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DIY, Holiday · September 15, 2026

DIY Pumpkin Wreath

Creating wreaths is something that to me is a relaxing. I enjoy the process of cutting stems, arranging and re-arranging to see how they look before committing to gluing the pieces down. And a benefit of creating a wreath is that if you think you have made an error, know one will know because it can be covered up with more floral picks. I enjoy having a wreath that hangs over our mantel on the fireplace and also one for our front door for every season as part of our home decor. I really only had one good wreath that I would hang on the fireplace so I decided to create a DIY pumpkin wreath that would work throughout the Fall season.

A close up of a pumpkin wreath on a willow wreath form hanging on a vintage white door

To start I grabbed all my supplies from Michael’s. I really enjoy their floral section and they usually have great deals on flower picks. The wreath form is a willow wreath, these are so pretty with the rustic but uniform look. I grabbed a variety of foam pumpkins in varying colors as I knew I wanted to create with multiple colors of Fall.

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Supplies Needed for DIY Pumpkin Wreath

A view of a wreath form with pumpkins and floral pieces laying next to the wreath

A bonus of these willow wreath forms is that they really don’t have a front or back of the wreath so you can turn it or flip it to find the side you like to look of the most.

I like to lay out all the floral pieces first before starting to glue so that I can play around with placement before making them permanent.

A view of a hand placing pumpkins on a wreath

After cutting all the floral pieces to the length that is when I started to glue each piece into place.

A pile of fake flowers and pumpkins on a table

I wanted this wreath to have a more feminine look to be a fall wreath and not a Halloween wreath so I added several flowers to the wreath along with the leaves. I liked the look of the white pumpkins along with the traditional orange and green.

A close up of pumpkins and flowers on a wreath

A finished diy pumpkin wreath sitting on a table

A pumpkin wreath hanging on an old door outside a home

This DIY gorgeous pumpkin wreath is a simple and creative way to celebrate the beauty of fall while adding a personal touch to your home. Whether you hang it on your front door, above your mantel, or as part of your seasonal decor, this handmade wreath is sure to bring warmth and charm throughout the autumn months. Don’t be afraid to customize it with your favorite colors, ribbons, florals, or embellishments to make it yours. If you give this project a try, I’d love to hear how it turned out—leave a comment below and share your favorite fall decorating ideas!

Decor, Holiday · July 3, 2026

Americana Decorating Ideas

The 4th of July holiday season is always a fun one for all those who live in the United States. The barbecues, the family vacations, and of course the fireworks always marks a great day to celebrate America’s birthday. The fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays to decorate for besides Christmas, so let me show you some of my Americana style decorating ideas that doesn’t just include the flag and helps you feel your American pride.

A fabric rag wreath with a gnome hanging on an old white door

Let’s start with the outdoor decor, we have an American flag that hangs out in front of our house all year long, unless the weather is going to be particularly bad and then we bring it in. During the Summer I also display these porch buntings and add some small flags in the flower beds around the house.

A view of the outside of a house with a flag and bunting hanging on a railing

Two small American flags sitting in a flower pot

A close up of a red, white and blue star hanging on a door

The last thing is near the front door on our covered front porch. I use a vintage old door that is propped against the corner to display a red, white and blue themed fabric wreath that I created. I like to combine the decor with fresh flowers that I have planted in pots for the Summer season.

An old door with a red, white and blue fabric wreath hanging next to a front door to a home

Moving inside the house the main places that get Americana decor in our home is the living room mantel.

American flags in a glass jar on a mantel

I like to use pieces of my milk glass collection, faux flowers and other decor that I already have in the color scheme of red, white or blue in color. Shopping your own house for items you already own that are red, white or blue in color can save you money for simple patriotic decor ideas.

A wide view of a mantel decorated with American flags

For the living room mantel I use a combination of flags, banners and as mentioned above other decor that I already have that is red, white or blue in color.

A fabric wreath hanging on a fireplace above a mantel

A close up of a fireplace mantel with a gnome and felt ball garland

The mantel this year includes a ribbon flag I made, vintage glass electric insulators, white hens on a nest glass containers and faux lambs years. I am a fan of combining purchased decor and also including vintage pieces in my decorating style. This also includes displaying a quilt that I was given that just happens to be red, white and blue in color and blends well with my farmhouse decor and is great addition to the patriotic vibes.

Using patriotic colors for Independence day decorating helps our entire family to get into the patriotic spirit. All of these tips could be also used for Memorial Day or Labor Day decor.

Other easy ways to decorate for the patriotic holidays are with pillow covers, blue mason jars, old flags, or white flowers such as lilies or hydrangeas.

