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Showing posts with label room makeovers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label room makeovers. Show all posts

5.26.2023

fave past summer decor projects

summer,outdoors,beach style,decorating,diy decorating,DIY,seasonal,seashells,Sweet Sweater Sandbabies,thrifted,re-purposed,up-cycling,summer decorating, summer home decor,taj ma tent,boho style.
summertime is finally here, 
so let's start the new season with some easy decorating ideas!

i've enjoyed refreshing my homes every season over the years...
 some of those projects have been successful in more than one home
as i re-create them in new versions + colorways...
from bright primary hues when my kids were young,
to a restorative neutral palette with beachy style in an 'empty nest',
to my current enjoyment of bright happy yellow & white
(and the tropical / tiki decor in greens & oranges that you don't see on the blog),
my decor choices always reflect how i want to feel at home.

over the past ten years of blogging here at homeward found decor,
i've shared hundreds of my original diy home decor projects
in 765 published posts since i launched this blog in August 2012.

if you've been reading my blog for the past decade, THANK YOU FRIENDS!
if you're a newer visitor, i hope you enjoy discovering some of my past creations
as i share a look back... 

continue reading for some of my FAVE past summer decor projects!

5.28.2021

farmhouse may-keover: bedroom

coastal style,color,entertaining,farmhouse style,decorating,room makeovers,colorful home,diy decorating,FREE,spring,makeover,DIY,furniture,color palettes,boho style,grandmillenial style,bathroom decor,powder room decor,farmhouse bathroom,simplified decor,minimalist decor,gallery wall decor,create a gallery wall,wall art
i've spent all month sharing the farmhouse makeover with you,
with a tour from the front porch to the powder rooms
to share ideas for a quick decor touch up.

last but not least, let's visit the main bedroom...
and guess what? since my friend is smarter than me,
there are BEFORE pics!

continue reading to see how we added artful style to her new 'nest'...

5.24.2021

farmhouse may-keover: guest baths

coastal style,color,entertaining,farmhouse style,decorating,room makeovers,colorful home,diy decorating,FREE,spring,makeover,DIY,furniture,color palettes,boho style,grandmillenial style,bathroom decor,powder room decor,farmhouse bathroom,simplified decor,minimalist decor,gallery wall decor,create a gallery wall,wall art
we don't generally think of decorating a bathroom.
(a gut job, remodel, demolition - sure)
sometimes, though, a 'cosmetic' makeover 
completed with some simple decorative accessories is enough...

as part of the process of giving my friend's house a budget-friendly new look,
i spiffed up her two powder rooms with a few basic styling tricks.

continue reading to see a refreshing change...

5.21.2021

farmhouse may-keover: dining room & kitchen

coastal style,color,farmhouse style,decorating,room makeovers,colorful home,diy decorating,FREE,spring,makeover,DIY,furniture,color palettes,boho style,grandmillenial style,entertaining,spring home decor,spring buffet decor,dining room makeover,IKEA furniture,kitchen makeover
go ahead, you can sit and stare at that beautiful view...
i sure did while i was there! 

the view from my friends' front porch is stunning, 
and that's what you see when you look out the bay window in her dining room - 
also visible from the living room. 

today's post shares the things we did to start refreshing her dining room,
and moves into the very simple ways we gave her kitchen a fresh look... 


continue reading for some 'fast, cheap, & easy' decorating ideas!

5.17.2021

farmhouse may-keover: diy 'artful' chair

coastal style,color,farmhouse style,decorating,room makeovers,colorful home,diy decorating,FREE,spring,makeover,DIY,furniture,color palettes,boho style,grandmillenial style,spring home decor, spring decor,art furniture,art chair,fabric crafts,diy chair upholstery,floral fabrics,spring florals,diy furniture makeovers.
you may have noticed that i glossed over something special in my last post...
something sitting in the living room, next to the fireplace mantel.
it's a chair. it's furniture.... but it's also SO much more!
it's art. it's personalized. it's whimsy.

i'm a strong proponent of including a touch of whimsy in every room.
but what IS whimsy?

it's personality. charm. a unique 'something' that no one else has.
it could be a thing, a color, a pattern, an architectural oddity in the room
that just catches your eye the moment you walk in - and makes you smile.

when my friend mentioned an idea that she had to me,
i KNEW it would be a showstopping addition to her home.
i knew it would be the whimsy she craved and a perfect finishing touch
in her newly refreshed living room.

so we wasted no time in getting started!

continue reading to see the before, during, after (and afterafter!) of our re-styled revived chair!

