Hey all! Valentine’s day is around the corner and I don’t know about you, but it’s a family day around here. The kids and I generally put on as much red as we can muster up and spend the day cutting out red construction paper hearts to string for garland. We finish off the evening with some yummy food on our fanciest dishes, toast to our family with sparkling cider, and eat yummy Valentine’s Day cake! On top of all that we surprise each other with small gifts  – some are homemade and others not so much. So I’ve rounded up some of my family’s favorite Valentine goodies for yall from the one and only Walmart! Some of the items are fun and very affordable and others like my oh so favorite scent – Coco Chanel Mademoiselle are a bit on the pricey side. But this has to be my all-time favorite scent and when I wear it I get so many compliments. On the other hand, Donna Karan cashmere mist comes in a close second and is much more affordable! So whether your shopping for your family or yourself – I think you’ll thoroughly enjoy some of our favorites! 

Just click on an image on the slide to shop!

As you know – I’m currently in a blog series called bathroom refresh where I’m trying to update my bathroom on a $100 budget. This is actually quite hard to do – so I’m trying to pull as many things from my house as possible to save the budget for statement items like new light fixtures and pulls. Now – You might be confused because the title of my blog is called “How to update your bathroom fixtures with spray paint” but in my case, my light fixture and pulls are so outdated – spray paint wasn’t going to fix it. I decided to use my budget to try and buy a light clearanced out, new pulls, and textiles. So, this meant I had to be willing to repaint a new light fixture to get it exactly the shade I was looking for. I found a light on clearance for $40 and it was exactly what I was looking for! Except that it was brown and not black. I also pulled a mirror that was the perfect size from my guest room – and it’s also brown and not black. That’s where my handy dandy can of spray paint comes in.

Use the right spray paint

It’s important to always use the right spray paint for your projects. In this case, I’m spray painting metal so enamel paint is best. It will last longer on surfaces compared to lacquer. It also adheres better. Some times I will use a top coat to help seal in the color, but not always. I usually only do that on “high traffic” items that get used a lot or touched a lot like chairs, furniture, etc. Because this mirror and light fixture is a “hung and done” kind of deal, I’m not worried about the paint coming off.

Light coats

2-3 light coats are always a good idea when spray painting to ensure you’re getting full coverage. Also, I’ll emphasize LIGHT coats! If you spray it on too thick it’ll probably drip and then it’ll be obvious that it was spray painted. Try and stand a good 12 inches away from your fixtures so that it doesn’t bubble up and look sloppy.

Wedge your tape

It’s important to wedge your tape right up underneath the frame of your mirror so you don’t “accidentally” leave a thick stripe of spray paint. The more of the tape you get under the frame the better.

The great thing about spray paint is that it only takes seconds to get an even coat… it’s the dry time between coats that can be time-consuming. A half-hour is a good amount of time to wait in between coats if the coats are light.

If you don’t have fixtures – or yours were so outdated like mine then you should check out my latest post on choosing the right fixtures for your bath!

Stay Tuned for the next post in the series to see these bad boys hung up!

Until next time –

Korilyn – at the farmhouse life

To start my bathroom refresh I started with a vision board. I went with farmhouse meets boho…If you know me – surprise surprise! Those are my two favorite styles. My bathroom currently is very brown. So to start things off I needed a paint job.

Time-saving painting hack

I’ll be perfectly honest – I do not enjoy painting. I’m not a prep work person and painting is all about that prep work – am I right?! It takes too much time! I just like to get in – do my project – and get out. Ever wonder how to paint a room quickly without all the painstakingly annoying steps? Well – I’ve discovered a time-saving painting hack where you can paint a room so much faster! Are you ready for it? Glad Press and Seal wrap!! Seriously, just a quick pull, rip, press down and your good to go. Instead of using painter’s tape, just press the wrap to the surfaces you don’t want paint on. Since using this hack – I’ve not only been able to cut down on the prep work… but I make less of a mess! Seriously – at one point my husband had made a no painting rule for me because I always made a mess – trick’s on him because I hate painting lol! You know, all the prep work right? (Like lying down a drop cloth and taping) Seriously, I hate taping!! But using Press and Seal wrap It’s quick and easy to paint without the mess.

Just Press and go

Did you also know that you can wrap it around your brush when your done painting (without soaking) to use the next day? That is if you’re working on the same project with the same colors. It keeps the brush moist overnight. I know I used the word moist… anybody hate that word? My sister does – literally cringes when I use it. That one for you sis!  Anyway –  I finished up the first coat today and I’ll back at it tomorrow with another coat.

Be sure to check out number 2 in this bathroom refresh series here. Each post will show the progress of my refresh and have a DIY or two along the way!

Thanks for stopping by!

