Recently I was going through my blog and thinking of new ideas for exciting posts for 2018, and I noticed that I didn’t have very many posts in my Vintage Style category last year. Because vintage decor is my forte, I decided to really concentrate on bringing my readers more posts pertaining to vintage style, and also expanding the category to include posts on vintage decor from eras that I may not personally use in my home, but appreciate for the historic value. This year I have challenged myself as a decorator to begin to broaden my decor horizons to include other types of popular styles such as Hygge and modern Boho Chic which is all the rage. *This post contains affiliate links.
Decor Flashback
While embracing trendy modern design may sound contradictory coming from someone who is vintage fanatic, many modern styles essentially are based on mid-century, 1960’s “Mod” or 1970’s Boho (Bohemian style) decor, and those styles often reflect earlier time periods as well. Even those of us who prefer shabby chic and French Country styles can incorporate some 1960’s junkin’ finds which can translate into a modern boho chic look for an updated vintage style.
Hello friends are you ready to get your hoo-gah on? Before you think I am speaking in a different language… well, I am! I’m actually referring the popular Danish “Hygge” style and I am crazy about it! (Pronounced “hoo-gah) Hygge is the Danish concept of coziness or togetherness, although there really isn’t an English translation. It is more of a feeling or mood which is created by celebrating all things cozy and natural. It is one of the biggest design and fashion trends today, but really many of us have been incorporating Hygge style and way of life for many years without even realizing it, especially in the fall and winter months.
Savory warming foods, hot coffee and tea or rustic and natural textures juxtaposed with soft textiles such as woolen blankets, scarves and sweaters in neutral tones all define the Hygge aesthetic.
Hygge living is also about simplifying and relaxing for better health and quality of life.
Yesterday I shared my Cozy Neutral Winter Home Tour as part of the Neutral Winter Decor Blog Hop. I incorporated Hygge style by using natural textures, woodsy themes and other accents to make my winter home feel warm and welcoming. I would love to invite you to take the tour after linking up here at the party today to see how I have gotten my HOO-GAH on this winter!
This week I also shared my Charming Vintage Recipe Card collection and a few pics from my winter kitchen. There are so many old fashioned “feel-good” recipes from a simpler time that are also in keeping with the Hygge concept, such as “Chocolate For Drinking” (Homemade Hot Cocoa).
Since I have been in a Hygge frame of mind preparing for my home tour and keeping cozy during our first big winter snow of the year, I decided to feature a round-up of Hygge posts from last week’s party. Here we go!
Cindy at County Road 407 shared an amazing idea for DIY Birch Bark Candles. I will definitely be making these soon!
Rita at Panoply shared her November and December vintage junkin’ finds. I am crazy about these little lambs! With all their different neutral colors and textures, they would be beautiful styled for winter in a cozy Hygge style themed vignette.
Debra at Common ground shared an amazing crate makeover with a rustic and woodsy hygge style vignette. Her birch candle and moss in an ironstone tureen is perfect for winter.
Warming cinnamon is a staple of hygge foods and drinks and it also smells so good! Tina at The Healer’s Nook shared about the many interesting using for cinnamon beyond baking, including the medicinal benefits of cinnamon.
Of course, cooking with cinnamon is wonderful too! I am delighted to share this recipe for sugar free crock pot cinnamon apples by Rosann at This Autoimmune Life. As I deal with many chronic health issues, sugar free eating is a mandatory way of life for me. Cinnamon apples are one of my favorite treats! I will be trying this recipe soon!
Using essential oils has also made a difference in my quality of life. I love to use them for cleaning and diffusing. Life In Reflection shared more ideas in her lovely post, How To Hygge With Essential Oils.
I hope you have enjoyed my little hygge themed round-up today! Thank you to everyone who shared last week!
Now on to this week’s party. Link away your Thursday Favorite Things!