5.10.2021

farmhouse may-keover: living room

coastal style,color,farmhouse style,decorating,room makeovers,colorful home,diy decorating,FREE,spring,makeover,DIY,furniture,color palettes,boho style,grandmillenial style,living room decor,spring home decor,spring decorating,mantel decor,wall art,furniture arrangement.
i'm structuring this 'MAY-keover' series of posts
as if you are walking into and through my friend K's farmhouse...
first, you saw her grand front porch and welcoming entry hall
(link at end of this post)

today, we'll focus on her living room
and all of the simple changes made that completely transformed it...

continue reading to learn some easy tips for re-styling a room on a budget!

5.03.2021

farmhouse may-keover: front porch & entry

boho style,,farmhouse style,coastal style,decorating,diy decorating,DIY,color,color palettes,colorful home,FREE,furniture,room makeovers,makeover,on the porch,outdoors,spring,spring home decor,spring decorating,use what you have decor,farmhouse makeover,MAY-keovers.
spring is here, it's MAY - 
and that means it's time for another budget-friendly DIY MAY-keover series!

this time, i helped a friend redecorate the farmhouse she inherited from her parents.
her Dad built it, her Mom loved it, and now it's hers...
and i wanted to help her express her own style, to make it her HOME.

she's given me permission to share the changes we made with you,
and i know you'll find inspiring and usable ideas!

continue reading to see some of the simple, affordable ways we added style
to this beautiful farmhouse...

1.11.2021

optimistic outlook in my office

january decor, winter home decor,color,color palettes,colorful home,Pantone color of the year,decorating,diy decorating,room makeovers,winter,white,trends,new year,Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate Gray,Pantone colors of the year 2021,2021, yellow and gray,gray and yellow,repurposed decor,restyle your rooms,organizing,office decor,
color really can change the way a room feels... and works!
at the beginning of a new year, color can energize us and our work spaces.

when i decided to 'try on' the current trend of a yellow and gray palette, 
i chose my studio/office as a test subject.
previously, i shared the new arrangement around my faux fireplace - 
this color palette also comes into play on my desk and nearby bookshelf
to help organize and cheer up my work space.

by curating not just the color palette but the amount of items in each area,
my office functions better. i have what i need every day at hand.
items i use less are stored in easily accessible areas, and don't overwhelm the space.

and honestly? this happy sunny yellow color affects my mood. (most days).
so if simply bringing in a new color to my space can do all that, i'm all for it!

continue reading to see how impactful a color change can be...

1.04.2021

getting cozy for winter...

color,color palettes,colorful home,Pantone color of the year,decorating,diy decorating,room makeovers,seasonal,winter,Illuminating yellow, Ultimate Gray, Pantone Colors of the Year 2021, winter home decor,home decorating,home decor,diy home decor,gray and yellow,yellow and gray,sweater crafts,faux fireplace,faux firelogs,mantel garland,winter mantel,books,decorating with books,restyle your rooms
as i 'try on' the palette of white, sunny yellow and soothing gray
in my studio (my 'decorating laboratory'!),
i'm finding it very easy to get whole new look using what i have here at home.
bringing in soft textures (a fleece blanket, sweater-covered pillows)
and references to warmth (a 'fire' in the faux fireplace, candles, warm hues)
makes this space feel much cozier during these cold days of winter.

maybe you're not into the 'color of the year' palette,
but you're ready for a fresh new vibe as the new year begins...
let me show you how to pull together a whole new look using what you already have!

continue reading for some simple decorating tips...

10.08.2020

fall flip: guest room update

fall, fall home decor, fall decorating, home decor, bedroom decorating, fall palettes, room makeover, no-cost makeover, makeover, boho style, boho decorating, diy, diy home decor, color palettes, colorful home decor, rustic style, farmhouse style, decorate in a day, succulents
back in August, i shared the no-cost makeover i created in our guest room - 
a cool, refreshing boho mod style in tones of greens and accented with succulents.

no one has come to stay with us since then, but i've just updated the decor...
and even though there isn't a pumpkin or a leaf in sight,
adding the color orange really works to to bring in a 'fall' mood.
(it's still hot here. but it's October now, so i have to accept the inevitable!)

continue reading to see how a few small changes made a BIG difference
 in the way this room feels...

