For my birthday, my sister gifted me with a paint by numbers painting kit, and it was so much fun.
Paint by numbers is fun (and a much better use of time than scrolling on your phone), has been traced far back in history, and is great for your mental health.
Paint By Numbers
The concept can be traced to the Renaissance period. The idea originally came from Leonardo da Vinci’s teaching system for his apprentices—the patterns are indicated with numbers that represent where the colors should be used in specific projects.
Also as I mentioned earlier, paint by numbers can help your mental health:
1. It reduces your stress and anxiety levels
2. It enhances your attention span
3. It stimulates brain movement and activity
4. It gives you an optimistic outlook towards life
5. It fosters emotional growth
I found lots of information about how helpful paint-by-numbers can be for you, and can read more in detail about that here on this website.
I am sharing some of my favorite paint by numbers painting kits, and you can order simply by clicking on the description.
It’s not only a creative way to spend time, but the result is beautiful artwork for your home!
I am always painting our rooms, but I wanted to share our most recent whole house colors.
These are the colors I have used throughout our first floor.
Dutch Boy Rustic Blue 430-4DB (Sherwin Williams Meditative SW 6227)
I painted our bookshelves and trim in Dutch Boy Rustic Blue 430-4DB. It’s a beautiful dusty blue.
If you don’t have Dutch Boy paint available near you, look at Sherwin Williams Meditative SW6227.
Magnolia Home Wedding Band MAG019
Our kitchen cabinets came prefinished in a greenish-blue gray.
I wanted to extend that color onto our walls and found that Magnolia Home’s Wedding Band MAG019 was a close match. It’s hard to photograph, and in person, it’s lighter.
Dutch Boy Silver Plated 445-2DB (Sherwin Williams Flexible Gray SW6010)
I wanted to try something new in our primary bedroom, so I found this beautiful dusty lavender. It is Dutch Boy in Silver Plated 445-2DB.
I love it because although it is a color, it acts as a neutral. If you can’t find Dutch Boy paint near you, check out Sherwin Williams Flexible Gray SW6010.
Valspar Paint Night View 4007-4C
I have had this deep navy in our family room for years, and I LOVE it. It’s moody and elegant and the perfect shade of navy. It is Valspar in Night View 4007-4C.
Dutch Boy Mortar and Pestle 406-3DB (Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige SW 6073)
I wanted a beige with a slight pink undertone for our dining room, and I found it in Dutch Boy Mortar and Pestle 406-3DB.
If you don’t have Dutch Boy paint available near you, check out Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige SW 6073.
It is really difficult to photograph paint colors and they appear in real life. Make sure to always test a color before committing to painting an entire room.
I’ve made the mistake of seeing another influencer’s online images and running out to buy the paint color they used. Since lighting is different in every space, the color can appear very different.
Happy Painting!
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I added a tree to our dining room for the first time this year, decorated it with $1 Nutcrackers I found at the dollar store, and added ribbon to the little guys.
I also added a Christmas tree to my office and added blue and complimentary pink ornaments and ribbons.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.
When we remodeled our kitchen, we spent over two months of nights and weekends working on the space. By the time we got to the kitchen island, we were worn out and the result was functional but a little boring.
For years I have been wanting to paint the island and add some decorative molding, and it finally happened.
Here is a before photo of the kitchen island:
If you are painting your island a color, I would suggest painting samples and testing the light throughout the day. I had these colored circles in our kitchen for a couple of weeks as I debated the best possible color for the space.
Wanting a unique color that goes well with all the surrounding spaces, I ultimately decided on Cluster Fig by Dutch Boy Paint which is similar to Sherwin Williams Socialite.
How to Add Molding to a Kitchen Island:
I reached out to Woodgrain, and they gifted the molding for my project.
Make a Plan
I scoured the internet and Pinterest for kitchen island molding ideas, but never really found exactly what I was looking for.
By really noticing the shape of the kitchen island and wanting a pattern that made the notch on the sides of the island blend in, this was the result:
In complete transparency, this wasn’t an easy project thanks to the many cuts of my design. However, it IS doable if you are patient.
Having a well-thought-out plan is the key to success. I taped out the plan on my cabinet and was able to get measurements for my project.
Due to all the cuts on the miter saw, it is helpful to have a partner on this project. I enlisted my dad, and we began the project by cutting the entire shape.
Once we were fairly confident in our measurements (and the piece could be put together correctly), we used the first as a pattern to cut the additional molding pieces.