For many people, an ultimate life goal is owning a forever home. It’s that one special house or property that really feels like home. It might have some land, a swimming pool, historic charm and architecture, or it might just give you your own office and space to work or relax in. We all have a list of requirements, and the aim of buying, selling and moving properties often is to get to that end goal of acquiring a dream property. Once you find it however, is that truly it? I think we all know the answer to that! In addition to just decorating and cosmetic changes, our beloved dwellings require more thorough home maintenance and upkeep over the years to keep them attractive, safe and habitable. *This post contains affiliate links.
We all want to feel safe and secure in our homes, and we also want to ensure that we can protect our homes from all sorts of things that could potentially go wrong during ownership. There are going to be necessary home improvements over time, building work that should be done, landscaping that must be managed, and the list goes on and on. Therefore it is worthwhile to start looking into some of the ways that you can potentially protect your forever home. Not just from hardship and damage, but also from any financial loss you could experience. Today I am sharing some basic ways you can protect and care for your “home sweet home.”
There are plenty of chores and home maintenance jobs that we simply don’t enjoy doing. Sure, we may all have our own cleaning schedules that we adhere to so that we are able to keep the interior of our homes looking clean and tidy. But what about the exterior of our properties? There will always be yearly chores that we keep meaning to do but would much rather put off for another day. Clearing out the gutters, inspecting pipework, repairing cracks, taking care of the gardens and keeping a close eye on any large trees growing nearby are absolutely essential chores that must be done to protect our forever homes. Trees can cause damage to foundations and property grounds, so it is always worth ensuring you know where you stand with them.
No one enjoys doing labor intensive jobs like the gutters! But making sure these tasks are updated and checked regularly can protect your home and help you to avoid any issues with financial repairs in the future. Learning a few DIY skills and keeping basic tools on hand are necessary parts of home ownership that will ensure the safety and value of your home in the long run.
Think of the security of your home and what you can do to protect it.
We can all do more to protect our home, and with the advancements of technology, we can certainly be more proactive. What we can’t do, however, is predict what opportunists or thieves are going to do and when they might strike. You may go throughout your whole life and never be subject to the devastation that a house break in can cause. However, what is in your control is how you protect your home. You should certainly have fire alarms installed on all floors and be sure to check the batteries periodically. And it seems like a no-brainer, but always lock your home and car doors. I learned that the hard way a few years ago when I had my purse stolen right out of my car parked in the driveway, the day before Thanksgiving! I had to cancel all our credit cards and close our bank accounts the day before my favorite holiday, simply because I neglected to lock the door.
You could also consider upgrading your alarm system. These days you can have additional security options such as security cameras or surveillance on the exterior and interior of your home. There is even an alarm system you can purchase that will enable you to see who is lurking at your front door. Additional fences, gates and even having a dog can all be great security measures to put in place as well.
Could you benefit from any additional insurance or warranty policies?
Not all of us can predict if things are going to go wrong with our home, especially if things look great on the surface. We can also be subject to weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances that again can affect our homes. This is when additional policies that you could put in place could help you to cover any financial issues. Websites like https://housemethod.com/providers/home-warranty-reviews/ could mean that you get a decent warranty in place that could cover things in your home. Insurance policies for buildings and even the contents in your home can also be put in place to help protect yourself from adverse conditions and unforeseen situations.
Have you fully considered any plans you have for home improvements?
Finally, have you fully considered the plans you want to make in your home? Could you do anything that could make things better? Adding extensions and changing floor plans in your home to better suit your visions and family can be a great way to make the home more user-friendly. But you need to ensure that you consider and plan things out according to approval with local organizations. You may also want to really consider your budget and what you can do to protect yourself once the project begins to take shape.
Being a homeowner is can be a rewarding experience. By following these simple home maintenance and upkeep and safety suggestions you can be sure to protect your forever home— and your peace of mind.
Do you love vintage style and interior design as much as I do? If so, you might be thinking about creating a bedroom design that has a vintage feel. This can be a wonderful choice, allowing you to make your bedroom feel comfortable and cozy as well as quaint. So, how do you create this type of aesthetic in your bedroom? *This post contains affiliate links.
