Creating a Vision Board

Lately, I've been binge watching Mr. Kate's OMG series and it has really made me think more about my style and how to incorporate that style into the decorating process.

Since I'm redecorating now, I thought it would be a good time to make the space fresh in a way that looks and feels like me. Time to design! The problem is, I have trouble envisioning how things will look in a space without actually seeing them in it.

So I decided to take a page out of Mr. Kate's handbook and make a vision board. I browsed Pinterest and Google and compiled a few images I like to help me get ideas on how to decorate my space!

First off, I included a few items I already have: a red lamp and red vase similar to those above. I'd like to incorporate those into the design because I love them. Secondly, my walls have already been painted blue and the picture above was my inspiration for color. Now for the other elements:

Colorful rug- Since my walls are dark, and so are my floors, I would like to get a lighter rug. I shy away from whites because I know they will not stay that way and will show stains easily. I found the above rug on Wayfair and I think something like this would work great. It brings in the blue from the walls and the red from my lamp but also adds a little more color.

Photo Collage- Before I took everything down to paint, I had two photo collages on my walls. One I considered my wall of fame (where I kept photos of me with my favorite celebrities I've met at conventions) and one was supposed to be of family and friends. Problem is, I never filled most of those frames. I like the collage above, with various sizes and colors of frames. I'm thinking about painting some of the frames I have (they are all black currently) and trying to create something that looks good but isn't monochromatic.

An Organized Bookshelf- I moved my bookshelf from a dark corner to front and center so I want to make sure it looks organized and uncluttered. I want to incorporate not only books but picture frames and other cute objects or geometric shapes. It is the first thing you see when you come down the stairs so I want it to be appealing to the eye.

Rose gold- I love rose gold. It's probably my favorite metallic color but I do not have anything in that color aside from jewelry. I would love to find a small table or other accessories for the room in rose gold. My one fear is that it will clash with the reds I already have. Or maybe it's juxtaposition.

Plants- The only plant I have at the moment is a cactus and it is, believe it or not, kind of dead. I do not have a green thumb. But I love the way plants look in a space and I hear they also help improve air quality. I just need to find a plant that doesn't require a lot of care or sunlight.

Couch- Because everybody needs a legit couch in their living room. I'm leaning towards dark grey because I think it will go nicely with my blue walls.

Fangirl pillows- I have eight brown and red throw pillows on my current "couch". I wanted to find covers for them, something that would match a dark grey couch. Then one lovely afternoon, when I was browsing Etsy, I got really inspired. The perfect way to bring in a little more of my fangirl side (which is a huge part, let's be honest) was to find pillow covers from my favorite books, shows and movies! I am on the hunt for the perfect covers now. And even if they don't match each other, I still think they will fit in perfectly and will scream "Mallory lives here".


Making this inspiration board has really has given me a better visual of how I want to decorate. I would recommend trying this for your own space.

Basement Apartment Makeover- Part 1: Paint and Flooring

Well, it's official. I have the re-decorating fever. Every few years I need a change. Whether it be paint or flooring, furniture or accessories, I just want something different. About a year ago, I re-decorated my bedroom by purchasing a new desk, storage units from IKEA and Home Depot, new rugs and curtains. There are still a few projects left in this room (I have a new light fixture I need to hang and my blinds are falling apart!) but I've moved on to another major project: my living/dining room.

When I first moved into the basement "apartment" 7 years ago, I decided on a clay-brown paint for the majority of my walls, with a clam-shell peachy color for the accent walls. I'm not sure where the inspiration came from originally, but over the years I've grown tired of the brown.

Recently, I found a shade of blue that I absolutely love called Midnight Show. After very little debate, I purchased this paint color for my walls. My parents graciously painted them for me while I was in Canada a few weeks ago.


As for the floors... Carpet covered most of the living room space but a light hardwood sat under my dining room table. My original plan was to match the hardwood in the dining area and just replace the carpet. Unfortunately, this color has been discontinued and in order to avoid two shades of laminate, I just purchased flooring for the entire room. I opted for a darker color this time (Kingston Peak Hickory) and it looks good with the blue.

The next step is deciding which furniture to keep (and what to buy!) and determining the placement of my large pieces. Then comes accessorizing and styling, which will probably prove to be hardest part for me. I've been browsing Pinterest and watching a little too much HGTV and YouTube videos on home decor lately (check out Mr. Kate) so hopefully I will find my inspiration.

Updates to come!

P.S. Yes, that is a bed I am using as a couch. New couch is a must!

April Favorites

1. Midnight Show paint- I decided a month or so back that I was ready to re-paint my living room. I wasn't sure exactly what color I wanted so I started browsing Pinterest (like I do). I found this color by Behr and I loved the way it looked in pictures so I ventured out to Home Depot and found the paint swab. Soon after, I purchased a few gallons and my parents graciously painted while I was out of town last week. I love the color!

2. Pink Nail Polish- Since spring has sprung (sort of) in Georgia, I wanted a brighter nail color. The one pictured above is the closest pink I could find online to the color of my nails. I only hope I can keep from breaking a nail before Easter.

3. Cure For the Common Breakup- I recently started reading the Black Dog Bay series by Beth Kendrick. Cure For the Common Breakup is the first book in this series. I actually read the second book first (I didn't realize it was a series) but it wasn't a big deal. Each book can be read as a standalone though they do overlap somewhat. I've found myself hoping for books about other characters in this little town. If you like chick lit, you should check out this series.

4. On a Roll Work Bag- I've wanted a small rolling carry-on bag for a while now, so a few months ago I decided to take the plunge and purchase one. I got this one from a Vera Bradley outlet store and I love it. It was perfect for my trip to Canada. Definitely worth the investment if you love to travel.

5. Mid-Rise Rockstar Jeggings- I've had these jeggings from Old Navy for a while now but I love them. They fit really well and look good with an assortment of tops and shoes (which can't be said for all jeggings I have). And they are good quality even though I got a really good price on them.