Home Stories A to Z

Creating beauty out of chaos and sharing my home decor stories

How to Make the Most of What You Own {by Positively Splendid}

I met Amy at Blissdom over a year ago and instantly adored her spunk and fresh style. Her blog is  a wonderful reflection of herself and is filled with color, whimsy, and stand-out style! I am so honored to have Amy over here today to share with you something we ALL need tips on—how to make the most of what we already own! Take it away Amy!

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Hello, everyone! It is such an honor to be guesting for Beth today! Her blog is one that I never miss, and I truly feel her sense of style is second to none. 
I am Amy, and my corner of the blogging world is called Positively Splendid. 

PS is all about innovative craft and DIY projects that boast vibrant color schemes and a cheerful sensibility. Having been raised in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, I strive to use my passion and enthusiasm for creativity to encourage others to tap into their innate creative potential with step-by-step tutorials suitable for creative types of all skill levels. I would love for you to stop by for a visit!
I am a shelter magazine junkie, having a subscription to just about every home and DIY magazine you can think of. Scouring those beautiful pages never ceases to leave me with an abundance of inspiration, but unfortunately, as my ideas mount, my decorating budget doesn’t grow accordingly. (I wish I could figure out a way to make that happen!) What I have discovered over time, though, is that when it comes to decorating, there is plenty that can be done by taking a fresh look at the objects I already have in my home. Today I am going to share a few decorating tips that will help you utilize what you already own to achieve the looks you love. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to see the latent potential in the items around your house!
1. Use practical items in unexpected ways.
Consider ways you can incorporate the practical items you have in your home into your decor. It is likely your kitchen is filled with items with great decorating potential! Serving pieces like plates, platters, pitchers and other similar objects can really make a great statement when displayed in unexpected places. 
When we married, my husband and I were fortunate enough to receive various place settings of beautiful china. Unfortunately, four kids later, those pieces rarely see the light of day, except for on very special occasions. As I was planning my most recent mantelscape, it dawned on me that my china pattern would make for a really lovely display, so I took that idea and ran with it! Salad and dinner plates, cups and saucers and a sugar and creamer set look really stunning displayed in a fresh way, and this allows me to enjoy those items when they would otherwise be stowed away in my china cabinet. 
 

2. Think outside the box.
The items you have on hand might seem boring at first glance, but taking time to think of fresh, creative ways to display them can reveal a wealth of possibilities! The blogosphere abounds with forward-thinking ideas to breathe new life into old objects, like this stunning layered frame gallery wall at Living with Lindsay.
For my outdoor decor each year, I create a tiered planter with three pots of ascending sizes nestled within one another. On their own, these pots would be entirely humdrum and nothing at all special, but by displaying them in this unique way, they really make a statement on my front porch!
 

3. Remember the transformative power of paint.
There is absolutely nothing that can make as big of an impact as a fresh coat of paint. When you are tempted to head out to purchase an accessory or furniture piece, do yourself a favor and take inventory of what you already have sitting in your home. Chances are, there is a diamond in the rough right under your nose that will suit your decor needs perfectly if it is just given a thorough paint treatment!
When I was on the prowl recently for a shelf to place in my son’s nursery, it dawned on me that an old, outdated laminate bookshelf we had languishing in our garage was just the right size for the space. With a few coats of paint and a bit of textured wallpaper, it became a sweet little focal point for the room. (You can check out the details of the process here.) In fact, once I saw the huge impact produced by that minimal effort, I also painted one of our old end tables in the same shade of grey to match. Few would ever guess at first glance that those two mismatched pieces didn’t start off as a set, and the money I saved by not buying two brand-new pieces enabled me to purchase a cozy upholstered rocker for the space instead!
 

 

4. Don’t throw it out.
As crazy as it might sound, sometimes an object that would otherwise wind up in the recycling bin or the garbage is brimming with potential. Case in point: See the decorative storage bins on the bookshelf pictured above? Those started off life as a lowly pair of diaper boxes! (I share the process for how I made them here.) There is so much that can be done with cans, boxes, bottles and such. Consider ways to utilize these to maximize their decorative potential.
And, finally, when you do head out to shop…
5. Make intentional, thoughtful purchases.
When your decor needs necessitate something in particular that you don’t already have at home, head out to shop with purpose. I have found that impulse-buying an item here and an item there tends to leave my home filled with things that I don’t strongly connect with. If you need a new pitcher, for instance, look into buying one that suits your design aesthetic so that you can fill it with fresh cut flowers to display on your kitchen table when it isn’t in use for its conventional purpose. 
When you do see an item that really makes your heart skip a beat, though, by all means – buy it! Being an intentional shopper really makes the thrill of a great find that much sweeter, and it just so happens I experienced that very thing a few weeks back when I fell in love with this funky little ceramic pig from Home Goods. 🙂
 

I hope these tips have inspired you to see the things you already own in fresh ways! 
Thank you again to Beth for inviting me over today. Y’all are welcome at Positively Splendid any time, and I would love to connect with you on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, as well!
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Comments

  5. Haydee@TrashtoTreasure says

    I love the idea (mindset, really) of making the unconventional work and the often discarded beautiful and functional–I love your style. Nursery is adorable, the pots are original and charming..you’ve got a new fan!

  6. Lesley@ChaoticallyCreative says

    Amy,
    I love all of your tips. The one that really hits home is number 5 make intentional, thoughtful purchases. I love so many things I see in stores but like you said you need to make sure you are purchasing things you really connect with. I tend to get bored so quickly and want to change things out so much that it’s better for me to up-cycle or reinvent objects instead of investing too much money into new decor. Great post. Lesley

  9. Katie says

    Love all of Amy’s tips. I’m trying to live by her motto’s and refreshing some of my older pieces with lots of color. I use to be scared of color now I can’t get enough of it!

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