Lindsey’s Office Tour

Tip # 1 – Have an area for you to unwind. A place that you can do things that bring you joy.

For me that space is my big comfy chair! I LOVE this reading nook. I love sitting in it with a great cup of coffee and a book or sometimes if I wake up before John on a Saturday I’ll go curl up in it with a blanket, my pups, and the ipad to watch Netflix. To have such a large chair in this space I had to sacrifice fitting a side table next to it. I found this old shelf in the garage, painted it gold, and it ended up being perfect to hold my coffee!

Tip #2 – Pick colors you love.

I really wanted a clean and bright space. While this to me is cozy and relaxing, this room also doubles as our “studio” and the white walls help for when we shoot diy projects, decor, and recipes.

Tip #3 – Have a workspace that inspires creativity and productivity.

When you keep a clean desk then you are more likely to do work there, where as if you keep it cluttered then you will avoid it, because in order for you to work you will need to deal with whatever is on that desk and so you just go somewhere else. I also like to keep things in view that encourage and motivate me, so above the desk I created a gallery wall of inspirational sayings and quotes. PS: This desk is from Ikea. I think total it was under $30! I used my trusty old spray paint and painted the legs gold. I try not to keep a lot on it and store most of my stuff on the bookshelf, because we are constantly moving this thing in front of the window to take the pictures for our blog posts. Luckily, it is super lightweight and easy to move!

This clothes rack is also from Ikea and was around $13 when I bought it a month or two ago. This has become one of my favorite purchases! It is so nice to have one place to hang outfits and store products that haven’t been shot for the blog yet.

I just picked up 3 of these gold baskets from Walmart! They were less than $2 a piece. I am definitely going back for more. They fit perfectly inside the bookcase and on the bottom of the clothes rack for storage.

Tip #4 -Create a Gallery Wall

I love the gallery wall above my desk. I chose pieces that would be motivating and encouraging. If you want to create your own gallery wall, first, you are going to want a plan of how many items that you want to put up and how you want them spaced out on the wall. I just laid them out on the floor and arranged them how I wanted keeping in mind, that nothing should be perfectly centered. I used a variety of size pictures and added more interesting pieces like the deer and moose head. (Most of the pictures and decor are from Hobby Lobby. )

Second, you need a way to mount them on the wall and if you are like me then you hate using the hammer and nails, because you have to find the studs and then if you mess up they leave a huge hole. To much pressure haha. Well, HelpyHook is about to be your new best friend! Seriously, this may look like a tiny, cute little hook – but this bad boy can hold up to 17lbs!! Sayyyy whhhhha? I was shocked too. I have become a little addicted and used these to hang just about everything in my office…and rehung things that were already hung in the house, just because haha!

PS: how cute is the packaging?! I love the little container and there are a ton of hooks in there. Sidenote: they are also reusable.

Let me tell you how easy the Helpy Hooks are to use: You line it up, then use your thumb (that’s right I said thumb, not hammer) to effortlessly push the hook into the wall. Ta-da! That is it! If you need to remove the hook, you can take another helpyhook and hook the middle ridge with it and it will pull it right out of the wall.

Tip #5 – Add Decor and Accents

Add in little things like scented candles, flowers, and other nic-nacs that help tie the room together.

Thank you so much for stopping by to take a look at my office. I hope some of the tips will help you in creating a space you will love to be in too! I would love to see pictures, tag me on instagram @ourmessytable.

On AmazonHELPYHOOK is currently offering free shipping for any number of units + 10% off for 2 plus units. If you use the code HELPYALL, you will get an additional discount!

Thank you so much to Helpy Hook for sponsoring this post! As always, opinions are 100% my own.

Rustic Wooden Calendar

I will say the hardest part was figuring out how I was going to make those metal sliders and then out of sheer blind luck I was at Walmart and happen to look down to see a photo album that had a metal label holder on the side. Genius! But of course Walmart doesn’t sell those pieces individually, but lucky for me I live near a Hobby Lobby. Sorry that was a proud moment for me so I thought I’d share, haha. Lets get started my friends.

Materials:

• Drill
• Circular Saw
• Jigsaw
• Needle nose pliers
• Hot glue gun
• Glue sticks
• Brass flat bars
• Label Holders
• (1) 1 x 4 common board at least 2ft long
• (3) 1/2 in. x 2 x 2 poplar board (cut each board down from 2 ft to 1ft 8 in.)
• (1) 1/2 in. x 3 x 2 poplar board (cut into 2 pieces of 11 1/2 in. each)
• Wood screws
• Wood glue
• Sand paper
• Wood stain
• Letter stamps
• Number stamps
• Ink pad

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut all of the wood to the measurements given above.

