Because they are protected from sun or unpredictable summer rainstorms, the covered porch, patio, or loggia has the benefit of circulating fresh air with the bonus of a roof that provides shelter from the elements. Ceiling fans are a smart addition to a covered porch or patio and provide necessary air circulation, especially in regions where temperatures can creep above 100 degrees.

Covered porches are an opportunity to use furniture just as you would indoors since their surfaces are protected from direct sun or moisture.

Consider the addition of a bright swash of paint to your porch ceiling like these planks coated in a cheerful yellow also repeated in the fabric toss pillows below.

To encourage lingering among guests, or create a space where you wish to spend many hours relaxing, invest in furnishings with deep seat cushions in stylish outdoor fabrics.

Incorporate sophisticated lighting choices like lanterns, sconces, and hurricanes to add ambiance when the sun begins to set.  

Wicker furnishings are a classic choice and bring a sense of nostalgia to a covered porch. The pieces are easy to refresh each season if need be with a few coats of outdoor spray paint. 

For added sun protection and privacy, swag curtains made of outdoor fabrics.

You can never go wrong with subtle or bold stripes, they coordinate with everything from geometrics to florals and never go out of style! 

A covered patio becomes a true paradise with the addition of an outdoor kitchen or bar for entertaining.

Combining comfortable furnishings, ceiling fans, stylish outdoor fabrics, and deep seat cushions on your covered porch will guarantee a space that you can enjoy all through summer and into fall.

Next up in the series, a look at some stylish enclosed outdoor rooms including screened porches and sunrooms, stay tuned!

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Bringing color into the living space can be done in an afternoon by painting the walls. Pick a hue that is soft or vibrant, then repeat it with decorative pillows or throw blankets arranged on the sofa.

Area rugs ground a sitting space and are another opportunity to add pattern under a pale or tan sofa. Consider modern geometrics or more traditional motifs to pull a variety of colors into your living room.

Partner your tan sofa with upholstered chairs in colorful solids or patterns and repeat the color or pattern on the chairs in the form of decorative accent pillows for a coordinated look. 

Neutrals look livelier when there are several textures or metallic tones present. Include organic surfaces in your space design, such as a set of woven chairs or faux fur accents and incorporate warm or cool metals in the form of brass, pewter, nickel, or bronze.

A tan sofa in a classic shape is a smart and timeless choice for a living space – with it come limitless opportunities for decorating around it. Layering a space with artwork, textiles, colorful accents, and wood finishes will result in a room that feels collected over time. 

How do you decorate around your tan sofa?

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Beckie shares her full tutorial for painting the fabric and the step by step for creating the headboard at her blog Infarrantly Creative. It includes a supply list and the tools needed to cut the wood and upholstered the piece with foam and fabric for a professional look.

Marvelous job Beckie, what a gorgeous result, and the color pairing of gray and coral is perfection! 

* middle images courtesy of Infarrantly Creative, read her “I Did It” article for a peek behind the scenes of the photo shoot at Style Spotters!

A little creativity and a can do DIY spirit can land you on the pages of BH&G, bravo Beckie!

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1) Mirrors   A popular choice for their sculptural or textural frames that act as a focal point above a bed, mirrors also have the benefit of reflecting light around the room.

2)  Artwork  Large scale paintings are a perfect jumping off point for a bedroom’s palette and also provide a serene backdrop. 

3) Folding Screens Intricately carved or detailed folding screens can replace the headboard – use them to make a dramatic statement in a bedroom.

4) Fabric   Beautiful fabric frames a bed and adds both softness and pattern to a sleeping space. 

5) Framed Photography or Prints   Use a series of prints or black and white photographs to turn the bedroom into a mini art gallery. 

6) Decorative Plates  Whether your style leans colorful and eclectic or traditional, plates are another way to add movement and pattern.

7) Wallpaper   Modern wallpapers were made popular once more a few years ago, continue the trend in your bedroom by choosing a soft botanical or graphic geometric. Paper one wall, the entire bedroom, or simply a small section above the bed. 

8)  A Cornice or Canopy  This traditional treatment is a way to use fabric to envelope and separate the bed from the rest of the room.

9) Window Panels   For those whose bedrooms don’t have the luxury of a blank wall or prefer the natural light above, placing a bed under a window is another way to  frame it in soft fabric panels.