Beginning at the top, we found the center of both the molding piece and the island section. It is so important to make sure the first piece is level.
Installing the Molding
Start at the top and work your way down. The cuts have to be fairly close to perfect to make this design work in the end.
A nail gun with smaller finish nails will hold the molding in place.
Finish Work
Caulk will be your best friend in this project. It not only helps hide imperfections, but it also helps adhere the molding to the island.
Once the caulk is completely dry, you can paint it (make sure you buy paintable caulk).
Enjoy
The result is a kitchen island that is uniquely yours!
Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.
Create Your Own Island Escape: Add Color to Your Kitchen Island
Island escapes are something we all dream about, but you can create your own island escape (and make your dreams come true) simply by adding color to your kitchen island.
This post is a sponsored post by FrogTape.I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. While this post is sponsored, all the opinions are my own.
Each year, FrogTape and celebrity interior designer Taniya Nayak team up to determine the top interior design trends to inspire DIYers looking for fresh decor ideas.
The 2024 FrogTape Design Trends are:
Island Escape – Liven up your island and make it a destination spot with a fun color that stands out.
Color Splash – Paint a door and/or trim in an unexpected color that will elevate your space.
Murality – Let out your inner artist and create a one-of-a-kind mural that is uniquely you.
Wainscot Just a Minute – Add some color to a space with a painted wainscot.
I was given the Island Escape trend, and I was excited to make my white island more special.
Supplies Needed:
FrogTape
Paint Brush
Small Paint Roller
Primer
Cabinet, Door, and Trim Paint
Screwdriver
Painter’s Paper Roll
Heavy Duty Cabinet Cleaner
Paint Deglosser
Fine Grit Sandpaper
*If you are adding molding, you will need molding, miter saw, nail gun, and caulking.
Step 1: Select a fun, bold color for your kitchen island.
*If you’re planning to add decorative molding, use FrogTape to create a design on the island.
The kitchen island is a place you can have fun with a brighter color. I would suggest painting a smaller board (or boards) with the paint color and test the color near the island throughout the day as the light changes.
When selecting a color, consider all the colors surrounding the island.
Step 2: Remove Cabinet Doors and Hardware
Using a screwdriver, remove the cabinet and drawer hardware and doors.
Step 3: Tape off the Kitchen Island using FrogTape
If you have wood floors, be sure to use the yellow FrogTape for delicate surfaces.
Step 4: Clean the Cabinets Doors and Island
I used a heavy duty TSP Subsitute cleaner. Be sure to wear gloves.
Step 5: Prep the Cabinets and Island for Painting
I used a paint deglosser to remove some of the finish before sanding with light-grit sandpaper.
Step 6: Use a primer on the Island and Cabinet Doors
Be sure to use a high quality primer, and you can have it tinted.
Step 7: Paint with a high quality Cabinet, Door, and Trim Paint in a Semi-Gloss or Gloss Finish.
As with high qulity primer, high quality paint is important and worth spending the extra money.
Step 8 (optional): Add decorative molding to the sides and back of the island and paint the molding.
This will require additional time. You will have to plan the design and cut the molding with a miter saw. Use a nail gun to install the molding on the kitchen island and caulk around the molding for additional adhesion and to hide any gaps. Paint the molding.
Step 9: Remove FrogTape, add hardware back, and install doors and drawers.
Using a screwdriver, put the hardware back on the doors and drawers and install the doors back on the island.
Step 10: Enjoy!
Enjoy your kitchen island as the best destination spot in your home!
Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.
Having commitment issues, I did not want to go with traditional wallpaper for my ceiling. I’ve removed a lot of wallpaper over the years, and the last thing I wanted to do was mess up my recently painted ceiling.
Removable Wallpaper
Peel-and-stick paper is a great solution for so many reasons. You can read more about removable wallpaper here. It is so simple to remove and shouldn’t damage your walls (or ceilings).
It is pricier and less forgiving when installing, but I’ve had plenty of experience with installing wallpaper so I felt confident in my abilities to go for it.
Wallpaper Installation
First, I cut the panels to size. I also consider pattern repeat and extra just to be safe.
Beginning on one end of the dining room, I worked across the room. I used the trim to help guide me. That first panel is the hardest, and your neck and arms will ache after.
Installation was far easier than I expected, but I have had years of experience hanging wallpaper.
Patience is key when installing wallpaper on the ceiling. I took my time with installation and installed the wallpaper over several days.
