I spend more time in our family room than any other room of our house (awake time, that is). 

When my family room is cluttered it makes me feel like a disorganized slob who needs to get my life together. When my family room is simplified, I feel like a brilliant goddess who is good at everything.

Gosh, my family room has a lot of power.

Here’s how I make sure that power is affecting me in all the best ways:

1. I use closed storage (and lots of it)

I’m always surprised when I see “family room” inspiration photos that have plenty of surfaces—but no actual closed storage.

Open shelves are beautiful… but real life needs doors.

Closed storage is where the junk goes to rest. Cabinets, chests, dressers, consoles with drawers—these pieces hide remotes, cords, games, paperwork, and all the random things that we need but don’t want to have to look at constantly. When clutter is out of sight, the whole room instantly feels calmer, even if it’s a little messy behind the scenes.

Think of closed storage as visual noise-canceling headphones for your room.

1. 3 Drawer side table (under $140)
2. Arched cabinet with glass doors (under $220!)
3. 2 Drawer end table (sale under $200)
4. Marble top end table (under $100)
5. Bistro Table with marble top (under $250)
6. Jenny Lind style 3 drawer end table (under $250)
7. Chest with drawers

fringed stool, marble bistro table, swivel chair, rug, side table, lumbar pillow

2. I add small, sneaky seating + tiny mobile tables
Poufs, ottomans, stools, and little drink tables are my secret weapons.

They pull double duty—extra seating and surfaces—without adding visual heaviness.

I love them because they:

• add softness and texture
• introduce pattern without commitment
• can be moved exactly where you need them
• make the room feel cozy and flexible instead of formal

A family room should be able to shape-shift. Small pieces make that happen easily.

see all the links here

3. I give small things a “home base”

I will never stop talking about this. Ever.

A home base is a simple container—tray, bowl, basket, box—that gathers a bunch of little things into one intentional moment. Instead of keys, remotes, matches, coasters, and glasses floating around the room, they’re corralled.

One home base can replace ten decisions.

home base links

A simple, beautiful family room isn’t empty. Yuck.

It’s edited on the regular.
It’s intentional.
And it’s designed to work for the people who live there—not just look good in photos.

I’m able to keep my family room under control because I purposely HUSH it at least once a year.

I hush my family room by backwards declulttering–it takes hardly anytime and the results are astounding!

Want to HUSH your family room with me? I’m doing it TODAY!

Join me and the Cozy Minimalist Community for the third annual House Hushing Challenge. It’s not too late, I decided to leave the doors open for anyone who wants to join us.

This challenge takes place within the Cozy Minimalist Community and our private Facebook group. You can join for $18 a month or, use code HUSHED to save $30 off your first year in the group. Over half our members are annual members, that’s how valuable the group is.

The post The Secret to a Simple Family Room appeared first on Nesting Place.

Everyday, we’re slowly adding more stuff to our homes.

There’s the functional pieces, like the sofa and the coasters, extra throw pillows and snuggly blankets, and the stuff of daily life: shoes, mail, mugs and dog beds. 

Over time, every room of the house is holding more stuff and we’re managing it whether we realize it or not. 

If everything that sits out in your home has a voice, what started as a pretty melody can turn into a screaming roar when left unchecked. 

You don’t want to live in a house that’s yelling at you.

Every house needs hushing from time to time.

Traditional decluttering methods are great but sometimes you need a quick win without all that decision making.

As a visual girl who LOVES pretty things, I found a way to experience the visual rewards of decluttering in a fraction of the time and I’ve been doing it for years, I call it House Hushing.

My favorite way to hush my house is to declutter–backwards.

Backwards Decluttering gives you a big shot of momentum and then you can decide where to go from there (you’ll be shocked at the energy it creates!).

Backwards decluttering allows you to experience all the rewards of decluttering without all the pain of making a bunch of decisions or angsting over if something really does spark joy. It’s like having dessert for dinner!

If your house could use a little hushing, I’d love for you to join us for the Room-by-Room House Hushing Challenge.

I host this challenge inside my private community and you can join us for a month, or save $30 when you join for the entire year with code: HUSHED.

Together, over four weeks we’ll Hush our Kitchen, Family Room, Bedroom and Bathroom. We’ll have weekly challenges and prizes.

No, my house doesn’t stay like this and your’s won’t either, that’s not the goal.

Don’t worry, I’ll coach you on adding the essentials back in, but Hushing is like a yearly cleanse for your home. It’s time!

Join us now for the Room-by-room House Hushing Challenge, we begin Tuesday January 13th.

“One of the best decluttering methods of the year!” –Apartment Therapy

Join me, and start House Hushing today!

The post House Hushing: Why Backwards Decluttering Works appeared first on Nesting Place.

Click here for hundreds of items under $25 (most ship fast!)

Click here for hundreds of items under $10 (most ship fast!)

