Saturday, May 25, 2013

"15 Easy Ways to Update Your Home"

 

Yesterday a post from HOUSE BEAUTIFUL
appeared in my Facebook feed.
It was titled, "15 Easy Ways to Update Your Home."
It was interesting to see how many of the ways I have/or would consider doing.

1.  Paint a piece of furniture Kool-Aid purple.
WOULD NOT consider, mainly because purple
is not one of "my" colors.
However, I have just recently painted
a pine wardrobe with white chalk paint.


2.  Collect seashells to embellish a fireplace surround.
I love seashells, but haven't been to the beach lately.

3.  Hang a wind chime inside the house
where it can catch a breeze.
I DO have a wind chime hanging on my front porch.


4.  Set up an outdoor room --anywhere, any way you can.
YES, YES and YES!
My front porch is all set for spring and summer use!




I will be spending many, many hours here in the weeks to come.

5.  Dress your bed in all white for the summer.
DONE!


I'm cheating just a tad with a bit of color in the quilt and pillows.

6.  Paint your home office leafy green,
to create the feeling of a tree house.
I haven't done this, but, sitting at my desk
already feels like I'm in a tree house:




(Views from my desk today.)

7.  Don't just clean up a room -
put away all the stuff that's accumulated on every flat surface.
Although I haven't done this completely, I have been
decluttering a lot this spring.

8.  Sometimes the simplest window treatments are the best.
Yes! Just sewn and hung this spring!


9.  Slipcovers!
Yes again.  I've made slipcovers for two small chairs
and if I could ever find the right fabric would happily
have them made for two love seats in the living room.




10.  Cut flowers and greenery from the yard
for each room in your house.
Sort of...although I don't often bring cut flowers into the house,
I do raise violets, have them throughout my house,
and usually have some blooming.


11.  Paint your bedroom closet a favorite color.
Already done...the same vibrant blue as my bedroom.

12.  Plant a little garden - even just a few flowers - by every doorway that leads into the house.


Flower boxes are all planted on the front porch.
(Does basil by the backdoor count?)

13.  Vintage garden accessories look even cooler
when used to decorate the inside.
I love this look and actually walked through the house
to see where I've done it.
The best I could come up with is a favorite print
in my living room of a vintage garden chair.



14.  If you don't like an architectural detail --
a brick fireplace, wood ceiling beams --
paint it a chalky white.


I have never loved the look of my fireplace
(although I adore having it in the winter with a fire going).
It has been painted white since I have lived here,
AND, I have just given a fresh coat in the past month!

15.  Mirrors add and spread light wherever they're used.


I know and practice this with mirrors through out my house.
One of my favorites is a set of old french doors I had backed
with mirrors in my small dining room.
They make the room look twice as large and add more light!

I think I did quite well!
How are you keeping your home updated?

This week I am partying at
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Give Me the Goods at Rain on a Tin Roof
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Simple & Sweet Fridays at Rooted in Thyme

22 comments:

Unknown said...

Love your home! Beautiful! :)
-Heather
www.stringtownhome.org

Debra at HOMESPUN: http://www.thehomespun.com said...

ha ha ha I visit your blog alot and I think that you should stay away from Koolaid purple lol!

Thistle Cove Farm said...

thoroughly enjoyable post; enjoyed every word and every photo. especially love the iron frame bed.

Blondie's Journal said...

It must feel rewarding that you have already done what most of the experts are suggesting we do to freshen up our homes! You are ahead of the game. I love seeing pictures of your beautiful home and your balance of bright colors and white. So pretty!

XO,
Jane

Linda said...

What a beautiful home you have! Loved seeing what YOU see everyday!

Jenny said...

This is a great post. I'm doing some of those things right now. The green paint will be opened today. And, yes, a small touch ofunpected color adds a zing to a room....purple! Don't be afraid. After all, purple is half blue. xo Jenny

Abby Lawson said...

Good call on nixing the kool-aid purple. Your version is much classier! I popped over from Give Me the Goods--thanks for sharing!

~Abby =)

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Love your home!
What a fun tour and the updates are just so fresh and pretty.
Cindy

Lanita Anderson said...

Great ideas - thanks for sharing!! I LOVE the pictures of your front porch and your white bedroom linens!
This is my first time at your sight and I loved it!
Blessings,
Lanita

Kip said...

Kool-Aid purple seems to be going too far, and would probably stand out too much it would be an eyesore. Unless you build your motif around the whole thing, which seems tedious at best. Your desk has quite a view! You really don’t need to paint anything green when you’re already surrounded by that much. Cool outdoor room, btw.

Tittle Brothers

Ceci Bean said...

What a fun idea for a blog post. I don't think I've done too many of those!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Susan, These are all great ideas and your home is beautiful! I love your porch. Thanks for linking to the Open House party.
Hugs,
Sherry

Michelle {Jarrah Jungle} said...

Great tips! You a have a gorgeous home. I just wish I didnt have a black thumb and could grow flowers so I didnt have to keep buying them. I love having a vase of flowers in the bathroom :)

Stan and Jody Gabara said...

Great post! I love your tips and your home is gorgeous! Would love for you to share at Simple & Sweet Fridays.
New Follower!

hugs,
Jody

Dewena said...

I love this kind of post! While I've gotten so exasperated with House Beautiful, mainly because they completely ignore Christmas, I do love some of their features. I've torn many a last page from their magazines to keep as it is usually so helpful. What made the post though was seeing pictures of your own house illustrating the point. Excellent!

Jenna said...

Awesome ideas! Thanks for sharing at Give Me The Goods Monday! Can't wait to see what you bring next week! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof

Michele said...

All timely tips, and a great chance to see your lovely home. Thanks!

Meggie said...

I really enjoyed reading this post. I especially like the idea of the French doors backed with mirrors. I must give it a try!

The Tablescaper said...

I host a weekly link party called "Seasonal Sundays". This week, in honor of my fourth blog-a-versary, I'm having a giveaway of a $100.00 gift certificate to HomeGoods/TJ Maxx. I'd love to have you join the fun!

- The Tablescaper

Kathryn Ferguson Griffin said...

What a fun post! You will be one of the fan favorites tomorrow at the Sunday Showcase from the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Pop on in and grab a Sunday Showcase button for your blog. Hope to see you again at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

Anonymous said...

That's a great post, I really like the deep blue bedroom with the white bedding. That's just lovely for summer. Found you through Rooted in Thyme party. Blessings -

Ivy and Elephants said...

Gorgeous tour of your beautiful home.
I think I'd park myself on the porch and spend the summer there! Love to have you link with us.
Hugs,
Patti

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...