Love, Korilyn at the farmhouse life

If you’re like me and you’ve seen Christmas tree flocking DIYs floating around the social media world – and you’ve been curious if it really works… I’m here to tell you it does!! – AND it IS that easy! But I definitely learned a thing or two about tree flocking that I wish I knew – to save me from saying “flock you” to my DIY 😉 … So here’s what’s up if you’re thinking about giving it a try.

To Start – I used these simple supplies…

Next – I laid down cardboard and got to spraying…

Ok – So here’s what I learned

Initially, I just went to town spraying… But in actuality I laid it on too thick and it took way too long to dry. It also kind of clumped together instead of drying evenly. What I should have done is several very light coats with plenty of dry time in between. I would say at least an hour or two between coats.

 Clean up

Clean up is very easy if you do it right away… and not wait until morning. The snow in a can sort of smells like shaving cream and seems to have the same texture. So it’s very wet and sticky, but it does make clean up a breeze. Unless of course you wait until morning. There were some parts of my floor I missed and it left a film that I had to scrub off with all purpose cleaner and a scrub brush.

Indoor use only

So… Apparently snow in a can isn’t how the professionals would flock a tree! Although, it will look pretty –  it will not hold up outside in the weather. There is another long process of adhesive spray and powdered snow to create real flocking that you can put outside. So If you’re looking for a quick and easy DIY – Go with snow in a can… Other wise you’ll have to find another DIY 😉

Well buddies – That’s about all I learned from tree flocking – I hope you give it a shot!! If you do – tag me on Instagram… I’d love to see.

Love,

Korilyn

This year for my Thanksgiving tablescape I wanted to go really neutral. I found these great burlap table runners on Amazon and decided that was going to be my inspiration! I ended up buying 4. One that ran the length of my table and 2 that I could cut in half and run the width of my table to use as placemats.

Cutting burlap

I have a really useful tip to use when cutting burlap. Measure your burlap to size and snip the edge of the runner exactly where you want to cut your burlap. Then, find a loose thread and pull all the way until the tread comes out. It will bunch together until the tread comes loose. This will leave you a perfect line to cut and your edges won’t fray.

Add layers to your tablescape

First I added my burlap runner down the middle. Then, I added my cut burlap to the width of the table creating placemats for each chair. Next, I added my pinstripe table runner to add some color and texture to my tablescape. And lastly, I added greenery! I love to use real or faux garland to my tablescapes.

Centerpiece

Add your centerpiece to the center of the garland. If you missed my post about making a Thanksgiving centerpiece you can read on here. I also added varying size pumpkins from our garden and taper candles and candle holders to add height to my tablescape.

Table setting

I like a more eclectic vibe for my table setting. I used mismatched white dishes that were thrifted and drinking glasses that were also thrifted. To help the table feel more cohesive with my eclectic vibe I used matching black chargers and buffalo check napkins. These napkin rings were from Target long ago –  But you can find similar ones here.

The key to tablescapes

The key to any tablescape is to add many layers and varying heights. This adds depth and dimension and is visually appealing. Basically, you want one thing that your eye is going to be drawn too (here – my floral arrangement) and then other things that aren’t going to compete with it, but complement it.

Watch me build it here

I hope you’ve enjoyed friends.. checkout my Pumpkin bar recipe for the perfect Thanksgiving day treat!

Love, Korilyn

Thanksgiving is literally around the corner… are you ready? If your list is anything like mine – you’ve got a million and one things to do to plan for the big day. Well – If one of those things was  – come up with a beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece that will literally make all of your guests oohh and aahhh – I’ve got you covered!

Use what you have first

I always try to use what I have first before I head to the store… If I can use the majority of what I have and then only have to buy one or two things to keep things looking fresh and new I’d call that a win. So for this arrangement, I used a jar that I already had, brick foam, faux stems, floral shears, and real flowers from my local grocery store.

1. First, cut your brick foam to fit neatly inside your jar.
2. Add in your fresh stems to your jar sticking them in all different directions.
3. Lastly – add in your faux stems to fill in any gaps

Voila -Done

Sometimes the simplest centerpieces can be the most impactful! Pair with some taper candlesticks and layer pumpkins on either side and you’ve got yourself a beautiful centerpiece!

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Ok -I finally ordered my daughter a set of Beddys bedding. She’d been asking me since I collaborated with Beddys for the boy’s room a year ago and for some reason, I was dragging my feet. The price can be intimidating at first – but I knew how out-of-the-world amazing they are.. so I finally went for it.

They want to make their beds!

Needless to say, I am beyond thrilled with her set! It is so adorable and she is completely smitten! Each and every day since getting her Beddys she’s made her bed. I don’t even have to prompt her to make her bed in the morning. Again – another way Beddy’s has made my life easier.. they want to make their beds!! It’s crazy.. but there’s something fun about zipping up the sides of their sets! Hey – no argument here!

Perfectly made every time!