10)  Nothing   A statement bed or headboard can speak for itself and needs no embellishment above. Suspend a dramatic light fixture above the bed instead!

Or choose nothing at all to give the eye a place to rest. 

What decor is hanging above your bed at home? 

Have you chosen to keep it blank, or are you still on the hunt for that perfect focal point?

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We’ve all seen those exaggerated rooms filled with animal print that’s way overdone and the crime that occurs from overuse. Animal print is best used in small doses and smaller pieces of furniture or accents, or to make a dramatic impact with a rug or fun upholstered piece. It’s a bold move to upholster a sofa in an animal print, but it’s graphic nature makes a stunning statement.

Go a little less wild with chairs and ottomans – they’re perfect candidates for playing with animal print in traditional motifs, but consider colorful ones too since many fabrics are now available in recognizable patterns printed in bright colors. 

Animal print will always inject a graphic element and the recognizable patterns make for fabulous area rugs in leopard, zebra, and giraffe skin prints. 

For those craving the exotic nature of animal print but in smaller doses, an accent pillow or lampshade will always do the trick!

I rounded up a few favorites available in stores for adding a touch of animal print to the home in several motifs and colors.

From top left: Sommerset Wing Chair, Horchow; Green zebra rug, Z Gallerie; Giraffe 4 x 6’ rug, Bed, Bath & Beyond; Pink leopard 3 x 5’ rug, Bed, Bath & Beyond; Orange needlepoint, Bellacor; Leopard duvet, Urban Outfitters; Oval chair, Kmart; Giraffe print pillow cover, EastandNest on Etsy; 19; Gray zebra ottoman, Z Gallerie; Zebra Toss Pillow, Target; Animal print lamp, Lamps Plus, $80

Do you use any animal print in your home?

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The five best built-in bookcase fillers will always be 1) books 2) decorative boxes or baskets 3) ceramic or sculptural objects 4) artwork and/or photographs and 5) favorite mementos. 

When you combine several of these categories and stagger them between shelves, you’re sure to end up with a stylish display.

The key to a well balanced presentation is proper scale and careful editing, and the incorporation of color, pattern, and texture through clever repetition. Fill smaller cubbies with singular objects and larger spaces with stacks of books, patterned boxes, or baskets.

Take a cue from this simple yet stylish sitting room and fill shelves with framed family photographs in black and white in a gallery style. Couple them with a few small sculptural objects and favorite artwork.

Hanging framed artwork on the front of your bookcases is another way to add interest and also showcase favorite prints or unique paintings in large or small scale.

Painting your built-ins something other than white is guaranteed to bring drama to your home. Deep charcoal adds a sophisticated touch to a home office, and blue glass front built-ins add both color and storage in a family room.

Wood finishes are warm and inviting – highlight the unique beauty of the wood by purposefully leaving empty space around collectibles so that the grain is visible, and choose objects in lighter colors and sculptural shapes that stand out against the stain.

Do you have built-in bookcases or open shelving in your home? What strategies do you use to fill them with style and personality?

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Create a Drop Zone.  Having a spot where all things land has its advantage: when you need them again (hopefully) there they are. Isolate the everyday backpacks, shoes, and coats in a single zone to ease the transition out the door each day.

Make a Family Binder.  With school in session, a single binder filled with contacts and schedules is a life saver but just as convenient for summer activities when kids camps, activities, and the information on the family vacation is all centralized in one place. 

Office Supply Central. If you lack the space for a corner office, no worries. Set aside a cabinet and shelf where supplies are stored for easy access.

Mail Zone.  We live in a digital age where much of our correspondence and bill paying occurs online, yet there is still the need to have a place for outgoing mail, especially for those cards for friends and family to commemorate birthdays, holidays, or special occasions. Keeping the zone front and center helps prevent your sentiment from being a belated one. 

Receipt & Warranty Readiness.  Often it’s necessary to hold on to receipts for reimbursement, returns, or future tax purposes, and when something needs fixed, the warranty is a document you’ll need to pull out for reference. Storing them in a single spot means when you’re most in need, the document will be there.

You’ve Got Game.  Store the games you play in a centralized spot (perhaps a coffee table with drawers or a nearby cabinet) to inspire another competitive round of family fun.

A Place for Everything.  The best technique for avoiding the clutter creep is to have a place for everything from sports equipment and seasonal attire.