Luckily my seams lined up so they went right through the chandelier medallion – I was able to simply cut half circles out of each panel to go around it.
The wallpaper livens up the space which allows me to have a neutral room that isn’t boring.
Now the pattern looks like it has always been here – it is right at home.
Well, what do you think? Are you a fan of wallpaper on ceilings?
Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.
Installing exterior lights can feel overwhelming, but I’m sharing how to install outdoor lighting THE EASY WAY!
This post is a sponsored post by Enbrighten. I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. While this post is sponsored, all the opinions are my own.
We have had Enbrighten outdoor lighting in the past and absolutely loved them. They survived our harsh Indiana winters and wind. Unfortunately, our house was struck by lightning not too long ago and as a result, we lost almost all of our electronics (including my beautiful Enbrighten Cafe Lights). When I had the opportunity to partner with them again, I was excited. Their product is so impressive.
These cafe lights are among the best I have ever tried. They have linkable strands (connect up to 750 feet), and the bulbs are impact-resistant (commercial-grade construction). Installation isn’t hard:
We dug a hole 24″ deep and cemented a 4×4 pole and connected two strands of cafe lights from the pole to our home. Here’s the wire rope string light hanging kit I used.
Wifi Flex Lights
These flex lights have a thin profile that can easily be shaped around corners or laid in a line. We outlined our covered back porch with them, but they would be perfect for a walkway or landscaping as well. They come with clips which I used to install them on the house, but they also come with stakes if you want to use them in your landscaping design.
The flex lights are high-quality LEDs and each 2-3 inch section showcases the endless color combination possibilities.
Wifi Landscaping Lights
These landscaping lights allow for easy installation. Simply place them on the ground using the included stakes or mount them via the keyholes. They are commercial grade with burial grade cable and UL-rated for permanent outdoor installation.
I love that you don’t have to buy the power supply, lights, and cord separately. The lights are an all-in-one solution.
Not only are these lights quality and easy to install, but they are all fully controlled using an app, AND you can choose between 62 colors with the ability to select two and three-color combinations.
Also, you can group your lights together so they are all controlled at one time. I grouped my Cafe lights, landscape lights, and flex lighting. With a touch of a button, I can change my lighting.
The Enbrighten app and products are compatible with Google Home and Alexa.
For pool parties with my son’s football team, we can change the lights to our school colors:
Or host a Halloween bash and make things a little creepy:
Or bring out the red, white, and blue for the 4th:
The color options are so fun, and you can even make them twinkle or slowly run through all the colors.
If you’re looking for outdoor lighting that is quality AND easy to install, you have found it! The Wi-Fi capabilities and color options are the icing on the cake!
Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.
Learn how to paint a room along with tips and tricks for making it look like it was done by a professional.
This post is a sponsored post by Purdy.I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. While this post is sponsored, all the opinions are my own.
Prep the Room
Before you begin to paint a room, you will need to prep the room.
Clear the Room and Protect Furniture
Move all furniture to the center of the room and cover it.
Fix and Clean the Walls
Carefully inspect the walls for cracks, holes, dents, or other imperfections. Scrape cracked or flaking paint and sand any small bumps. Use a putty knife and lightweight spackling compound to fill and repair holes and cover imperfections.
Wipe walls clean with a damp towel or sponge. If you are painting in the kitchen with grease spots, use mild dish soap to clean the spots. Allow walls to completely dry before proceeding.
Make a Plan
Maintain efficiency by getting enough paint. A gallon of paint can roughly cover between 350 to 400 square feet of wall space.
This is a great time to test out your chosen paint color. Most likely the paint swatch you found in the store won’t look the same in your home.
Lighting changes the appearance of the paint color, and I love to purchase small samples and paint different areas of the room before I fully commit to a color.
Trim with Painter’s Tape
Mask off trim, windows, and door frames. Press the tape firmly in place to prevent paint from seeping underneath or bleeding through.
If you use Purdy® Clearcut brushes, you don’t need to use painter’s tape. They provide excellent cut-in ability and create well-defined lines, making edging easy.
Cover the Floors with Drop Cloths
Cover the floors with drop cloths to protect them from paint drips and splatters.
Canvas drop cloths are durable and absorbent. They can also be reused, and in my opinion, are worth the additional cost.
Plastic drop cloths are durable and budget-friendly but NOT absorbent. Dripped paint is more likely to be tracked if stepped on.
