Do you have any martini tables in your home? Even if you're not a lover of martinis, they're some of the handiest furniture pieces to have around! If you've ever sat on your sofa or a chair and wished you had an easier spot to rest a drink or book, this post's for you! I'm sharing everything you need to know about martini tables, including what they are, where they're used, and my stylish favorites. Let's get to it... (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available ...
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How High to Hang Curtains + Your Other Questions Answered!
Buying and hanging curtains can be a daunting task. There are so many little things to think about in order to get that just-right end result. After recently hanging drapes in our bedroom, you guys sent a ton of questions my way. How high should I hang my curtains? How wide should my curtains be? What about curtain rods? Today I'm answering your most commonly asked questions about curtains & drapes! Let's get to it, starting with the question I get the most (and what gets messed up the ...
20 Home Organization Ideas For A More Clutter-Free Home
Sharing 20 home organization ideas for a more clutter-free home (and mind!) I love having an organized home because when my home is full of clutter, I feel like my brain is too. My home is by no means perfectly organized - it will always be a work in progress. But I wanted to share some of the home organization ideas that have had the most impact in our past and current homes. They range from super quick 5 minute fixes to more involved "rainy day" projects. I've divided them up by room as a way ...
7 Entryway Shoe Storage Ideas + Wayfair’s Fresh Start Sale
Shoes have always been the bane of my trying-to-keep-my-house-clutter-free existence. We're a shoe-free house so my family kicks them off when they come into our home where they collect in an ever-growing pile in our entryway. Do you have the same issue? Let's get those suckers organized with seven entryway shoe storage ideas that will kick your shoe pile clutter to the curb! These ideas would work for your laundry room, mud room, or other spaces where shoes tend to collect too. Now's a great ...
2023 Home Decor Trends to Watch For!
As we enter the new year, I'm excited to be sharing my 8th annual home decor trends post with 8 decorating trends to look for in 2023! While I've never been one to change my decorating style based on what's trending, it's always fun to see new styles and ideas emerge that inspire me to think outside the box with my decorating plans. I’d love to hear what you guys think of these eight trends and whether there are any that you'll be embracing in the new year! (post includes affiliate links – full ...
Best of Driven by Decor 2022
Happy New Year!! I’m so excited for all that 2023 will bring (including some BIG renovation projects on our house)! But before looking ahead to the new projects & DIYs to come, let's look back on 2022 by sharing the posts that were reader favorites. If you’re new to Driven by Decor, now’s the perfect time to get caught up on the blog, and if you’re a long-time follower (thank you, I appreciate you so much!), you might just find a post or two that you missed along the way. Let’s get to it… ...
Our New Bedroom Lamps + Bedroom Lighting Tips!
Our primary bedroom has been a s-l-o-w work in progress since we moved in last August. Over time, we replaced the carpet, painted the tan walls Simply White, swapped out the ceiling fan for a chandelier, and finally found a pair of narrow nightstands to fit the short wall that our bed is on. Last week I checked off the final two items on our bedroom to-do list: hanging new drapery rods & blackout drapes (which was a learning experience since I was dealing with angled walls) and finding the ...
My Favorite Cyber Monday Deals!
There were some pretty amazing deals for Black Friday that have extended into Cyber Monday plus some some great new sales too! I've added my favorite new Cyber Monday deals to the top of this post and updated the extended Black Friday sales with the latest promo codes. There's so much good stuff! Let's get to it... (affiliate links included in post; full disclosure statement available {here}) 1. My laptop backpack found {HERE} is $25 off + ships free for Cyber Monday. I bought it about ...
Guest Bedroom Ideas For Creating a Welcoming Retreat!
These 10 guest bedroom ideas will help turn your guest room into a cozy, welcoming retreat! Having family and friends from across the country means that our guest bedroom gets a LOT of use! Over the years I've added little things here and there to turn our guest bedroom into a cozy, welcoming retreat that's super functional too. Today I'm sharing my ten favorite guest room ideas for creating a special retreat for guests staying in your home. Let's get to it... (post includes affiliate links – ...
6 Ways My Home Is Smarter Than Yours!
With every new house we move to, I take what I learned from the projects we did in our previous home to make better decisions about what to do in our new one. Some things we decide to do totally differently, while others go on repeat! Something that was a definite "go on repeat" no-brainer was building out a Caséta by Lutron smart lighting system like we had in Connecticut. It's one of those things you're initially not sure you need but once you have it, you wonder how you ever got by without ...
Christmas Wish List Ideas 2022: My Family’s Favorite Gifts!
Looking for Christmas wish list ideas? My family has gathered together all of our favorite things to share tons of great gift ideas with you! I'm excited to be sharing my 7th annual Favorite Things Christmas Gift Guide which I put together every holiday season. As always, I've compiled all of my family's favorite things to give you some great ideas for gifts to buy for family & friends or to add to your own Christmas wish list. If you're looking for the perfect gift ideas for her, him, ...
Our Shiplap Ceiling!
We've had a lot of action on our home improvement projects in the last few weeks that I'm excited to share today! Let's kick things off with our shiplap ceiling - it turned out exactly as I had envisioned! (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here}) Those of you who have been around the blog for a while know that I've had plans to remove the columns and load-bearing half wall separating our kitchen and "circus room" (named for its tent-like peaked ceiling) for ...
5 Decorating Project Ideas for 2023 & The Sales to Snag NOW So You’re Ready to Knock Them Out!
The last few months of the year are always crazy busy so one of the last things on your mind may be the home improvement projects that you plan to knock out in 2023. But it's so worth it to give some thought to your upcoming projects and snag a few key pieces now when you can get them at a great sale price and be ready to jump right into your projects in the new year. And while one of the best home sales of the year, Way Day, has come and gone, for the first time ever, Wayfair's big sale with ...
20 Designer Looks for Less: High-End Home Decor on the Cheap!
A lot of cheap home decor feels and looks exactly that.. cheap! But if you look hard enough, there are some amazing inexpensive, quality designer look for less home decor pieces out there! Today I'm sharing my 20 favorite finds including look for less versions of home decor from Serena & Lily, Pottery Barn, Anthropologie and more. Let's get to it... (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here}) Look for Less Pendant Lighting I love {these Darlana lantern ...
The Best Deals From The Amazon Prime Early Access Sale!
Did you hear that for the first time ever, there's a second Amazon Prime Day sale this year?! It's called their Early Access Sale and it starts today (and ends tomorrow). As always they have deep discounts on home decor but they're also discounting a lot of items that are perfect for holiday gifting. So you can knock out a chunk of your holiday shopping early while also saving a ton! I've spent hours and hours combing through their sale items and am sharing all of my favorites including deals ...
5 Holiday Decorations To Buy NOW (Before They Sell Out)!
With summer behind us, your thoughts have likely turned to pumpkin patches, changing leaves, Halloween decor, and other joys of the fall season. As they should! Let's enjoy the seasons as they come and not skip ahead to Christmas, right?! Well.. as you're sipping that pumpkin spice latte and enjoying all things fall you might want to also take a quick look ahead to the holidays and snag the few Christmas decorations that sell out super early every year. Today I'm sharing the five holiday ...
Above Bed Decor: 8 Ideas for Decorating That Tricky Space!
Looking for above bed decor ideas? These 8 ideas will help you figure out how to decorate that tricky space! The wall space above your bed can be a little tricky to decorate. Your ceiling and headboard heights limit how large of a decor piece you can use, you might be worried about not hanging anything too heavy in case it falls (or is that just me 🤪), and ideally you want something that coordinates well with your bedding and the rest of your room. If you've been stuck on what to do with ...
12 Fall Decor Ideas To Help You Welcome In The Season!
Mother Nature was definitely paying attention last week when the season officially changed over to fall. Overnight we went from highs in the upper 80's to the low 70's so while I was laughing at the stores putting pumpkins out early last week in 90 degree weather, all of the sudden it's cool outside and I'm ready to go full-on fall! Today I'm sharing 12 of my favorite fall decor ideas to help you welcome in the season. From getting creative with lantern fillers to mixing in more than mums to ...
How To Paint a Room in 10 Simple Steps!
Have you gotten an estimate for interior home painting lately? Yikes! Just like everything else, painting costs seems to have creeped up over the last few years. If you have no idea how to paint a room, now might be the time to learn! Jeff and I first learned how to paint at a Home Depot class soon after being married and have painted 30+ rooms since then, saving thousands of dollars by doing it ourselves. I just finished painting the primary bedroom in our current home and decided to take ...
