What is it about spring that inspires a huge gardening effort? Or possibly a yard makeover?! Don’t let a tight budget limit your desire to add ample greenery to your yard this season. There are easy ways to get a lush look for less. Read on as we share our creative tips for spring gardening on a budget…

Purchase Flowering Plants

Flowering plants are an easy way to add instant color to your outdoor space. If you have a choice between a plant with blooms and a plant without blooms, why not choose the flowering greenery?! A case in point: red yucca. At the nursery, grab the yucca that clearly has a flowering stalk in the works. While it makes sense to purchase a plant that isn’t fully blooming yet (so there’s plenty of flower power left), why not go with a sure thing, rather than wait to see if the plant you’ve selected will have luscious blooms?

Another colorful choice: bougainvillea. Who can resist those bright magenta blooms?! It doesn’t hurt that bougainvillea thrives in full sun. This is no wilting flower…

Enjoy placing flowering plants in pots, in the ground, and anywhere in your yard that needs a burst of color!

Use Vines to Your Advantage

If you have a trellis that’s covered in greenery, make it a true focal point of your yard. Talk with an expert at your local nursery to get ideas on encouraging your vines to thrive, especially if there’s still lots of growing needed for an abundant look.

If you’re wanting an instant wall of greenery and you don’t have the time or patience to cultivate the jasmine in the photo above, consider going faux. While this idea might sound less than ideal, especially for an outdoor space, note that great advances have been made in the world of faux greenery. Below we see NaturaHedge, a faux foliage solution that you can apply in panels. This faux boxwood was even purchased in a used state on eBay for maximum budgeting!

Voila! Vine goals achieved.

Fill in the Gaps

Another great way to make each dollar count is to focus on the projects that matter most. If you have obvious greenery absences in certain parts of your yard, address those areas first. Did a few of your santolina bushes get wiped out in a series of fall downpours? Time to fill them back in!

Did a dwarf yaupon or two perish in last year’s drought? Nothing like filling in the gaps to bring your yard back to life!

Another plant that either thrives or thins out, depending on where it’s planted: Mexican feather grass. Refresh withering greenery with healthy replacements this spring. A photo-worthy yard is just a few plants away…

Make Potted Plants Count

Potted plants are an easy way to have a “cup runneth over” look in your outdoor space. Plus, you can purchase smaller selections and cultivate them into the large plants of your dreams! The succulent below has weathered quite a few storms. It’s on the way to becoming an outdoor table centerpiece!

Try searching local nurseries and gardening shops for sales on pots and planters. The grey planter below is a substantial piece that was purchased for half-off. You can also try painting inexpensive terracotta pots to get the color and look that you desire.

Purchase a Patio Umbrella

If you’re needing some outdoor shade and this isn’t the year to fund a pergola project, consider a patio umbrella. Not only will it add an instant cover (and much-needed relief from the spring and summer sun), it can create a big style statement in your yard.

Keep in mind that many umbrellas go on sale midway through outdoor season. Flag your favorite brands and get ready to pounce when they’re greatly reduced. You’ll have the patio of your dreams by the end of summer!

Create a Gardening Space for the Kids

It doesn’t take a big budget to make the yard a special place for little ones. Whether you carve out a section of the ground for “kids’ choice” plants or you purchase a raised bed, your outdoor gardening efforts don’t have to break the bank. The small gardening trough below was purchased on sale for around $30. It’s freestanding and can be moved to different areas of the yard as needed.

We at Decoist with you and yours a happy, colorful spring in the yard of your dreams!

You're reading Helpful Tips for Spring Gardening on a Budget, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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Spring is such a colorful time of the year! Why not bring some of that vibrant boldness to your Easter decor? Whether you’re entertaining for a group or decorating for a quiet holiday at home, making this season a special one is as easy as celebrating your creativity and getting crafty. Today we feature a roundup of Easter DIY projects for design lovers…

Setting the Stage

Creating the perfect backdrop to your Easter celebration just might involve flowers, pom poms, tassels and pillows. You know, all of the essentials! Let’s start with some flower power. This gorgeous pastel Easter table idea from Sugar & Cloth is filled with blush tones, but our favorite feature is the spread of color-blocked floral arrangements. Try grouping blooms by color to make a big impact on your Easter table:

Who says all of the Easter fun has to be confined to the tabletop? This DIY Bunny Pillow from Kailo Chic is easier to put together than you might think. And since faux fur is already one of today’s top trends, this decorative accent will be in style any time of the year!