What strategies do you use to keep your family home organized?

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Replace a traditional chandelier with a contemporary orb version and remove the matching chairs from the space to use elsewhere in the home. Bring in upholstered chairs in two tone fabrics like this geometric yellow paired with navy velvet and nailhead trim.

Mix modern zig zag velvet chairs with chinoiserie print for an unexpected twist on tradition. 

Partner a comfy wingback chair covered in linen with a barnwood table and benches for a welcome juxtaposition of textures (soft meets rough).

Or instead of investing in upholstered chairs, pair your rustic table with brightly painted mismatched versions for a welcoming dining space.

Update a traditional matching set by replacing the seating with curvy tufted chairs upholstered in a pale fabric to contrast with the dark rich wood – a zebra motif rug also adds a modern edge. 

Modern Louis Ghost chairs are an unexpected addition of lucite to a traditional space, but just the right dose to keep it fresh and fun.

Industrial chairs and wire pendants bring cool metals tones to this farmhouse dining room dominated by wood surfaces, and their presence gives it contemporary appeal.

If your style leans traditional or European, continue the theme with upholstered French linen chairs but mix the wood tones to keep it interesting.

Another easy way to modernize your dining room is it to slide a few chairs over and make room for an bench upholstered in a complementary geometric or botanical fabric.

If you’re not prepared to replace the matching chairs with new ones, there is an easy alternative. Paint your existing chairs in a fresh color or in classic black or white and reupholster the seats in a pretty patterned fabric.

It’s a no fail approach to giving your dining space a fresh modern look in a weekend!

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Mesh mosaic or brick pattern tiles in neutrals or pale hues are common choices in many remodels, but there is a bolder and braver alternative – an intricate ceramic tile installed high up on the wall so the pattern becomes a focal point that demands attention. 

We’re fortunate in modern times to have countless tile options available and in various colorways, and there is always an opportunity for creativity such as combining neutral and colorful 3 x 6” tiles in a herringbone pattern.

If you love the idea of pattern but want less of it, minimize the impact of the repeat by keeping it contained only to the section of wall between lower and upper cabinetry.

Perhaps you’ve fallen in love with a patterned ceramic tile or exotic motif  – why not pull a color from it and repeat it on the cabinetry?

For those less inclined to use patterned tiles for an entire kitchen backsplash surround, incorporate a smaller section behind the range to satisfy your craving and to also add a dash of color in one contained spot. 

A white backsplash is a timeless choice and complements any cabinetry color, but there is always the alternative of a unique or unexpected shape. Consider a white Moroccan inspired motif which satisfies a desire for clean, light and bright, but still includes an pattern with character and movement.

What style of backsplash do you have in your kitchen?  Have you opted for something simple or do you also crave something with pattern or detail?

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Baskets are made with plant materials, often woven from grasses, and because of it are one of the many ways to add texture to your home. Here’s a look at a few of the smart ways to use them in the rooms all around your house.

Mudrooms and entries are drops zones and one of the best places to use baskets to store flip flops, extra shoes, or pet leashes. Consider assigning one to every family member for easy sorting.

In a reading nook or corner, baskets corral your favorite magazines for that moment when you finally sit down to savor your favorite publications. 

Using baskets in a playroom or kid space makes perfect sense. Store toys, games, and books, or get creative and assign a letter to a series suspended on a wall for a reminder where to keep those extra special things.

When styling bookshelves, baskets fill empty spaces in between your favorite pieces on display and also hide the less than pretty things you want to keep for future use.

In the bathroom a series of dark baskets adds stylish contrast to all white shelving and collects everyday necessities such as washcloths, soaps, lotions, and toiletries.

In the home office or craft room, a basket will hold just about anything from supplies to mementos to materials for correspondence.

Grab extra storage space in the bedroom by keeping off-season linens in woven baskets under the bed.

Pantries are perfect perches for a collection of baskets, house apples or onions or potatoes, napkins and paper plates too!

In the kitchen, use a woven tray to corral culinary essentials in an attractive collection.

I’ve shopped for affordable baskets at several retailers including Pier One Imports, World Market, Target, Wal-Mart, and Michaels craft stores. Crate + Barrel, Pottery Barn, and The Container Store are also excellent sources for a wide variety of stylish storage solutions.

Where do you shop for baskets for your home, and in what ways do you use them around the house?

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