Do the rooms in your house ever get on your nerves?
Just a little?
Once a week at least?
Oh, good.
Come sit by me.
Last week I was generally fussy with my house. It wouldn’t behave. It needed a haircut. It was extra sassy and needed its bangs trimmed. It was like me in 1997. Wearing highwaters and a poncho with dark roots that needed touching up.
And then?
I did something that COMPLETELY changed my perspective.
I pressed pause and stepped outside myself.
And my house.
I went outside the front door and rang my front doorbell and waited for someone to answer and then I walked inside.
Like I was a visitor.
Like I was just stopping by for sweet tea and conversation.
Like I had never met the house before.
Ever.
I looked at the house with new eyes.
I looked at the blue and white and the color and the rug that I adore and the new chandelier I just put in and the blue and white striped chairs in the dining room and the flowers on the table and the blue and white pillows on the couch and the patterned bench that I found at a yard sale and the brass accessories and the cutest little marble side tables.
I looked at all that.
And ignored all the stuff that needs to be fixed.
I ignored the things that me and my high-watered, poncho-wearing, need-a-highlight self usually focuses on.
I ignored the negative.
Like it wasn’t even there.
And when I did that?
Something AMAZING happened.
Something I didn’t expect.
Something that made me laugh out loud.
Right then and there in the middle of my blue and white living room and my blue and white dining room, I fell in love with my house all over again.
It was like the first time I saw my future husband across the room with his brown hair and his smile and his twinkling brown eyes and his Members Only jacket.
My heart beat faster.
And it was love at first sight.
So today, I want you to try it.
I want you to go outside your front door and ring your doorbell and step inside your house like you’ve never met it before.
(BTW, I can literally feel you rolling your eyes at this moment).
I want you to walk inside and focus on what made you fall in love with your home.
The architecture.
The floors.
The windows.
That cute chair that you found by the side of the road.
I know it’s silly.
I get it.
I understand.
Just try it and see what happens.
And to encourage you in your new house-loving journey?
Here are 25 simple, easy ideas to decorate your house for summer
(did you think I’d ever get to the list)?
1. Add a grouping of vases to your dining table.
2. Switch out the pillows from one room to another.
3. Add pebbles to the bottom of an over-sized planter to create an easy flower arrangement (that’s how I created the arrangement on the coffee table).
4. Cut greens from your yard and add them to a vase.
5. Open your windows every summer morning and let the sunlight in.
6. Add a row of mason jars with fresh flowers and greenery from your yard to your mantel.
7. Cover the buttons on the back of your dining room chairs like this.
8. Update an armchair for summer in minutes with this simple tip.
9. Repaint a piece of furniture in your room a bright summery color.
10. Place a tray on the center of your coffee table and add flowers and books and accessories.
11. Change out the lightbulbs in your room with soft white for summer.
12. Help your peonies open up with this simple tip.
13. Add a summer throw in your living room.
14. Stack books next to a chair for an easy side table.
15. Fix the sagging couch cushions on your couch for summer with this simple tip.
16. Add a wreath to the front of your hutch.
17. Create simple no-sew drop cloth curtains like these.
18. Add pillows to your dining room chairs.
19. Spray your countertops with lavender spray.
20. Paint the back of your bookcase with a summer color like this.
21. Add baskets to your side chair.
22. Shop your refrigerator and place a bowl of lemons on your kitchen counter.
23. Fold the towels in your bathroom and this cute way and place them on a stool.
24. Put together a summer playlist and PLAY IT.
25. And lastly? Step outside your front door. Ring your doorbell. Meet your house again for the first time.
And fall in love.
Karianne, I absolutely love all the blue and white in your home! Ever angle is amazing...enjoy that fresh new perspective!
KariAnne, your house is perfection, always!
Good Morning!!!! Walked through the front door and fell in love again :)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love all your ideas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your home looks so welcoming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great idea to visit your own home and look at it with fresh eyes. Went out early and picked a bunch of assorted dayliles from the garden, visited with the birds and watched the honeybees and other pollinators on the Vitex shrubs. Came inside, arranged the flowers in a white pitcher, cleaned up the kitchen and liked around. Everything looked so pretty on this first day of summer and I thanked God for all my blessings. Life is good.
No eye rolling from me. We all get irritated with our abode from time to time. Happy First Day of Summer!
Love the ideas Karianne! They are building all around us here so even being outside to see the sun that hasn't appeared in days was not a pleasant awakening...BUT...my flowers are doing great and I now have an idea to go get some pretty vases and fill them with flowers...just so I can stand the hammering another day or so:0)...sigh...
