In Between Decor

Sometimes I just look around, run my fingers through my hair and give a little inward sigh. I like my home to look like a home in that I don't mind mess and clutter but I do mind when it's not to what I expect. There are pieces of furniture we just can't make and after two fabric sofas have been ruined by heavy use, dogs, children and a whole host of stains from red wine to nail varnish, we decided to invest in something new. By new I mean second hand but new to us. Leather is not my sofa material of choice but it's what was within budget and is easy to clean so now it's covering a three seater. I love the look of the dark brown against the brick and white but I'm in that in-between stage where I can neither afford a new two-seater or any more furniture to go in there.

There always those times when you're decorating and you just don't have a big enough budget to go full on with it. Sometimes it means jazzing up things you already own, moving things around or just living with something that isn't quite right and if you're anything like me it's hard to do. I'm one of those people who want everything done yesterday and lack patience. I'm also one of those people who can't live in a minimalist home and I guess that's the point of showing you my mess. It's how I live and this room without a distinct theme is what I'm surrounded with and working with. There's so much I'd do to change and improve this room but it's just not to be at the moment bar some fresh flowers on the table instead of artificial.

The way I tackle it is in stages. Stage one is where I decide on a placement for everything, see how it fills the space and vision where I can utilise more of it. For me, right now, it's more prints on the wall, shelves behind the white chair and a new bigger bird cage that'll stand where it is now. Stage two is mentally shopping for furniture, planning the furniture you want and upgrading/making/customising the furniture you currently own whether that's with a power drill, glue, paint or scatter cushions. Stage three is all about organisation and making it look great when you first walk in which is, admittedly, something I struggle with. It doesn't help that there's a distinct lack of storage here but I'm determined to find boxes for the shelves and neaten up the book area which is my most well-read and loved books out of the very near three figures that I currently own (that's after more was taken to the charity shop...I can't stop buying books).

Right now adding in the new chair and sofa is major progress but I'm looking forward to working on getting things done rather than just living with what I have. I'm all about make do, mend and re-do and I do advocate second hand furniture where possible but some things I will buy new. When I replace this sofa it'll be brand new as will the rug but who knows about the rest? I love the mix of woods, mix of colour and the fact that it's not all thematic or in a colour family. It feels really cosy at night with the little lamp on behind me illuminating everything just slightly and I've realised I can live with that. In between decor is not my forte to become at ease with but there's always something you can do to make a room feel fresh.

I'm thinking of doing a series about refreshing rooms with in between decor, DIY's and tips on how to refresh them etc - what do you think? Do you have any tips you'd like to contribute? Let me know!