Decorating

Gorgeous Greenery: Live Plants vs Artificial Plants in Your Living Space

by Allie Racette | Apr 23, 2024 | Decorating, Interior Design Tips

As interior designers, we love a bit (or a lot) of greenery! A pop of green can bring brightness, texture, and a touch of natural beauty to your space. Plus, the color green can improve your mood, and that’s what interior design is all about – turning houses into homes and creating beautiful, joyful spaces our clients love to live in.

At Spotted, we often use artificial plants to bring the vibe of real greenery to an interior space. But when it comes to your own space, which is the right choice – foliage or faux foliage? Here are a few things to keep in mind while deciding what type of greenery to incorporate in your home’s interior design:

Cost

While artificial plants might cost more initially, they could save you money in the long run. Once you purchase an artificial plant, there’s no more money to be spent, unless you want to buy a new pot to change up the look. With real plants, however, you’ll need to consider the cost of water, soil, plant food, pest control, and larger pots over time to accommodate growth. You’ll also need to replace real plants on occasion if you don’t have the gift of a green thumb.

Upkeep

When it comes to the maintenance of your plants, it’s obvious real plants require more time and attention than artificial ones. Real plants will need watering, feeding, dusting, pruning, re-potting, and more to thrive over time. While some plants require minimal upkeep, others might need daily care. Some people find caring for plants soothing, and some find it exhausting – so it’s a matter of preference! It’s important to keep in mind, however, that even artificial plants will require dusting to keep them clean and looking fresh.

Variety

There are hundreds of thousands of plant species on Earth, so it’s easy to assume choosing live plants for your home will offer you more variety. In reality, every plant needs a specific environment to thrive, which limits the types of plants you can grow in your own home. On the other hand, artificial plants will look just as green and beautiful in any environment, regardless of humidity, temperature, or amount of sunlight – so you can choose any artificial variety you want for your home! The selection of artificial plant varieties isn’t as extensive as real plants, but it’s improving all the time.

Environment

There’s no denying that real plants are better for the environment as a whole. However, there are a few reasons artificial plants might be better for your own personal environment. Many live plants are toxic and can pose a danger to pets and small children, while most artificial plants are non-toxic. Live plants can also attract pests or cause irritation for people with allergies. Thankfully, brands are popping up offering more sustainable alternatives to traditional artificial plants, using recycled, compostable, or biodegradable materials, so you can elevate your space with faux foliage without worrying about it ending up in a landfill someday.

A small touch of greenery can make a big difference to the feel of an interior space. We love using artificial plants in our designs because they’re easier to maintain, come in many beautiful varieties, and are safe for pets and children. But there are plenty of pros to live plants, too! At the end of the day, it’s your space, and you should design and decorate it in whatever way is best for your lifestyle.

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3 Ways to Warm Up Your Space With Interior Design

by Allie Racette | Dec 17, 2023 | Decorating, Interior Design Tips

‘Tis the season, and no matter what climate you live in, you’re probably ready to bring some coziness into your home for the holidays. A fireplace isn’t the only way to warm up a room. Here are three tips for making your space feel warmer and creating a cozy haven with interior design:

LET’S TALK TEXTURES

Texture can make all the difference when you’re trying to make a space feel warm and cozy. If you prefer a sleeker design but want to bring some warmth into your space, a few well-placed textural elements can give you that cozy feeling you’re craving.

Play with the soft furnishings in your space, whether that’s adding plush throw blankets, faux fur rugs, or knitted throw pillows.
Warm up your furniture selections with natural elements, like wooden furniture, rattan accents, or a jute rug.
Incorporate texture into your decor with plants and flowers. A bit of greenery – even faux – is an easy way to make a space feel homier.

TIME FOR A COZIER COLOR PALETTE

It’s well-known that colors can influence our moods – and they can influence the mood of a space, too. To warm up your space, work with rich, earthy tones and warm neutrals. Don’t worry! You don’t have to paint your walls burnt orange to capture that warmth. You can incorporate a warm color palette in lots of ways:

Choose gold or bronze finishes – much warmer than their silver counterparts – for lighting and plumbing fixtures, curtain rods, and other metal elements.
Incorporate richly colored upholstery and drapery to make a room feel more intimate and cozy.
Think about your artwork. Even if your walls are light and neutral, artwork can add pops of deep, rich color to warm up a space.

LOTS AND LOTS OF LIGHTING

If you only have one overhead light in your living room, you might consider shaking things up. A layered lighting approach with a combination of light sources can help make a space feel cozier. Don’t be afraid to play with both the amount of lighting and the type of lighting.

Supplement your overhead fixture with table lamps, floor lamps, wall sconces, and even candles.
Switch out those jarring LED bulbs for softer, warmer-toned 2700-3000 Kelvin bulbs that help create that cozy ambiance. We recommend the GE’s line of Relax LED bulbs.
Add dimmer switches to control the intensity of the light for quiet evenings when you want to be at your warmest and coziest.

These are just three ways to warm up your space with interior design. There are other ways to add coziness, like incorporating comfortable seating and adding sentimental accents to your decor.

A cozy room is about more than aesthetics; it’s about how you feel spending time in your space. At the end of the day, anything that helps your house feel more like home is an excellent way to add warmth.

Our Top Fall Decor Picks for Every Budget

by Allie Racette | Oct 18, 2023 | Decorating

The weather is cooling, the leaves are changing, and you’re thinking about changing up your home decor. It’s not the holiday season yet, but fall can be just as festive! Here are some of our favorite decor finds from Target, Amazon, Anthropologie, and more for the perfect autumn vibes this season.

Under $30

If you’re watching your budget this fall, don’t fret! There are plenty of gorgeous decor options available from Amazon and Target for less than $30 – and there are always sales to take advantage of. Here are our favorite affordable fall decor finds:

This fluted glass cannister from Target, for an elegant storage solution
This green marble bowl from Target, that can transition to holiday decor, too!
This vintage glass coffee mug set from Amazon, complete with two elegant stirring spoons
This dried pampas grass from Amazon, perfect for styling with a seasonal vase
This buffalo plaid doormat from Amazon, and…
This playful seasonal doormat from Amazon, to welcome seasonal guests!

Under $50

Have a little more wiggle room in your budget, but still don’t want to break the bank? Take a look at our favorite fall decor finds under $50:

These patterned playing cards from Mark & Graham, the perfect coffee table accessory
This eucalyptus leaf berry wreath from Target, because wreaths aren’t just for Christmas
This woven striped throw pillow from Target, to add some autumn texture and warmth to your seating
This grid knit throw blanket from Target, for cozy fall evenings
This burl wood tray from Target, and…
This bistro tile fromage platter from Anthropologie, and…
This wood and marble beveled cheese board from Mark & Graham, perfect for seasonal charcuterie!

$50 and Up

Interested in splurging a bit? We understand – some statement pieces are worth the price tag! Here are our favorite fall decor finds over $50, for when you’re ready to invest in a piece that will last you for years to come:

This oversized fall leaf wreath from Target, complete with a velvet ribbon
This faux woven pumpkin from Pottery Barn that will never rot!
This gleaming primrose vanity tray from Anthropologie, for a touch of elegance on any surface
This bistro tile cake stand from Anthropologie, for serving up delicious fall desserts

Whatever your budget, there are plenty of options available for beautiful fall decor. These are just a few of our favorites. What are your favorite fall finds to elevate your seasonal decor?

5 Tips for Spring Cleaning with Interior Design in Mind

by Allie Racette | Apr 29, 2023 | Cleaning, Decorating

We’re all familiar with spring cleaning. Spring is the perfect time of year to open your windows, air out your home, and spend time on some much-needed deep cleaning and decluttering. While you’re refreshing your home, why not refresh your interior design, too?

Here are five simple tips to help you keep interior design in mind while spring cleaning this year:

1. Finish unfinished projects.

Spring cleaning is a great time to put the finishing touches on all those home improvement projects you started – and possibly abandoned – during the winter months. Maybe you were painting your bedroom, refinishing your floors, or changing out the hardware on your kitchen cabinets. Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to tie up these loose ends and finish the little projects that can make a BIG difference to your home’s appearance.

2. Swap out linens, pillows, and curtains.

When you’re tackling spring cleaning, you’ll probably take the opportunity to wash the soft finishes in your home that might just get spot cleaned the rest of the year. If you’re already taking down your living room curtains to clean them, why not swap them out for something different? Rotating your curtains, bed linens, and throw pillows is an easy way to keep your home looking fresh and new. It’s also a good strategy to help you remember to deep clean things like curtains, that might otherwise get overlooked!

3. Consider closed storage while organizing.

We all have clutter; that’s just a fact of life. A certain amount of well-staged open shelving can look chic, but leaving everything you own out on display can make a home feel too busy. While you’re decluttering and organizing this spring, consider adding some closed storage solutions to your home. TV stands with drawers and cabinets and built-ins with doors are perfect for hiding away some of the every day clutter, helping your home feel cleaner and more streamlined.

4. Give investment pieces special attention.

Do you have a beautiful, expensive rug in your living room, or an antique kitchen table that’s been in your family for generations? Spring cleaning is the perfect time to invest in maintaining these pieces. Rent a carpet cleaner (or hire a professional) to deep clean your rug and take the time to refinish that gorgeous table. You can also hire professionals to deep clean your couch! Maintaining these key items will keep them looking beautiful so they can elevate your home’s design for years to come.

5. Update your lighting.

Spring cleaning means dusting all the light fixtures – and maybe noticing that some of them have seen better days. Lighting is vital to a well-designed home. If your light fixtures are outdated, consider upgrading them this spring. If you don’t want to replace the fixtures themselves, something as simple as swapping out light bulbs can make a big difference!

Spring cleaning is all about making your home look its best – from dusting the baseboards to scrubbing the floors. Interior design is also about making your home look its best, so why shouldn’t the two go hand-in-hand? Use these tips to help your home sparkle this spring, and tell us in the comments what your favorite spring cleaning projects are!

