Spring Decorating: 6 Tips to Bring the Outdoors In
Today I’m doing 2 things. One – I’m sharing 6 tips for creating a cohesive spring decorating look in the dining room. And two – I’m joining some of my favorite bloggers for a spring tour and each one of us is providing a tip or how-to. Special thanks to Rachel at Shades of Blue Interiors for organizing the tour! The links to everyone’s spring decor is at the end of this post, but for now, here’s the plan I followed to add a bit of spring in my dining room.
My first decorating tip is to pick a theme and stick with it. Don’t get sidetracked, and don’t be tempted by all those other ideas swirling around in your head. It’s important to stay focused!
My theme this year was to bring the outside in. I wanted a nature-inspired theme set against a color palette of gray and neutral tones. My new linen drapes from Barn and Willow helped set the stage in my dining room.
On the dining table, landscape burlap serves as a table runner which leads to my second decorating tip … use landscape burlap as opposed to regular burlap when you need softer draping. Landscape burlap has a more open weave and is far more pliable than its stiffer counterpart. Touches of greenery dot the table, and I used my gold flatware because it’s a warmer metal than silver.
A trio of mercury glass candles create additional warmth, along with two pillar candles tucked inside garden pots.
My third decorating tip is to add a touch of something unexpected, like the music sheets I placed under the napkins. They serve no functional purpose, but since this is my spring table setting for Easter, I did choose to use sheet music from Handel’s Messiah. A stretch of twine acts as a makeshift napkin ring, holding a single fern leaf in place.
Why stop at sheet music? I wrapped this little fern pot in a book page and tied it in place with more of the twine.
Several sheets of music and book pages are rolled and secured with twine, then tucked underneath a bell jar cloche (mostly to keep the kitties from batting them around the room).
My vintage bird poster was a good choice for keeping the nature theme with spring decorating. My fourth decorating tip is to add height to objects by placing them on books. Both the cloche and white ironstone tureen needed to be closer to the bottom of the poster and my books were the perfect solution. Since I wanted to keep a neutral theme in my dining room, I turned the books around so their colorful binders wouldn’t show.
An ivy plant on the bottom self and fresh greens tucked in a stoneware crock are in keeping with my green theme.
I tucked a few vintage brown bottles in the ironstone tureen. They feel earthy to me.
In the nearby dry sink, I added more touches of greenery.
A faux olive tree, miniature boxwood wreath, over-sized moss ball, and tiny succulent add a bit of spring greenery.
A few touches of greenery populate my farmhouse dining hutch filled with white ironstone.
My new Greenfolia pillow made from a coffee bean bag arrived just in time for my spring decorating initiative. I met Gina (creator of the pillow) on Instagram and she has several coffee bean bag pillows on Etsy.
In sticking with my spring theme, I swapped out my mirror gallery wall for 2 simple fern prints from Antique Farmhouse. I ordered them back in January which was when I decided upon a nature theme for my spring dining room. A painted branch hangs overhead and proved the perfect perch for my string of paper butterflies.
On my buffet under the fern prints are more touches of nature. An air plant gets cozy with an aged garden pot. Note that I added candles over here, too, along with more of the landscape burlap. Which leads to my fifth decorating tip; repeat similar items throughout a room to create a cohesive, unified look.
In my dining room I’ve used plants, candles, books and pages, landscape burlap, and other garden accents to pull the room together.
Once again, I used books to add height to my schefflera plant. Natural orbs add whimsy.
Wooden garden signs complete my spring decorating theme.
My final decorating tip for creating a focused theme is to write it down before you start. I created a design list of what I wanted to include. By documenting my plan, I saved a ton of time. I didn’t have to agonize in the midst of spring decorating, wondering what to use or panicking because I didn’t have the right stuff … I had already brainstormed and knew what I was going to do. The list also came in handy at the store when I was picking up a few more items.
On Friday I’m sharing more of my spring decorating in other rooms of the house and hope you’ll come back for more!
Please visit my blogging friends for their tips and inspiration …
Jen, House of Wood — Emily, The Wicker House — Ashley, Cherished Bliss
Jennifer, Town and Country Living — Beth, Unskinny Boppy — Annie, Zevy Joy
Allison, The Golden Sycamore — Bre, Rooms FOR Rent — Rachel, Shades of Blue Interiors
Jennifer, Clean and Scentsible — Beth, Home Stories A to Z
Kristen, Ella Claire Blog — Lucy, Craftberry Bush — Danielle, Finding Silver Pennies
Alicia, A Burst of Beautiful — Rachel, Maison de Pax — Cami, TIDBITS
Your home is always so timeless, Jennifer. Love all of the botanicals everywhere!
Just lovely!! I especially appreciate the new (to me anyway:)) ideas of using clay pots as candleholders, and the music sheets! Two new great ideas I picked up from you today, thank you!
Very nice, Jennifer! And, thanks for integrating more sheet music into your decorating scheme. I love the idea of using burlap with the gold flatware (I’m always looking for new ways to use my gold flatware) and so many more of your ideas. Happy Spring!
Jennifer, this post was packed with so much goodness! Your tips are seriously so so good and I love how you the little things you changed around in your dining room made it look completely different! The tablescape is my favorite… especially those place settings with the fern and music sheets– the Handel’s Messiah bit was a special touch… <3
Everything looks so pretty! My favorite part are the little terracotta pots with candles in them :o) All of the decorating tips you shared are so helpful too, I’ve never thought of making a list for decorating before!
Tania
Jennifer, gorgeous photos! I love all your tips and this beautiful dining room. I love the tip about that burlap. I didn’t know that. The sheet music looks so pretty on the table settings and the pots. I LOVE the bird wall hanging. All so pretty.
What a beautiful tour Jennifer! I love how you brought the outdoors in and added pretty mercury glass to the setting. Wonderful details all the way through – lovely!
I LOVE every single one of these pictures! But seriously. You have an OUIJA board on your floor!!! 😀
My second favorite thing is that bird egg poster.
Love your home, Jennifer! I love all the natural accents and the sheet music under the cloche? Brilliant. Oh how I love your vintage bird poster too – such a beautiful space!
Jennifer, your nature-inspired dining room is beautiful. I can completely relate to trying to keep your decor away from your kitties…it’s an endless struggle in our house too! 😉 xo
I just love your nature inspired dinning room it looks beautiful!
Beautiful! I love the sheet music ideas and the candles in clay pots. So rustic and pretty.
Jennifer,
I LOVE your post! Where did you get your bird poster, this is exactly what I would love for our dining room. All your tips are perfect and spot on. I viewed every photo and all your nook and crannies! Thank you.
Jennifer, I loved your sitting room the best. All the colors are soft and very Springy!
I would dearly love to have that Bird poster in my Home! Would you be able to let me know where I might purchase one?
Thank you.
Susie