A Quick Spruce Up on Works For Me Wednesday...

The whole premise of Works For Me Wednesday is to share a tip of something that works for you then link up at Giving Up On Perfect. Years ago I did a few of these posts but since I have recently become totally addicted to Mary & her blog I thought I'd link up today. Here is my "tip"...

You know that phenomena that happens when you paint a room or get a new piece of furniture that makes everything else seem kind of shabby so you deep clean and rearrange and before you know it, it feels like you live in a whole new house? Don't you love that feeling? The problem is a new sofa or painting is costly and messy if you do it yourself. I have found an inexpensive way to get the same effect for a fraction of that cost... If you are savvy it can be a tiny fraction! It's all about the fabric accessories! 

Nothing gives a bathroom a face lift quicker then a new shower curtain... And they can usually be purchased for between $15-$40!! People who know me, know I have a whole collection of shower curtains. If I am out at say Target or TJ Maxx/HomeGoods I usually browse the selection. I keep a bin of them in my basement. 

Curtains are another weakness... I have several sets I switch out in the living room to make an instant difference... I will show you some pictures of this, but please don't judge as most of these are cell phone pictures snapped for other reasons...

Here are my favorite spring green Waverly curtains that I found at Lowes of all places!

(Thank you for ignoring the messy slipcover!) 

Here is a horrid picture of Allison on Christmas morning... She would kill me for posting it, but I hope she is too busy in school to read her mom's blog right now... Especially since the point isn't her but the red, brown and gold striped drapes behind her. I take these ones out in the fall to make things a little warmer...

About a week after Christmas this year I added o my collection with these Navy blue curtains I found at HomeGoods. 

They really are brighter then they look and both panels were a mere $26!!! 

(Please ignore the circa 2000 curtain rods... I intend to switch them out someday but they seem easy to put off!)

But while I have you in the Living room, another "accessory" I change frequently are my pillows. I used to buy throw pillows all the time but they started to take over a whole closet so out of necessity I discovered pillow covers! I invested in good down pillow inserts and just swap the covers. I buy most of mine ready made but you could whip them up quite quickly if you have any prowess with a sewing machine at all. If you scroll up you will see the blue dots turn red and back again... I actually have quite a few, not just dots... They store nicely and take up very little room.

The last change I make are duvet covers... Here is a shot of my bedroom from this summer...

Ironically this is my "fall" duvet but also my favorite at the time so it makes frequent appearances.

My new "favorite" is this print I just got for Christmas...

Clearly this is not my bedroom... Paul was unwilling to get up for me to take pictures right now... (It's only 11:55 PM... He is so selfish! Hahahaha) So I snagged this picture and the next from the Pottery Barn site...

Here is my actual summer bedding... Just the duvet and shams... I have a light beige quilt and a chocolate brown one I switch back and forth between.

In fact that is the key. I have a VERY neutral palate in my home... My girlies joke that everything in our home is some variation of beige, brown or green and they are right! It is on purpose. I know I like and even need frequent change so I planned my neutral palate very carefully. 

So that is what "Works For Me"... I can't wait to see what works for everyone else! Let's head on over to Giving Up On Perfect to find out!

Thanks for listening,