Happy Friday, friends!
If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’ve been giving some apartment updates on my Instagram Stories lately, but I also wanted to give an update here in case you don’t follow there and so I can explain a little bit more about each of my recent purchases.
This is stating the obvious, but decorating a space is really expensive! As such, it’s taking me a while to complete my design vision because I’m trying to avoid going broke in the process. I really only have two rooms, three if you count the bathroom, so I can’t imagine how people with multi-bedroom houses do it. In all honesty, I think any place I live will always be a work in progress. It’s more fun that way, and I like being really intentional about my choices and collecting things along the way that are meaningful to me, as opposed to just buying a bunch of stuff to fill the space.
While I’ve been really happy with the recent purchases, lately, I’ve been playing the comparison game when it comes to home decor and thus second-guessing my choices. Does anyone else do this? It’s so hard when you see the perfect white kitchen on Pinterest or a beautifully decorated living room on a style blog to not judge it against your own space. I’ve been letting these picture-perfect spaces, often created by professional decorators, bring me down and make me second guess my own opinions. Muted blush tones, the black and white combo, and mid-century modern are all in right now—but they’re not my style at this point in life. I love whites and neutrals and bright pops of color. As such, I’m working on appreciating beautiful images of others’ spaces, but not letting them impact my opinion of my own apartment.
To kick the weekend off, I wanted to do a roundup of some recent home decor purchases:
Ah, the indoor plant saga. If you follow me on Instagram Stories, you know that I’ve been on the search for a plant pretty much since the day I moved in. There’s a corner next to my dining room table where one fits perfectly, and I knew it would really liven up the space. After talking with a few different local garden centers, I determined that part of my apartment doesn’t get enough natural light to sustain the type of plant I want. As such, I went the faux root, and am really happy with how this palm plant turned out!
While some faux plants come in cute pots or in a basket already, the one I selected was in a pretty standard plastic pot. As such, I picked up this basket in large (16″ diameter)
to sit the palm in, and it works great.
Eek! So, exciting news—I bought a new dresser! It’s a vintage faux bamboo dresser I’ve had my eye on for a while, and I’m glad I pulled the trigger. The dresser shown isn’t the exact one I purchased, however, I bought the same model. Mine currently has it’s initial wood color, so I’m going to get it lacquered in green—still working on the shade!—and have the drawers lined to freshen it up. I can’t wait to show it to you guys once it arrives.
This is the rug you see in the photo above! I purchased this beautiful Safavieh one to go underneath my dining room table to define that section of my great room as its own area, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. I will say, the colors are more vibrant in person than they are online—it looks muted here to what the colors actually are. I purchased mine from Rugs Savings, but it’s actually cheaper on Amazon right now, so that’s where I’ve linked!
While I like this rug and my bar stool covers independently of each other, I’m not sure how well they are working together. The rug is huge and I really do like it, so I have no plans to return it. However, to fix this minor design issue I’ve created for myself, I might swap my bar stool covers back to their initial white. I’ll keep you posted!
** Editor’s note—I’ve since exchanged this rug for this blue Safavieh rug since it jives with the overall vibe in my apartment better.
I already have the Washington, DC map in my apartment and I have the Charleston, SC map on my desk at work. There’s a wall in my dining area that needed some love, so I picked up the New York map since it’ll always have a special place in my heart. I’m thinking one day, I’ll need to find a way to display the three of them together!
These are random, but I picked up two packs at Target the last time I was in there to go in this gold wire basket on my kitchen counter. My new rug has orange in it, and I don’t have a ton of orange in my apartment, so wanted to bring it into a few other places. For what it’s worth, I also have Target’s faux lemons and limes, and people ask me all the time if they’re real.
I’ve loved seeing the progression of your space! Also my best friend did the same thing you’re doing — bought an old dresser off Craigslist and painted in green. It looks amazing! Such a fun pop of color in a neutral space. (I sort of want to do it myself!) I also LOVE that New York map print, I just may need to buy it for myself!
x Diana // Pearl Girl
I am so glad that your friend did something similar to what I did! You do need to get the map! I love, love it! The quality is so good.
I love adding little touches to my space as I go along. I love your rug decision!!
Xx Taylor
http://lightscameracatwalk.com/
Thanks so much Taylor!
So, so happy you picked up the dresser! You will not regret it–that piece will be treasured for years to come! And can’t wait to see the plant and rug in person…yay for adult purchases!
YAY! Thanks for always encouraging me to splurge on the good stuff.
You have such great design taste! I love following along & seeing how it’s all coming together!
Thanks so much, Gentry! It’s been really fun!
I’m totally loving all of the cool decor you’ve been revealing in your new place! I need you to come help me work on decor for my house, haha. You’re so right though – it’s crazy how expensive it all is! It adds up fast!
It really does! I am having to reign myself in ;]