Prime the Walls
A quality primer is always recommended when painting a room – especially if you’re painting from a darker color to a lighter color. Primer helps hide imperfections and gives the finished coat of paint a uniform look.
Mix the Paint
Use a wooden stick to mix the paint. The ingredients in your paint can separate which could compromise the true color you are going for.
Invest in Quality Brushes, Rollers, and Paint
Invest in quality brushes, rollers, and paint. The painting job will go quicker and easier – and look better in the end. Clean your brushes and rollers well, and they will last a long time.
It’s also important to buy the best paint you can afford. It’ll go on easily, offer the best coverage, and last a long time.
Paint One Wall at a Time
Paint one wall at a time. Take a brush and cut in and follow up with the paint roller. When applying paint with the roller, use long strokes in a W pattern for ample coverage (and to avoid roller marks).
Before reloading your roller and moving on to the next section, roll over the area you’ve just painted in a smooth, continuous stroke from top to bottom to catch drips and help hide lines.
Overlap areas already painted and lightly lift the roller off the wall to avoid leaving end marks.
Once the wall is dry to the touch, it’s ready for a second coat.
Clean Up
Once the painting is done, remove all the painter’s tape. Gather drop cloths – make sure any spills are dry before you move them.
Clean the paintbrushes with soapy water and use the brush to clean and reshape the bristles. You can use the 5-in-1 tool to remove excess paint from your roller under running water. The tool is also useful for opening a can of paint, removing nails, and scraping.
Additional Painting Tips
Cover your paint bucket, tray, or container when switching between brushing and rolling – this will keep your paint and tools from drying out.
Make sure your room is well-ventilated by opening windows and using fans. The fans are an added bonus since they will speed up drying time.
Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.
While searching for the perfect color for our main bedroom, I never expected to choose a dusty lavender paint color. But, I did!
This post is a sponsored post by Dutch Boy® I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. While this post is sponsored, all the opinions are my own.
Dutch Boy® Platinum® Plus Paint
The room is painted in 445-2DB Silver Plated by Dutch Boy. I used Platinum® Plus Cabinet Door and Trim Paint for the doors and trim and Platinum® Plus Interior Paint + Primer for the walls.
I was painting over a fairly dark color and expected to have to use two coats. However, this paint is pretty incredible, and paired with a Purdy paint roller, only required one coat.
The previous color was a blue-green which was pretty but much darker than I preferred. After testing out several colors (everything from lavenders to blushes to pale blues), a dusty lavender paint color was the winner.
Here’s a look at the room BEFORE:
And here’s the AFTER:
Dusty Lavender Paint Color
I love the new color, 445-2DB Silver Plated by Dutch Boy Paints. It is sophisticated but relaxing – the perfect combination for a bedroom.
Lavender in Decor
This soft, calming shade of purple is more neutral than you might think. It has a hue of gray, which makes it a little cooler than the traditional lavender you’re used to seeing.
In an Elle Decor article about the 2023 decor trends, they discuss that soft, dusty shades of lavender (and lilac) pose the “much-needed cautious optimism and escapism that people are craving post-pandemic, and even in times of budget crunch, it is imaginative and creative but also speaks of hope and balance.”
The color does look more lavender at times throughout the day depending on the natural sunlight, and I have to admit my husband was a little hesitant about the new color at first.
However, after moving the furniture back in place, Silver Plated 445-2DB really does act as a neutral and is now husband-approved.
What do you think of lavender? If you’re not already using it in home decor, would you?
Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.
Today I’m sharing how to choose a paint roller because paint rollers are a wonderful tool for painting.
This post is a sponsored post by Purdy.I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. While this post is sponsored, all the opinions are my own.
A paint roller applies paint faster and more evenly on surfaces than a paintbrush.
Paint rollers consist of a handle, a metal frame, and a metal roller that holds a paint roller cover. Despite the simplicity of the tool, there are many options for size, fabric, and nap.
4″ mini rollers are great for touch-ups, corners, windowsills, furniture, cabinets, and even doors.
6″ or 7″ rollers work well for painting baseboards, corners, furniture, and reaching behind the toilet to paint the wall.
9″ rollers are the most common size for projects. They are large enough to quickly cover the walls but not so long they are difficult to control around details and trim.
12″ or longer rollerscan be heavy and are more difficult to control, but they do cover a lot of surface area in the least amount of time. I would suggest leaving these larger rollers to the professionals, and I personally prefer the classic 9″ roller.