Your home looks lovely ! All your fresh blue colors are very pretty and " summery " I'll have to step into my home and " see " it. Have a great day !
Absolutely loving all the blue. Just enough, not overdone! This morning I ordered 2 indoor/outdoor rugs in blue/cream for my foyer and kitchen entries. Will be tossing out the old brown things! We had them cut to size and bound, and every year sent them out to be cleaned - I needed a refresh. Also, the foyer now has a more contemporary piece of artwork from Christmas Tree and a brushed gold and glass lamp. Now when we walk in it seems like a new house!!
Oh, how I love this!! My tired rooms new a new visitor, some new ideas and a pep talk. You provided them all!! 😍
Or, you could have just asked us how awesome your house is, and we would have told you!!
House beautiful...that's Thistlewood!! Love, love!!! xoxo
What a great idea. Your house is really getting amazing. Your blog always cheers me up. Thank you for being a bright ray of sunshine!
Great post. It so easy to look at the things that I wish were different, not done or needs work and forget to be super greatful and thankful for all I have.
I don't know why we all get that way from time to time. Some days all that is wrong just stands up and waves it's hands at me! Other days I only see the good! I guess keeping a right perspective and an attitude of gratefulness helps! Pretty tour!
KariAnne, I just love reading everything that you write. You have the best way with words that not only rings true but makes me laugh. Your home is stunning but I know exactly what you mean. I think it's easy to get bored with our homes - especially when you're home decor bloggers and are bombarded with inspiration constantly - but it's important for us to step back and realize what beautiful homes we have created! Next time I'm feeling "meh" about my home, I'm going to do exactly what you did!
I finally bought "your rug" for my family room. after lusting after it forever. I love coming down the stairs in the morning and seeing it smile at me. You are such sweet inspiration!
to extend the season,you can treat those soft peony buds like lettuce...wrap them in damp paper towels and refrigerate them up to a couple weeks and bring them out and they will open.
Hey! Just so ya know, your house is love at first sight!!!!!!! And we can't see the negative. XO
When I saw the rug you are using I immediately placed an order for the rug. One 8 x 10 for my dining room. A small round for the area under my recliner. I love the rug and it matches my drapes so well. It is a calming room. Please do not be offended but I find the multiple designs of your sofa and chair pillows to be distracting and my eyes will not settle on any one area of the room (my nerves issue). I am soon to order a whiteish sofa and will see what the offerings are for sofa pillows, but I imagine I will settle on one fabric design. I would like to pull in green somewhere. What are your thoughts. Would introducing another strong color be distracting to the eyes and nerves?
Karianne, You just crack me up when you say "oh good... come sit by me"..... What a hoot! I love waiting to see what you have for us everyday. Love your style and your humor! You're the best!
I just now noticed the feet on your couches. Did you do those yourself or did they come that way? Really pretty! Also did you make that white tray that the flowers are on? If so, can you tell us how to make it? Your house is as beautiful as always!
Lauren, Thanks so much! The couches came like that! And here's the link to the DIY for the farmhouse tray: https://thistlewoodfarms.com/diy-wood-breakfast-tray/ Happy day friend! KariAnne
What a coincidence, Karianne, funny how things happen, and thank you for giving us all so many great ideas. . .Last week I had my oldest son and his wonderful 7 months pregnant wife (yes, first grandchild on the way) visiting from Oregon to my upstate, CNY New York home- not where he was raised but my home for the past 7 years- and they gave me new eyes, a fresh look, at everything. What a great garden, your kitchen is so cute, etc! Sometimes it is the right move to start over, somewhere else, all fresh and new. Other times we just need to see everything from another angle.
Love all your ideas! Happy Summer! 🌞🏖💛
This is beautiful! I love that pop of color from the flowers on your table :) This post is a great reminder to stop "sweating the small stuff" and look at the big picture! TFS!
KariAnne, just love your summer décor in your gorgeous home! You always do such a lovely job! Your blues and whites are so pretty! These are my favorite colors, too! You are such a blessing to all of us and we appreciate each one of your posts. Thanks for always sharing your wonderful ideas with us! You never cease to help us make our house a "home" that we love.
KariAnne, I always know that when I head to your blog, I am going to engage with the biggest smile in response to your writing! You are so very talented and what a gift! Your home is just so beautiful with those pops of blue and I will use your tips on gaining perspective in our sweet home. Love it! xo
I love the painting over the fireplace! Where did you purchase it? I’d like something similar! For over my bed! Thank you! Love the soft tones of blues! Thruout your lovely home.