9.03.2020

why 'seasonal' decorating?

winter, spring, summer, fall, autumn, holiday, seasonal, decorating, home decor, diy,  diy decorating, seasonal decor, room makeover, restyled, decorating on the cheap
i get that question a lot: "why do you change your home decor with the season?"

it's not such a foreign concept, really. most people do this at certain points in the year -
Halloween, Christmas, Fourth of July, Easter.
they bring out decor elements that are specific to those holidays to enhance their enjoyment.
i grew up with a Mom who did that, making holidays special.

decorating for winter, spring, summer, and autumn is a similar approach...
simple, subtle changes in color and accessories can make a dramatic difference
in how a room feels, and how i live in it.

for example, the room shown above... it's filled with warm neutral hues and soft textures,
the perfect place to cozy up on a rainy fall day.
but i wouldn't want to live in it like that during a hot summer!
with a few simple changes, the mood shifts and the room feels appropriate to the season.
 
every season brings a new design scheme, refreshing the space and me with new energy. 
and when i say 'new design scheme', i'm not talking totally redecorating a room.
i'm not advocating spending a bundle - of money OR time - several times a year.
easy changes - swapping out colorful accessories and bringing in touches of nature - 
are my main methods for bringing the beauty of a new season indoors.

it doesn't take a lot of money or effort to get results like this - just imagination!
continue reading to see the room above change through the seasons of a year...

8.31.2020

a succulent tablescape

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this final post for august wraps up my recent succulent / cacti obsession,
which i think is a great way to bridge the hot 'summer into fall' seasonal change.

today, i'll share how i took some of the elements that i created for the
no-cost, use-what-you-have guest room makeover
and found a whole new way to use them... on the dining table.

this clean, crisp, contemporary nature-based composition
fits so many decor styles: boho, rustic, industrial, modern,
and will work indoors and outdoors to make entertaining really easy!

 you'll also find a quick tutorial for making one last version 
of faux succulents to decorate with.
continue reading...

8.13.2020

garden junk in the bathroom?!

boho style, color palettes, diy decorating, DIY, decorating basics, dollar store crafts, farmhouse style, junk makeover, makeover, painting, re-purposing, room makeovers, rustic style, summer, fall, trash to treasure, up-cycling, succulents, cacti, rusty metal, salvaged metal, vintage metal hose bracket, repurposed towel hangers
you can't give a guest room a new look without foofing up the guest bath, too...
i completed that task using things i had on hand in a new way, and it didn't cost a cent!

one of the projects i completed for this quick makeover 
was a variation of something i've done before with a certain piece of junk.
the other was painting some fun and funky faux cacti - using a pretty unusual material. 

continue reading to see more!

8.02.2020

no-cost diy boho guest room decor

beach style, boho style, color palettes, color, coastal style, DIY, diy decorating, decorating basics, farmhouse style, furniture, junk makeover, makeover, room makeovers, rustic style, summer, fall, re-purposing, transitional, trash to treasure, wall art, guest room decor, home decor, home decor crafts, succulents, cacti, decorating with succulents, no cost decorating
my home is basically a laboratory. a design 'test kitchen' of sorts.
every space is fair game for me to try out ideas, 
without worrying whether or not they'll work. if not, i try a new approach!

recently i had some ideas for some new decor that would bridge summer into fall,
with a bit of a 'modern boho' vibe. 
i just wasn't ready to remove all of the fun tiki style details
that we are enjoying in our main living spaces this summer.
so i took a peek into the guest room... and found a willing volunteer.
this room has been the same for four years, and it's long past time for a refresh!

i got to work and created a buncha' new projects, then restyled the room in a day.
i used what i have on hand here at home, so a whole new look didn't cost me a cent.
(all of those projects will be getting the spotlight in upcoming posts)

continue reading to see the before, during, after - and all of the details!

7.27.2020

summer patio decor refresh

beach style, boho style, coastal style, color, decorating basics, diy decorating, entertaining, fast cheap and easy, furniture, makeover, on the porch, outdoors, room makeovers, summer, weekend makeover, patio decor, patio decor makeover
this patio decor project is a perfect example 
of my homewardFOUND decorating philosophy:
re-think what you already have to make your home look terrific!

we've reached the middle of the strangest summer on record,
and if you're like me, you've been home A LOT  - 
maybe the spaces you've spent a lot of time in might need a refresh right about now.
since we're all enjoying the nice weather outdoors these days,
why not give your patio, porch, or deck a quick makeover? FREE?!

continue reading to see two examples of VERY 'fast, cheap, & easy' makeovers
on two different outdoor living spaces...