1. Sezane Gaspard Sweater: I have in two colors
2. Little Women Collectors Edition
3. Le Creuset Tea Kettle
4. Scattergories Vintage Game
5. Smithey Carbon Steep Farmhouse Skillet: Chad gave this to me three years ago, it’s the skillet I always reach for (and my 3rd Smithy)
6. Marble bowl
7. Stick candles: lots of colors!
8. Theraplush overnight lotion in a gorgeous container: I’ve used this brand for years and keep it next to my bed.
9. Embroidered journal
10. Alpaca beanie and scarf set

1. Terracotta planter
2. Plant mister
3. Organizing bag
4. Plant watering spikes
5. Teardrop iron trellis
6. Metal scissors
7. Terrain houseplant book
8. Copper watering can
9. Garden Girlie trucker hat
10. Paperwhite bulbs
11. Moisture meter
12. Willow obelisk

1. Marine layer fuzzy socks
2. Pocket size rechargeable hand warmers
3. Electric wood stove
4. Hat & gloves set
5. Glass match cloche with striker 
6. Throw blanket
7. Composition notebook
8. Ear muffs
9. Quilted jacket
10. Hot cocoa bombs
11. Bow mug
12. Mackenzie Childs mug
13. Memory foam slippers

click here or the graphic above for these items and more

1. Green suede bag
2. Needlepoint pillow
3. Latte bowls
4. Popcorn popper
5. Silver shot glasses
6. Oxford roller skates: less expensive but still cool here and here
7. Emma book
8. Ink velvet lip stain
9. Hooded scarf
10. Lidded mug

1. Pink weekender tote bag
2. Sezane tour tote bag
3. Bless Your Heart needlepoint pillow
4. Hunter boots
5. Extending taper candle holder
6. Burn After Writing journal
7. Sezane denim bowling bag
8. Sezane envelope keychain
9. Triangle scarf
10. Support Local Farmers sweatshirt

1. Bird feeder
2. Herbal salve
3. Wood handled shears
4. Gardening basket
5. Kitchen Garden Revival book
6. Gardener’s soap
7. Garden markers
8. Gardeners hand cream
9. Hoeing cap
10. Garden gloves
11. Garden tool basket
12. Copper seed starting tray
13. Crabtree & Evelyn soap and lotion gift set

click here or the graphic above for these items and more

1. Cable knit cardigan
2. Marble cheese board
3. Mini retro speaker: under $20
4. Scallop basket set
5. Xo mittens
6. French Market laundry soap: this is my favorite scent
7. Bandana scarf
8. Timex gold watch
9. Timex silver watch: I have this one, it’s under $40
10. LL Bean Boat and Tote: I have the medium bag with long handles
11. Watering can 
12. Silver & gold bead bracelet

1. Pink fair isle beanie
2. Lego flowers
3. Nail polish
4. Blanket scarf
5. Sneakers
6. Please leave by 9 cocktail napkin
7. Paint by number
8. Striped mug
9. Striped dumpling bag
10. Lip oil
11. Bubble lip balm

1. Lamp
2. Sezane tote bag
3. Reading glasses
4. Shearling slippers
5. Candle
6. Birth year sweatshirt
7. Headphones
8. Book of the Month Club
9. Pillow
10. Classic Board Games: (start their collection!)

1. Salt and Stone candle, also here
2. Poppy & Pout lip set
3. Vase
4. Patterned socks
5. Round leaf pillow
6. Salt and Stone lotion
7. Green striped pillow
8. Scalloped Lantern
9. Swan salt and pepper shakers
10. Rattan tray
11. MILK frother & steamer

1. Barbour elbow patch wool cardigan
2. Ken Burns National Parks: America’s Best Idea
3. Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
4. Adjustable Barbour corduroy cap
5. Field Notes Wallet
6. Timex Scout Watch
7. Smart Birdfeeder
8. COOP adjustable pillow
9. Cocktail kits
10. Beanie
11. Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
12. Will the Circle be Unbroken by Sean Dietrich
13. Weather Station

1. Wireless headphones: less than $20 they fold up and sound great!
2. Milk + Honey Bath Soak: so luxurious, I only buy one a year but it’s the best
3. Sunday Suppers: charming and approachable cookbook 
4. Cropped Jeans: I wear these all year around, great dupe for anthro
5. Levi’s Ribcage Bell Jeans: currently my favorite jeans
6. Scalloped marble tray: I use it to hold jewelry, a small plant, or next to the bed to set a glass of water
7. Gratitude journal less than $10-a great gift for everyone!
8. One Line a Day Journal: lasts for 5 years!
9. Portable bluetooth Marshall speaker: we use ours daily 50% off!
10. Dumpling striped clutch: I bought some as gifts and put highlighters in them 
11. The WONDEROVEN 
12. Chunky bead silver bracelet – Use code : ANTRHO30 to save 30%
13. Spoon ring: 78% off as I type! Under $2
14. Bow Slippers: I have and love these too, just no bow 
15. Dan Le Bois: my favorite scent
16. Milk blush
17. Lip oil: I have in appleberry: bright and cheery for someone who hates lipsticks

Click the graphic above for items under $10

1. Silver pumps
2. Sparkle jacket with bow: I wore this to the CMC Christmas open house last week with this skirt. Here’s a silk option and another option in multiple colors
3. Beaded bow earrings
4. Sparkle trousers:I changed into these and paired with a sweatshirt for our neighborhood Christmas party
5. Velvet dress: I wore this to Jean Stoffer’s Christmas open house last year: so comfy and flattering (but not hot!)
6. Black boots: I have these
7. Chunky silver bracelet
8. Timex watch
9. Merry Sweatshirt and my favorite sweatshirt is years old, but it says “iced coffee”: here’s a cute one 
10. Fluffy clutch shoulder bag
11. Striped dumpling bag

1. Pair of lidded baskets
2. Tiny black tables: I have 6, yes SIX, around my house! (save more if you buy in pairs)
3. Rattan wall hanger
4. Linen kitchen towels
5. Toilet tissue holder
6. Pot scrubbers: 3 for under $10
7. Watering can
8. Basket with wrap
9. Horsehair brush
10. Cute scissors: I probably have 12 of these around my house, buy them in the 3 pack
11. Cotton and jute scrubber
12. Tiny stool
13. Tissue box cover: I have 3 of these
14. Wet Dry Vac: My new favorite thing!!