Also from Kailo Chic is this DIY Pom Pom Tassel Easter Egg Wreath, featuring irresistible pom poms created with fine Omegacryl yarn. And we can’t forget the tassels in shades of orange and pink:

Speaking of pom poms and tassels, spring colors abound on this Perfect Tassel and Pom Pom Garland from HonestlyWTF. Once again, Omegacryl yarn creates an extra plush look. And did you catch the floral designs on the pom poms?!

Eggs and Baskets

When it comes to the centerpiece of your Easter table, why not let the baskets and eggs have the spotlight? If you have little ones, the baskets will be on display anyway, right? Not to mention, basket and egg projects are crafting favorites. Ready for some fluffy style? It’s pom pom time! Using a simple natural Easter basket and (mostly) bulky gauge wool roving yarn, a subtle yet abundant look is created. Bring on the jumbo pom poms! You can check out this tutorial right here at Decoist:

For a retro-modern take on Easter egg style, why not give these Perler Bead Easter Eggs from A Subtle Revelry a try? The design possibilities are endless. Stuff them in Easter baskets, scatter them across the table, use them to create a garland, and more!

Add some texture to your Easter eggs by dyeing them with colored rice. Food coloring, tupperware and long-grain white rice are all you need to get the job done. And the hard-boiled eggs, of course! Get all the details at A Subtle Revelery:

For another creative idea that results in a textured look, use red cabbage to dye the eggs. Yes, they turn out blue! For details on achieving the various shades of blue and adding that gorgeous gold speckle, head on over to HonestlyYUM.

There’s nothing easier than taking craft paint and a paintbrush to your eggs and free-handing the design of your choice! Who’s up for a little bit of ’80s style?! Make it easy by using pre-painted wooden eggs as a base, or you can use hard-boiled eggs as well. Once again, you can find the DIY details right here at Decoist:

For one last Decoist tutorial with Easter flair, you won’t believe how easy it is to decorate plastic eggs with puffy stickers. Let your creativity take center stage (this project has an instant wow factor), and enjoy bringing these eggs out year after year.

 

Food and Beverages

While food and beverages aren’t your typical DIY territory, they certainly provide plenty of opportunities for creativity. Take this 24 Carrot Cocktail Recipe, which is as tasty as it is festive. The mini carrot garnish is what really gives this drink its signature look. Carrot juice and vodka are a couple of the star ingredients. Get the full recipe at Sugar & Cloth:

And speaking of carrots, they’re as colorful and lovely as they are delicious. Don’t hesitate to have fun arranging, preparing and garnishing them for an actual dish to serve guests. For more about how to cook with spring’s best ingredients, head on over to Camille Styles.

How adorable are these Easter Bunny Marshmallows from Oh Joy!? By pre-cutting and gluing the little bunny ears to toothpicks, you can easily have the kids help you dunk the marshmallows in melted white chocolate, dip them in sprinkles, then add the ears for an instantly precious (and tasty) treat:

We at Decoist love a good garland, so it’s no surprise that we’ve flipped for this DIY Felted Carrot Bunting. Its small size makes those felted carrots easy to create, and this colorful addition has the power to transform any cake into the perfect Easter centerpiece. Check out the tutorial at Kailo Chic:

We wish you and yours a colorful Easter, filled with delicious food and quality time with the people you care about!

You're reading The Best Easter DIY Projects for Design Lovers, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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Even with the best of intentions, a space set aside for a child’s playroom often becomes “that room where we put all of the toys and extra clutter.” Yet with a bit of intention and some strategic planning, a streamlined, functional, child-friendly space can be the end result! Today we’re sharing a few essentials that will make the dream of a modern playroom a true reality. Keep reading for photos and details… [photo below from Nubie]

Practical Furnishings

A functional playroom starts with a clear plan for the larger pieces involved. Popular furnishings for playrooms include a table and chairs, shelving, and elements such as an easel. Below we see a thoughtfully curated playroom designed by A Beautiful Mess:

Don’t be afraid to let a modern design style infuse your child’s space. There are plenty of amazing modern, child-friendly options for furnishings such as seating. Crate & Barrel’s Pint Sized Toddler White Table and Chair Set, designed by Royce Nelson, is a vision in natural birch and white tones:

Not to mention, there are options for every budget. It’s hard to beat LATT from IKEA, which features solid pine, among other materials. The price: a mere $29.99! There are also plenty of hacks online for jazzing up this set if you want to let your creativity take over:

While elements such as an easel may seem like non-essentials, think about the way this Wooden Art Easel from Crate & Kids can instantly create a functional art center for your little one! With storage on both sides, a chalkboard, a white board and a paper roll involved, it’s an all-in-one package with endless benefits.

A Book Display

While bookshelves are never a bad idea, book ledges are getting more and more attention, especially in the realm of modern design. And they’re not just for small items! This Aqua Display Ledge from Crate & Kids is perfect for books. With a range of colors and a 100% powder-coated iron construction, it’s easy to jazz up your walls with a solid piece that can hold your child’s favorite reading materials.

Ready to let color take over?! In this incredible nursery designed by Kelly Mindell of Studio DIY, we see the above-mentioned Crate & Kids shelving mounted in twos and arranged in all of its rainbow glory:

We’re absolutely smitten with this book display area in the stunning nursery designed by Random Acts of Pastel‘s Alyssa Garrison. The shelving from IKEA has transformed a wall into a colorful gallery of books! See the entire nursery tour here.

 

Woven Baskets

Few modern design trends are as perfect for kids’ rooms as woven baskets. They come in all shapes and sizes, often in their natural state (unpainted). They’re functional. They’re stylish. And they bring so much texture and earthy charm to the spaces they inhabit. Below, we see woven baskets in a playroom designed by A Beautiful Mess:

Seagrass belly baskets are increasingly popular, and sometimes they’re even paint-dipped. Whether they’re in a group or alone, they can make a big impact, as shown in this vignette featuring decor from Nubie:

Did we mention that seagrass baskets are frequently decked out in pom poms? These Pom Pom Rice Baskets from Etsy shop Nomad Cloth are embellished with yarn made from a blend of silk and bamboo. The length of the yarn in these poms is another unique feature:

From pineapples to cats, the realm of woven baskets has limitless possibilities. Bring on the whimsy, then bring on the organization! Use them to hold toys, art supplies, laundry and more! [photo below from Crate & Kids]

Art and Decorations

You didn’t think we’d wrap up today’s post before looking at a few fun “extras”, did you? Because nothing’s really extra in a beautifully designed room. Each feature plays an important role. Since tassels and pom poms are two of today’s biggest design trends, why not bring them both to your space in this Pastel Tassel Garland from Crate & Kids?! Did we mention that they include wooden decorative beads for another layer of style?

Don’t forget the wall art! Make it as stunning and vivid as you dare. We can’t stop admiring Junglefruit by Marianne Angeli Rodriguez, available at the Jungalow shop:

You can purchase your playroom art and have it shipped, or you can even purchase a digital download in a range of sizes (and do the printing yourself). Refreshing and fun, this flamingo wall art from Etsy shop Hearts in Colors is a vision in soothing hues:

Sometimes the best art and decor is the work of your child! With the help of this Set of 3 White Wooden Wall Art Clips from Crate & Kids, natural beechwood and white stripes become the tools to hold up your little one’s creations. As a bonus, the clips have keyholes in the back for easy hanging.

Happy decorating, and cheers to happy days of organized play! Thanks for reading.

You're reading Design Essentials for a Functional, Modern Playroom, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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