The nice thing about the Americana design style is that you don’t have to buy all your decor brand new, thrift stores and antique shops would be a great place to look for vintage patriotic decor or just regular patriotic decor that is red, white or blue in color.

Sources for Americana Decor

DIY, Home Projects · April 21, 2026

ORC: Week 3-Small Living Room Ideas with Fireplace and TV

It’s Week 3 of the One Room Challenge and this week is all about moving the television to be more subtle. Designing a small living room with both a fireplace and a TV can feel like a challenge—but it’s also an opportunity to create a cozy, functional space that truly works for your family. When square footage is limited, every decision matters, from furniture placement to how you balance these two natural focal points. With a few smart design choices, you can make your living room feel open, inviting, and perfectly arranged without sacrificing comfort or style. In this post, I’m sharing small living room ideas with a fireplace and TV using creative ideas to help you make the most of your space.

As you can remember from the Week 1 post one of the ideas with this living room transformation was to get the TV to be more hidden and to let the fireplace be the focal point of the room. This was our biggest challenge because when you have a small living room with walls that have windows and a door that cannot be blocked there is limited space to move the TV.

A tv mounted on a wall next to a fireplace

We already had a wall-mounted TV and then we would use it angled out into the room. So to get it out of the corner we moved the TV mount about two feet to the left so that it would be flat against the wall. This is the main TV for our home so it needed to be accessible in the room and our furniture arrangement needs to accommodate the TV.

A view of a tv in a corner next to a fireplace with a small cabinet tucked next to the wall

In doing this I also moved our smaller couch against the larger couch to act and look like a sectional couch would. I would highly suggest doing this with any furniture you have as this is helping us decide if we do want a small sectional in this small space.

A view of a blank wall next to a tv and couch

I sold the coffee table and end table on Facebook Marketplace and in doing so I think we may live without a coffee table for awhile as it allows the space to feel larger without one. And to be honest it just became a catchall for all our kids items. I am all about making smart furniture choices as this will save money and be a great way to live with what you have to see if something new is really needed.

A wide view of a fireplace and an accent chair and rug in a living room

A view of two mismatched couches moved in the shape of a sectional in a living room

This room has a lot of natural light coming from this large window in the room and the sliding glass door that leads to our back deck on the opposite wall.

A tv mounted on a wall away from a tv and fireplace

Moving the TV down the wall allows it to not be the main point of the room and allows the accent walls next to the fireplace to shine.

A view of a tv mounted on a wall away from a window

Creating a small living room that comfortably incorporates both a fireplace and a TV is all about thoughtful choices and intentional design. No matter your style, a well-planned approach can turn even the smallest living room into a cozy retreat where you can relax, gather, and enjoy the best of both worlds.

DIY, Home Projects · April 14, 2026

ORC: Week 2-Living Room Wallpaper Ideas

It’s Week 2 of the One Room Challenge and this week is all about living room wallpaper. There’s something about a well-designed accent wall—it can completely transform a living room. Wallpaper is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to make that statement, adding texture, pattern, and personality in a single step. In this post, I’m sharing how a simple wall makeover can breathe new life into your living room and reflect your unique style without a full renovation. I’ve done wallpaper in several rooms of our home so let’s walk through the these living room wallpaper ideas to refresh the heart of your home.

If you have followed along for awhile you know that I have installed wallpaper in all the One Room Challenges I have been a part of over the years. The first was in our laundry room which you can see pictured below. This is now the feature wall in our laundry room and is still in great shape.

A view of a long narrow laundry room with blue cabinets, grey floors and a floral wallpaper on the far wall with a window and white door

The other space I installed peel and stick wallpaper was in my daughter’s room a couple years ago. As you can see by both installations wallpaper helps create a focal point in a room. However my favorite way to install wallpaper is as a single accent wall.

A view from the doorway of a room to the bed pushed up against the wall with green board and batten on the bottom half of the walls and animal wallpaper on top

I have never installed traditional wallpaper and have only installed peel and stick wallpaper. I prefer these removable wallpapers for several reasons: usually more budget friendly than traditional wallpaper, is renter friendly, easier to install (no paste needed!).

When installing the wallpaper in the living room as accent walls next the fireplace I followed the exact installation that I had done previously for the laundry room. The peel and stick wallpaper in the living room came from Wall Pops which is the same place I bought the laundry room floral design.

If you are new to installing wallpaper I would suggest designs that have larger patterns and patterns that if you have a mistake you can fix without it being noticeable.

The nice thing about most wallpaper websites is that they will have a roll calculator on their website so that you can plug in your wall dimensions and it will tell you how many rolls of wallpaper you will need.

A close up of grey floral wallpaper being installed next to a slim window

The first thing is to sand the texture off the walls if you have textured walls. All of the walls in our home have an orange peel like texture which if not sanded down will now allow the wallpaper to adhere properly.

