House Tweaking-The Playroom

I can't believe that it's February already.  I mean, it's officially the middle of winter, so it's halfway over.  The days are getting longer, and a bonus, we had 60 degree weather this weekend! 

I've been tweaking this room over the last few months.  I changed out the pillow covers for these striped tan/cream/orange PB pillows I found on Ebay a few years ago.  I liked the way they went with the burlap curtains and lampshades.  

The large fern I had in here before, bit the dust.  But I found this grocery store fern that lifts my spirits every time I see it.  If you need a little cheer, go buy a fern.  It adds a bit of life and color, especially in the winter.  

I still haven't found a replacement print for my framed MET bag, so it remains un-tweaked.

But, of course, the earth tweaks daily giving us a few extra minutes of evening daylight as we get closer to Daylight Saving Time.

And then there's my daily house tweaker, AKA the Bub, who drops off his backpack and shoes as soon as he gets home from school.  

Hopefully whatever tweaks Monday brings, you have a good day!

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The Playroom Makeover {Part 4-Book Ledges}

This corner of the playroom just got a lot happier!

   

 Originally, I was going to use the ones from IKEA that I showed on the design board (#2), which are a great option at about $15 each. 

But I thought I could probably make some out of solid wood AND save a few pennies.  When I found this tutorial for the shelves below by Kristine over at The Painted Hive, I knew I could do it.  In the end, I tweaked it a bit for the playroom, but that's what DIY is all about, right?

I'll be back tomorrow to share the tutorial.  But here's a few pictures of how they turned out.  

I love them and was excited to show them to The Bub, since they were meant for him, and he loved them too!  I'll be back to show how these were built along with a cost comparison.    

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The {Best} Use of Limited Space

Do you ever feel as if you don't have enough space in your home?  Or are you like me, and have rooms in your home that have changed over the years?  I think it's easy to say to ourselves we don't have enough space.  But I wonder if often it's a matter of not making the best use of our space.



I say this because I am in the process of redecorating and tweaking the above room in my home for what is probably the fifth time in about 12 years.  Now, I don't necessarily mean going out and buying all new furniture, but rather changing with the way your family lives.  In that sense, I think change can be good.

Over the years, I feel like I have discovered my style and finally know what I like.  I also feel like I am continually learning how to make the best use of our limited space.  As an example, for years this space was a formal living room.  Except we hardly ever used it.  

Later, my tastes in colors and palettes changed, so the wall color changed, draperies were added, but we still hardly used it. 

A year or so later, I decided to turn this room into a dining room, to make way for a playroom in the dining room in the rear of the house.  Of course, the playroom couldn't be in the front of the house, right? (At the moment, all I can find is this pic from a party, but you get the idea.)

And then I realized the back of my house was chock full of sofas...and that I could actually put the playroom wherever I chose.  I also realized that I have to make the best use of my limited space and squeeze out as much functionality as possible.  Instead of being a seldom used 'formal living space', it is slowly becoming The Playroom.  Which gets used quite frequently, I might add. 

I say becoming, because even though I have made some cosmetic changes like adding stripes to the back wall, adding a rug,  I want it to be as functional as possible for a playroom.  

If you are feeling as if you don't have enough space, take another look at your home.  See if there is some space that can be put to better use.  Base it on your family's needs and not on floor plan dictates.  If you would like help in doing that, email me for a consultation.  I'll be back to share my ideas for the playroom.

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