Red Leaf Style

October 7, 2013

Thrift Store Plant Saucers

Instead of buying not-so-pretty plastic plant saucers to catch the excess water from my houseplants, I do something much more exciting. I buy cheap thrift store plates or saucers and place them under my plants. They look so much more stylish than those thin plastic saucers and they cost the same or less. I chose all white plates to give my plants a cohesive look. (If you’re wondering, that’s my dog sticking her little nose into the picture above. She thinks the thrift store plant saucers are pretty neat too.) How do you reimagine thrift store plates in your home? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments… Keep up with Red Leaf Style! Follow Red Leaf Style author Kirsten Hudson on Twitter @kirsten_hudson, Google+ and Pinterest. This is the seventh post in a 31 days blog series called 31 Days of Reimagining. Start from the beginning....

October 6, 2013

Reimagining Inspiration: 5 Do-It-Yourself Projects

If you’ve been following my blog, you know that this month I’ve taken a 31 day blogging challenge. Meaning, I’ll be posting every day in October on one topic. After thinking about what I tend to write about on my blog anyway, I chose 31 Days of Reimagining as my topic. I get a little decorating kick out of reimagining home décor in fresh ways. I wanted to share five do-it-yourself projects from my blog where I did just that. You’ll see purchases from thrift stores, stuff bound for the trash and even items from my front yard, all reimagined in new ways. I hope they give you some reimagining inspiration for your own home. 1. Branch Jewelry Hanger Dangle your necklaces from a pretty jewelry holder crafted from a tree branch. See how to make this quirky-cute jewelry holder yourself. 2. Wine Cork Bulletin Board Turn leftover wine corks into a pretty project for your kitchen or office. Find out how to make your own wine cork bulletin board. 3. Easy Tiered Tray Create your own pretty tiered tray using just two thrift store plates and a candle stick holder. Get instructions on how to craft your own...

October 5, 2013

Fall Decorating on the Front Porch

Decorating the front porch for the fall season is a must for me. Nothing looks more cheerful than orange pumpkins and bright fall mums decorating a doorstep. Even if you do something as simple as setting one pumpkin on the step and hanging an autumn-themed wreath on the door, giving your doorstep a little seasonal style will put a smile on your face every time you come home. This year I didn’t put more than five minutes of work into decorating my front doorstep. And, most of it I found by wandering around my front yard. If you reimagine how you think about décor for your doorstep, you can find what you need by just looking around your home or taking a walk around your neighborhood. Take a look at my doorstep. The pinecones were scavenged from my front yard. The mums are plants I bought last year that reappeared. They’re annuals! The mums haven’t bloomed yet, but they’ll show their cheery yellow buds soon. My boyfriend already had the antlers. And, I added a few gourds and miniature pumpkins (which I did buy this year) for color. (Please ignore the icky wrought iron screen door. It came with...

October 4, 2013

Fall Decorating From Nature

Decorating your home for the fall season doesn’t mean you need to spend money on new items. You can essentially “shop” your backyard and neighborhood for everything you need. It just takes a little reimagining of how you think about home décor. Most of the items we typically use to decorate for fall are just fake versions of what comes from nature in the first place. Think pumpkins, squash, gourds, leaves and pinecones. Instead of buying fake versions, why not just use what’s already out there? I love decorating my home with elements from nature. It makes a room feel more alive. Give your home a natural seasonal style with these fall-themed decorating ideas. Pinecones If you’re not lucky enough to have a pine tree growing in your front or backyard, just take a walk around the neighborhood. Gather up a bunch of pinecones and use them all over your home. Add a few to your fall mantle display. Pile them up in empty terracotta pots, like I did. Create a table display with a basket filled with pinecones. The pinecone possibilities are endless. Pine needles While you’re gathering up your pinecones, be sure to also pick up a...

October 3, 2013

How to Love Your Home’s Imperfections

You and I probably look at the picture above differently. You know why? I see the imperfections. Because it’s my home. The things you might not notice, irk me all the time. Like those dog bowls off to the left. They don’t do my dining room any decorating favors, but I can’t have my doggie going hungry either! And, you can’t see it but I know that those curtains are hanging from an ugly white curtain rod that came with the rental house. You also can’t see the hideous cobalt blue ceiling fan light fixture hanging overhead. I have no words for the imperfections of that. And those seemingly put together built-in bookshelves? The cabinet doors are hiding what’s essentially my pantry at the moment. My kitchen is too tiny to store food, so beneath those books and knickknacks are pasta, canned goods and baking supplies. My home is definitely imperfect. But on the Sunday morning when I took this picture, the light was just so perfect. It made the room look cozy, light and happy. And you know what? Right then all of those imperfections didn’t matter. It made me think that maybe those imperfections should matter a little less...

October 2, 2013

Are You Stuck in a Decorating Rut?

Do you ever think your home just feels boring? It’s just…the same? You want to change it up but you don’t know how? You’re in a decorating funk, my friend. I’ve been there too. It’s kind of like how you dress. Often, I put together the same outfit combinations over and over. Same shirt with the same pants. Same shoes. Then, when I try an out-of-my-usual combination, and it works, it’s a revelation. Why didn’t I do that before? The same can happen with your decorating style. You just have to get out of your usual way of doing things. Here are five ideas to pull you out of that decorating rut. 1. Rearrange the furniture Challenge yourself to rearrange your furniture. This simple trick can make a huge difference. Even if it seems like you can’t make any other combination than what you currently have, you probably can. Just give it a try. It’s amazing how just moving your couch can make your living room feel like a whole new space. 2. Switch rooms Just because you have that armchair in the living room doesn’t mean it needs to stay there. Maybe it would work better in the...