by Brooke Christen
Hello! I need your help deciding on a new rug and you can read WHY on todays blog post. Also I want to help you so I listed all of my favorite rugs I have used and found recently while on my hunt!
OUTDOOR RUGS, DOORMATS, BLACK AND WHITES, COLORFUL AND JUTE! Also shared some of tips for choosing the right rug.
Read the post HERE
Hello! Is it feeling like Spring? I think we are all craving getting outside and fixing up the outdoors. Today I shared some favorites from my trip to Target and what I bought. Also some outdoor rugs and more! Read the post HERE.
If you missed it I have a new Small Space Series Home Tour up from Wednesday. See inside 1152 square feet, you will love her kitchen.
Design Question-
Aggie wrote into me about her son’s bedroom. She is having a hard time knowing where to start on redoing it. She did read my blog post about creating a design board. Another way to create a simple design board is to just use a word document and add the photos you are wanting to use in the space. Or you could simply print out photos and create a design board on paper! I would find an inspiration piece FIRST- maybe it is bedding or maybe it is a photo of another room. That will help determine paint etc.
I would suggest getting curtain panels that touch the floor. Also getting the bed straight on a wall- even straight under the window. She said that he is older (24) and maybe will move out soon. She could consider a daybed for this room too to have as a guest room or when he comes to stay!
You asked for it! More content about Small Spaces. Now, don’t go anywhere if you have a big home. Because I know you will enjoy and leave with some inspiration in this new series- Small Space Living. I interviewed someone living in 180 square feet and asked her all of YOUR questions and made sure she shared photos of the closets and behind the scenes. I asked for a video tour too and she shared one! You will enjoy it. Read the post HERE.
Ask a Designer-
What a nice large open space! I love all the light colors. I think you will like it so much more once you paint it, everything will pop. I love Cloud White from Benjamin Moore (photos HERE of it in homes). Your curtains are hung perfectly! The one thing I can suggest is your rug size- you want the front of your sofa legs to be ON the rug. So in this first spot you could go a size up for sure. It will make the room feel larger. I can’t see the rug to well on the area behind with the sectional, it looks a little small in that space too. Hope that helps!
You can read all about my Rug Tips HERE
I had to share because Target has most of our back deck furniture pieces on SALE (ends today, Saturday). I also found some new pieces I bought to mix in, including a really cute black and white check umbrella. And I went to my friends Annie’s house and so many of you wanted to know where her planters were from. I shared where she bought them then I also found a more affordable option on SALE (ends today too). Read the post HERE. (PS- here house number are like mine, found mine at Home Depot! And she got that purple plant, called Heather at Home Depot too.) 
I also have a blog post up all about my major finds from IKEA! I really was missing out on some pieces. I shared a video I took when I was shopping in the store too. It must have been a really good time to go to IKEA because I have never seen so much that I liked! Read that post HERE. You can see how I organized this messy drawer…. 
and this entry closet… 
If you are wanting to get more organized then you will want to read all about my IKEA Finds DESIGN QUESTION- “Hi! My name is Karla Montero and would love to have you advice on my living area. My house doesnât feel cozy or like home even that weâve lived here for two years. Please help me !!! Please help me make this spot beautiful.” 
You have done a good job so far! You have a rug, plants and  your tv is hung the right height! I would say the #1 thing you could do is to add window treatments. I shared on todays blog post my favorite IKEA curtain panels. But if I were you I would remove the wood blinds and add some bamboo shades. It is crazy how much that changes the look. Below is an example… (I would also remove the round medallion that is between your windows because your rod will be too close to it if you hang curtains). 
You can read my other tips on how to create a cozy home HERE! Hope that helps!!
We have wallpaper sources today on my blog and also how to install wallpaper. Trust me, if I can do it you can!
If you are new here I have been answering some of the design questions I received. Unfortunately I am behind and am not accepting any NEW free questions at this time. You can submit a question to the FB group and it could come up in a FB Live. And hopefully I can figure out a way to take free questions in the future to manage the flow better!
Design QuestionÂ
Carrie wanted to know what to do in her bedroom. We actually talked in our FB Live about this space. And since we are talking wallpaper today- I think that one of the dramatic wallpapers from “Ellie” on my blog today would look so great behind the bed. I would also turn her rug so it is running horizontal with the bed, right now it is making the room look really long. I would also add a dresser or a case good where the green ottoman is- a little too much fabric pieces and she could use more height on that wall.
Design QuestionÂ
Melissa wanted to know what to do in her room. Â She wants a headboard and not to spend a lot of money- I would look on Wayfair for an upholstered simple headboard in a light neutral fabric. Then add a pop of pattern with temporary wallpaper behind the bed! Also I would lower the gallery wall one the right- you want to hang art eye level. If she doesn’t want wallpaper she could do something round above the bed- like a Juju Hat (they can be found on Etsy and World Market has them HERE) or even a large flat basket. I would with round to add a different shape and to soften the rectangle windows (those would look great with some bamboo shades).
Design Question-
Caroline wanted to know if she should do wallpaper on that blue wall. This is a good question and I wanted to share it today because I actually wouldn’t do wallpaper on that wall. Â She has a great graphic roman shade and I wouldn’t want to compete with that, especially in a smaller bedroom. If I were her I would paint the entire room in a medium to dark gray. It would look great with her carpet. You can see some of my favorite dark gray paints in a bedroom HERE.
Head to todays post to see all of my favorite sources for wallpaper including temporary HERE
Hello!
I wanted to start answering some of your design questions in this email format (I am playing catch up, so if I haven’t gotten to you yet, I will! I am also not taking any new questions at this time, need to catch up.)
This question came from Kerri. She wanted ideas for her fireplace and I think tomorrows blog post will help her and I will address more then. I have my friends fireplace to share with you and the woven woods shades I ordered for her came in yesterday and now I can show that too ( you will love it!). Stay tuned tomorrow!
I did suggest that Kerri move her sofa where the chairs are now. We talked in our Facebook Live last night about creating a focal point. So if your focal point is the fireplace (and it should be in this room) then her sofa should face it. All things should focus on the focal point. Also the sofa moved will define the two spaces and not be so many chairs with the dining chairs.
Hope that helps more than just Kerri!
Pop over to see my Friday Favorites- sharing all the small new things I got and have had SO many questions on Instagram where they came from. I also have a small little design challenge for you! Head to the post HERE.
I have a really easy way to do shiplap on an accent wall or wood planks (whatever you call it:). I have this same feature on a small wall at the end of our hall.
This is the wall we did in the nursery that I share recently. I linked the videos I took on my Instagram Stories- they are helpful to watch and to see the behind the scenes of amateurs trying to do a DIY project- really proof anyone can do this!
See it all HERE
