This post was written in collaboration with Effortless Composition. Some of the products mentioned and reviewed were received in exchange for my participation in this collaboration. However, all opinions expressed are my own. 

DIY HOME DECORATING TIPS

With each new season, it seems we all get an itch to update the decor in our homes. It makes sense. We see all of the beautiful updates in nature and we want to mimic them. But there’s just something about Summer that encourages a specific (lazier?) decor technique that can be hard to emulate. We all want the effortless look, but how much time do we actually spend trying to achieve it? Today, I’m going to dive into a few of my favorite quick techniques for decorating that will save you a ton of time. You’ll be able to update your space or whip up a new one and still have time to enjoy it with your family and friends. 

CHOOSING A COLOR PALETTE

A hefty majority of my design clients present me with the exact same dilemma – They love color, but they don’t know how to use it. They worry that if they infuse too much, it will look messy and chaotic. If they incorporate too little, the vibe is lost. I get it. Choosing colors and determining how and where to use them can be really tricky, but I have a trick that I use to make sure I’m getting exactly the right hue and using it in exactly the right amount every single time. It’s quick, easy to navigate, and completely free. 

That’s right. There’s an app for that. Designers use it all the time. COLORSNAP allows you to upload any photo and instantly finds the corresponding hues within the Sherwin-Williams collections. It’s really quite brilliant. Here’s how:

1. Find your inspiration. 
Is there a wallpaper with all the colors you love? Maybe you follow someone on Instagram who always gets exactly that look you’re after. I’ve found that the product photos on seller’s websites can be immensely helpful in determining how to achieve the overall feel of a room in your own home. Wherever the source, it’s easy to grab the inspiration. I found this awesome topiary set from Effortless Composition and loved the room in which it was styled. The colors are soothing and I knew I’d love to incorporate similar ones into my bedroom. It’s as easy as that. Like an image? Snap it!

2. Upload the image to the COLORSNAP app. 
There are two ways to do this. The first is to actually choose an image you already own or have on your computer and upload it directly by clicking NEW IMAGE and then UPLOAD AN IMAGE. 

The second option – and the easiest – is to link the image directly from the URL on which it was found. You can do this by copying the URL and then clicking NEW IMAGE and then pasting the URL into the field that says ENTER A SITE URL. 

With this option, you’ll be able to choose from a list of images located on that URL. Choose your corresponding image by clicking SNAP IT and wait for the magic. 

3. Print and go. 
The beauty of COLORSNAP is that you don’t have to search a color database to pull colors that match the image. The app does that work for you. So once it’s uploaded, you’ll have a list of colors available to purchase that you can print and take with you to the store. 

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Everyone I know complains that they have too much stuff. Too much clutter. Not enough storage. So then we go buy more stuff to store our other stuff in and most of the time that storage stuff is ugly so we have to find a space to store it out of sight. It’s a vicious cycle and I say let’s stop it now. Who decided useful items had to be ugly? There are so many gorgeous storage options on the market that allow for hiding your clutter in plan sight. Also, by not tucking these things away, but keeping them in visible easy-to-access zones, we’re saving ourselves time in the long-run. This is one of my favorite things about the Effortless Composition shop. They carry a wide range of useful and beautiful items to help tame the mess. Here are my current must-haves. Click the images to buy them directly from the shop. 

Baskets are the best. This one has a lid and is perfect for storing small office supplies, like paperclips, or keeping on your bedside table to store your contact lens case, lip balm, arthritis cream. I don’t know. Whatever you keep on your bedside table that would be terrible to look at but is oh-so-necessary. 

Obviously, I love baskets and this one is fantastic. It’s large, comes with a lid, and is perfect for storing spare throws, kid’s toys, even electronic components that you’d like to keep out of sight (slip the cords through the handle holes! genius!). This design actually comes in three sizes and I love how cute they look when stacked. Buy two large ones and stack them for an instant side table. I mean, the possibilities are endless. 

I have a few necklaces and bracelets and they are constantly tangled. Large-scale jewelry storage is so expensive and I can’t justify a huge piece of furniture for five necklaces. This is perfect for me. It’s simple, cute, and will keep my necklaces contained for a tiny fraction of the cost that a traditional piece would set me back. 

Who else has stacks of mail waiting to be read? How about magazines piled up on the desk, pending weekend leisure time? The thing is, these piles make us look like hoarders. If we contain them to one spot, and give that spot a purpose and a name, suddenly, they make us look like we’ve got it all together. And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone we don’t. 

So, this throw doesn’t actually store anything. But throws in my house always serve a purpose. They cover up the edges of my furniture that the cats have scratched. They conceal the purple popsicle stain that my daughter made on the ottoman even though I told her not to take a popsicle into the living room in the first place. We all have little imperfections in our homes that we don’t want to constantly be reminded of. Throw blankets look casual and effortless and no one will ever know what we’re hiding under them. 

This mister is so freakin good. I currently use a glass bottle with a plastic sprayer and it’s ugly. This would easily look amazing on my kitchen counter and would remind me to actually give some life to those houseplants I’m currently neglecting. It’s on my list. 

Guests are nice. Friends are fun. But I’ve noticed something about entertaining that I must acknowledge: When they’re not in their own homes,  and the items around them aren’t their own investments, people can be real idiots. Don’t let your company ruin your furniture. Keep a few sets of these around. They look good and they’re obviously coasters so guests won’t even have to ask if they should use one. Yes, Larry. Use a coaster, Larry. Don’t be an idiot, Larry. 

These are cute too and they match this really cute picture frame. 

You know I can’t pass up the blue. 

This is just a sampling of the awesome items stocked at Effortless Composition. To see the whole shop, visit them here. 

Are you enjoying your Effortless Summer yet? I sure hope you’re finding my tips helpful. I’ll be back next week with more ideas for keeping your summer low-key and fun. 

xoxo
Teri

YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS + I’VE GOT ANSWERS

Commenting on this post is disabled after 24 hours so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out! xoxo

JOIN THE MILLIONS OF HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE TAKING THEIR REMODELS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS + SAVING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!