5.11.2020

free weekend may-keover!

art, beach style, coastal style, color, color palettes, DIY, diy decorating, fast cheap and easy, makeover, painting, room makeovers, seashells, spring, summer, wall art, weekend makeover, restyled room, home decor, beachy decor
if this 'stay at home' order has done one thing, 
it has made many of us start looking more closely at the rooms we live our lives in. right?.
and that can reveal things that we tend to overlook...
like rooms that are looking a bit sad, and need some help.

now, you know me - i'm not gonna' spend money if i don't have to.
and i don't consider home decorating an 'essential' reason to head to the store right now.
so.... i shopped the house and pulled together stuff we have here already
and gave one of our rooms a simple makeover. FREE. in a weekend.
one day to paint two items, another day to swap out accessories and linens. easy-peasy. 

continue reading to see the details!

5.01.2020

colorful office makeover

art, Blast from the Past, color, color palettes, crafting, creative spaces, DIY, diy decorating, fast cheap and easy, inspiration, makeover, neutrals, room makeovers, style, weekend makeover, What Matters, home decor, office decor, colorful decor
i thought i'd start off the month with a #MAYkeover story!
a week ago, i undertook a massive purge / cleaning/ reorganization of my studio/office.
while it has needed a deep clean for over six months just to get rid of things i don't use anymore,
the truth is that this project was the result of color overload...

before we talk about how my creative space ended up having a BAD effect on me,
we need to go back a bit... to my 'neutral phase'....
office decor, home decor, creative spaces, diy decorating, vintage style, vintage, repurposed, upcycled, salvaged, thrifted, diy decor, neutral decor, weekend makeover, #MAYkeovers, color palettes, room makeovers
you've seen my neutral-tone studio that i created in my farmhouse on an island.
i loved that peaceful, serene room that allowed me to focus on my work,
and for over a decade now, i've embraced neutrals as the basis of my home decor.
sure, i sometimes add a small 'pop' of color each season to the porch or other rooms -
but i've kept my creative workspace neutral. it worked in the past, so i stuck with it.
until i realized something about myself...

continue reading for the story of how i got from there, to here, and what happened in between!

3.09.2020

spring decor accents made from 1 tablecloth

color, decorating, DIY, diy decorating, entertaining, farmhouse style, re-purposing, room makeovers, seasonal, spring, simple solutions, tablescapes, thrifted, wall art, tablecloths, gingham, gingham check, plaid, fabric crafts, sewing, spring decor, spring decorating, home decor, diy home decor
i love  a good decorating challenge...
for example, how much decorating punch can you get from a single piece of fabric?

i picked up a pretty green gingham tablecloth at Home Goods
and transformed it into some fresh new accents for our home this spring
to prove to myself that it doesn't take much to make a big impact.

continue reading to see how far a $15 purchase got me!

2.15.2020

freshening up!

spring, home decor, diy decorating, color, green, repurposing, upcycling, simple decorating, organizing, office, entry, work spaces, inspiring spaces
as March approaches and spring arrives, 
i tend to gravitate toward greens and yellows as accent colors in my neutral home...
what's YOUR favorite color right now?

wait - what??? COLOR? ooooh, scary, right?
you can live with color without committing to long-term change!
add a few simple colorful accessories to your office or entry way
and your neutral rooms will SPRING to life! 

in this past post, i shared some of my office organization & decor ideas,
along with photos of my own studio spaces over the years.
i recently came across photos of another office space i had in the past,
that i spruced up with a shot of bright chartreuse green.

this seems like a good time to share those, with a seasonal change on the way.
giving our spaces a face lift as spring approaches is a great idea...

continue reading to see how offices and front entries can quickly look and feel 'spring fresh'!

1.06.2020

making a happy home

wood, rustic, farmhouse, home decor, diy, diy home decor, repurposed, thrifted, upcycled, winter decor, red accent color, whitewashed, barnwood, plaid
a brand new year is a fresh new start, in so many ways...
every year, i choose a single word to be my intention and focus (rather than resolution).
i like this approach, as it is more about 'be' than 'do'.
THIS year, my word is 'happy' - for many reasons.

Mom and i also select a word that is our shared 'Word of the Year',
something that reflects a purpose or mission or quality that we intend to pursue together.
and this year, that word is 'HOME'.

homewardFOUND decor blog, diy home decor, homeward FOUND, Debi Ward Kennedy
we chose it for a few different reasons...
but the really amazing thing is that as soon as we decided on it,
all KINDS of things started showing up to 'confirm' that it was the right choice:
things like songs, and sentiments in cards from friends, a book that a friend of mine was selling, 
and us noticing little objects we had around here already
that would bring the word 'home' resonance in our home and our daily life.
and when i combined my word with our word, it really came to life...

continue reading to see how our winter decor evokes a 'happy home'!