Just like meeting someone for the first time, the space you first walk into in a home gives you a first impression that might be hard to shake if it’s a bad one…And ours has been less than exciting since we moved in. I won’t lie, after painting and decorating my bedroom I was far too burned out to take on the other parts of the house. But it’s been almost 2 months and the steam is building back up!
{ images via TheEverygirl.com }
I came across a cool article (post..?) on TheEverygirl.com on styling your entryway and was instantly inspired! Done right, an entryway should ‘restore you after a long day away and invite you to leave your troubles at the door,’ and isn’t that what home is really suppose to be? A safe, cozy place we come home to each night, and you should get that feeling as soon as you walk in the door.
Side Note: Other than this article, TheEverygirl.com is filled with awesome inspiration, stories and more. I highly recommend checking it out!
Since the steam has picked up I’m in the middle of choosing a new wall color and putting my DIY & bargain hunter skills to work to create that type of space and feeling on a tight budget.
1. Baskets make for easy (& cheap!) storage for extra magazines, a pair of shoes or anything else you’d rather keep hidden.
2. A lucite tray is the perfect way to collect mail in a fashionable manner. This one is from Tilly Maison, but I plan on painting my own to save a few bucks.
3. Lighting is a must for us. We have an overhead light, but the electricity is bad and it isn’t working, and even when it was, it didn’t provide much light. I like the clear glass or crystal look here to contrast against my DIY gold table. Unfortunately cheap lamps are also ugly lamps, so I might have to splurge a bit here. Do you like the bubble lamp or simple glass one better?
4. A rug is such an easy way to soften up a space. I love this cowhide one from Ikea and the price for such a unique piece is hard to beat!
5. The last tenant left a table in our apartment when she left. It WAS green and pretty ugly, but I kept it around because structurally it was sound. Every girl loves a little glimmer, so I spray-painted it with Krylon Metallic Gold… and ran out half way through.. but I’m excited for it’s transformation!
6. Fresh flowers. Do I need to say more? They’re beautiful and soften a room. If you can’t afford real flowers all the time like me, opt for a cheap flower like daffodils or get some nice fake ones at Michael’s.
7. I’m obsessed with these ‘state-love’ prints I found on Etsy. A little reminder of where you’re from makes the space so personal. I have two small canvases that I plan to paint with similar designs. One for me, a Texas-gal and the other for my roommate, Erin, who’s from Illinois.
8. A candle with a lovely scent is always nice! You can light them before guests come or when you come home from work! This orange-vanilla scent from Trapp reminds me of home — my mom always burns it!
