Room Decor – How to Easily Transform Your Space

I always wanted a stylish room growing up. In middle school I thought that meant purple walls with my mattress right in the middle of the room. In middle school it was all about bright red walls with zebra and cheetah print scattered everywhere (yikes!). High school led me to blue walls, brown furniture, and a failed attempt at a beach-themed room. In college I moved so often that I never even bothered to fully decorate my room to my liking. Now I’m settled down and finally able to make my place feel like home. Here are some tips on how to spruce up your space:

• Furniture: When choosing furniture I like to choose one color. This gives the room uniformity and lets the actual decorations be the focal point. A full length mirror is also a great decorative piece that serves a very functional purpose. Trust me, having a large mirror is like having your own dressing room at home.
• Vases: I never really cared to buy vases because I lack the green thumb to keep flowers alive and fake flowers aren’t really my style. If you have the same mentality then I urge you to think twice. Next time you go to a store take a look at the selection of vases available, because I promise that there are some beautiful pieces out there.
• Candles/Incense: One of my drawers holds purely candles and incense. Just like vases, there are so many beautiful candles out there. Also, once you finish your candle don’t throw it away! There are many DIY projects that you can do. If you like to switch it up once in a while try buying incense. They give your room a more smoky and natural earthy scent. There are some great holders available as well, especially if you like wooden pieces.
• Picture Frames: There is never a reason to buy a standard black frame again. If you have a frame in a color that you do not like then an easy fix is to get a bottle of metallic spray paint and go at it. I love choosing metallics because they really make a picture frame shine and look a lot nicer than they actually are.
• Vinyl Records: Pop by your closest thrift store and check out the vinyl section if they have it. Chances are that the vinyls at thrift stores aren’t very functional, but that doesn’t mean you should let those beautiful covers collect dust. Find some of your favorite bands and hang them on your wall. As a side note, if you do go and buy a new vinyl then I recommend using it for its intended use.
• Crafts: Be proud of what you make! There are so many crafts that can be easily done at home. Check out my tutorials on making a dream catcher and watercolor calendar. Also, look forward to some upcoming tutorials that can really transform your room. If you aren’t a crafter then check out Etsy. There are some amazingly talented people  out there.
• Art: You don’t have to be Picasso to display art at home. Etsy also has an amazing art and print collection. You can buy items and have them shipped or you can do one of my favorite things to do lately. Many shops have digital downloads for their prints for a very cheap price (I bought a beautiful floral piece for $1.50). The only caveat is that you have to print the the items yourself, but it still comes out cheaper than having to pay for shipping and handling.

Now that you have some ideas where do you shop? Etsy is a great online seller, but my go-to store to shop for decorations is Ross. I don’t want to break the bank when designing my room. Ross has some beautiful pieces at a great price. TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and other similar stores are always worth a visit because you never know what you will find.

Spark In Bloom

5 Questions to Answer Before Starting a Gallery Wall

Having a gallery wall has always been a dream of mine. I’m currently redecorating my bedroom from ground zero, so I decided to include a gallery wall in my plans. The process of creating a gallery can be costly and time consuming, so before you start your own project here are some questions to consider:

1. How large do I want my gallery wall to be?
   The scale of the project is often the most intimidating factor. Whether it’s a section above a couch or a whole wall you should consider what the surface area you want to cover is. Smaller areas are always easier to complete than larger ones; however, if you are aiming for a large gallery wall you should not be discouraged as you can start small and start adding pieces as time goes on.

2. What type of art will my gallery consist of?
   Typically, gallery walls are composed of framed art pieces, however you should never limit yourself to one style of art. Photographs, paintings, posters, and prints are popular options. Don’t forget about other options as well like protruding art pieces or mirrors to get going as well. Additionally, will the art have another underlying theme? Travel? Family? Artist? The options are endless.

3. How will you display your art?
   A classic approach to creating a gallery wall is by mounting your framed art to the wall. Recently, I have been intrigued by different methods of displaying art. Displaying art on shelves has been a popular trend recently. A lower cost option is to use washi tape. An even more creative option is to use clipboards as the primary display.

4. What color scheme will my gallery follow?
   There are two color schemes to think about for your gallery. First, what color scheme will the art itself have? Do you want purely black and white white, any color under the rainbow, or a specific set of colors? Second, what color scheme will the structural pieces have? For example, if your wall will consist of purely framed artwork will all the frames be one color? If you are taping or putting your artwork on shelving will they follow a color scheme as well?

5. What will the dimensions of my art be?
   I have always been fascinated by the organized chaos of a gallery wall; however, recently I have been intrigued by the symmetrical art approach. For the most Type A of personalities this is a very clean approach. For those of us who are taking the classical approach with different sized art you may want to take a few minutes to analyze your smallest and largest items. Staying within a certain size range is more appealing to the eye.

For more gallery wall inspiration check out my pinterest board. Good luck with your gallery wall!

Spark in Bloom

Currently I’m listening to Adele – Million Years Ago