Hi guys! Today I'll talk a bit about your home and how to give it that extra something so you can enjoy it more everyday. I'll start by saying that ever since I moved to Berlin, I lived in 4 different apartments & 4 different neighborhoods, which is quite a lot for only one year of living here. On the plus side I've got to know the city way way better, but on the downside the flats were always furnished, and the furniture wasn't 100% my cup of tea every time. So I had to make the place mine, even if I would only live there for 3 months and today I'm going to tell you how to make little changes here and there without doing a complete makeover of your home and without braking the bank. What's more, you can do them all over the weekend.
1. The bedside table
I admit, I love a king sized bed framed with gorgeous unique bedside tables because I think it gives the bedroom a special vibe and you can do so many styles and colors and instantly change the ambiance. If you're anything like me you'll probably splurge on a big comfy bed but prefer to save some money for that amazing pair of shoes (note: this one) and go the DIY way. Berlin (and a lot of other large cities) is crammed with flea markets every weekend so why not buying a vintage nightstand, painting it and giving it a modern vibe. If you're more on the quirky side, stacked suitcases can look quite charming or you can even stack your magazine collection for an urban feel. If you've got a lot of time on your hands, and you feel a bit crafty, go build your own right here.
Quick tip: change the knobs of your current nightstand (or any piece of furniture for that matter) if you're not ready for a hustle - instant makeover, I'm telling you!
2. Flowers
Ok, ok, this is the easiest trick in the book but it's so effective. All you have to do is get yourself a simple (or statement) vase and throw some flowers in it. You've probably already seen fashion bloggers styling their coffee tables with peonies over Instagram and dear God, Pinterest is full of them but really any flowers will do.
Quick tip: For the kitchen, I love putting fresh mint or parsley in white vases: smells amazing and somehow seems more appropriate (and useful).
3. Balcony/Patio lounge
My favorite since it involves just adding pieces and not breaking or removing anything. Here, the flea market (or even Craigslist) comes in handy again: get yourself some colorful different chairs, a cute table and then head over to Ikea or any deco store and add the details: some pillows, some plants and flowers, even a lounging chair if there's enough space. How cool would be to read a book under the clear sky or even tan in a warm day. Not to mention coffee in the morning followed by checking emails and other small daily activities.
Quick tip: You might also want to get an umbrella, you never know when it's gonna rain so better be safe.
4. Shelves, shelves and more shelves
This is more an organizing tip which is also pretty on the eye and as you can see it works just fine everywhere: kitchen, office or bathroom. I did find a downside to it though. Unless you have a cleaning lady that comes every two days, it's damn annoying when dust sets everywhere. Either way here's how I styled my shelves which make the transition from kitchen to the living room.
5. Photos
Kind of a no-brainer to make a house feel more like home. Either pictures of yourself with your loved ones or inspirational photos on a desk they work just well in giving any place a human touch. I like framing inspirational quotes at times and have them lying around the house in key places that just make my day better. Here's an example.
6. Lights, please
Another one of my favorites which makes the place so much more romantic. I'm a sucker for sparkling stuff, I know. One way to do it is just by hanging lights in key places like maybe your bed's headboard or if you have a bike you're not using anymore, just wrap it up in shinny lights. I also like how they look in the balcony (you know, after you've done the lounging area from 3.) or on a mannequin like it did. Arrr.. endless possibilities!
7. Vintage vibe
I know a lot of people are c-r-a-z-y about shabby chic pieces of furniture and while I do agree they look cute, I can't really justify paying 500€+ on new furniture that looks old. It's not the real deal guys! What you can do instead is hunt for old unique pieces, again, in flea markets, Craigslist or Ebay and then give them a makeover. I bet that painting them in a vibrant color and placing them in contrasting styled rooms would make your guest applaud you in awe.
I really hope this was useful for some of you, or, if you know somebody who is just share the link with them. Let me know if you have any more quick fixes for the home, impressions or advice in the comments bellow.
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