Step 2: Lay the two side pieces flat and then line up all of the horizontal pieces to get the spacing right. Then measure 2 in. from the bottom and 2 in. in between each board, leaving 1 in. remaining on the top. I then labeled the board for my cuts.

Using the drill make holes in each corner as shown,this will help with the corner cuts for the jigsaw. Then cut out each marked section with the jigsaw.

Step 4: Assemble all of the pieces. Use wood glue to hold the horizontal bars in place and then screw each one to the side boards.

Step 5: Screw the side boards to the base by first drill a hole from the bottom into the side boards, then screwing them in place.

Step 6: Using the needle nose pliers form the brass flat bars around the horizontal pieces, but not all the way yet. You want them to look like “C”s for the time being.

Step 7: Stain the wood

Step 8: Once the wood stain is dry, stamp the numbers on the lowest bar, then the Months on the middle bar and the days of the week on the top bar. For spacing I lined up all of the numbers then just stamped as I went.

TIP: If you use a paper towel to wipe the edges of the stamp, you will keep yourself from get the square edges stamped on the wood as well.

Step 9: Using the hot glue gun, glue the label holders to the back of the flat brass “C”s that we created. Then assemble them onto the horizontal boards and using the needle nose pliers again, form the flat brass all the way around the boards.

The finished wooden sliding calendar will make a great accent to any desk or study. I know that my brain works different at times so if you have any questions at all about any of the steps, please let me know in the comments and I’ll do the best I can to help you out. Good luck and we’d love to see some of the finished products so be sure to tag those pics with #omtcrafts.

Spring Home Tour 2016

Here’s a look at the mantle:

I have mentioned this in earlier posts, but when we bought our new home this past Summer, I completely changed the color scheme in our house. Since then I have been collecting metal pieces, birchwood, cream & distressed decor. I have been trying to stick with those main staple pieces for every season, which saves me money, because I can reuse the same pieces in new ways each season. (Instead of buying a bunch of decor that I can only use once a year.) I did however, splurge on a couple bunnies for Easter, but for the most part – everything I got can be repurposed for each season.)

Photo frame and metal heart sign are from Micheal’s!

This is little wall in the living room is my favorite area in the house right now. This boxwood wreath& pillows really brought this area together.

This “Have I told you lately that I love you sign” used to be lime green and red. Take a look at what you already have and see if you can paint it and give it a fresh new look.

We use our coffee table all the time. So, lately I have been choosing simple centerpieces that won’t get messed up if we keep moving them around.

This candlestick goes with EVERYTHING. I like that it adds a little shimmer and breaks up the distressed pieces I have in the living room. & this metal tray has been used for SO many things. This is going to sound dramatic, but I would put it at the top of my best purchases of the year. It was so cheap and I have used it for other centerpieces& at a bridal shower to hold drinks.

This glass clochecaught my eye the minute I saw it! I put moss and these paper cache eggswith the little chicks inside it. I just love the way it turned out!

I have an obsession with boxwood everything right now. This little boxwood shrubwas too cute to pass up!

Above the Kitchen Cabinets:

Stay tuned for a post on how to decorate above the kitchen cabinets! It can be so difficult to fill that space. I’ll be sharing my tips soon

Entryway:

How adorable is this bunny!? I think he looks like a little gentleman with his bowtie haha!

This Home Sweet Home DIY is so simple! I love how subtle it is, but adds so much at the same time.

Hope you enjoyed our very first Spring home tour! I would love to know what styles and trends you are loving this Spring!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lindsey

I found this birchwood ribbon at a local boutique and it was the inspiration behind this tree. Then I found the little birchwood tree ornaments on sale at Crate and Barrel and it really tied it all together.

Cozy socks and Christmas trees are two of my favorite things!

Woodland Winter decor on my dresser. John made this giant light-up snow flake last year. We used the tutorial from A Beautiful Mess. 

Quick peak at my office all Merry & Bright for Christmas!

Adding a wreath around the deer head is so simple, but adds so much to the gallery wall.

Filling a glass vase or jar with pine cones and sparkly glitter ornaments or decorative balls is such a simple centerpiece.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I can’t believe it is already over. I am sad to have to take down my Christmas decor now, but I am excited to try some new decorating ideas and look forward to sharing them all with you in 2016!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Lindsey

John and I had so much fun decorating our new home for Christmas this year! Hope you enjoy these snap shots of our decorations. P.S. Grab some leftover pie – this is kinda long

This topper has lasted for 6 Christmas’! I just fluff it out every year. (Thank goodness for wired ribbon!)

I love this giant gingerbread candy cane ornament, it is one of my favorites to put on the tree.

The tree all lit up at night!

