Category: Interior Design

I’d like to issue a fair warning, that all of the items you’re about to see are from WestElm, Pottery Barn or CB2. Despite doing a lot of research to find home decor, I somehow always manage to come back to these three stores for interior design ideas. I’m obsessed and have no shame! There are rare occasions when I’m on the hunt for very specific apartment decorations, and end up purchasing from a site that’s off the beaten path (at least for me). If you’re interested in seeing those, check out my other blog post, Most Loved Websites (for Interiors). Otherwise, buckle up and dive into my favorite apartment decorations!

Pierced Constellation Tealights

These celestial tealight candles light up my room like magic, especially when I light them after the sun goes down. They wash the walls with dancing orbs of warm yellows and amber hues, which simply put, brings something special to my space.

I move the tealight candles around depending on what’s going on that week. They compliment flowers nicely on the dinner table, but personally I prefer to line them up on my shelves or on the media console. The ambiance they give off feels more relaxed when these cheerful vessels are balanced out against a heavier material like wood or metal.

I also have the large and small Pierced Constellation Hurricanes from WestElm. If you like these, they come in blush as well!

Pleated Grey Ottoman

I had my eye on this piece for over a year before I finally decided to pull trig and get it. Needless to say, I absolutely adore this pleated grey ottoman from CB2. It’s my foot rest, seat to put my shoes on and stool to reach high shelves (I probably shouldn’t, but I do anyway 😬).

Sadly, this version is no longer available, but CB2 does offer a similar Pleated Boucle Ottoman in a cozy textured cream color.

Metal Frame Round Mirror

There she is! What is it about antique brass against mirror that makes me feel so regal ?!

I’m HERE for it… like, this isn’t the only antique brass framed mirror that I own. Yes, it’s from WestElm, and if you like it then you’re in luck. This Metal Frame Round Mirror comes in three other colors: antique bronze, rose gold and brushed nickel. You can choose between two sizes: 30″ round or 48″ round. If you want a rustic, mid century modern touch, WestElm also sells this with a faux leather strap to hang the mirror from.

Faux Fiddle Leaf Tree

In another life, I’m sure I had a green thumb. Fresh flowers are my thing, but plants, sadly, are not. I bounce around too much and wouldn’t be able to properly care for a living plant. Which is why this Faux Potted Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree from Pottery Barn is the perfect companion. It brings a pop of realistic greenery to my space, without requiring routine watering or repotting.

If you don’t have a green thumb, or simply don’t have the time for a real plant, give these faux fiddles a try. You can choose from two heights; 5.4′ or 6.9′ depending on what size best suits your space.

There are only two caveats. These do require a pot, unless you like the burlap look. You will also need to fluff out the leaves when your fiddle first arrives, but that’s the only care this plant will need.

Marble Shelves

These Marble Wall Mounted Shelves from CB2 bring me so much joy. I have three that are grouped together vertically. Since each slab of Carrara-style marble is unique, they all look subtly distinct from one another. I love these shelves for displaying coffee cups and cascading greenery, which is a striking contrast against these grey/white beauties.

I can’t recommend these shelves enough for an aesthetically pleasing storage solution. But beware, they’re kind of a pain to mount. The marble and brass combination is very heavy. Installation definitely requires two people to safely secure these shelves to the wall.

Did you like this blog post? Let me know! If you want to take a look at those less widely known sites for other home decor finds, don’t forget to check out my Most Loved Websites (for Interiors).

Home isn’t just a reflection of your style or a form of self-expression. It’s a place that influences how you feel when you start and end your day. It can make your life easier, or more hectic, and lend towards the achievement or postponement of your goals. When designing a space at home, make it a space you love. Keep these five questions top of mind to influence and inform decisions from paint color to purchases.

What Feelings should the Space Evoke?

How do you want to feel when you’re at home? Does your answer vary depending on the room? Jot down any words or phrases that come to mind.

For me, home is a place to rest, to entertain, and to be inspired. When I walk into a cluttered, disorganized space, I’m less motivated to do something fun and productive with my time, like read a book or try a new recipe. But entering a space that’s clean, where everything has a home, calms my mind and allows me to focus on projects and activities that bring me joy.

What is the Aesthetic?

Maybe you’ve fallen in love with millennial pink, marble, and brass. Or perhaps you gravitate towards earth tones and wooden home furnishings. Your aesthetic could be a combination of all the above, plus pops of yellow and throw in some mixed metals.

Whether its modern farmhouse, art-deco, Scandinavian inspired or any of the other hundreds of possibilities, mark the style of your space with some defining colors and features.

While it’s important to have a cohesive look, try venturing outside of the furniture set that matches the headboard you just purchased. Opt for a dynamic approach of mixing and matching different colors and materials to make a big difference in the overall aesthetic of a space.

Is it Comfortable?

That couch could be a piece of art. No, literally, you could look at it all day. But could you sit it on for a few hours at night? I walk a fine line between aesthetic and comfort, but try to stay practical and remind myself of how I want to feel in a space. Comfort is always key.

Is it Functional and Convenient?

Take my purchase of these West Elm C Tables that I use as nightstands. Visually, they make me super happy. Functionally, I’m out two spaces for books, chargers, chapstick, hair ties, extra coasters and hand lotion that would typically live in the drawers of a nightstand.

In the initial debate, aesthetic won over extra storage, but in the long term, I’ve had to compensate for storage by relocating those nightstand essentials to less convenient spots. I’ve learned the importance of function and convenience, and with future purchases I’ve made sure to account for both.

Does it Bring You Joy?

Marie Kondo’s method of asking oneself if an article of clothing sparks joy, to determine whether it lands in the keep, donate or trash pile, is a phrase that I try to live by in all senses… not just via my closet.

Posing this question before a purchase may seem redundant, and you may be thinking, why else would I buy it? But, if you find an answer is simply functionality, or just convenience, only comfort or purely for aesthetic, and if that object doesn’t contribute to how you want to feel in a space, how can it bring you joy?

Don’t buy something because it checks off one box. Aim for a multifaceted response that ultimately comes down to sparking joy. Asking these questions will guide you towards setting an intention for each space, to furnish and decorate with items that serve you, your lifestyle and your goals.