move you forward and expose you to new ways of thinking and doing.

8. You Have to Look Up as Well as Ahead–Ceiling are an important part of décor and often times they get neglected which can cast a negative view on a space. Consider your ceiling as the 5th wall and paint it or treat it in a way that enhances your décor. If paint is not your thing think about a ceiling medallion for the chandelier or enhance your crown molding. Life Lesson: Creating a vision for your life and your career is one of the surest ways to make it happen. Whether you believe it or not, your thoughts do become things and what you think you become!

9. Interior Design is Not About the Stuff, It’s About What you Do with That Stuff–Taking the time to create a living environment that allows you to live your best life and to nourish your spirit are the things that matter most in design. Create furniture arrangements that allow you family to connect, hang photos that tell your family story and decorate with items that give you a sense of comfort and joy . Life Lessons: Who you are defines what you do & What you do defines who you are! Life is 10% of what happens to you, and 90% of how you react to it.

10. The More you Love Your Decisions, the Less You Need Others to Love Them. Social media can definitely spin you into the comparison trap and leave you feeling less than. Remember that you were put on this earth for a purpose and to create your own path. Don’t let anyone dull your sparkle or dim your light. Life Lesson: You are the captain of your ship and your happiness is in your hands.

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

Backyard Bash | Summer Soiree Blog Hop

July 19, 2018

Summer is here and that can only mean one thing…it’s time to do some outdoor entertaining! Today I’m joining 5 of my blogging buddies for a Summer Soiree Backyard Bask and you’re invited to the party. We had a blast with the Spring Soiree virtual progressive dinner, we decided a summer blog hop was in order.

Entertaining during the summer can be so much fun and a progressive dinner makes it even better because the meal prep is spread across all the party hosts. As you party hop, not only do you get to enjoy everyone’s decor but you also enjoy a different menu at each house. Nothing like delicious food + stylish decor to create the perfect party atmosphere.

The menu below shows the courses and the hosts for our Summer Soiree Backyard Bash so sit back as we get this party started.

Summer Soiree Virtual Progressive Dinner Party

The first stop for our progressive dinner kicks off with cocktails at my house. When it comes to summer cocktails, I enjoy a drink that is light, refreshing and a little fruity. Today I’m serving up a Strawberry Lemon Mojito which checks all the boxes.

So that everyone can mix and mingle in the comfort of air conditioning, I set up my cocktail bar indoors. I created a little “make and shake station” on my sideboard and used my tiered bar table to hold my blue & white ice bucket, other beverage options and glassware.

To play off the color and pattern used in the invitation, I dressed my sideboard with a blue plaid runner and yellow decor and flowers as an accent color. I used mostly white serving pieces for a crisp pop of color and a few wicker elements to create that summer vibe.

Learn how I made the ice bucket here.

Now that I have my bar set, I want to share a few tips to help you with your party next party…

Cocktail Party Tips:

Use the colors and theme of the party invitation as inspiration for your decor.
Break traditional cocktail rules and Mix and match your glassware to give your party an eclectic feel.
Include a few nibbles on the bar and around the room so guests have something to snack on and to ensure no one is drinking on an empty stomach.
Use decorative bowls to hold drink garnish and add style to your bar.
Frame the drink recipe so guests know what ingredients are in the signature cocktail.
Have non-alcoholic beverages available for those guests that don’t drink alcohol.

I’m sending you off to Tamrya’s house for appetizers but before you go, download the Strawberry Lemon Mojito Cocktail Recipe so you can enjoy it at your next summer bash.

And be sure to follow the party and stop by each participating blogger for more entertaining and menu ideas…

Cocktails with ConfettiStyle (that’s me)

Appetizers with Positively Southern

Tablescape Decor with Atta Girl Says

Main Course with M. Jones Style

Dessert with Viva La Vintage For Your Home

Hostess Gift & Party Favors with Home On Poplar Creek

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.

Product + Inspiration: Layered Doormats For A Stylish Entrance

July 5, 2018

via Studio McGee

Hi friends. It’s been a while since I’ve done a Product + Inspiration post so I’m popping in today to talk about decorating your front door area.

Often times when we’re decorating our homes, we are so focused on the interior that we forget about the exterior. Flower pots and window boxes are a great way to add visual interest to the exterior of your home. And a wreath on the front door creates a welcoming feeling for guests. There’s also another decorative statement that I’m loving lately and it’s the idea of layered door mats! Layering a door mat over a decorative indoor/outdoor rug is an easy {and budget friendly} way to UpStyle your entrance.

A quick search around the web and I rounded up a handful of doormat and outdoor rug combos I think you’ll love.

via Wilshire Collections

Product + Inspiration: Layered Doormats

No. 1–Home Sweet Home + Interlocking Grid: The Home Sweet Home Doormat is a classic and pairs beautifully with an outdoor rug that has a more modern design like this grid pattern.

No. 2–Hello + Tropical Flower: This teal door mat and tropical floral rug is perfect for spring and summer. When fall rolls around you can easily switch out the floral rug for one with more fall colors.

No. 3–Welcome + Zebra: I’ve never met an animal print that I don’t love and this outdoor zebra rug is a winner. Paired with this classic ‘Welcome’ mat and you’ve got a chic look for your front door.

No. 4–Navy Floral + Yellow Stripe: This floral and stripe combo is fun while still be traditional. I love the punch of color this pairing would add at the door.

No. 5– Stripe+ Black & Ivory Lattice: If preppy is more your style, this striped doormat and quatrefoil rug combo is for you. tip: you can easily diy a striped doormat in about 5 minutes and for less than $8.00 like I did here.

No. 6– Petals + Tan Lattice: I love pairing floral patterns and graphic designs and this combo is my favorite.

Lantern Lane Designs

Tips For Layering Your Doormat

Most doormats are 18″ x 30″ so a 2′ x 3′ rug will work great as the under layer. If you have a larger entrance or french doors, buy a larger doormat and use a 3′ x 5′ rug under it. Whatever size doormat and rug you buy, make sure the rug frames the smaller doormat and leaves enough pattern exposed around the sides to give your entrance visual impact.
Look for outdoor rugs with a lower profile (flat cotton weaves work great) so that you don’t create a tripping hazard once the doormat and rug are layered.
When selecting your combo, pair a classic design with a more decorative pattern. Doing this will give you more versatility and make it easy to switch out just one of pieces to change the look seasonally.

So, do you like the look of layered doormats and which combo would you pick for your home?