1. Whiskey Smoker Kit: makes every Old Fashioned better
2. From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
3. Poems and Prayers
4. Blundstone Chelsea Boots
5. White Noise Sound Machine: we use it nightly and take it on trips
6. Smartwool socks: Chad is a sock connoisseur, personally I avoid socks, but he loves these
7. Phone Docking Station with Drawer
8. Jackery: He has 2 versions of this and uses them both. How? Why?
9. Flannel shirt
10. Cigar Humidor
11. A Man and His Car
12. A Man and His Watch

1. Black & Brown Transferware (this is what I collect)- I found 90% of mine locally for a few dollars each over the years
2. Frasier Fir Soy Candle 
3. Watering Can 
4. Roe Deer Antlers
5. Silver Goblet Match Striker (add a candle for a complete gift) 
6. Mexican Nicho Sets: I’m looking for a place in my house for these mini shadow boxes! 
7. Indoor/Outdoor Gothic Mirror
8. Chunky Bracelet: I’m a silver girl with a touch of gold, but this shop has it all 
9. Vintage Indian Brass Bells
10. Handmade Solid Dishsoap & Brush
11. Vintage Silverplate (this is all I use, I put it in the dishwasher–just don’t wash with stainless steel or acidic detergent). I’ve had my original vintage set for 30 years and it looks great.
12. Pastoral Printable Artwork with Scripture: An affordable last minute gift, so many beauties to choose from.
13. Ruffled Gingham Pillow in beige and black and in green 
14. Kantha Quits: I have a few of these, they pair well with the everyday duvet that I use on our all beds and come in all sorts of prints and colors. 
15. Custom Stamped Copper Box 
16. Head Planter: I’ve had mine for over a decade, and even though they went viral and we all got sick of seeing them everywhere, I still love them. Especially unique head planters. I put foraged greens in mine, or candles, utensils or hats on them

1. Corded Wall lamp $33!
2. Wood display cabinet
3. Green enamel plug in sconce
4. Candlesticks
5. Wall sconce
6. Brass shelf I’ve had my eye on this forever
7. Magnolia blooms

1. Earmuffs
2. XO Mittens
3. Birth month journal
4. Woven gauze fringe throw
5. Checkered faux fur throw
6. Striped bolster
7. Ugg Classic Ultra Mini Biarritz
8. Fair Isle socks
9. Gingham ruffle quilt, shams
10. Linen blend striped or gingham duvet cover (available in multiple colors)

1. Black Rose Salt and Stone Body Wash: normally I hate anything scented that has the word rose in it, but this one is my favorite scent
2. Side table: under $30!
3. Cream electric wood stove: we’ve had a black one for years, I just gave it to our son, but I’d love a pretty color for my office, it warms up a room and the pretend fire is obviously fake but somehow still soothing
4. Bites on a Board book
5. Makeup bag
6. Crown & Clay Pastoral Print: great last minute gift
7. Velvet Travel Jewelry box: under $10
8. Puff slip on mules
9. Tiny stool to help me be taller, or set a plant on: less than $25 right now
10. Vintage silverplate salad tongs
11. Timex watch

1. Lace trim blouse
2. Scalloped sweater
3. Puff sleeve blouse (on sale )
4. New Balance 327s: my favorite sneakers
5. Oversized clutch: very cool
6. New York baseball cap
7. Ankle boots: lots of colors
8. Sanctuary slingback heels
9. Brown Reebok
10. Mid rise flare jeans
11. Black maxi skirt: one of my favorite purchases of the year, comfy, forgiving, flattering, easy to dress up or down
12. Lace track pants: my next purchase
13. High Rise Flare Corduroy
14. Velvet Dress

1. Salt and Stone mini duo
2. Salt and Stone hand cream
3. Bow slippers
4. Scalloped scarf: lots to choose from
5. Cable knit beanie
6. Scarf claw clip
7. Beaded Bracelet
8. Fisherman knit hat with pom
9. 2 Pair cable knit socks
10. Peel off lip stain
11. Le Sweet nail polish
12. Insulated lunch bag
13. Assorted stud earrings
14. Spa set 
15. London ball cap

1. KitchenAid mixer
2. Pillow with zip off cover 
3. Twisted Candles
4. Scrabble
5. Twisted edge marble bowl
6. Sink strainer: $6, this is what I use and love!!
7. Bow slippers: $10!
8. Woven throw black
9. Woven throw brown: I have this one
10. Pleated shade lamp

1. Dorai Diatomite Stone Sink Tray or drying mat 
2. Outdoor solar lights: I have these and have gifted them
3. Mini cordless lamp
4. Headlamp beanie
5. Sunrise alarm clock
6. National parks book
7. Cell phone stand with bluetool speaker
8. Jackery portable power station
9. Bird feeder with camera or no tech
10. Towel warmer
11. Bluetooth bookshelf speakers
12. Electric Lighter great to pair with a candle like this 
13. Electric salt and pepper grinder

