My fiancé, David, and I have been in our apartment together for almost 3 years now. Since moving in, I’ve done my best here and there to spruce up our home decor, but to be honest, we still had a long way to go.
Although I generally work out of our home office/guest bedroom, given the new shelter in place orders, this is by far the most time I’ve spent here. And I’ve grown increasingly tired of our current setup. So I figure now is a better time than any to make our house a home.
I put together a list of some staple items we need to upgrade or purchase, and each week I’ve been steadily getting our place together. So, I decided to share this list and incorporate some other necessary staples for anyone else who’s in the process of revamping their living spaces!
An area rug.
I love wooden floors, they really make a place look modern. But in order to really draw your room together, and create cohesion in your decor aesthetic an area rug is definitely a must. We actually ordered this one from West Elm recently, and it arrives today! The goal was to pull from our blue accent colors and incorporate some brightness with the white. Here are a few other options:
Colca Wool Rug from West Elm ($200 – $1,200)
Meadow Rug from West Elm ($240 – $720) *on sale!
Burrillville Handmade Tufted Jute/Sisal Off White Area Rug from All Modern ($48 – $860)
Janet Handwoven Flatweave Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug from All Modern ($49 – $285)
Handwoven Lorne Oval Rug from Anthropologie ($78 – $648)
Gradient Grey Wool Rug from CB2 ($99.95 – $599)
Quality sheet set.
Your comforter set is definitely important in setting the tone for your bedroom decor, but it’s what’s underneath that really counts. Having gentle, and luxurious sheets that you can really sink into is a must. Also, you can swap out comforters whenever you feel like switching up the look of your bedroom. And the right sheet sets can stick around for a while (with proper care). Here are some suggestions:
Nollapelli Signature Sheet Set ($300)
Boll and Branch Embroidered Sheet Set ($220 – $310)
Brooklinen Luxe Core Set ($149)
Parachute Sateen Sheet Set ($129 – $169)
Peach Skin Vanilla Bean Sheet Set ($85)
Wall accents.
If you ain’t got nothin’ else, at least throw some things up on the wall. Wall decor in the form of a photo gallery or artwork is a great way to add personality to your home. Bare walls can make your space feel empty and cold, so warm things up with some of these wall accents:
Mixed Media Gallery Wall Collection from Target ($15.99 – $149.99)
Intricate Circle Metal Wall Art 3-pc Set from Crate and Barrel ($149.99)
Marcel Teak Wall Art from Crate and Barrel ($299)
Metal/Wood Wall Decor (Set of 2) from All Modern ($138)
“How Far Is a Light Year” By Alexander Grahovsky Graphic Art Print from All Modern ($50)
Crescent Moon Wall Shelf from Urban Outfitters ($89)
Winnie Textured Tapestry from Urban Outfitters ($49)
Graham Wire Wall Art from CB2 ($99.95)
A sturdy mirror.
Nothing helps make a small space look bigger than a nice mirror. Not only is it functional, but it doubles as chic wall decor. Whether you have something that’s floor-length or hanging, incorporating a mirror (or two) can really give your space a new look.
Ria Leaning Rattan Mirror from Urban Outfitters ($199)
Stamped Metal Mirror from Target ($49.99)
Safi Floor Mirror From Urban Outfitters ($429)
Infinity Brass Standing Mirror from CB2 ($199)
Pablo Length Mirror from All Modern ($260)
Nessa Shelving Unit from Anthropologie ($248)
A statement chair.
If you have a smaller home or apartment, a good way to increase the space is by getting a few smaller chairs instead of a sectional. On the flip side, if you have enough space for a couch, a good statement chair can help round-out the room. Also, one can never have too much sitting space if you plan on entertaining at home more in the future.
Melody Rattan Chair from Urban Outfitters ($249)
Cooper Lounge Chair from Urban Outfitters ($279)
Felicity Mid Century Arm Chair from Target ($162.99)
Preston Fabric Club Chair from Target ($298.99)
KOARP Arm Chair from IKEA ($169)
Sophia Mustard Dining Chair from CB2 ($89.95)
Justa Butterfly Chair from All Modern ($250)
Unique lighting.
Mixing things up with your lighting can be fun and bring nice warmth and ambiance to your home decor. Try playing with the placement of light fixtures, varying shapes, sizes, or lampshades to really set the mood.
Weave Natural Floor Lamp from Crate and Barrel ($199)
Morrill Tree Floor Lamp from All Modern ($168)
Shontelle Dimmable Armed Sconce from All Modern ($107)
Hudson Wooden Sconce from Anthropologie ($228)
Tanner Chandelier from Anthropologie ($898)
Bamboo Woven Pendant Light from Urban Outfitters ($89)
Lisette Pendant Light from Urban Outfitters ($99)
Algarve Ceramic Table Lamp from CB2 ($179)
Plant Decor.
Bring some life in as well, literally. Plants have always been a home decor staple, but with all the new innovative digital plant shops out there like The Sill, they’ve definitely become even more popular recently. Here’s a link to a previous blog post I’ve done on the best places to buy plants. And here’s some plant decor inspiration:
