Typically, I am the type of person who doesn’t change things up too much. When I find something that works for me, I stick with it, probably for much too long. From silly things like dryer sheets to important, significant items like shoes, sometimes you don’t realize what you are missing out on until you try something new! The results can be life-changing.
Recently, I received a gift card for one of my favorite outdoor retailers. I decided to try something different than my usual plain black socks and branch out to something a little different and better quality. This was a great decision, because not only are these Darn Tough socks fun and colorful, they are super comfortable, light-weight, and warm! Stepping out of my comfort zone has paid off and has been rather life-changing for my feet!
It’s the same story with shoes. I hated spending more than $50 on walking shoes – until I developed a severe case of plantar fasciitis. For those of you affected, you know this can be extremely painful and often debilitating. I have been fighting this for about three years
My physical therapist recommended Brooks Adrenaline Running Shoes, and I have never looked back. These are amazingly comfortable and supportive, and it’s been life-changing to own well-made shoes. Brooks runs some great specials on their website and even has a questionnaire for you to determine which of their shoe styles would work best for you. Check it out! My husband recently took the test and made the purchase and is very happy with his shoes. Properly caring for the body’s foundation, the feet, has helped absorb the shock and in turn, relieved pressure off my legs and back too. It makes sense!
The Power Of Paint
For years, I have been “married” to earthy color tones. I found it soothing, like nature, to have these colors in our home…until I woke up one day and was very tired of it. Interestingly enough, I was writing a blog post and chose a photo of a neat, tidy, uncluttered living room that was light, airy, and inviting. The photo inspired me to try something new. My husband and I brought home paint chips and sample colors until we decided on a lovely gray tone for our living room and kitchen. What a difference!
Since we recently had new white vinyl windows installed throughout the house, all the old wood trim needed to be changed too. It looked awful against the white windows! We began taking out the old window and door trim and replacing it with crisp, white new casing. The space is so much brighter and happier! It also feels more contemporary but with a classic design. The gray paint of the walls paired with the bright white details of the trim and windows looks fantastic! We now have windows that we can see out of, which also open easily, by the way, and really bring the outside in! The room looks polished and well thought out. Love, love, love.
Everything looks bright, fresh, and clean. We added an eclectic accent chair (dubbed “the bird chair”) from another room, updated all of the throw pillows, and purchased smaller, open end tables. We also swapped all the lamps in the room with silver ones from the family room. The results have been life-changing for us! Simplifying the artwork on the walls also helped to keep the space feeling light and airy. We brought in a small chest of drawers and an oval mirror from other rooms for a sophisticated looking entry. My goal is to refinish the chest to replicate a high-end piece I saw in a store. Bonus: The 4-drawer chest provides ample storage space!
The bottom line: paint is cheap, but the impact it makes to update a space is priceless! I left my comfort zone again, and I will be honest, at first I wasn’t sure about the color, but I am so glad now because I love coming home every day and looking at the room
Rearranging furniture and trading pieces between rooms helped to keep the cost down. It’s wonderful how many treasures were lying around in our own home that complimented the new decor. I found a canvas of a cardinal on a snowy winter’s day that I painted a few years ago at a painting class with some friends. The red bird pops against the warm gray walls. The accents of red in the room look amazing and complete the look. We did purchase one large piece of framed canvas artwork, which ties everything in the room together.
Remember the pillows I spoke of earlier? Well, the big red pillow sits on the bird chair and is soft and cozy. I purchased higher quality pillow covers and pillow inserts from Amazon, which brightened up our darker furniture. Tip: For a fuller finished product, purchase a larger pillow insert than the pillow cover. For example, if using an 18×18 cover, purchase a 20×20 insert. The result is a full pillow, including corners, and the effect is gorgeous! The colors in the cover added a small punch of red while tying in the existing furniture with the newly discovered color scheme. There are many different options to choose from to fit your space and personality.
Sometimes making adjustments in your life, no matter how small, can indeed be life-changing!
Until Next Time,
April
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