Console Table Decor: My 10 Favorite Styling Ideas!
Ready for some inspiring console table decor ideas? I share my ten favorite ideas for adding style to any console table, sideboard, or buffet! One of the many house projects that I'm juggling right now is decorating our dining room. I finally ordered some dining room side chairs that arrive this week (fingers crossed that they're winners) and then went to work on what to put on the walls and the top of our sideboard. The only thing that I have there so far is {this blue gourd lamp} that I ...
Rub ‘n Buff Colors & Tips: Changing Metal Finishes the Easy Way!
Have you ever heard of Rub 'n Buff? If you have cabinet knobs or pulls, picture frames or mirrors, or any other decorative piece that has a pretty design but you hate the finish of, it's a product you need to know about! Today I'm sharing more about this long-time favorite product and showing you the different Rub 'n Buff colors to help you choose the best one for your project. Plus I'm sharing tips on using Rub 'n Buff and project ideas that are perfect for it. Let's get to it... (post includes ...
How to Buy Furniture Online: 10 Tips!
Have you ever found a furniture piece you love online but were too scared to pull the trigger? Buying furniture online is a whole different ball game from buying it in-store. I've admittedly made my share of mistakes with online orders in my 20+ years as a home owner. But I learned a ton from those past mistakes and now consider myself a pretty savvy online furniture shopper because I know what to look for to have confidence in my buying decisions. Today I'm sharing ten tips of how to buy ...
College Packing List (With Free Printable!)
Heading to college and want to make sure you not missing anything? With the help of my two college-aged daughters, I created a college packing list that will ensure you don't forget a thing! It includes everything you need to pack for your bed, bath, desk, & kitchen area along with storage, decorating, & cleaning supplies and more! I share all the details about the items on my packing list and at the end of this post have linked a free printable checklist too! Let's get to it starting ...
8 Bathroom Mirror Ideas to Make Your Space Shine!
Looking for bathroom mirror ideas? I'm sharing 8 ideas to make the most of your space! Mirrors play a big role in any bathroom but often not much time or attention is given to choosing the right one. BIG mistake! Choosing the perfect mirror for your space can completely elevate the entire look and feel of your bathroom and should play a large part in your bathroom design. Today I'm sharing eight simple bathroom mirror ideas to make your space shine! (affiliate links included in post; full ...
How to Clean Hardwood Floors (And How Not To!)
Ever since our hardwood floor refinishing project, I've gotten a lot of questions about how I clean our hardwood floors. They were followed with questions such as whether it's ok to use vinegar to clean your hardwoods and if steam mops were safe to use and honestly... I wasn't sure of the answers! So I delved into reading everything I could find on how to clean hardwood floors with a focus on information from experts such as the National Wood Flooring Association and the World Floor Covering ...
Stair Riser Ideas With Style!
Our home is single level living except for a room above the garage that we use as an office (and to be honest, several boxes of stuff that have yet to find a home since our move 🙈). You access that room via stairs behind a pocket door off of our entryway and let me tell you... those stairs are super sorry looking. They're covered with old, stained carpet and are on the ever-growing list of things we need to make-over! Since the staircase is hidden behind a pocket door, it's the perfect ...
16 Inexpensive Dining Chairs (That Don’t Look Cheap!)
In this post: On the hunt for good looking, inexpensive (ok... cheap) dining chairs? I'm sharing 16 of my favorites! If you've ever been in the market for new dining chairs, you know how quickly the cost adds up when you need 6-8 of them! Fortunately there are stylish yet inexpensive dining chairs out there - and luckily I've done all the searching for you! Today I'm sharing the best online sites to shop for inexpensive dining chairs, my favorite inexpensive dining chair finds, and a few tips ...
My 20+ Favorite Amazon Prime Day Deals 2022 (Day 2)!
Amazon Prime Day ends today (Wednesday 7/13) and I've updated this post to include several new Day 2 deals followed by the Day 1 deals that have carried over to today! Some of the deals from Day 1 went fast so don't wait to snag a Day 2 deal if you see one you want to be sure to get. As before, I'm sharing lots of favorite Prime Day finds for your home and throwing in a few fashion and beauty items too! Ready to see?!... (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here}) ...