I’m obsessed with this nutcracker and metal light-up snow flake! They were the highlights of my mantle this year. I wish it was acceptable to keep this up all year long lol.

Snap shot of the bottom of the mantle. This box is an old ammo box that I found in my Dad’s garage and I filled it to the brim with Christmas goodness. I mean, what else would you put in an old ammo box?!

Above the entertainment center is always a hard spot to fill. It is so much space! An easy space filler  is to wrap extra odd shaped boxes and add a pretty bow. 

If you read the DIY centerpiece post earlier this month, then this pic should look familiar!

Right now we have a blank wall behind our dining table. We have big plans for that wall, but in the meantime, we just put this wreath up there to fill the space. I actually really liked the way it turned out!

I get to bust out these plates once a year! So, yes – I actually leave them out the table the whole month of December. I just can’t get enough.

The pictures do not do this justice. I love how this looked in person. The Santa Stop Here sign was on sale for $23 at target and was hands down the best Christmas piece I bought this year.

John really, REALLY wants a scooter. So, last year Buddy brought him a scooter for Christmas. John can live vicariously through the adventures of Buddy for awhile

Snap of John’s Christmas village. He gets one new piece a year. I don’t know what we are going to do next year, we are running out of space!

Random dog pic – Lambeau is tuckered out from Christmas and asleep snuggling with his new Christmas baby.

Decided to throw our little family traditions in here. Our favorite Christmas movie is Prep and Landing. ( If you haven’t seen it – it is an adorable short 30 minute movie about elves that prep for Santa’s landing!) We have an ornament of Lanny and Wayne ( from the movie) and we take turns hiding the ornament through out the month for the other to find.

Thats the end of part 1! Stay tuned for part 2 of our Christmas Home Tour.

We would love to see pics of your Christmas decorations and hear about your family traditions! #ourmessytable on instagram or comment below!

Lindsey

This year on a whim I decided to completely change my typical fall color scheme of warm tone oranges, browns, and maroons and instead channeled my inner Joanna Gaines ( if you don’t know who this is  after you read this post – stop everything your doing and go watch, Fixer Upper, on Netflix asap- you will thank me later LOL!) by incorporating metal pumpkins, an old window, wood and a ton of grapevine. Oh and lots of cotton! Seriously, there could never be enough cotton. Then finished the look off with little touches of silver throughout.

Here’s a look at my 2015 Fall Home Tour:

Mantle:

I think the mantle was my favorite part this year. We haven’t had a mantle in a couple years and I forgot how much fun it is to decorate it!

(Excuse the dirty fire place, it is on my to-do list!)

John made the Acts 2:46 Sign for me out of an old window. It has become one of my all time favorite pieces.

The wood stumps are from Michael’s Art Supply and by adding the raccoon on top, it just made the little guy stand out so much more!

My favorite “find” of the season was this metal pumpkin. This is the piece that tied everything together. I originally saw this pumpkin at a high- end design shop and couldn’t justify spending the money on it. Then a couple days later, I found the exact same pumpkin at Hobby Lobby and of course it was cheaper and was 50% off! (Don’t get betta than that!) So, needless to say – this pumpkin came home with me and has been sitting here being gorgeous ever since.

Tip: I wanted the cream pumpkin to sit up higher, so we took a candle holder and put the pumpkin on top of it. You can also use clear bowls and glassware to do the same thing! You will never even notice it, but it helps add dimension. Especially if you use this technique on an entryway table or on top of a cabinet or entertainment center and use greenery, garland, or ribbon to hide it.

Entertainment Center:

My mom uses grapevine in all her decorations and this year she taught me an awesome trick! She buys a grapevine wreath and cuts the pieces that hold the wreath together. Be sure to do it outside – it gets messy! Then grab one end and have someone  pull it out away from you and it will stretch into this really pretty twig, curly vine. Then you can break it into sections to make it easier to decorate with. I had enough from one $5 wreath from Michael’s Art Supply to use in all my Fall decorating. It can be a little hard to work with, so just be patient. You may have to drape and reposition it several times to get it to look the way that you want it too.

Inside the cubbies of the entertainment center:

To fill those random spaces, I bought a couple signs from Hobby Lobby and Home Goods, used leftover cotton and put it in a glass jar, and filled a basket with extra pumpkins that I had.

Coffee Table:

Entryway Table:

One thing I love about this using metals, creams, and grapevine is that so much of my decorations can be used all year long. All I have to do is trade out the pumpkins and cotton for other seasonal items.

I hope you enjoyed my first Home Tour on the blog! Tonight, I will be packing it all up and starting to put out Christmas Décor. So, stay tuned for my Christmas Home Tour post soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lindsey