1. Velvet bow stocking
2. String lights
3. Ivory Fir Tree: I’m in love, if you get this, send me a photo!!
4. JumBow tree topper
5. Moravian Star
6. Supernova Star
7. Selenite candle holder
8. Set of 3 gold bells
9. Mushroom clip ornaments
10. Faux Trees

1. Elizabeth Bed: I have been obsessed with this bed for years
2. Fern Marble Top Dresser
3. Spindle night stand
4. Spiral side table
5. Cecelia Striped Sofa and chair
6. Layla Dining Chair with Solid slipcover, or patterned slipcover
7. Coffee table
8. Green Selma Sofa

1. Rifle Paper Potholder & Oven Mitt
2. Old Havana Platter
3. Set of 4 wine glasses, juice glasses, tumbler (comes in 4 colors)
4. Striped Nut Bowls
5. Gourmand Candle
6. Bow Platter
7. Stoneware Fruit Basket
8. Set of 4 Latte Nut Bowls
9. Bobbin Salt & Pepper Grinders
10. Egg crate
11. Double Oven Mitt

1. Whiskey Smoker Kit: makes every Old Fashioned better
2. From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
3. Poems and Prayers
4. Blundstone Chelsea Boots
5. White Noise Sound Machine: we use it nightly and take it on trips
6. Smartwool socks: Chad is a sock connoisseur, personally I avoid socks, but he loves these
7. Phone Docking Station with Drawer
8. Jackery: He has 2 versions of this and uses them both. How? Why?
9. Flannel shirt
10. Cigar Humidor
11. A Man and His Car
12. A Man and His Watch

1. Cat breeds oven mitt
2. CAT LAMP!!! (3 breeds!)
3. Dog lamps (11 Breeds!)
4. Raised pet bowl
5. Cat Vase 
6. Animal photo holder
7. Doggie throw
8. Beware of cat
9. Tissue box cover
10. Doggie sweaters
11. Mau cat tree: my old cat, Francie loves hers!
12. All the doggies
13. All the cats

1. Lodge Cast Iron Enamel Dutch Oven: 40% off!
2. Marshall Speaker: best price of the year, I have it in cream.  Ours is five years old, and we still use it every time we host—with a playlist running in the background.
3. Squirrel nutcracker
4. 5 Piece Cheese Board Set With Glass Cloche (under $35)
5. Long thin metal tray
6. Wood chess set: it’s fun to see all ages play together
7. Wine Puzzler: add a bottle of wine for a great hostess gift
8. Bar Cart: under $150, comes in 4 colors
9. Candlesticks
10. LED Taper Candles
11. Wine Gift: Buy a wine kit $25 (it’s a nice wood box of wine tools) and receive 2 FREE bottles of wine of your choice ($25 total shipped).  I just ordered one of these, but I don’t have it yet. What a great deal for hosting or as a hostess gift! Not a subscription*

1. Cordless Fruit bowl Lamp 
2. Project Repat : (T-Shirt Quilts!) Hurt me, I’m using an image of their bag because although the quilts are amazing (and made in my town!) the images all mess up my pretty graphic. Great for the athlete, sports fan or T-Shirt collector in your life.
3. In His Name Canvas
4. Wonky Ware 
5. Bloom Bath Truffle 
6. Stick Candles 
7. Personalized books 
8. Striped Pillow 
9. Southern Baked Pie Co: they even have savory pies!
10. Smithy Farmhouse Skillet: Chad got this for me last year, and this one two years ago. I cut and color my own hair, but I splurge on cookware–we use one almost daily.
11. Opal Wall Vessel: I have it in polished nickel
12. David Brazier Art (he’s 19!) I have one of his pieces in my tiny personal collection.
13. Liberty wood puzzles: If you have a puzzler in your life, they will love this heirloom puzzle. I’ve been gifted a handful, my favorites are this and this.
14. French Broad Chocolates made in Asheville, NC
15. Card Wallet: I bought this furry brown and white cowhide card wallet in Jackson Hole a few weeks ago and I was delighted to find these are made in NC!
16. Rattan Basket 
17. My favorite tote bag: I wear it daily
18. Customized Open Circle bracelet

1. Linen pillow cover, and in green
2. Custom hand cut silhouettes
3. Hand-casted leaf tray: perfect for your creation collection
4. Custom embosser
5. Vintage cross bracelet
6. Custom beanie
7. Cloche with dried botanicals
8. Silver bud vase, and more
9. Live Myrtle topiary
10. Be still
11. Vintage silverplate mirror
12. Leather journal: could make a great guest book
13. Rabbit pelts: this is what I use as sofa and arm chair covers 
14. Step stools: free shipping

1. Ribbon
2. Tassel Garland: It’s back! I like this on my tree and I used it on my drapes in the House Rules book
3. Vintage Brass Bells
4. Velvet Bow Stocking (I bought 2!)
5. Dark Ribbon Candlestick
6. Jumbo paper honeycomb ornaments: I have these–they close magnetically, are huge, and pack away flat! Here and here. 
7. Silver Ornaments
8. Mini Gingerbread Mug House Cookie Cutters. Here’s what we do and my favorite recipe.
9. C9 Incandescent String lights (what I use) here and here.
10. Linen stocking with Poms
11. Fresh Eucalyptus Wreath 
12. Preserved Cedar Wreath
13. Tassel Stocking
14. Silver bow Candlestick

1. Kitchen Rail
2. Mirrored Shelf
3. Forest Tapestry Table Cloth. Please, someone use this as a wall hanging. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
4. Magazine & Toilet Paper holder 
5. Small crown mirror
6. Monogram Gallery Wall charm
7. Beaded Round Mirror
8. Moons Ago Art
9. Royal Clouds

Although I’m looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday 🍗, I’m hoping to be more organized for Christmas🌲 this year and one way I’m doing that is by prepping some gift guides.