FABRIC
SYNTHETIC MATERIAL is effective with water-based latex paints and is suitable for any surface texture. Synthetic material doesn’t shed and creates a smooth, even finish.
NATURAL FIBER (lambs wool or mohair) is ideal for oil-based paints and painting on any surface texture.
BLENDED – When polyester and wool are combined, they get the extra pickup of wool with polyester for a longer life. Blended fabric can be used with all paint types.
MICROFIBER works well for semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes.
FOAM works well with oil or high-gloss latex paints. Foam is best on ultra smooth surfaces like furniture and cabinets.
NAP
The roller cover nap or pile height (the thickness of the fibers) varies from low to high based on the surface you are painting.
Low-nap rollers pick up less paint, while high-nap rollers pick up and hold more paint.
1/4″ Very Smooth to Smooth – Cabinets, metal doors, and trim.
3/8″ Smooth to Semi-Smooth – Smooth walls and ceilings.
1/2″ Semi-Smooth to Semi-Rough – Textured walls, decks, and concrete.
3/4″ Semi-Rough to Rough – Textured ceilings and stucco
1″ Rough to Extra Rough – Brick and Masonry block.
1 1/4″ Extra Rough – Rough textured concrete.
PAINT ROLLER TIPS:
When your paint roller slides instead of rolls:
Paint rollers have a metal roller attached to a frame that is designed to rotate, so if the paint roller is sliding instead of rolling, you have overloaded the roller with paint. The roller will slide and smear instead of smoothly rolling. Use the paint tray to offload some paint from the roller.
Cleaning your paint roller so you can use it for a future project:
Try using Purdy Contractor 5-in-1 tool. It works as a scraper and putty remover, opens cracks for patching and applying putty, AND it also cleans your roller by helping to remove all the excess paint.
Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.
If you want to know how to stripe your lawn, I know THE EASIEST way to create a neighbor-envying yard.
This post is a sponsored post by Toro. I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. While this post is sponsored, all the opinions are my own.
Our front yard is healthy, but we use a large mower to cut our yard which means striping isn’t going to happen.
We have used Toro lawn products for years and are big fans of their products. When I had the opportunity to test out the new Toro Max 21″ Stripe Mower, I was excited.
Stripe is 25% lighter than other battery-powered mowers. It is so easy to maneuver and creates beautiful yard stripes with Toro’s patent-pending engineering.
Its dual blade cuts and recuts the grass into fine clippings which means less work.
You can customize the speed with an easily adjustable speed control knob and activate max power mode with the push of a button.
Toro’s 60V Max Flex-Force Battery provides up to 65 minutes of runtime on a single charge, and it powers so many different Toro power tools – including their trimmer.
I know, I know, most of you don’t want to hear that beige paint is back.
This post is a sponsored post by Dutch Boy.I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. While this post is sponsored, all the opinions are my own.
When we moved into our home almost a decade ago, the first thing I did was paint over all the beige that filled our home. And now here I am, painting it back. But, after years of shades of gray, warmer colors are making a comeback.
Our dining room was a grayish green, but as much as I tried, the color never really worked for me. There is only one west-facing window in the room, and I wanted to brighten up the space.
After sampling several colors, Boy Mortar and Pestle 406-3DB was the winner. It has a very warm undertone and can look slightly pink in the evening light – which is exactly what I envisioned for our dining room.
I love this paint, and I will admit I am a paint snob. It is high quality with great coverage, and I purchase mine at Menards (where they have some of the best people working the paint counter).
Beige Paint is Back
Champagnes, off-whites, and beiges are coming our way. They are subtle, calming, and dignified – the perfect backdrop for any home or style.
Before I continue on about how much I’m loving these updated beige paint colors, realize that your home is YOUR home. Use paint colors in your home that you love. You don’t have to follow the trends.
The beiges coming back are not those we remember from the 2000s.
The walls are Dutch Boy Mortar and Pestle 406-3DB and the buffet is Dutch Boy’s 2023 Color of the Year: Rustic Greige 404-4DB
The beiges you’ll see will feel more modern with more unique tones available.
Beige is an underrated neutral that has the ability to work with almost any color. You may be thinking white also has this ability (and white is huge in decor right now), but it does lack the warmth of beige.
Don’t discount beige – you may want to give it a second chance. It is sunny, warm, and inviting.
If you’re not quite ready for beige but need a change, try greige! It is the perfect blend of a little gray and a little beige.
Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.
