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I'm so excited to share the first room that's done (at least for now) in our home! You all know I love pretty things, so having a corner of our home that just feels a wee bit finished makes this momma feel good. (Note, I am not a decorator at all, so I'm sure there are things that aren't right here but I'm okay with it!)
When we moved, I really thought we'd think about getting a new kitchen table and chairs (I love this set that we found on clearance years ago at Lane furniture, but it's taken a beating from my kids over the years!)Â However, once we moved in and set the room up, I decided that for now the kitchen table is just fine, we just needed to change out the rug and a few of the decorating items around it.
I'd gotten the rug in the picture above at Maple Rugs in Scottsboro (if you're in North Alabama and need a rug, you've got to check them out), but it was too small for the area, and much darker than what I wanted.Â
So, when I saw this rug a few weeks ago on our Cincinnati trip (it was at the Frontgate Outlet), I knew it was perfect! It was a sample rug, and cost right around $120, which while not the most penny pinched deal ever, sure wasn't a bad price for a rug that large. (It's an 8'x10′ rug though, and is priced at $229 online, so I'm pleased with my deal!) The only thing bad about it is my (very) messy eaters – so far I've had success cleaning up spills with this homemade carpet cleaner but I sure wish I had found something a wee bit darker!
The best change we made was this lamp in the corner (I'm so much happier with it!) It originally had this shade on it, but at the Ballard Design Outlet I fell in love with the blue shade above (on sale for $21 ~ had been $69.) Â I grabbed it but knew I needed to update the base of the lamp, so grabbed a can of spray paint yesterday at Hobby Lobby and in about five minutes that project was done.
(One good thing about having no grass outside? You can paint right out your back door without having to do any prep work!) 😉
Here are a few other things I added and pictures of the room . . .
Hobby Lobby had this print on sale for $14 – perfect, don't you think? The piggy salt & pepper shakers are my daughters' – the girl loves her pigs and I think they're pretty cute. 😉
I just re-arranged a few pillows we already have (I'm not sure those will stay, but it's a start)
(We're supposed to get landscaping that will hide those electric boxes you see in the window below as well as the house going in next door today – I'm so hoping they get here because it will help out our view so much!)Â
Added the large blue plate in the corner (that made such a difference – on sale $20 at Hobby Lobby yesterday too)
Of course, the lamp (a friend told me a few days ago about a cord concealer you can find at Lowe's – I've got to check it out!)
 And we had this chalkboard in our old house – so we just hang it up and my girls did the decorating since I'm no chalkboard artist like my friend Julie is 😉
Here's the grand total of what I spent to fluff up the room (thankfully we re-used what we had already, which definitely helped):
- Rug $120 at Frontgate Outlet
- Spray paint for lamp $4
- New lamp shade $21
- Dream picture $14
- Large plate wall hanging $10
- Total = $169
This post is linked to Living Well Spending Less Thrifty Thursday – thanks for the opportunity to link up!  I'd love for you to join me over on Pinterest (I love that place!) If you have a blog and have done a little fluffing in your home, I’d love to see it, so leave your link in the comments section. Also, if there’s a craft you’ve seen on a website that you’re hoping to make, feel free to share that link as well (I’m always looking for new ideas!)
See previous Friday Fluff Up projects and ideas . . . and Happy Fluffing!
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For window treatments I would keep them very light. It doesn’t look like you have neighbors so you could use light blue that matches the rug and just due a valance. Light and airy feeling love all that natural light. Make sure to add maybe a green plant on the bench.
Thank you for the tips Sara! I just bought curtains and they’re heavier – trying to decide if I like them or not (but also need to wait on a new table which will change the look some as well!) Love the suggestion to add a plant on the bench – I’ll do that! 🙂
So pretty! I love that rug and I think that’s a great deal for that size. Love how the lamp shade coordinates with the rug but isn’t too matchy matchy. It all looks great!
Thanks so much Manuela!
I love your dining table and chairs. Where did you find them?
Hi Debbie! I found them at Lane Home Furnishings maybe 8 years ago – they were on clearance, so I’m not sure you can find those exactly but they may still carry something similar. The table is a gate leg table, and while I love it, the “gate” has been knocked so many times by my kids that the table definitely isn’t what it used to be, but I love the look of the round table so I’m not ready to switch it out yet!
Looks great! I love your decorating skills!!
Thanks Alice – you’re so sweet! 🙂
Love your dining room. I just redecorated mine also! I never thought about painting a lamp! That is a really good idea. I got my rug on sale at Lowes as well as the table and chairs ( I didn’t even know Lowes sold furniture). I love the color scheme you used and glad you decided to keep that furniture; I think it looks great! Good job!
Thanks so much Renee! Great idea to check out Lowe’s for furniture (we bought our first sofa table there years ago and it held up great!)
You're so sweet, Laurie! And your house is really looking great. LOVE your new rug!!
Thanks Julie! If you’re ever in Ohio, I need you to come by and do some chalkboard art 🙂
Laurie, I love the rug but the light color in the dining room I would worry all the time. If it is not stain protected already I would buy a can of Scotch Guard to treat it. I do it for all my light colored furniture, rugs, shoes, etc… There is a $2.00 off coupon on the 3M site.
I was thinking that I may move it to our formal dining room (if we get it set up!) because I’m worried a little about it too. So far it’s done okay (and I think it’s even possibly an indoor/outdoor rug which helps), but it definitely has me concerned too!
Do you leave all that stuff on the table and move it for each meal or did you just put them there to stage for this photo?
Hi Ruth! I actually do keep it out (I know that’s crazy – it’s just what I’ve always done!) Then when we have dinner I set it aside (I’m loving having the bench because I just put it all there during dinner – I used to just put it on the countertops.) I know it’s silly, but I love for it to look put together during the day!
A friend gave me 6 huge gold metallic flower pots that you would find in a hotel lobby, for free! I bought a primer spray paint and red spray paint and then drilled holes in the bottom of them so I could plant flowers for outside!! I love them!!
Love that Michele – thanks so mjuch for sharing! I bet they look fantastic 🙂