Now that all my kids have their beddys, it’s become a regular part of their routine to make their beds THEMSELVES in the morning. Don’t get me wrong… It’s always been their routine. But they generally looked worse than when they started. I was still an encouraging mom that nodded and smiled and praised the heck out of them for trying. Then the bed making fairy – A.K.A mom- came in the room when everyone was in school and remade their beds. I’m not proud of this.. but hey – it’s the truth! So when I say they make their beds THEMSELVES, I really mean it. They make their beds every day and it’s perfect every time. It’s foolproof – all they have to do it zip up the sides of their bedding and stack their pillows! voila – Done! It really does make my life easier. It’s now one less thing off my plate and I know these sets are worth every penny!

Want the deets??

If you’re curious about washing – the quality – and the physics of them… Let me save you some time – they’re amazing in all of the above. But If you want to know all the nitty-gritty, I’ve written another blog post with all the deets. Check it out here.

Perfectly made in 18 seconds!

In this post, I wanted to actually show you how EASY it is to put the bedding on your bed and how easy it is to make every day! Plus, it looks perfect every time! I’ve added a video below for you to check out!

Not only is the bedding perfect for kids.. but Beddys bedding is just so beautiful I’d put them on any bed in my house.  My daughter has the Chic white bedding set. It looks fabulous paired with pink accessories and very darling in a little girls room, but would also look fabulous as bedding in a farmhouse, cozy cottage, or shabby chic styled room too!

And of course Beddys is so fabulous they gave me a code to share with you all – So now you can try it out with a discount… AND with a 30-day money-back guarantee – there’s really no risk!

Use code THEFARMHOUSELIFE20  to start making you’re life easier today!

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I get asked how to arrange pillows and throws on a sectional a lot. And I totally get the confusion! On a normal coach, you have two ends.. you put a few pillows on each side and voila! But with a sectional, there are three ends! So If you’ve ever asked yourself how to style a sectional – you’ve come to the right place!

First – Add your throws

I like to add a few throws on my sectional. Especially in the colder seasons because they get used a lot. Here, I’ve droped one over the arm of the sectional in a dramatic fashion and let it sort of cascade to the ground. The other, I’ve folded up the long way and placed it over the back of the couch and let it hang down to the floor. Then I layered my bigger pillows over them.

Second – Start with bookends

Start with two larger (24in) pillows with matching covers on each end of the couch. Then add in two matching 20 or 18 inch pillows next to them. This works as bookends on your coach and brings structure and coordnation.  A trick of the trade…use pillow covers that are a size or two smaller than your pillows. This makes your pillows look so much more full! – Also, are you looking for the perfect karate chop pillows? Use down inserts!

Third – layer in pillows that are in the same color family

You certainly don’t need all of your pillows to match. I like to stick with creamy neutrals to add contrast to my dark couch. I also wanted to tie in my emerald green ottoman so I added a similar lumbar pillow and another pillow with green trim to tie it all in.

Start with your largest pillow in the back corner of the coach. I like a 26incher there. Then add in the next height of pillow next to it. As you can see from my image, the height of my pillows in the corner is cascading down to my lowest point which is my lumbar pillow. Adding varying heights helps to give the pillows more depth and deminetion. And adding in varying textures helps it to not look so matchy matchy, but all sill vey coordinated.

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Tablescapes made easy- with pumpkins

Don’t stress over getting that perfect tablescape for the Thanksgiving season. Just head to your local pumpkin patch and pick up as many medium to small pumpkins as you can. These guys all grew in our garden this year… sweet -right?!

Add varying heights and layers!

From the above video, I started with a pinstripe table runner and then added some faux garland. Then I added my centerpiece which was the two lanterns. Your centerpiece should always be your tallest element. This is because it draws the eye in. Next, I added candlesticks to add varying heights and then layered in my pumpkins. I always have chargers on my table because it’s so large and the chargers help to make it not look so monstrous!

Super simple – right?!

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Entryway styling made easy!

Do you have an entryway that you just aren’t sure what to do with or how to style it? Well, I feel ya! I was in the same spot. This area had a huge heater and without removing the cover and building a custom table it was just going to stay an awkward area that we all avoided.

My husband built this table around the heating unit hidden on the bottom shelf. After we had the heating dilemma fixed… it was time to style… which is the most fun part!!

 5 steps to a perfectly styled entryway

1. 1. Layer your larger items. Start with one large mirror or artwork. Then add two other pieces in varying heights. The reason you have one tall item is that your eye is going to catch the tallest part of your display. You don’t want anything competing with that.
   2. Add a light fixture. A lamp or a hanging light fixture will add some warm light to your styled table.
   3. Add some Greenery! Plants always look great on an entryway table. My plants are the lowest point of my decor.
   4. Add in smaller items to help add to the layers. If you look at my picture… I’ve tried to mimic the lines of the stairs. Keep in mind the size of your table and the wall it sits on.
   5. I put baskets on the bottom shelf. This is a great way to add some storage to make this space not only beautiful but practical!

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