Decorating: outside the box.

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decorating our home is one of my fave hobbies. yes, i said hobbies. it seems my style evolves with time and i am always rearranging this, or painting that. it is my home, i want it to be cozy and inviting. ultimately, i strive for it to be a place that reflects my family.

the creative mama’s thoughts on decorating

sway from perfection.

not everything needs to be level, even, perfect. just like i have staggered my ornaments in our window (see below) – oftentimes it looks better to leave the ruler and level in the garage and go with what feels right.

rule of threes.

there is something definitely eye catching about using odd numbers – threes, fives, and so on. this applies to candles, boxes, photos, books, and more.

keep it simple.

i strive to be simple in all aspects of life. less is more is certainly a mantra of mine. while i am not a fan of bare walls by any means, a space that overwhelms you with so much to look at is not something i prefer. choose your favorites and display them with pride. ask yourself as you look through your “stash” if it is something you absolutely love. if not, chances are you don’t need it.

be green with your decor.

my dear friend jeni hangs some of her fave ornaments in the windows during the holidays. i have always loved this idea and this year decided to make it a year round thing. i went with soft creme colored ornaments of ours and hung them from sheer ribbon in front of our big front window. i love being creative with items we already have at home, saves money and allows me to appreciate items for many reasons.

allow the kids to help.

introducing children to art is one of the best things we can do for them. allowing them to get messy and express themselves is half the fun! take some of their favorite drawings, mat and frame them for some personalized decor. head to micheals or joann fabric and pick up a few blank canvases and some acrylic paint. over the summer, our then three year old painted a lovely 12×12 canvas for his new baby brother’s room. i specifically chose paint colors that would match the nursery and it is a precious piece of art i know i will cherish for years.

let your photos do the job.

recently i wrote about a fun project you can do with your images. to me, there is nothing more meaningful than candid shots of my kids, of our family, of our everyday lives. i love to enlarge and frame these, and let them do the decorating! you can get a grouping of images together in a big collage frame, or individually. perhaps you want to go big with a fun textured canvas. the options are literally endless, and you really can be so creative with them.

be crafty.

i came upon this idea to use scrapbook paper on the two peas website that i found just lovely! i also like what simple mom wrote about on decorating your walls on a budget. she did some fabulously creative things in her children’s rooms. i am lucky enough to have some super crafty friends who have really shown me frugal ways to liven up your home, i hope you do too!

i hope this was an inspiration to you as you continue on your decorating endevours. i’d love to know some ways you like to be creative with your decorating!