If you’re thinking, “It’s not spring yet,” you’re right! You’ve got me! But I’m cheating a little bit because all of the dead greenery in my yard is starting to get the best of me, and I just had to top my outdoor table with something colorful. If we get another bout of freezing weather, this planter is small enough to bring indoors for the night. Or the week! For me, the key to getting through the winter is looking ahead to spring when a warm day happens to hit, much like it did this weekend. Today I’m sharing the photos from my latest DIY modern planter project. Ready to take a closer look?…

DIY Planter Supplies

While this DIY project is open-ended, here are a few of the supplies I used to create my planter arrangement:

• a painted pot/planter
• potting soil
• assorted succulents
• dwarf mondo grass
• erysimum (any brightly colored blooming plant will do)

The succulents were from other planters in my yard. They were in need of repotting, or they were part of arrangements in which the other blooms were deteriorating, so I thought I’d group them in a new pot for today’s project. The mondo grass and erysimum (shown below) were chosen for their ability to handle the cooler temps that will be sticking around until spring. However, if the nighttime temps dip near or below freezing, I’ll be bringing this planter indoors until warmer temperatures return.

If you’re a regular Decoist reader, you know that I’ve been taking baby steps this winter to begin preparing my yard for spring. In other words, if it happens to be a warm weekend day, you can find me outside doing one project at a time. Last weekend, I painted a few of my pots a bright shade of aqua. You can see the smallest painted pot below:

Now let’s take a closer look at today’s featured project…

Putting It All Together

This planter arrangement is easy and fun, but know that it might take some trial and error. Choose inexpensive plants, because some will take root, while others may not mesh well in the grouping. Expect the best and give each plant space to grow, but don’t worry if you need to try another plant or two as time passes.

I love painting and repainting my pots. It’s funny, I know, but to me it’s a super easy way to give your yard a new look. It’s also clear that my yard needs a big dose of color, so vivid hues are important to me going forward. As mentioned, I painted a few planters last weekend, including the one you see above and below. Aside from the painting, the planter was in serious need of a makeover. The squirrels had dug up most of the succulents that once filled it. In other words, it also needed a new critter-proof location!

My outdoor dining table is not accessible to the squirrels, as I keep the chairs pushed in, so they can’t climb or hop onto the surface. I knew this would be the perfect new spot for the completed project! To create my planter arrangement, I tried different groupings of the succulents, dwarf mondo grass and erysimum until I came up with an end product that made me happy. Below we see the planter (newly filled) in its old location.

I “shopped my yard” for some unusual rocks and pebbles to add to the planter. I decided to go with a black and grey motif. Here’s what I came up with:

Next we see the planter in its new location. Can you spot a couple of the pebbles?…

Instead of alternating succulents with mondo grass, I decided to group “like” plants together in this arrangement. I like the asymmetrical look that results. It’s anything but perfect, and that’s what gives it personality!

Plus, the erysimum is so eye-catching and fragrant. The bees love it, and it adds much-needed height to this vignette. Also, I happen to be crazy about the combination of the bright orange blooms with the aqua planter!

Did I mention that this planter is my way of celebrating my new outdoor seating? I was all set to recover my old outdoor dining chairs, which would have involved cutting new wooden seats, topping them with foam and batting and covering them in vinyl. When it then became clear that I’d also need to sand the peeling spray paint from the chairs, I started to add up the cost of this seating makeover, and I soon realized that purchasing new chairs from IKEA wouldn’t be that much more expensive. And it would be less of a hassle than re-sanding/re-painting and re-covering the old chairs every few years!

I LOVE a good DIY project, but sometimes it makes more sense to purchase a sturdier version of the “project” and free up your time for other endeavors. This is a hard thing for a DIY enthusiast to realize, but in some sense, it was a relief when it became clear that there was an easy solution that was also more practical.

Above we see signs of spring on my patio. The grass is still dead, but now that I can see the colorful planter below from my living room, things don’t seem quite so bleak!

I’ll continue to share bits of my backyard makeover as the weeks pass. Wishing you a pleasant end to the winter. Can’t wait to celebrate spring’s arrival!

You’re reading A DIY Modern Planter Project for Spring, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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We absolutely love those homes which manage to find that perfect balance between relaxed elegance and cheerful ambiance in an effortless, contemporary fashion. Located in an urbane neighborhood of Melbourne, the Crisp Street Apartment does precisely this even while using lovely pastel hues and copper accents to give the interior a unique, refined appeal of its own. Resisting the temptation of adding bright and brilliant pops of color, the creative fold from Mim Design showcased an out-of-the box approach to decorating a home with a minimal, white backdrop. But then, we are not strangers to the ingenious style of the South Yarra-based firm!

The color palette of the smart apartment and an amazing use of texture draw your attention instantly. Bluish-gray and white make up much of the backdrop that seems to draw inspiration from both modern and Scandinavian minimalism. Sumptuous pink pastels and soothing corals add a touch of femininity to the interior even as plush surfaces and unassuming decor evoke the aura of midcentury modern design. This amazing, yet organic fusion of styles creates an entirely new and innovative theme that relies more on subtlety and sophistication.

Ample natural ventilation and the use of simple, yet visually effective sliding glass doors with black frames adds to the appeal of the open plan living area. A contemporary kitchen in white with a gray backsplash, a comfy bedroom where bedding and art work bring color to the space and beautiful bathrooms complete the smart apartment. Acting as a relaxing hub that lets you escape the constant rush of Melbourne, the apartment has a timeless and joyful appeal.

