Pottery Barn Style for Less

Do you love Pottery Barn style, but can't afford the prices? We have all come to look to Pottery Barn for inspiration and as an authority in decorating style. However not all of us can handle the price tag attached. Right?

I don't let that stop me!

I have learned how to use Pottery Barn style to my advantage and find ways to achieve a desired look for less. You can find out how I do that here at Blissfully Domestic. This post gives you 8 easy tips to acheiving the PB style.

In the near future I would like to cover the Pottery Barn look more in depth and we could talk about how to achieve it in greater detail. Let me know if you're interested! Be sure to leave me a comment and let me know!


You can look for more of my writing over at the Blissfully Domestic site each month. I will be sure to link up from here, so you don't miss any of the decorating tips and techniques I share over there.

Decorating With Gray - The New Neutral

I have really been enjoying the new trend of decorating with gray. You might even want to consider gray in your own home. The color gray is popular today in paint, wallpaper, fabrics, and furniture, and very fashion forward. Gray has been moving up the ladder and pushing the standard tans and beiges out of the way!

Why not think about using this soothing and easy living color in your home? If you are worried about it being too cold. You can always pair it with a warm color, such as yellow or pink. You can also choose many different grays that can be warm in hue, even having a green or brown hue to the gray value. Let's take a look at some great rooms decorated with all kinds of different shades of gray.

Go have fun decorating with gray!

(first 6 photos courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens, and the last 2 photos courtesy of pottery barn)

Decorating With Plates

I love decorating with plates! Plates are easy to find, inexpensive decor and can add color and interest to many areas through out your home. Great places to find plates is at garage sales, flea markets, and goodwill. I also love TJ Maxx for great deals on plates, especially if you want a matching set. When you go on the hunt for plates, try to search complimentary colors that will display well together. Look for interesting shapes and edges to the plates to make for a fun eclectic mix.

You can add plates on shelves and in plate racks. Or for fun, think outside the box and try adding plates in new ways. Let's look at some great ideas here:

Try adding small saucers around doorways and window casings to add to the architectural details of a room.

Why not go for the gusto and make a collage of plates all over the wall?

How about over a fireplace mantel? Here notice how the blue and white stands out against the white paneled wall.

This pink room is so sweet and shows a great example of plates becoming part of the window treatment and window casing.



Love the rectangle shaped plates to this display, and the graduated sizes. You could also do this same thing with trays.



Love this circular pattern that was used to create an interesting focal point to a room.






Another great fireplace mantel idea. I love the arched plate display here! The plates become part of the entire look here.

Maybe you would like to start decorating with plates? Its cheap and easy and adds character to any room!

Decorating With Flea Market Finds

Decorating with flea market finds and garage sale treasures can be so much fun! When shopping at flea markets and garage sales, try to see a piece of salvage, discarded item or a vintage find with a whole new eye. Here are some great inspirations to get your creative juices flowing.

Here is a wonderful headboard and wall decoration made from salvage pieces.

Shutters make a great decoration item, and can be used in a variety of ways.

Check out this old chicken feeder below used in a whole new way!

Another great headboard idea...

Check out this fun vintage salvage piece used for organizing mail.

Remember to have fun and don't be afraid to try new things. As they say another man's trash is another man's treasure. What treasure are you going to find to add to your home and infuse flea market charm and interest? For more tips on flea market shopping go here.

Photos courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Cheap and Easy Decorating Ideas for Spring - Part #3

Today we are finishing up our 3 part series on Spring decorating ideas for our home. I hope you are ready to clean out, add color and get your home ready for the coming season.

Step #1: We talked about creating space in our home, decluttering and making room for our beautiful decor.

Step #2: We talked about using color in many ways through our home. Learning to find interesting items for adding spring color.

Now onto...

Step #3- We are going to look at some simple and easy projects we can do to add personality and uniqueness to our home for spring.

Find out how to make this funky and fun lamp shade here! I love this idea and how fun to scout around to find something interesting to make your own unique hanging light!

