Hey friends! I’m here to share with you today a different kind of DIY – the kind that takes a little shopping in your house for a change! Do you ever shop your house? I do it all the time. Whenever a room needs a little refresh, I start looking around my house to see what I can move around to create a “new” look.

This time, the look is pink! We’re about to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and this month we see the color pink more than any other time of the year! It can come off a little cheesy and childish, but I’m here to show you how to make the look chic and fun!

Use Flowers (Natural or Not)

One of the most natural ways to bring pink into your home is to use flowers, because Mother Nature makes pretty colors, doesn’t she? Now, unfortunately, we don’t always get fresh flowers at home, so feel free to resort to silk flowers, like I did:

You’ll notice that the vase the peonies are in is the product of a past Decoist DIY project – the painted mason jars! These are great because they’re a neutral colour and the shape is simple. When you have such a bright pop of color, keeping the things around it calm is sometimes a good way to make it stand out even more!

Don’t Get Cheesy

Pillows are a great way to change things up and bring in hot pink, especially when it’s on such a large and neutral sofa! This pillow, an IKEA find, is great because it brings in the color without being cheesy or too lovey-dovey. No hearts, no fluff – just a cute pillow with our color of choice.

Think Small!

Sometimes decorating with a particular color successfully is all in the details. Think of the small (I mean really small) accessories. The choice to display a magazine with pink on the cover? Not accidental. It just brings the whole thing together.

How about the matches? I purposely bought matches with a pink tip, then cut them down to size and placed them in a teacup. This is a super quick DIY that you can try to bring in a hint of color. The teacup and saucer are vintage and neutral, so the matches stand alone in an unexpected place. How do you light them? Tape a piece of fine grit sandpaper to the bottom of the saucer!

Books are another great way to bring in color, but you don’t always happen to have books in the right color. Solution? Cover one up with some wrapping paper, and voila!

Use Other Colors

What? Other colors? Yep! If you bring in a couple of other strong colors, the pink will still stand out, but you won’t have a living room that is just filled with pink! In this case, I used purple and green as accents. Not colors you’d expect for Valentine’s Day, right? I even went as far as to cut a piece of ribbon in green to use as a bookmark.

Don’t Forget the Neutrals

You need something to ground the frilly pink, and a large piece of furniture like a couch, or even a large rug will do that. But what about all of the other accessories? Choose things with similar tones to keep the look very chic. I chose gold, black and white as my neutrals, because they are such classics!

You may have noticed the DIY painted coasters here as well. I placed them in a vintage brass tray and used other vintage items (candlesticks and magazine holder) as well as a travel souvenir for a personal touch.

And there you have it. Five tips to help you decorate with pink! So now that you have all of the tools you need, will you try it?

You’re reading Decorate with Pink for Love Month!, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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Do you live in a part of the world where very hot summers are the norm, and winter temps can fall below freezing, especially at night? In other words, not a tropical climate?! Kate here, and if you’re like me, no matter where you live, you’re determined to add some tropical greenery to your yard this spring, even if only in containers that can be moved to more comfortable spots as the weather fluctuates. Since we still have a bit more winter to endure before warmer weather arrives, let’s take a break from the cold by enjoying some garden design inspiration from these beautiful outdoor spaces filled with tropical plants…

Plants That Make an Impact

I’ll begin with the plants! There’s nothing like a yard filled with tropical statements, such as the 40-ft wall of greenery below! The beauty of vertical gardening is on display, thanks to plants such as Acorus, Carex, Colocacia, Philodendron and Begonia. [from Amelia B. Lima & Associates]

Green wall in a side yard

To add height, consider a hardy plant with a tropical look, such as bamboo. Clumping bamboo isn’t invasive, so it won’t easily spread to other areas of the yard. Below we see golden goddess clumping bamboo make a statement against a neutral-toned wall. [from DesignBlue, Inc.]

Clumping bamboo against a neutral wall

To highlight the bold shapes of tropical greenery in your garden, consider using dramatic lighting, as shown in the outdoor space below. Bright colors and tropical plants are enhanced by the strategic use of lighting. [from The Art of Space]

Dramatic lighting in a tropical backyard

My yard has a Mediterranean look, thanks to plants that were already present before I moved in. Yet there are some holes in the landscaping that I’d like to fill with a few tropical plants. I wasn’t sure if tropical and Mediterranean styles would blend, but when I saw the stunning yard below, my mind was filled with amazing gardening possibilities. [from Haddonstone]

Mediterannean and tropical styles combine in this modern yard

Don’t underestimate the power of container gardening when it comes to tropical plants. This may be the perfect solution for climates that are anything but tropical. Containers (that aren’t massive) can be moved indoors during the winter and relocated to the shade during the hot summer. [from AHBL]

Containers of tropical potted plants

Adding Color to Tropical Gardens

Now let’s talk color, and important component of the tropical garden! Try painting an outdoor wall a vibrant color. For example, the orange wall is a radiant focal point in the outdoor space below, which features greenery of all heights. On a side note, succulents such as echeveria are a wonderful addition to the tropical garden. [from Simbiosi]

Vibrant red-orange accent wall in a tropical yard

An unexpected paint color can give a tropical garden true personality. For example, the fuchsia wall below (at Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona) is a beautiful counterpart to the blue and green tones of the plants. Not to mention, the fuchsia hue matches the potted bougainvillea. [from Digging]

Fuchsia wall at Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix

Outdoor seating can introduce color to the tropical yard. The lime green chairs and umbrella in the next featured image are vivid yet soothing. [from Cultivart Landscape Design]

Tropical plants and lime green seating on a Perth patio

In addition to colorful seating, a painted door can create a bright focal point. As we saw with the painted wall at the top of this section, orange is a popular color for tropical gardens. [from Lonny]

Tropical patio with Vitra chairs

Speaking of orange, check out the blooms on the Los Angeles patio below. In addition to the blue-green door, the plants themselves add a lovely dose of color to the space. [from Peter Ivancovich Landscape Design]

Tropical landscaping in a Los Angeles yard

Colorful plants, radiant walls, vibrant seating…there are so many ways to add style to the tropical outdoor space! Are you inspired for spring? I know I am!

You’re reading 10 Beautiful Gardens with Tropical Plants, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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