I always start with Amazon (soon I’ll have Etsy, small shops, Target, Anthro and a few more), so today I thought I’d share all the updated Amazon Guides in case you’re in to the mood to shop or browse or just get ideas for when you’re at your local stores.

Each graphic below links directly to the corresponding Amazon department, check back, more guides coming soon!

Some of these links are affiliate links and I receive a small commission when purchased at no extra charge to you. Thank you for shopping through my links and guides!!

The post 2025 Gift Guides appeared first on Nesting Place.

1. White Lamp (I’m looking for a place to use this in my house!) 54% off, under $130
2. Nightstand (under $100)
3. Scallop, velvet bed (under $300!)
4. Stone & metal table lamp (a great dupe! under $60- 63% off!)
5. Larger nightstand (under $180)
6. Upholstered bed (under $350!!!)
7. Swivel Chair (under $300, multiple colors)
8. Plaid Ottoman (under $200)
9. Striped Chair (under $300, multiple colors)
10. Slipcovered Sofa (under $500!)
11. Coffee table so cute! (under $120)

1. Urn planter (save over 50%)
2. Tree
3. Ceramic table lamp
4. Mirror
5. Console table under $300
6. Floor lamp
7. 88” Sofa
8. Bolster pillow
9. Pair of TWO chairs (under $700!)
10. Rug 50% off

1. Desk lamp 
2. Rug
3. Board
4. Pillow
5. Table lamp 
6. Desk
7. Chair
8. Poof

1. Rug: (9×13 is 76% off!) I have this one in our guest room
2. Slipcovered Bed : under $300!
3. Bench : under $100
4. End table: under $60
5. Pair of nightstands: save 33%
6. Lamp (the shade!): under $90
7. English Roll Arm Chair: (my favorite style) under $260 , similar under $420

I added some cold weather favorites to the top of the Autumn Department of the Amazon Store. Last year, I bought a long puffy stadium coat and it instantly elevates a basic sweatsuit for a quick run to the grocery store. It doesn’t even get all that frigid where we live, but I still grab it often. And I believe every woman deserves a cozy warm robe. I like a LONG SOFT robe (formal length? it’s a black tie robe!). I put mine on nightly after my bath.

I receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post

The post WayDay: My Top Picks & Deals appeared first on Nesting Place.

Here’s a video of my current closet situation. Yes, I am a spoiled brat with this enormous closet. The entirety of my life before this house, my closets were about 20% of this size and I had to be extra picky about what I kept. Now that I have more room, I can hold on to more items, but I still try to purge and declutter my closet often because it makes it easier to put outfits together.

I like to dress casually, but I still want my outfits to feel simple yet interesting, with visual presence. For me, the best way to do this is by shopping by silhouette. I look at shapes of pieces because that’s how I like to add interest and combine things. So if I’m getting a heel, I want a heel that is SUPER pointy or very rounded, I want each piece to have a voice.

I like sharp v-neck tees because they are more bossy than a quiet round neck tee. I like jeans to have a recognizable shape–be it flare, boot cut, wide leg or skinny. I’m always picking an extreme because I think it’s easier to look finished and have a defined style with fewer pieces when each one has presence.

Here are some of my favorite pieces:

Jeans are my favorite! I love a light wash, I love Levi’s, I love having options of shape, length, and contrast. If I could only have 3 jeans it would be these:

1. Levis Ribcage Bell: amazing jeans! Just wide enough to feel in style with a tiny flare here and here.
2. Crop High Rise: I have both the Collett from Anthro and the Amazon version, they are both soft and stretchy and so cute with boots in the cooler months
3. Flat front (no button or zipper!) high rise flares, STRETCHY!!! On sale $25! These look great on on everyone

I adore sweaters in the fall and winter. About half of mine are V-necks—again, I love the more dramatic silhouette, and they’re so easy to wear on their own or layered. 

1. Old Navy Brown Wool Blend Slouchy Cardigan: great price, slightly itchy but tolerable
2. Sezane Angelo Sweater: (I have it in black-currently sold out) this sweater is exquisite, stunning and looks great with jeans or dressed up. The other available colors are lovely. I also have the Stacy in navy and the Angie in teal. Definitely investments.
3. Free People Cool of The Night Cardi: Perfectly oversized, not itchy at all. I bought mine at Belk and I have both the Ivory and Mocha colors.

When I’m not in jeans, I’m in soft pants. PRAISE. I wear them with cardigans often.

1. SOMA: High waist high rise pants in Olive (I  have them in black too) great with a tee, cardigan or sweatshirt
2. Altar’d State super soft wide leg sweatpants: ADORABLE! They feel like Pjs, but I wear them in public!
3. Old Navy High Waisted Wide Leg smooth pants: super comfy

This graphic is a lie. Yes, the New Balances are a top pick and even the boots on the left, but the duck boots on the right I don’t own. I tried to find something similar to the second hand boots I showed you in the video.