Look at this fabulous colorful bathroom. The decoupaged mirror is loads of fun, and look at the simply decorated shower curtain!

A beautiful sun room...don't you just love the chandelier? Look at the clues in this photo to get great ideas. I love the clear glass framed leaves hanging in the window. What a wonderful nature inspired project. How about the shutters hung horizontal above the windows? This is a lovely room full of great ideas.

A simple centerpiece any of us can achieve! You could use other fruits and flowers. Let your imagination go wild. What would this look like with small limes or lemons and tulips or roses? You decide, and go try it.

Ceiling medallions used for wall decor. This is a great decorating accent. These are a wonderful cheap and easy idea. Readily available at your local home improvement store. These ceiling decorations are very lightweight and easy to hang. Spray paint them in your favorite color, and voila....instant art!

I love pots of grass growing in the house. If you have kids, they will love watching it grow and it's fun to trim as it grows. You might want to plant pots of herbs for cooking and cat nip for your favorite feline. Yes, plantings are home decoration! Green plants add a fresh spring feel and look to your home!

If you want to know more about these projects you see, you can go here to Better Homes and Gardens for a complete slideshow of these and more spring decorating ideas. (Photos from Better Homes and Gardens.)

Go have fun decorating your home inside and out with new Spring Inspiration!

Cheap and Easy Decorating Ideas for Spring - Part #2

Yesterday we talked about decluttering in Part #1 of our spring decorating venture. After we declutter it allows us a clean slate and gives us room to breathe and to be creative with our home. Spring is all about letting in the light and giving our home an airy look and feel. Decluttering is a huge key in making that happen!

Now onto Part #2...


Add Color!

Everyone loves color, There is so much that color can do for us. Especially with a new season. Is there some new color that you could add into your home? If you add small accents of your new color choice through out your home, you will be amazed how it pops out and gives a fresh spark to your home.

Look to your local TJ Maxx and Target stores for clues about the latest decorating color out. Take a trip to a furniture store and see what is being shown in home accents. Look in the bedding departments and you will quickly get inspired by new fluffy bedding in beautiful spring colors~

One big trick for keeping things cheap and easy is to add accents that are easily changed out.

How should we add color for this spring?

#1 Paint- this had to go as number one on my list. Paint is the cheapest and best way to add color and gives the greatest impact.
Here are some cheap paint ideas:

*Paint one accent wall in your home.
*Paint accent tables, chairs, and shelves and new shade for the season.
*Get some cans of spray paint in your favorite color and cover terra cotta pots from the hardware store, they will add great color to your windowsills and porches.
*Paint a wicker chair or basket.

Look around your house and see what could use fresh coat of paint. You will be amazed when giving something a fresh coat of paint, how happy you feel!

Other ways to add color...

#2-Throw pillows placed on your sofas and chairs add instant color.

#3-Throw blankets and quilts add texture, coziness, and color quickly.

#4-Candles are useful and colorful for the season, and smell lovely at the same time. I love candles for the ambience they create in the home. Buy candles in spring colors and scents!

#5-Flowers planted in pots indoor and out. Nothing says Spring like flowers. Be sure to plant some flowers where they can be viewed from your favorite window. Add flowers in pots to your entryway to welcome all who enter your home. Flowers add beauty no matter what the view!
#6-Green living plants add health and represent new growth and life. Live plants add a calming and peaceful addition to any room. You could think about replanting your house plants in new pots for the season, bringing great color and nature together.

#7-Plates, woven placemats and plate chargers all make great color accent for walls. These items are readily found at your local stores. As seasons change, the stores put these on sale. Look for interesting plates with botanicals, florals, leaf designs, and nature inspired motifs.

#8-Fresh Fruit of the season placed in glass vases, urns and bowls. Lemons, limes and oranges are easily found at the grocery store and when placed in the home can be decor! Citrus colors are cheery and fresh!

More colorful items easily found at thrift stores and flea markets are: Vases, colored glass items, pitchers, teacups, candle holders, wicker baskets, picture frames. All of which you can look for adding color or painting.

See you tomorow for part #3 of our Spring series....Go live in color!