You’re reading Chic Crisp Street Apartment in Melbourne Exudes Cheerful Refinement, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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We think of everything ranging from color to style, decor and accessories when dreaming up our image of a ‘perfect home’. Yet, we often tend to ignore some of the little things that ultimately make the biggest difference. Window curtains definitely fall in this category and do not generally get the attention that they deserve. Part of it lies in the fact that many homeowners are turning to other window coverings to get the job done. Then there is the factor of ‘budget limitations’ which means it is often stuff like gorgeous window curtains or exquisite carpets that take the fall first!

Add some stripes to the room with drapes [Design: Tobi Fairley Interior Design]

But a curtain can go a long way in elevating the aesthetics and ergonomics of a room and is far more cost-effective than you think. And they definitely should not be an afterthought or an impulsive buy in the overall scheme of things. Choosing the wrong curtain can ruin the appeal of your living room or bedroom and would leave it a duller, more dreary space. To help you avoid this conundrum, here are a few pointers to help you get the basics of curtain shopping spot on –

1. An Extension of the Room

The curtains you choose for your windows must see like a natural extension of the room. Sounds pretty basic, does it not? But in an attempt to cut down on ‘drapery expenditure’, many homeowners opt for the same curtains in every room. This might work in a few, select homes, but it fails in more contemporary residence where each room has a specific theme, style and aura of its own. If it is indeed the costs involved that are stopping you from adding curtains to the windows of your home, start slow with just the living room. There is no hard and fast rule that all the rooms must have window curtains at the same instant!

Lovely contemporary bedroom in gray with a variety of textures [Design: Tom Stringer Design Partners]

Perfect use of curtains in the exquisite bedroom [Design: Greg Natale]

2. Colors and Contrast

Obviously, when we say ‘an extension of the room’, we do not mean curtains that have the exact same color as the walls of the space. Feel free to use curtains in colors that are different from the ones already existing in the room to give it a different and unique vibe. This works well in themes that range from eclectic and Mediterranean to vintage and even modern. Another popular method is to take a tone-on-tone approach to decorating, which gives the room a monolithic, yet intriguing look. If you want a room full of just neutral hues, then this is indeed a great choice.

Curtains bring color and elegance to the beach style bedroom [Design: Carter Kay Interiors]

Drapes blend in with the color scheme of the room [Design: Studio KB / Photography by Northlight Photography]

3. Privacy and Views

Picking window curtains is not just about form and beauty alone. In fact, the primary purpose of curtains is to keep away any prying eyes even while giving an option to switch between privacy and unabated views with ease. It is here that the curtain fabric and weave become an essential factor as some offer a lot more privacy than others. While sheer curtains look and feel great and do bring with them visual lightness, they do a poor job in this regard. Add an additional layer of solid curtains along with the sheers to give yourself a wider range of options.

Gorgeous curtains bring an air of femininity to the bedroom [Design: Chloe Warner]

Strike a balance between privacy and natural light [Design: Tom Stringer Design Partners]

4. Ventilation and Insulation

Still reeling from the chill of winter outside? Thermal curtains are a great way of keeping out this cold for good and increasing the energy-efficiency of your home’s heating system in the winter months. Adding curtains to the windows (and even doors) gives you an additional layer of insulation and can even bring down your power bills in the long run. Of course, pretty soon the chill outside will disappear and you will be longing to bring the exuberance of spring and warmth of summer indoors. And all you need to do then is draw those curtains back and take in the sights and sounds outside!

Sensational living room paints of a picture of sophistication and luxury! [Design: MH Interior Design]

While we warned you against the use of sheer curtains if privacy is your basic goal, they are great for creating breezy, cheerful space that have wonderful natural ventilation. Take into account how adding window curtains affects the flow of natural light in your home and pick a fabric accordingly. Adding heavy drapes that completely block out light in an already dark, cluttered home can be counter-productive and unappealing.

Keeping the curtains simple and elegant in the bedroom [Design: Mary Jo Bowling]

Control the flow of natural light in your home with cool curtains [Photography: Elad Gonen]

5. Pattern with Texture

Are you trying to add some vivacious pattern that will breathe life in your living room? Maybe your bedroom needs an additional, plush texture that will add elegance and a hint of romance to the space? Consider these questions before you go shopping for a window curtain. Curtains are an easy way to introduce a fun geometric pattern or a velvety new texture to the room without making major overhauls. With bold, mid-century prints and retro motifs making a comeback recently, maybe your windows curtains are the easiest way to keep the interior fresh and trend!

Curtains add pattern to the room with ease [Design: Amy Lau Design]

Infuse some color into the nursery with bold curtains [Design: Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs]

6. Hang it in Style!

Adding a curtain to your window is not just about picking the best possible option, but also displaying it in the most apt fashion. There are innumerable ways in which you can hang the window curtain and the heading of the curtain defines this look. From the cool and contemporary Back-tab ripple fold to the more ornate and even Victorian styles that evoke an air of lavishness, the choices here are plenty. Consider carefully the final ambiance of the room, the overall impact of the drapery header and how it plays into the theme of the home before making the final call.

Delicate drapes seem perfect for the Mediterranean living room [Photography: Elad Gonen]

Window curtains define the appeal of this traditional family room [Design: Cravotta Interiors]

Custom curtains add class and beauty to the living room [Design: Eileen Kathryn Boyd Interiors]

You’re reading How to Pick the Right Window Curtains for your Home, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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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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