1. New Balance 327s here and here, my favorite tennis shoe. I buy a pair once a year and have for four years. Sometimes I get the sea salt, sometimes I get the black.
2. Sorel Duck Boots: waterproof and warm
3. LL Bean Duck Boots: (similar to the other pair off Sorels I have that are no longer available)

This is that blouse I have five of. I have three silk, (black, white, green) one white lace, and one chambray stripe. It’s so flattering and lays perfectly. It’s not hot and you can layer it under a cardigan and have that feminine lace collar showing. Yes please. 

1. Sezane Chlo shirt: I have this in multiple colors, black is my favorite. Great alone or for layering, isn’t hot
2. Spoon Ring: Rings & Bracelets
3. Lazarus Artisan Goods: Cecilia Tote (I have black and brown, they last forever)

A little over half my wardrobe is secondhand. I love thrifting, but when I’m searching for something specific or trying to replace a favorite piece that’s no longer available (or find it in another color), I turn to ThredUp.

All of those items above I found with a super quick search on ThredUp. 

I searched through my photos and found these images of different outfits, these are from last winter mostly. Notice the silhouettes of my pieces.

Unsure what to wear or how to put your pieces together?

I love this app because it helps you shop your own closet to create new outfits. It’s not about buying all new clothes, it’s a fresh perspective to help you style what you already own and recognize any gaps and redundancies.

look how cute! I die!

Here’s an example of a suggested outfit and how someone shopped her closet and styled her own pieces in a new way. So fun!

The post Cozy Minimalist Closet appeared first on Nesting Place.

Fall Hosting Favorites

1. Ghost Pillow
2. Accordion Wall Hanger
3. Individual soup crocks (I have them in black)
4. Marshall bluetooth speaker (I love mine! 44% off!)
5. Cinnamon rolls candle
6. Big Lodge Skillet (I use mine weekly)
7. Kitchen soap kit (if it sits out it’s a decoration)
8. Wood spoons & ladles
9. Dutch oven ( so many colors!)
10. Bread slicer $7.99!
11. Spice Organizer Kit: when your spices are organized you feel like a queen

Christmas Shopping Ideas

1. Wizard of Oz Painted Edition
2. Five Minute Journal
3. Homesick Candle every state is on sale!
4. Ugg blanket (multiple colors) 
5. Birdie: personal safety alarm 
6. Makeup bag
7. Bird Feeder $6! 
8. Travel Jewelry case: just $5!
9. Ring Camera 50% off!
10. Whiskey Smoker Set (my sister bought this for her husband and Chad liked it so much I bought one for him)
11. Zoe Bakes Cookies

Stuff I Want

1. Drying pad
2. Tatcha under eye cream
3. Bobbin table
4. Cinnamon bun bath
5. Favorite face mask
6. Salt and stone candle
7. Gingham pillow shams

Clean & Organized

1. Soft canvas storage bags
2. Robo Vac mop
3. Jewelry organizer
4. Toiletry bag 
5. Steam cleaner (54% off just $30!) 
6. Cordless electric spin scrubber
7. Dyson vac (44% off)
8. Label Maker
9. O Cedar Mop: the BEST

Things I Have & Love

1. Outdoor lighting (solar!) 
2. Dime perfume (I wear Dans Le Bois in the fall and winter, 7 Summers in spring and summer)
3. Loloi Teagan rug (in my office) 
4. Floor pops peel & stick floor tiles (we used these in 4 rooms, no issues at all) 
5. Fuzzy slippers 
6. Tiny cordless table lamp
7. Tissue box cover (if it sits out, it’s a decoration)
8. Beauty by Earth Self Tanner (I’ve used this for YEARS) 
9. Handmade rustic vase
10. John Derian picture book (gorgeous!)
11. Scalloped marble tray
12. Half zip sweatshirt (I have in 3 colors, warm, but you can easily cool off in it!) 
13. Solo Stove this is our backyard firepit, it’s smokeless!
14. Floral pillow cover
15. Wide leg flare cropped jeans (so easy to wear)
16. Carpet cleaner (get it before you need it, great for upholstery too) 
17. Wonder Oven 6 in 1 air fryer (I use this more than my real oven)
18. Bonsai scissors (I use them for everything)
19. French Linen Duvet Cover (I’ve have 4 of these, we use them on every bed) lots of colors including ginghams (I use it along with this insert)

You can view my entire Amazon Big Prime Day Deal list here. I’ll be adding more to the list throughout the sale!

See my other curated lists here.

I am an Amazon Associate and may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through these affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

The post Big Prime Day Deals appeared first on Nesting Place.

Are you sick of me writing about spring yet?

I’m not and frankly, I’m surprised.

It really is part of my job to get to talk about the change in seasons, but I admit – in the past, the change in seasons that I’ve probably cared the least about is winter into spring. Why? I have absolutely no idea because, this year, it feels like it’s giving me actual life. 🌷✨🌸🙌🏻🎀🏠🦢🌿

Which I think is the entire point of spring. 

This year, I feel like I’m truly experiencing spring. You already know I’m not the kind of seasonal decorator who uses lots of stuff that needs to be packed away. There’s nothing wrong if you love that. 

I love finding ways to experience spring with my 5 senses, that’s really the only way we experience anything.

