Fun and Funky Florals!!

Yes, spring has sprung! Although it still feels a bit chilly doesn't mean that you can't start getting for the new season. What do you think of when you hear 'spring'? I know I think of sun, green grass, bright colours, birds chirping and of course, floral!! Now I know floral seem so old fashioned but they don't have to be - try taking a modern approach. How can you make floral modern?

Scale: think BIG those tiny prairie floral patterns are passe. Go big and bold!

- try a peel and stick mural in big and bold flowers. I bought some bright fuchsia peel and stick flowers for my daughter's room - very fun!

- when choosing a custom fabric for pillows or an ottoman look for the big floral - so splashy!

- use floral in unusual space on on unusual items - upholster a very streamlined sofa or chair in a bright and funky floral

Colour: bright is better and definitely more current. Keep those pastel florals in the 80's where they belong!

- an easy art piece is to make your own, again for my daughter's room I took some arts and crafts paper is big and bright floral and framed the paper - it looks fresh and very clean because of the frame I selected.

- there are a lot of inexpensive art pieces in home decor stores right now in big, bold and bright floral. Adding an art piece and some colourful accessories in any room will totally transform the look and feel plus it's so easy!

Simplicity: keep it simple and it will always look clean which is essential in modern decor

- if you love having fresh flowers in your home use interesting shaped vases and keep the bouquets simple, use one colour, one type of flower or both

- don't over do it with the floral just add a piece or two and that's it. So a big floral themed art piece or a funky floral chair.

Floral are another great way of bringing the outside in and still keeping the look and feel modern and fresh. Take a look at the above images - one is very bold but in black and white but really plays with scale and simplicity and the other is very bright and uses scale to make an impact too! With floral patterns the possibilities are endless - have fun!

A little bit of organizing goes a long way...

Studies say that organized people experience less stress, now wouldn't that be nice?!

If you are in need of some organizing, the spring is a great time to get started. It's a time for renewal and re-evaluating. Start with the small 'problem' areas like your junk drawer, front hall closet or the linen closet. I tackled my linen closet last week and what a small change but a big difference.

Here's some great tips for the linen closet:

1 - If you can start with adjustable shelves, so you can control the placement of each item according to your needs.

2 - Organize by linen type. So keep bathroom linens together, kids' bedroom linens together etc...and stick to that system, when it comes to finding your linens - you'll save time!

3 - Try using baskets, you can label them or colour code them, for each member of the family that keep everyone organized.

4 - Dedicated linens for guests. That way they are ready at a moments notice when an over night guest pops in.

5 - Fold neatly. This will make more room for everything in the linen closet.

6 - Use the highest and lowest shelves for season items that you won't use year round.

7 - Face clots have a tendency to topple over so keep them together in a box for better organization.

8 - Keep a basket of extra toiletries in the linen closet, just in case

9 - So how many of each type of linen does a typical household need?

3 sets of sheets for each bed

2 sets of pillow shams

1 duvet or comforter for each bed

2 duvet covers for each duvet

1 blanket or throw for each bed

1 lightweight cover for each bed

For each bathroom: 3 sets of two hand towels

For each adult: 3 bath towels and 6 face cloths

For each child: 3 bath towels and 6 face cloths

For each guest: one bed sheet set, two shams, one duvet, one duvet cover, one blanket, one bath towel and two face cloths

Terrific Turquoise!

Turquoise is a colour that is so calming yet energetic at the same time. Think about the calming and invigorating effects of the beach...

So how can this fabulous colour become a part of your decor?

1. Try something bold with this colour. Try painting a door in this colour with contrasting white walls, wow what an impact!! Think about doing this in a smaller space like a bathroom, entry way or a home office...

2. Living room accents. Look at bringing this colour into your living room through artwork, accessories and pillows...solids or patterns, can add so much to a simple and neutral space.

3. Flair in the home office. Think about art and accessories here too but what about office materials like post-it notes, push pins, waste basket etc...Adding some excitement into a workspace can be really inspiring!

4. The kitchen is such a creative space so add some vibrancy with turquoise dishes, glassware, cookie jar, tea and dish towels or to go even further an accent wall!

5. The bathroom is a great place to add some colour. Why not update your towels or shower curtain with a splash of turquoise? Go solid or pattern it really doesn't matter. Turquoise reminds us of the beach paradise that we all find so relaxing, so bring that energy into your space at home.

Where can you find these fun and fabulous items in turquoise? I would start at any home decor store like Bouclair or HomeSense. You will find great deals and ideas. This colour is so fun and fresh and adding any colour into your home can really bring basics to life!

And baby makes 3...

Or in my case, here comes baby #3! Yes, we are expecting baby #3 in the month of April. We are excited for the new addition and expanding our family! This will also be my third nursery to set up - I wouldn't say that I'm a baby pro but I definitely have experience decorating the perfect nursery.

Here are some of the must-haves:

- a crib or a bassinet (personally we never did the bassinet thing, although they are beautiful they are only able to be used for a certain period of time and if you are on a budget a crib will last much longer)

- you will want a dresser, try looking at kijiji or yard sales (depending on your due date) there are some great finds and you can always paint (or change up the hardware)them to make a custom look for your little one. We used 2 beautiful pine dressers that were passed down in my family and they are sturdy and perfect for a baby's room.

- changing table (open concept is very accessible just use some great baskets to stay organized OR try on with drawers, those too are great storage)

- you will want a rocker or a glider, very soothing at bedtime and those late night feedings. Add a fun cushion for comfort and style. If you have the allowance in your budget, try lay-z-boy, they have gliders and you get to choose the fabric so stylish and very comfy!

- bedding. like the rest of my home i like to stick with a theme but not get too matchy-matchy. I have done a different theme for each of my children. I like a theme that can grow with the child and one that you can add too as well. My daughter's room the theme was 'floral' and now that she has started to develop her own interests incorporating 'fairies' (her new obsession) was easy to integrate into our existing flower motif.

- crib sheets, you'll need a few I'd recommend 4-6

- wall decor can be tricky, I used wall decals in my kids' rooms as they are easy to stick on and pull off plus they are safe (especially when decorating above the crib) you don't have to worry about them falling down. Also with wall decals there are so many to choose from. For my daughter's room, we found a great floral wall decal at IKEA for $9.00 - a great find!

- a mobile, all of my children loved their mobiles, the movement, the music and the shapes. If you have chosen a bedding theme chances are there is a matching mobile.

-you'll need a changing table pad and cover, I always used solids as they were easier to find and the ones that match the bedding set were usually expensive.

- I also had a lamp (floor or table) for softer lighting during those late night feedings

- We always had hardwood flooring so I had a neutral area full of fun texture cut and bound for each room, as my children became older they loved playing and crawling on the shaggy rug

- you'll want a hamper, I also found great wicker baskets

- one thing I did in all of my nurseries is have a baby photo. I don't know why but I always liked how it looked and felt in the room. Now that my children are a bit older they love looking at photos of the family!

- think of some other items to: humidifier (there are some very cute ones), waste basket, curtains, window valance...

You can go really crazy when buying for baby as there are so many, many things to choose from. Talk to friends and family (anyone with experience with babies) and get the real deal of what you really need - there are a lot of silly products out there. Also if this is your first child, you may already know you plan on more than one, I would recommend purchasing furniture in a finish that is neutral - white, espresso, maple and then the accessories can be changed around as your family expands.

My baby's room has a farm theme, it's not quite done yet but it's getting there!

Good luck to all of you who are parents to be!