Creating Our Space Place - Basement Progress

The year 2020 held some challenges for us, as I’m sure it did for you too. March came, and all of a sudden, things were shutting down, our offices were moved home, I started teaching online, and while a lot of things were placed on hold, a lot of things also became busier. As a result, you didn’t hear much from me last year - especially as school began in the fall. 

Of course, this didn’t mean that home projects weren’t happening. As you know, we bought our first home in 2019 and last year gave us the great opportunity to work on a bunch of house projects that we wouldn't have had the time to do otherwise. 

One of the bigger projects (besides the kitchen, which I cannot wait to start renovating) was the basement. We had planned on waiting to update it, but it just sort of happened that we were able to begin on adding some personalized touches. 

We are far from finished down there, but we have definitely made some progress.

J, as you likely do not know, has a slight obsession with space and space travel. We decided that giving our multi-purpose basement a space theme was a no-brainer. No, it’s not going to look like a cheesy nursery when we’re done, but I’m already loving how it is turning out. 

Before

After!

First, we painted the walls black. Yes, black. We toyed around with this for a long time and thought about doing just one wall, but ended up completing the whole main room. It looks great. Perfectly moody and classy at the same time. We love how it turned out. Paint is such an inexpensive way to update a room, and this was no exception. It took us about two days to finish and we love the result. Even though the basement is still virtually empty, I still go down just to enjoy the atmosphere at times. 

Next we added some not-so-subtle pieces of art. For our main piece, Photowall came through for us yet again. If you remember, last year we ordered a wall mural from them for our master bedroom. This time, we went with a giant poster to go with our theme. It was pretty simple to assemble (took less than ten minutes!), and looks fantastic.

Photowall sent us this gorgeous poster and is offering our readers 25% off this month only when you use the code maplealps25. If you’re looking for an easy but bold way to transform your space, some nice wallpaper, a mural, or even a canvas print might be for you!

We are still waiting on some furniture to arrive for our new “Space Place” thanks to shipping and demand. It will take a few months for it to arrive, so be sure to stay tuned in for more progress posts.

---

Do you have a custom or themed area in your home? Tell me about it in the comments below!

---

Minimally Decorating for Different Seasons

Decorating as a minimalist - or an aspiring minimalist - has been a really interesting challenge to take on over the last few years. For one, I love, love, love seasonal decor! I love buying it, I love making it myself...I even enjoy just looking at all of it in the store (without making a purchase). There’s just something about it that makes me so happy. Perhaps you can relate. Maybe not. For another, I like to switch things up and add new pieces so that there is something new to admire...I foresee it potentially becoming a problem in the future, but not really.

After some practice, and loving the results of having truly minimal, but meaningful decor (and after experiencing the strange satisfaction I get from only having 2 small, organized totes for all of our seasonal decor), I’ve decided to share some of my favorite tips. 

Choose Pieces Carefully

I love having pieces that mean something to us personally. For you, it could be a piece of art that a friend painted or a vase you bought on your honeymoon. It could also just be something that really spoke to you when you laid your eyes upon it. Choose just a few pieces with a story behind them to display. With such depth behind them, you won’t need to have it stand next to anything else, plus they make great conversation starters.

Less is More 

Give your pieces space to breathe. It’s really okay to have some empty space. I find it rather soothing, personally, to have my eyes drawn to small subtle details rather than being overwhelmed by shelves full of decor. Resist the urge to fill an entire shelf - harder to dust that way anyway!

To make it easier, opt for larger items rather than a bunch of smaller ones for the same reason that less is more. It feels less cluttered, and again, the eye is drawn to the large details.

Consider Natural Items

I really enjoy bringing the outdoors inside for a few reasons. Having real plants, vegetables, and other natural elements like pinecones or woods makes me feel calm and welcomed in a space. Natural items are unique, easy to acquire, inexpensive (or even free sometimes!), and you can put them back outside when you’re finished to let them continue their natural course. 

Think About Other Senses

For me, decor is really a minor part of making my home ready for the holiday season. I love the smell of fresh sweet loaves baking in the oven, burning woodsy scented candles (or diffusing woodsy oils!), having the fireplace on, and listening to my holiday playlists (not just Christmas!) are highlights that make my home feel ready for the season. 

Start “Stuff”-less Traditions

Baking and decorating cookies with my family, game and movie nights, singing together, were all highlights of the holiday months growing up (and are still my favorite!). Sure, we also loved decorating with Bing Crosby singing in the background, but it was the feeling that contributed to the holidays too. 

Choose Pieces that Cross Seasons

When I look for decor and textiles, I look for pieces that can cross seasons and holidays. White linens and plates, for example, can be paired with various objects and patterns to fit most any season you may want to decorate for. Vases can be filled with different seasonal foliage. I will admit, however, that I have three different wreaths for the door.

---

Are you a minimal decorator? What are some of your tips?

---

Creating a Comfortable Desk Space

Now that a lot of us are stuck working from home (and some without home offices!), I thought it would be fun to do a post on creating a workable desk area. 

When we first moved, the hubs and I decided to merge our home office spaces into one room. Unfortunately, with me teaching classes and conferencing with kids most of my day, it doesn’t work for me to be in the office with him all day long, so I’ve had to resort to the dining room table for most of my sessions. Which is fine, but we’ll get to that.

Here are some tips (and some of my favorite products) to make sure your work-from-home office space is comfortable, workable, and enjoyable!

Make Your View a Pleasant One

Whether it’s staring out of a window or looking at some pretty art (there are some super cute prints online!) and houseplants. You know what makes you happy, so add it into your space!

Light, Light, Light

Make sure your space is well-lit. Nothing like dim lights to make you go crazy! I even like to add a candle or even a diffuser - less for light, and more for a relaxed atmosphere. 

Blue Light Glasses

Speaking of light, since you’re likely spending a lot more time on your computer now, it is totally worth it to get blue light glasses! I noticed a great difference and have experienced less headaches since using them! (They are super affordable on Amazon too!)

Leave Space for a Hot Beverage

I don’t know about you, but I need my tea lattes to keep me company pretty much all day long. They are a hug in a mug, truly. I was keeping them in a travel cup to stay warm, but my husband was generous enough to get me the amazing ember mug for my birthday that keeps my drink hot all day long! (Get yours on Amazon here)

Mind Your Temperature

I’m usually chilly, so on top of having a warm drink next to me, I keep a sweater and a small throw by my desk area. Let me rephrase: my favorite sweater and my favorite small throw - it’s the little things that keep me happy. :) 

It’s Okay to Relocate

Even with a fun desk space, I do like heading to a Starbucks every once in a while for a change in scenery. Since that isn’t really an option right now, I’ll settle for my deck, my cozy yellow chair in the living room, or even the kitchen or dining room table instead. I’ve been making pretty mean lattes lately that cost less anyway. Feel free to relocate to wherever you wish to be productive for the day. 

Add Some Personal Touches

Add some personal touches to your work space. Maybe it’s a picture of your family, a painting you’re particularly proud of, or even a card from a friend. I keep a tiny (I really do mean tiny!) little hippo figurine that my mom gave me years ago. It’s always on my desk and makes me smile.

---

How do you make your desk space comfortable?

---

Making Your Bedroom a Place of Escape

In the past two places we’ve lived, I’m sad to say that our bedroom was our very last priority when it came to making it feel like a livable space. In the first apartment we lived in, we never even bothered to furnish besides our bed, side tables and a mirror, or to hang anything on the spacious walls.  In our second place, it took a full year before we started even considering making it a cozy space. 

Because we like hosting, our situation makes sense when I think about it. We wanted to make sure that the more public areas in our home were presentable and comfortable. It’s not like anyone saw our room and we never had to offer an explanation as to why it wasn’t finished. Now that we are actually in a place that we own, our mentality is also a little different. We are free to do what we like, and there’s a feeling of a bit more permanence.

We naturally like to spend down time in our bedroom, so I don’t know why it took so long for us to realize that we needed to have a space away from the distractions of life and even the rest of our home! Sitting in the living room isn’t as relaxing as lounging in our bedroom, since the constant reminders of chores loom. Here are some ideas that you can incorporate into your bedroom today to create a space you love to relax in.

Get a Separate Work Space

I know, I know, working from your bed is very tempting and very comfortable, but hear me out! Not only is it better for your sleep to do screen work (yes, even watching nighttime television) outside of your bed, it’s better for your frame of mind when coming into your room. You want to associate your bedroom with rest, relaxation, and getting away - not with what work you still need to get done! Set up a space somewhere else in your house to work, do taxes, watch television, do laundry and eat. 

Have a place to retreat

Add someplace in your room, other than the bed, to retreat to. You can add a chair, a window seat, or even a bench at the end of your bed. It’s especially helpful when your back is out and you need some assistance putting on socks...not that that has ever happened to me...

Less Is More

We are the minimalist type - and even more so now. We’ve gotten used to having very little on the walls, owning basic furniture, and having simple living spaces. We find, even when we look at home decor magazines and such that we are drawn to the more minimalistic designs. We find it a reprieve to not have so much stimulating our minds when we look around. Our bedroom is no exception. I can’t explain to you how relaxing it is to come into a space that is not cluttered and is simply decorated. Keeping very minimal items on the various surfaces, and even the wall, allows our minds to rest and dream.

And Speaking of Laundry

Use comfortable bedding and don’t be afraid to play with textiles. I mean, don’t overdo it with the throws and decorative pillows, but don’t be afraid to add some for that extra cozy feel as well. Hang some nice (and preferably black-out) curtains in your space as well. Consider a rug to add another homey dimension. Whatever floats your oasis boat. 

Add Some Greenery

Add some plants. Having real plants in your bedroom is such a treat. You could have some fresh cuts once in a while, or even choose a potted plant that brings you joy. Greenery really livens up a space. 

Choose a Calming Statement Piece

Is that an oxymoron?  We tried for years to decide exactly what kind of perfect statement piece to put above our bed. It never really happened. We would browse art pieces and paintings and all sorts of things and could never decide what could be worthy of hanging above our heads while we dreamed. We finally decided to go for the entire wall and put up a mural. Enter Photowall, a Swedish company that specializes in wall murals, wallpaper, and even canvas prints and posters. 

I will admit that we were a little overwhelmed by just the sheer amount of options they had on their website since we’re pretty indecisive. We finally settled on these gorgeous watercolour mountains. Mountains hold a special place in both of our hearts, as you know by now - and as you know by our website name. We are also both huge fans of hues of blue, so it was perfect. The perfect customized accent wall for our oasis. We now call our bedroom our Mountain Getaway. I love walking in our room and feeling instantly at peace and calm. We seriously love it (I know I said that already but I had to make the point. Hehe)! Our bedroom isn’t completely finished yet, but it is well on the way! Astra approves.

The installation was a breeze. For perfectionists like us, it did take a few hours, but we wanted to make sure it looked fantastic. We buckled down on a Sunday afternoon, and it was done in no time at all! You even have the option of ordering a tool kit with your wallpaper so that you have everything on hand and are ready to go! All you need is a bucket for the paste.

Photowall sent us this gorgeous mural and is offering our readers 25% off this month when you use the code maplealpsblog2020. If you’re looking for an easy but bold way to transform your space, some nice wallpaper, a mural, or even a canvas print might be for you!

---

What are some of the ways you make your own bedroom an oasis?

Is it a place you love being in, or would you like to make it a place you’d love being in more?

---