spice it up!

 if you've been following my posts over the past two weeks, 

you've seen the way that the color red has made a first-time appearance in our winter home decor.

like a pinch of cayenne, ginger, or cinnamon in a great recipe,

we're enjoying the way just a touch of this hue spices up our rooms - and our moods!

that sweet little red wood birdhouse shown above was made by my grandson...

and i love having it on the sideboard in the entry hall where i see it many times a day.

the other red accents in our home are similar - just a small pop of color, but with big impact.

the best part?
i've incorporated this hue into our decor without spending much money at all! 

i already had everything i used (except one red thrifted sweater and one tan & red plaid blanket),

either in the house (in cabinets & closets) or the garage (seasonal decor bins + camping gear!).

continue reading to see how i created some of the 'fast, cheap, & easy' details!

* here's one more peek at the 'sweater cake', 

made from the very last bit of that thrifted red sweater that became pillows and candle cozies.
the other faux 'cake' is a red enameled bundt cake pan that has never even been used!

* the fun gumball machine is left over product from my homewardFOUND shop (yes it was already red!)

and the wine-cork trivet with gingham trim? Mom's had that for YEARS. 

*  several years ago, i nabbed some rolls of piano player music at a local garage sale... 

i used the music rolls, but kept the boxes. now they add color in the kitchen!

(that 'coffee & hot cocoa bar' was an easy no-nails project -

one crate plus one wood cutting board stacked on two 4X2 blocks!)

* that tiny red graniteware coffee pot is one that i actually used when camping years ago!

it holds exactly ONE cup of coffee, and i picked it up at a thrift store on Orcas Island, Washington. 

 * Mom's ubiquitous Better Homes & Gardens cookbook - with scribbled notes in the margins by her AND my grandma Ward - is a perfect detail in our kitchen. (yes, we DO use it often!)
the small vintage creamer bottle has red lettering, too - sadly, it doesn't show up very well here.

* an enameled metal sign ($3 at Target two years ago) adds a note in the right shade.

 * on the workbench-turned-bar near our kitchen, i gathered some small red items

that have to do with food, drink, and fun...

the vintage Coca Cola seltzer bottle was my dad's, and his dad's before him.

the small ceramic lidded 'LOVE' box was a gift from a friend.

the sign was a gift from my sissy, and the rest is just from the party supply box!

i share this stuff so you'll see that decorating for the seasons isn't costly, or hard. 

it's not a total makeover, it's not about running around shopping, or 'keeping up' with anyone.

it's about looking around at what you have already - maybe packed away in bins and drawers? 

that you bought because you loved it but then forgot about it -
and pulling it out to infuse your home with color, energy, whimsy, and fun every season...

bringing you and your rooms to life!