If your home has an open floor plan, your couch or sectional likely floats in your living room instead of being against a wall. A behind-the-couch table could be just the functional and stylish addition that your living room needs! It breaks up the blockiness of the sofa's back and can add extra storage space and a surface for lighting and decor pieces. And it can keep drinks and snacks within easy reach when you're lounging on the couch too. I'm thinking about adding one to my own living ...
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How to Clean Outdoor Cushions (and Keep Them Looking Like New!)
Are your outdoor cushions looking dingy? Today I'm sharing some simple tips for how to clean your outdoor cushions (and keep them clean too!) so that you can enjoy your outdoor space all season long. From vacuuming to scrubbing, tackling stains, and protecting your cushions from future stains, I've got you covered 🙌🏻. Let's dive in and start cleaning... (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here}) Quick Links to My 4 Go-To Cleaning Products My favorite handheld ...
15 Closet Organization Ideas for Whipping Your Closet Into Shape!
Before our oldest daughter comes back from her study abroad program and brings her suitcases of stuff with her, I set out to add some organization to her bedroom closet. It’s a typical closet with a single rod and shelf, leaving a lot of wasted space. My goal was to add more hanging and storage space so she has a spot for all of her clothing without it overflowing into other rooms and closets in our house. Today I’m sharing 15 closet organization ideas from this closet makeover and other ...
20 Favorite Finds from Way Day – Wayfair’s Biggest Sale of the Year!
Wayfair's annual Way Day sale is here! For 48 hours only (4/26 & 4/27), Wayfair has their biggest discounts and lowest prices of the year with up to 80% off (yep, even better than Black Friday). And while Wayfair always ships for free if you spend $35 or more, the sale includes free shipping on every order! They have over 10 million products on their site which means the selection is amazing but kind of overwhelming too. That's where I come in :) I'm sharing the 20 Wayfair sale finds that ...
6 Inexpensive Raised Garden Bed Ideas
Adding a small raised garden bed to our backyard has been on my ever-growing to-do list since moving in. While most of our backyard is well landscaped, in our side mulch bed there's a large, awkwardly bare area that's the perfect spot for a garden: I decided on a raised garden vs. an in-ground garden for a variety of reasons. For one, I live in a coastal where the quality of soil for gardening is fairly poor. I also love that raised garden beds offer better drainage than traditional gardens, ...
AllModern’s Big Sale Is Here!
AllModern's annual Big Sale with their best prices of the year (up to 70% off and free shipping) is here! If you're not already familiar with AllModern, they're an extension of Wayfair with curated home furnishings that have a modern flare. And you'll find a variety of price points that fit every budget. 🙌🏻 Ready to see my sale favorites? (post includes affiliate links and is sponsored by AllModern; full disclosure statement is available {here}) I'm working on decorating our sunroom (aka ...
7 Back Porch Ideas on a Budget
Spring is finally here, so it's time to freshen up our outdoor spaces and start enjoying them! Today I'm sharing 7 back porch ideas on a budget (you could use the same ideas for a patio or deck too!) to help you create an outdoor space that you, your family, and friends will enjoy all season long. Let's get to it... (post includes affiliate links & is sponsored by Wayfair; full disclosure statement available {here}) 1. Bring it to Life with Plants There's nothing that livens up an ...
20 Best Amazon Home Decor Finds!
Over the past few years, I've been finding more and more Amazon home decor products that I love! They have everything from home decor pieces by big brand names to ones from small businesses that have their own shops within the Amazon platform. I've narrowed down my Amazon finds to my top 20 favorites that I'm sharing with you today! Some of them have been in my home for years, while others are brand new. Ready to see? (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available ...
Stylish Recliners (Yes, They DO Exist!)
Is there such a thing as a stylish recliner? Ten years ago, my answer would have been, "Nope!". Recliner shopping basically meant deciding between one huge, puffy leather La-Z-Boy recliner after another. But today, stylish recliners actually DO exist! I've done the looking for you and rifled through all of the recliners out there to find the stylish few that I'd be happy to have in my own home. I also read hundreds of online reviews and got input from all of you about the recliners you have ...
How to Decorate a Bookshelf: 10 Simple Formulas That Work!
Struggling with how to decorate a bookshelf? I'm sharing ten simple, tried-and-true shelf decorating formulas that work! So many of you tell me that you do okay picking out furniture for your home but struggle when it comes to accessorizing. Especially styling shelves. While shelf styling is a bit of an art, I've turned it into a no-brainer that anyone can do well with ten simple formulas for how to decorate a bookshelf. So if you have any bare shelves that have been giving you the stink-eye, ...
How to Choose Paint Colors: 8 Tips for Getting It Right
Choosing the right paint color for your space can be a challenge! What a paint color looks like on the color strip isn't always what it looks like once it's painted on your walls. Today I'm sharing 8 tips on how to choose paint colors to help you find the perfect color for your space! (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here}) Don't Expect a Paint Color in Someone Else's Home To Look the Same in Yours Paint colors often look very different from house to house ...
Best Blue Paint Colors: Readers’ Top 10 Faves!
Looking for some gorgeous blue paint colors? I'm sharing readers' top 10 favorites! When you think of neutral paint colors, whites, beiges, and grays are probably the ones that come to mind. In many ways, blue paint colors could also be added to that "neutrals" list. It's one of the easiest colors to decorate with because it works so well with almost every other color. Whether it's green, yellow, orange, or gray, blue pairs with it beautifully. Blue also has a cool, calming vibe that I ...
Mounting a TV Above Your Fireplace: Tips for Making It Work!
Some people will tell you that mounting a TV above your fireplace is a big no-no. I was really surprised by how many people told me not to do it when I shared my plans on Instagram! While I agree that mounting a TV above your fireplace isn't always ideal, in some homes it's the most practical location. Our home is a great example. Our living room is open to the entryway on one side, the dining room on another, and has a wall of glass sliders on the third. The only wall for a TV is our fireplace ...
Curtains That Get Stuck on a Telescoping Rod: A Simple Fix!
Telescoping curtain rods have several advantages, including that they're less expensive than custom-sized rods and their length can be easily adjusted if you need your rod a little longer or shorter than you expected. But there is one major disadvantage: curtain rings often get stuck on the telescoping joint where the smaller diameter rod meets the larger one: What's the solution? I tested the two most popular products for smoothing out the curtain rod joints, including curtain ring ...
Martini Table Love: All of My Favorites!
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 ...
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 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 ...
7 Entryway Shoe Storage Ideas
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 ...
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 – ...
My Serena Smart Shades & Caséta by Lutron Smart Lighting System: All the Details!
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 ...
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 Home Decor 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 ...
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 Welcome In The Season!
As the weather turns cooler, it's time to bring out the cozy sweaters, fall boots, warm soups, and, of course, the fall decor. 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 your front porch decorating, making fall luxe with velvets, and more. Let's get to it... (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here}) 1. Get Creative With Lantern Fillers I ...