Last week in the Cozy Community, we shared a list of some ideas of how to experience spring without buying a plastic wreath (nothing wrong if that makes you happy!) but maybe in addition to that, you can try a few ideas from the list.

I’ve listed out the ideas below so you can read them. 

(some links lead to topics we covered in our community, you’ll only be able to see them if you are a member)

There’s nothing wrong with buying spring decor, but as Cozy Minimalists we try to purchase things we can use longer than a month. Consider things that don’t need to be stored, things that help you experience the season with your five senses.

• Hang wind chimes
• Bring herbs into your kitchen
• Get a new plant
• Try a new welcome mat
• Light spring scented candles or spring colored candles
• Create a spring playlist
• Use a spring scented soap
• Borrow a gardening book from the library
• Flip through a cookbook
• Wear a pretty apron
• Buy seeds and start them
• Go to the garden center
• Open your windows
• Visit the farmer’s market
• Make a terrarium
• Arrange a bowl of moss
• Hang a bird feeder
• Walk barefoot in the grass
• Create spring cleaning chart
• Make a salad
• Sit in the sunshine
• Switch out winter pillow covers & throws for spring colors
• Open a book to a springy photo & display
• Wear something pink, lavender or yellow
• Make lavender sugar
• Plan where you want to grow bulbs next year
• Open all the blinds, all the way
• Pickle some onions
• Forage some branches
• Put a striped table cloth on your table
• Tie ribbons on a branch in a vase
• Make a spring veg tray with pink ranch
• Be inspired by spring catalogs and magazines
• Spring-ify your lipstick, blush, nail polish and perfume
• Invest in a cute pair of walking shoes
• Plan your Easter menu
• Put on some self-tanning lotion
• Create a spring inspiration Pinterest board
• Make a spring simmer pot
• Add a basket to your bike
• Wipe down your front door
• Eat dinner on the front porch
• Walk through botanical gardens
• Download a birdcall app
• Watch the Durrells in Corfu
• Make a lemon loaf, lemon pasta, anything with lemons!
• Pull out books in spring colors & display them

Want to see my favorites in action? Click here for today’s reel on Instagram.

None of these items are surprising or new, but this past week I tried to pay attention to the things I’m using most to experience the season, here they are:

1. Oversized Linen Tablecloth: I’m so into tablecloths every spring, normally I buy a few flat sheets to use as tablecloths because I can never find them big enough. This one is HUGE and 50% off!
2. Marshall Bluetooth Speaker: You’ve seen this in my house for years. Yes, I could buy something cheaper but it wouldn’t look or sound as good. We use it almost daily and it connects to my phone and when we’re hosting I use my apple watch to turn the volume up or down. I’d rather have this speaker than four wreaths.
3. Corinthian Bells Windchimes: Years ago we vacationed at a place that had gorgeous sounding windchimes. I figured out they were this brand and a few months later my parents gifted us some. If you are a windchime connoisseur you’ve heard of Corinthian Bells
4. Extendable Tree Pruner: I’ve dreamed of this for years. I finally asked Chad if we could buy one and he was all, “we have one.” We HAD ONE. It’s not cool and trendy and cute and adorable, but it will help you reach blooming branches way high up.
5. V-neck Sweatshirt: I’m still wearing it. Anything V-neck or half zip that I can instantly cool down if I get hot is my favorite.
6. RMS Cream Luminizer: I’ve been using this for a few years after I saw an ad, I love it. I put it at the top of my cheekbones and it makes me feel fresh and young.
7. Cooling Water Jelly Lip Tint & Blush: I’m currently obsessed with happy pink blush without any warm undertone. They have all sorts of shades but I have the “Chill” color and it makes me feel like a March babe. Here’s a knockoff on sale from Walmart.
8. Wireless Headphones: I’m shocked at how often I wear them. Daily. I hate HATE earbuds, they were created by Satan. These fold up, keep a charge for a long time, you can still hear traffic when you’re walking and if the wind is blowing they keep your ears warm. Plus, it’s like wearing a “do not disturb sign”. I wear them to the grocery store now, too.
9. Whipped Cream & Pear Candle: My personal all time favorite candle.
10. New Balance 327s: I’m on my 3rd pair of white with black, but this time after seeing my sister’s black pair, I decided to try the black ones. Love them. I sized down half a size in all colors. Hoping to walk outside more this spring? Get yourself a new pair of walking shoes.
11. Fanny Pack: If I’m on a leisurely vacation I might sling it over my shoulder like a girlie or whatever, but when I’m walking to get my steps in with my headphones and sneakers I need my fanny pack: it’s like a 3 piece set.  I wear this fanny pack as God intended so it doesn’t slip around. This holds my phone, chapstick, and money while I walk. Amen.

Need more inspiration?  Check out the spring department of my amazon store

The post Decorating for Spring? Try This Instead. appeared first on Nesting Place.

There are still nine days before the first official day of spring, but I’ve already started spring-ifying and de-winterizing my house. One of the first things I did was move the coats from the metal hanging thing by the back door to the coat closet right around the corner. 

Here in NC, we’ll still grab a jacket, but I needed a visual sign of change and switching out coats for watering cans did the trick. Yep, I use my watering cans weekly no matter what the season, usually I keep them in or on that black cabinet to the right, that’s just out of the frame of that photo above. But in the spring, the pretty watering cans read as decor to me–so I pull them forward and show them off.