The bed is without a doubt the most important feature in your bedroom and not just for the purposes of sleeping. It can be a beautiful focal point or even a family heirloom. It will most likely take up the largest amount of space in your room, and regardless of what else you put in your bedroom, the bed will be the main piece of furniture. Therefore be sure to plan accordingly and measure when designing a vintage bedroom. Luckily, there are lots of great vintage style bed choices from a farmhouse or Victorian style metal frame bed, to a bed with a beautiful headboard with a vintage cushion design or a retro shape.
Today people are getting very creative with beds and coming up with unique headboards using salvaged objects. This photo is from our shabby chic, vintage cottage bedroom at our previous home, where my husband and I repurposed an old vintage door as a headboard. We changed styles a bit when we moved but I loved that vintage attic-turned- bedroom!
One of the most important things to remember when selecting a vintage bed is that the mattress can be as modern as you like as long as it fits (some antique beds are an odd size, so be sure to check before snatching up a great “find” while you are out junkin’ that you may not be able to find a mattress to fit.)
Textiles
One of many mattress tips to use when styling a vintage bedroom is to start with vintage style sheets in your color scheme. Although I am a blancophile, soft pastels and florals are great for a vintage bedroom too. Bedding is the main way to pull a vintage bedroom together to fit in with the overall design. Of course layering beautiful vintage style pillows or hanging soft sheers will help create the vintage bedroom you have been dreaming of.
Displaying vintage jewelry is an easy way to create a vintage look in the bedroom. It gives you the chance to enjoy some antique or retro jewelry from different generations and decades that you have collected over the years instead of keeping them stored away.
You can display your hoards collections in pretty vintage vignettes on top of the dresser.
Here I displayed a collection of vintage pearls on a shabby chic candleabra and an old dress form to create a very shabby chic and romantic cottage look in our bedroom.
There are also many handmade and vintage style jewelry organizers that will add vintage charm to your bedroom. If you like boho chic or retro vintage style, here is a beautiful example:
If you have shiplap, paneling or brick, you can simply add hooks to hang the jewelry on. You can find hooks like the ones below from stores such as Not On The High Street. You can even try to get hooks that are varied to add a little more character to the room.
Flower Power
Floral patterns are totally vintage and will look fabulous in your new bedroom. You might consider adding some wallpaper with floral patterns or even a couple of rugs to the floor.
Alternatively, you could always buy a couple of duvet covers, dressing up your bed just a little more and hiding the only thing that isn’t vintage in the room – the mattress.
You can also think outside the box and add some plants or flowers by doing some upcycling to a container of some kind. Adding plants to the top of a corner dresser or set of drawers can make it a beautiful focus point of your room. When you’re choosing a pot, remember that it can be anything from an old paint can, to a worn down boot, to vintage tea cups depending on your own personal vintage junk style. If placed correctly, they will make a beautiful, unique bedroom accessory and look absolutely vintage!
I hope you have fun designing your own vintage bedroom! The possibilities are endless, just get out and go junkin’ for some great vintage finds to get you started. There is also a wealth of information and inspiration online such as this awesome example in the twitter post below.
Vintage and classic ideas to help achieve your dream bedroom. #interiordesign #bedroom https://t.co/deAS0GI5Gb pic.twitter.com/ZmYAtMQhnr
This summer we hope to get started on my our bedroom makeover. We are still collecting ideas (and vintage junk) and planning exactly what we want to do. Of course I will be sharing the whole before and after process here on the blog. I have been spending my time on Pinterest, another great source of inspiration. If you love all white bedrooms vintage style bedrooms, you might enjoy my Dreaming In White And White Pinterest board too.
Thanks for visiting today, and may you have sweet dreams planning your vintage style bedroom!
Of course, cooking with cinnamon is wonderful too! I am delighted to share this recipe for 
