Cozy but still stylish - living rooms and dens

I thought I'd bring you some inspiration today to go along with this windy rainy weather. It makes for a great day to curl up on the couch or in a big comfy chair with a good book! Hope you enjoy:

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via refinery29

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via Angie Hranowsky

Sunwood Blinds

Inspiration: Using color in the bathroom

If you need a little change in your decor, the bathroom is a small, less intimidating space to start.  Sometimes I get my fix just by changing out my shower curtain and bath mat. Or, you could brighten up your bathroom with some color. Since most bathrooms are the least amount of square footage in a home, it's an easy weekend makeover that won't leave you regretting the time you spend.


via designsponge

There are so many way's you can liven up a room. Paint, tile, curtains, rugs, wall art, and accessories are some options you can start with!


via decorchick

You can start small with a spot of color by painting your cabinets and accessorizing to match! Or simply choose one wall to paint if you are afraid it might be to overwhelming to paint the whole room a bright color.  I can't decide if I like this peach or not - I'd have to see the rest of the room.  I love the rug though!


via prepaganda

Go wild with a wallpaper, stencil design, or maybe even stripes! Pick a color that makes you smile every time you walk in the room.


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Can't choose one color? Find two that work great together and keep it simple with the rest of the accessories. Let the paint color be the decor..

Gray and yellow are two of my favorites.


via Elle Decor

Nervous about a big change? Stick with the accessories! You can still brighten up your bathroom and your day with a little accessorizing.

Indoor Outdoor Space

I can't wait until it warms up enough to open up the house and use our outdoor space! I saw a few great ideas for including your outdoor space into your home that I love and will be using as inspiration this spring:


via dustjacket-attic


via brightboldbeautiful

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via freshome

Bright and easy spaces

Here are some rooms I am loving these days. A touch of color, great windows, natural light, and a feeling of ease and comfort that makes you want to stay for a while.

via Crate and Barrel

The foliage in this bright office provides the pop of color.
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via House Beautiful

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What a difference a mirror makes - cute and clever ways to use mirrors

Here's some eye candy that will be sure to make you rethink mirrors! Mirrors can make a tremendous impact in a space, and if  you are lacking in square footage or light, great mirrors can really make a room feel much bigger and brighter by bouncing light back

Mirror your mirrors - using two can have a really striking affect.
via apartmenttherapy

We don't hesitate to put mirrors in our bathrooms or entryways, but why not in the kitchen?  It can really open up a narrow or galley kitchen.
via Niagara Novice

Putting a mirror across a doorway can reflect new colors or textural interest in a room.
via Angie Hranowsky

Make it huge.  Mirrors are one of those things where I think bigger is better.  It will reflect so much light and add a lot of grandeur.  
via Automatism

Don't settle for what your house "came with".  We have lame-o contractor grade mirrors in our bathroom.  What a difference a beautifully framed mirror would make...

via glamorouschiclife

Here are a couple of mirrors I would love to have in my home..

This Venetial mirror... at $249 it's not that expensive, but not in my future right now with a wedding on our heels.

Get it at Gilt.

More affordable and so pretty.

Get it at HauteLook

Do you have any cool or clever ways of using mirrors in your home?

Have Fun with Lighting

I have a love/hate relationship with lighting. When it's done right, I love it. When it's done even a little bit wrong, I hate it. Let's not even get into how much most of it costs. It's easy to let lighting be an after thought when we're mostly so focused on furnishings and room layout. A lot of the time I have trouble even considering lighting until most of my room is put together. The good news is is that there is an endless selection of lighting styles out there to find a piece that not only matches your space, but can really take center stage and make a positive contribution to the room. You can make it a talking piece of your space or use it to add a little color!

via houzz

If you are starting from scratch and need to locate all of your lighting fixtures, there are tons or retailers online and with showrooms to find what you need. One example is homebase lighting. Homebase is a leading home enhancement retailer selling amazing finds for your home and garden. I particularly love their Habitat Lighting section!

I'm a sucker for lighting in unexpected places - like this chandelier over the island.

via House Beautiful

Between the options of ceiling fixtures, floor lamps, decorative lamps, pendants, and outdoor lighting the options can make the task of choosing daunting.  That's why I allow my room to make the decision for me.  Of course, if you find a lamp or fixture you absolutely love,  the room will follow.

Of course, your lighting doesn't need to scream either, a chic little piece can do it's job well in the background.
via Lonny

There are a few things to consider when selecting your lighting, like how much natural light is in the room, how much light you'll need at night, and where you will need direct lighting and ambient lighting. If you already have enough light in the room adding a fixture or lamp for decorative features can be a little more flexible. 

via BHG

You can really go dramatic in the dining room because you don't have to worry about people hitting their heads!
via Adore Home

Don't forget to be a little creative! You can get get a hollow glass lamp and fill it with something fun or meaningful. This gives you complete control of the final look and style for your space. Just because you need a little light in a room doesn't mean it has to be purely utilitarian - make it something worth looking at too!

via houzz

This post is in partnership with homebase.co.uk

Can you pick? 3 pretty apartments up for a prize...

Skona Hem holds a monthly contest where readers can vote on the most inspiring homes of other readers... I decided to compile some of the entries here to see what you guys thought!

House A: bright, open, and airy





House B: comfy, feminine, and cheerful







House C: luxurious, textural, elegant:




I'm so glad purple has been getting the love it deserved recently!


I'm leaning towards B because it feels a little warmer to me, and more realistic to maintain. I'm open to persuasion though!
via Skona Hem

Gorgeous interiors from the West

I've decided to turn a rainy, gloomy day to a sunny one by scrounging up a collection of light hearted and bright interiors. I have a feeling that even if you live in a sunny locale you'll still enjoy these. What image is your favorite - what about it makes is so?

Take note that all of these rooms are relatively clutter-free, a characteristic required for a light hearted feel

This was actually a garage the owners turned into a loft! I love the chair (which I believe is from Anthropologie), and the purple accent throw.


love the rustic chest at the foot of the bed


A salvaged bench makes a pretty, one of a kind seat.

I used to have a fireplace and had I been able to find large candles like that I would have put them in mine!

I have a soft spot for mismatched chairs

Love this photo - sadly this poster has become a bit cliche.


Big fan of open kitchen shelves - if you can keep them tidy that is!

via Sunset Magazine