I have lots of small changes I make in my home come spring, and hardly any of them require plastic bins full of stuff, 80 degree days or a yard full of blooms. Here are my secrets.

I LOVE those aisles of spring decor, too. But if you’ve hung out here for any amount of time, you know when it comes to having a seasonal home, you NEVER want to start in the stores. Here’s where to begin.

Every time I show that wall next to my backdoor with the metal accordion wall rack people ask about it. I found it at Terrain ages ago. Here’s an amazon version that looks really close. And here’s some similar on Etsy. 

I’ve had the bag for a million years and I don’t have a link. 

Here’s a link to similar plant misters.

I’ve had my tiny watering can for ages. I think it was a Target find, but I found the larger one a few years ago at an antique mall. I love the imperfection of it. I gathered some favorite watering cans from Etsy if you need some ideas. 

For me, I’d rather invest in a cool, vintage watering can that I’ll touch and use 52 weeks out of the year to keep my plants alive, than a fake spring wreath for my front door that I have to pack away 10 months out of the year.

Functional, 356 day decor is always my first choice.

I know not everyone wants a crusty second hand watering can so here are a few really pretty new cans with gorgeous shapes for great prices:

1. Antique Gold from World Market
2. Brass from Target
3. Copper Can from Target
4. Gold from Amazon

PS: I‘m pretty sure you need vases too…

The post Welcome Spring Without the Bins appeared first on Nesting Place.

In last week’s email (sign up here to receive future emails) I shared this lamp hack. It’s probably my favorite hack ever and one I originally learned from Megan D. Miller (linked above) and then promptly copied. Twice. As you can also see above in the links.

For the first half of my homemaking years, I didn’t realize the power of lamps. I thought an overhead light and a random lamp in a room was enough. I didn’t know how a lamp could add both style and a layer of the coziest light ever, creating little pockets or rooms within a room.

Lamps are part of the homey trinity and you add them in step three of the order of decor. 

Lamps are wonderfully mysterious because you can find a beautiful lamp at a higher end shop or online for over $1000, and you can also find a beautiful lamp for $2 at a thrift store!  What a world!

Almost exactly 50% of the lamps in my house are second hand or DIYs or hacks, then about 25% are Target, Ikea or HomeGoods and then I have a few lamps that were pricey.

Even if you would never pay for an expensive lamp, it’s helpful to browse the styles and materials of higher end lamps so when you see something similar at HomeGoods or second hand, you can feel more confident that you are getting a great price.

Here’s the most recent lamp I hacked. It’s a heavy vase I found at an antique mall for $25, an $8 thrifted lamp base and a square lamp shade I had in my basement.

If you are going to try the lamp hack here are my tips:

Find the vessel first, and look for something with a wide mouth, color isn’t that important, you can always paint it, so look for shape and scale

After you have your base, measure from the bottom of the inside to the top and add a few inches. This is how tall your thrifted lamp base insert should be. Look for a thin lamp base with the “base of the base :)” being a small circumference (it needs to fit in the vessel!).

Shop your house for a shade or take your vessel & lamp base with you and try shades out in the store.

You can just let the cord hang out the top of the vase. How do I know not to be bothered by the cord? Because I’ve noticed high end lamps are sometimes designed exactly like that and, I’ve seen them styled in homes I like and I think the exposed cord is kind of cool and quirky.

Prices subject to change

1. Ceramic lamp with gingham shade
2. Black floor lamp (available in different metals)
3. Ribbed lamp with pleated shade
4. Green lamp
5. Metal lamp with green shade
6. Striped lamp
7. Black scalloped lamp (multiple colors)
8. Ceramic lamp with pleated shade

1. Chrome lamp
2. Colin King lamps from my bedroom (see them here)
3. Piccolo lamp
4. Floor lamp
5. Fluted porcelain lamp
6. Black sphere
7. Black lamp woven shade
8. Off white lamp

The post Start Hacking Now: Lamps appeared first on Nesting Place.

I spent January, and part of February, Hushing my House and decluttering. Maybe you did too?

If so, you were probably faced with the same dilemma I was: I want simplicity but I also want beautiful things!!!

One way I’ve learned to cheat the system and get both–especially when it comes to styling my surfaces–is to focus on DUAL USE ACCESSORIES. 

When you’re styling your surfaces, you want pretty things of course, but if they also have a part time or full time job, that makes them more purposeful and valuable. No more lazy accessories, they MUST earn their keep by working and looking great.

I created a new resource for you. It’s a guide all about my top 6 accessories that look great, are dual use and won’t clutter up your home (when used responsibly!). 

This guide started as a teaching in the Cozy Minimalist Community, so if you’re a member, you are welcome to download it, but it’s also already in your member library where I I narrate it for you and go a little more in depth; find it when you login here.

1. Twisted Handle Vase
2. Pair of Scalloped Marble Trays
3. Everlasting Candles
4. Scalloped Lidded Box
5. Metal Easel
6. Live Blue Star Fern
7. Faceted Ceramic Vase
8. Marble Headphone Stand (what a world!)
9. Light Pink Twisted Tapers
10. Bobbin Photo Frame
11. Silver Tray

Here are some of my favorite surface styling, functional items from Amazon 

And of course, you can always shop your house, or my FAVORITE way to collect dual use accessories is second hand. You can find really cool one of a kind items at thrift stores and yard sales if you aren’t in a hurry or looking for specific items.

The post The Styling Secret appeared first on Nesting Place.