Once the sanding was completed the walls were wiped clean and all dust and debris was removed before installing the wallpaper. Wallpops has instructions on their website and with the rolls of wallpaper about installation. As you can see I chose this grey wallpaper of dahlia flowers that are larger and repeated throughout.

A close up of a wallpaper edge against a ceiling being installed

The first step is to start on the left side and work your way to the right. In order to make sure the wallpaper is being installed so that it is level (which is important in an old home) you will want to measure from the wall the width of the wallpaper and create a line with a level. In doing this it will allow you to make sure each corresponding sheet is installed correctly across a room.

One panel of grey floral wallpaper installed on a wall

I will note that I made a mistake in installing the wallpaper on the left side of the fireplace as I cut off the wallpaper by the window of the second panel. However I should not have done this because then my next panel would not line up because the pattern is repeated. You are not able to tell but I did piece it together so that it all flowed correctly.

Wallpaper installed around a window in a living room

I like to use a plastic scraper when installing peel and stick wallpaper as this allows you to make sure the wallpaper is thoroughly stuck to the wall.

A view of a fireplace with grey floral wallpaper installed on both sides of the fireplace

Wallpaper installed on a wall with a long skinny window with a plant and bookshelf

Wallpaper on the wall next to the fireplace with an accent chair in the corner

So whether you love bold patterns that make a statement or subtle textures that quietly elevate your space, wallpaper is a simple way to bring personality and style into your living room. With so many designs, colors, and application options available, there’s truly something for every taste and skill level. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make it your own—sometimes a single wall is all it takes to completely transform the feel of a room.

DIY · April 7, 2026

DIY Wood Burned Coasters

There’s something special about adding a handmade touch to the pieces you use every day, and DIY wood burned coasters are the perfect place to start. This simple project combines natural wood with personalized designs to create functional decor that feels warm, rustic, and completely unique. Whether you love clean, modern patterns or cozy, farmhouse-style details, wood burning lets you customize each coaster to match your style. Plus, with just a few basic tools and a little creativity, you can turn plain wood slices into beautiful conversation pieces for your coffee table.

An above view of a sunflower burned wood coaster

Supplies Needed for Wood Burned Coasters

To start creating wood-burned coasters just follow this simple tutorial. To begin you will need any size of wood slice, because you will want these to be coasters you will most likely want them to be at least 4″ across. This length will give you the width that you need for either a mug or cup.

An above view of plain wood slices sitting on a tabletop

If you don’t have a wood burning tool, try to find a friend that may have one you can borrow. The kits are pretty inexpensive and I have found that I use mine several times a year for different projects.

An above view of a wood slice with pencil drawings on top of flowers

I created all the designs on the coasters myself by sketching onto the wood slice with a pencil first. Don’t worry the pencil marks will not be seen after using the wood burning tool. If you aren’t sure what type of design you want to create I would suggest doing a Google or Pinterest search to get wood-burning ideas.

An above view of a rose and greenery design on a wood slice that has been burned into the wood

Once you have your own unique design on the coasters you can plug in your burner and start carefully burning the area. I like to use the rounded pointed attachment for burning. Any of the tips that come with the wood-burning tool will work it just depends on how detailed you want the design to appear.

An above view of roses, vines and leaves burned onto a wood coaster

An above view of two coasters with a "D" initial and dots and the start of a sunflower burned into the wood

Wood Burner Safety: Be aware to turn off you burner and let it cool completely before changing the burner tips. Also another warning when burning make sure to set it in the holder that it is secure if it is still on, this way it doesn’t fall on a tabletop

Above view of a partial sunflower burned into a wood slices

An above view of cork stickers for attaching to the bottom of wood coasters

Once the designs are complete you will want to attach either cork sheets to the bottom of the coaster or felt so that the coasters don’t cause any scuffing of your tabletops.

Three wood coasters with designs sitting on a tabletop with Polycrylic sealer sitting in the background

The last step will be to apply a sealer to the top of the wood slices as this will help protect your design. I prefer this clear varnish called Polycrylic that is made by Minwax.

Three wood burned coasters with sealant applied sitting on a white table runner

Sealed wood burned coasters with one flipped over with cork applied to the bottom

In the end, DIY wood burned coasters are one of those projects that is the perfect balance between creative and practical. These wood coasters are perfect gifts for family and friends or just a great weekend craft to keep for yourself. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different patterns, designs, or even wood types—the beauty of wood burning is that every mark tells a story.

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Supplies Needed for DIY Pumpkin Wreath

Sources for Americana Decor

Supplies Needed for Wood Burned Coasters

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Hi, I'm Amy