And if you’re looking for some foolproof spring cleaning products, download our Renovation Prep Guide for our recommendations!

Updating your lighting, embracing closed storage, and regularly maintaining the investment pieces in your home can go a long way toward elevating your interior design.

5 Ways to Style a Large Wall Space

by Allie Racette | Jan 17, 2023 | Decorating

We’ve all been there – staring at a large, blank expanse of wall in our home, needing to fill the empty space but not knowing how. Gallery walls are always a good choice, when executed well, but they’re not your only choice! Here are just a few ideas to help you fill that empty wall, elevate your decor, and make your space feel complete.

Add a large gallery wall

This one is tried and true. There are many ways to do gallery walls, and you don’t have to use just photographs or pieces of artwork. When creating a gallery wall, try mixing various sizes and shapes of framed artwork and photographs, as well as incorporating different objects such as mirrors, sconces, ceramic wall art, or embroidery hoops to add a unique touch.

Add wainscoting

A great way to fill space on a wall is by adding wainscoting. Traditionally, wainscoting is used to protect walls from being scuffed or damaged by furniture, but wainscoting also has aesthetic benefits. Aesthetic wainscoting can be accented with artwork and wall sconces for an elegant solution to large blank walls.

Create framed wallpaper panels

If you don’t want to commit to wallpapering an entire wall but you’ve found a pattern you love, turn that wallpaper into custom art! Frame sections of wallpaper to resemble large art prints and use them to fill that empty space. Not only will they look beautiful, but they’ll be more cost-effective than purchasing large pieces of artwork.

Hang a large mirror

We often think of mirrors as just a functional piece, but they also have a lot of aesthetic value. An oversized mirror is a great way to fill a large expanse of empty wall space, with the added bonus of reflecting light and making your room look bigger. You can also use a large mirror as the focal point of a more extensive gallery wall.

Make a DIY letterboard

A DIY letterboard is just one example of a way to fill a large wall space that lets you flex your creative muscles. You can purchase kits to help you install these letterboards, or create your own with some creativity, time, and materials from the hardware store. Chalkboard walls, hand-painted murals, and other DIY projects can also be creative ways of filling the space.

No matter how you choose to style the large wall spaces in your home, the most important thing is to make them your own. With a bit of creativity and time, you can turn a large blank wall into a gorgeous focal point in your home.

How to Create a Perfect Holiday Tablescape

by Allie Racette | Dec 8, 2022 | Decorating

If you’re hosting a meal for the holidays, don’t neglect your tablescape when planning your seasonal decor. The food will be the true star of the show, but an elegant table will elevate the atmosphere and add that extra touch of design and sophistication to any holiday gathering. But where should you start when you’re planning a holiday tablescape? Here are a few of the key components to keep in mind to help you build your tablescape step by step:

Rockin’ Around the Centerpiece

While your centerpiece is the literal center of your table, it’s also central to the design of your tablescape. Starting with your centerpiece and building your table around it is an excellent strategy for creating a cohesive look. Seasonal greenery, candles, and small decor pieces are popular for holiday centerpieces. Once your centerpiece is assembled, you can pull colors and textures from it to incorporate throughout your tablescape. For instance, if you have red berries in your centerpiece greenery, try coordinating with red napkins. Crystal votive candles might inspire crystal chargers, or organic textures might carry through to textured place mats.

Change It up With Chargers

If you don’t want to cover your table with a tablecloth, or if place mats just aren’t your style, chargers are an excellent choice for both practical and decorative purposes. Chargers can help protect your table from spills, heat, and condensation – and look good while doing it. If you keep your dishware simple, you can opt for a more decorative charger, or a simple charger can lend itself to more elaborate plates.

A Note on Napkins

Whether you’re using cloth napkins or disposable ones, there’s no need to settle for something plain. There are plenty of ways to embellish your napkins – without learning any complicated napkin folds. (Of course, if you love napkin folds, go for it!) Add a finishing touch to your napkins with a simple detail, like a napkin ring, a decorative pick, or a place card. Remember – it’s the little details that pull everything together.

Everyday essentials

Once your centerpiece and the decorative elements are in place, it’s time to address the basics. Silverware, glasses, plates – everything you need to actually enjoy a meal. It’s best to keep these pieces simple. The days of having special plates and utensils that only get used during the holidays are over. Invest in solid, high-quality dishes that will last you for years to come. Choosing neutral pieces will ensure your essentials will mix and match with every theme you choose, year after year. But neutral doesn’t have to mean boring! Look for plates with designs and patterns for visual interest, but choose neutral colors that can fit into any tablescape, like grays and off-whites.

A well-crafted tablescape is essential to any holiday meal. Not only will a beautiful table make your home-cooked meal look even more appetizing – it will make your guests feel welcome and set the tone for an elegant, enjoyable, and memorable evening.

What’s your number one holiday tablescape essential?