Decorating With Color {a dining room story}
On the surface, this story is going to seem like just another presto chango, dining room redo, fresh look on an old dining room, when in reality, it's so much more. Instead, this is a story about a girl, a girl who is trying to learn how living intentionally looks in her everyday life. This is the story about living a life on purpose and how that looks and even relates to home decor.
There's not anything exceptional about our dining room, it's just like yours- a place to gather for meals with family and friends. But this new walk of mine is causing me to look at all the parts of my life with new eyes. You see, I have this problem of liking for my house to be in order, so much in order that I fear it sucks the life right out of this little house- I'm working on it y'all. I like neatness and cleanliness, which is good and all, but too much is, well, TOO much, you know? For years I've had some type of runner or cloth on my table, it looks nice, and while I don't really mind if it gets soiled- I probably do mind. Like I said, I'm working on it. So, one afternoon while perusing through the pages of one of my favorite blogs, I saw a photo of her dining table- her stark naked dining table- sitting right there like it was ready for, life. That empty table just slapped me right in the face I'm telling you, and she had these cool shelves on the wall behind her table with, get this, real stuff, like sewing and crafting things that might actually be fun- did you hear that? Fun. Not just useless decor that sits and gathers dust, but real life stuff that's cute and colorful all on it's own.
So, after I picked myself up off of the floor, I knew what I had to do. I headed to the basement for a shopping trip- you do that right? I knew that I'd have to totally redo the wall because it had some serious holes in it from all it's previous looks. I spackled and sanded and repainted the whole wall. It was so worth it though. Then I had a clean slate to work with. Shelves went up with homeschool stuff, board games, supplies for impromptu artwork, some new prints, a real live plant {live anything is a must in winter}, and a real and intentional dining room was born. I changed out my light to a wire cage light that I'd been saving for just a time as this.
Then I painted our dining room chairs to some corals, greens, yellows and bird's egg blues, because what's not fun about colored chairs?? And the most important ingredient, an EMPTY table- an empty table ready for life to happen.
Linking At:
It looks wonderful. I too use to use runners, now it is just a plant with candles and question cards for meal times if I don't like how the conversation is going. thanks for sharing and youarranged the everyday items so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the idea of question cards! Where pray tell, did you find those?
DeleteLooks so pretty and homey. So glad I found your blog last week.
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday!
Sherri
Thank you Sherri! I'm so glad you found me too! Welcome!
DeletePaint is such a gift! I'm glad to know someone else who doesn't see painting things as a chore. It is an inexpensive way to really change a look. Now, is your Trouble game still upside down? I might have to come over and fix it. (smile) I really like your shelves, functional decorations.
ReplyDeleteHa! That trouble game has gotten moved every day here lately- I'm just loving the possibilities of an empty table!
DeleteI love the look and I'm like you I'm a little over the top with liking things neat and tidy. I won't let myself sit down even if things are out of place. Must be a little OCD in me LOL. After seeing your chairs I may just give my a new coat of paint:)
ReplyDeleteDawn, paint is awesome! It's possibilities are endless!
DeleteThis darling dining room says, "Sit! Get comfy! Wanna Chat? NO? Okay, then let's PLAY! Let's CREATE! Let's ENGAGE!"
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't SCREAM when it says it...it's that excited, happy whisper...Like, when Anna asks Elsa, "Do you wanna build a snowman?"
I just love that.
And yes, I have a toddler...heeheeehee...
You always know exactly the right thing to say! Love it!
DeleteAmy,
ReplyDeleteHello and Happy New Year , my friend!!
LOVE all the wonderful color that you have in your Dining Room!! Beautiful!!
Hugs,
Deb
I miss you Debbie! Happy New Year to you too! Thanks for visiting friend!
DeleteThe room is soo inviting! My dining room chairs are a mish mosh of colors and styles too (all thrifted). I love it and people always comment on it. You're making me reconsider what's on the buffet and sideboard. Love what you've done. I'm about to down-size and this makes perfect sense. Keep out the "everyday". Pretty fruit, mugs, silverware etc etc. Great inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteOh I love it and love the use of all the different colors. How fun. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Can't wait to feature this next week.
ReplyDeleteOh Marty, I couldn't be more grateful! Thank you so much!
DeleteI think your dining room picture was one of the first things I saw that drew me to your blog ♥ Love the shelves and CoLoRs!! Oh and because of you I read Ashley's blog now too....!
ReplyDeleteIsn't she just awesome! And her sister too! LOVE her prints! Thanks so much for stopping by today my friend!
DeleteI love it.. all the pretty colors just say--"welcome".
ReplyDeleteLove all this fun color and fun items in the dining room. Great story, too. I used to be a lot more OCD than I am now. I guess I got older and wiser. Featuring this at Wow this week.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Kim! Feeling very honored!
DeleteThis is just gorgeous Amy - loved the story that went along with it too !
ReplyDeleteOff to pin - thanks for sharing :)
xoxo
Thank you Suzan!
DeleteSuch a cute and happy dining room! Love all the colors.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jennifer! We are all loving the empty table!
DeleteI love your dining room! The colors are so happy, and i love all the different color chairs.
ReplyDeleteKathy
Thank you so much Kathy! I really appreciate your visit!
DeleteI love the empty table and the different colored chairs, so very neat! Glad I found your blog tonight!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely post! I love when I am inspired like you were. OH and I shop my basement a lot too after a perk of inspiration ;) Will be featuring your dining room later tonight at Sundays at Home!
ReplyDeleteI love the mix of all of the different colors! So nice and fresh!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking in up Talented Tuesday Link Party! Hope to see you again next week!
Hi Amy! I just hopped over from Alice's link party. Your photo totally caught my eye, and this whole post is just lovely. My dining room is currently sort of a blank slate now that I've cleared it of lego, homework, crafts, etc etc so we can "dine" in there again. You've really inspired me...I love your space!
ReplyDeletexo
i really loved those great designs
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