Frequently Asked Home Décor Questions

Blush king size bedding

My absolute favorite thing about blogging is getting the chance to have conversations with all of you. The Dream Green DIY community as a whole is so creative, and I’m constantly getting ideas and inspiration from your comments, social media messages, and emails.

I get such a thrill when a reader question comes through my inbox, and since I’ve been getting a few of the same ones lately, I thought it might be helpful for me to talk through some of my most frequently asked questions. Keep scrolling for my answers to the top eight!

Layering Loloi area rugs

How do you layer rugs?

This is definitely one of those things that has taken me a long time to master, and I don’t think I’ve even quite got it down pat. It’s sort of unpredictable how rugs will react when layered over one another. I think it all depends on the pile height of the fibers, but generally, I only layer thin area rugs over each other because they tend to keep from buckling and warping over time.

My best tip here is to use as much rug tape as you can to keep things nice and straight. This is my very favorite tape to use, especially along the corners and edges. I’ve used it safely over all kinds of carpeting, and so far it has never damaged our rugs or left behind any sticky residue.

But if you’re asked how to aesthetically layer rugs, I always, always layer a smaller bold rug over a larger neutral one. This keeps the combo from looking too busy, and maximizes your budget, too, since bolder rugs tend to be pricey, and neutral ones come cheap.

Mid-century décor Instagram accounts

Who are your favorite mid-century décor Instagram accounts to follow?

It’s no secret that I’m passionate about mid-century design, so I’m often asked for recommendations for MCM accounts to follow on Instagram. I have lots, and lots, but here’s a quick run-down of my top 15 for retro home décor:

1. @thewhitepeppervintage

2. @bykristinalynne

3. @haus.of.kerr

4. @thecrowellcrew

5. @the.hoss.homestead

6. @wildwoodmodern

7. @currentlymod

8. @microscopetelescope

9. @galaxiemodern

10. @minncenturymod

11. @postandbeamliving

12. @theatomicranch

13. @lifeintheglens

14. @midcentury_meowdern

15. @ourhideawayhome

Daybed in the guest room

Where is your guest room rug from?

It’s from Loloi’s Layla collection and is the “Spice/Marine” colorway. I purchased it on Amazon right before New Year’s last year since I knew I was about to make a resolution not to purchase any new home décor for the next year. Read more about my commitment to shopping secondhand and handmade exclusively this way!

Favorite white paint color

What’s your favorite white paint?

Almost all of the walls in our house are painted “High Reflective White” from Sherwin Williams. The only exceptions (at the moment, that is) are our bathrooms, which are painted “Snowbound,” and a couple of dark green feature walls done in “Cascades,” both of which also came from Sherwin Williams.

How to mix wood tones

How do you mix wood tones successfully?

This is one of those frequently asked questions that I honestly don’t have a good answer for. I really don’t try anything special at all! I’m of the mind that wood is wood, and that grains go well together whether they’re stained in dark brown, honey, ebony, or gray. I basically treat wood like a neutral, so I throw them all together without sticking to any kind of formula.

If you like the way our plethora of wood tones look together, my best advice would be to ignore the myth that you have to keep “like” wood tones together. Be like me and just pick whatever feels right to you! It will make sense in your home if you’re confident and own it.

Hanging basket chair

Where is your bedroom dresser from?

I love getting this question because I’m so proud to let people know that my dad built it for me from scratch! There’s no other dresser in the world quite like it, and I will treasure it forever and ever. If you love my dresser, hold out for a one-of-a-kind dresser in a similar silhouette that makes you weak in the knees. You’ll know it when you see it, and it will be so much better than if I could give you a direct link to some mass-produced dresser! There are just some pieces of furniture worth holding out and hunting for.

Fiddle Leaf Fig houseplant

What type of plant is that?

It’s a Fiddle Leaf Fig tree, and, yes, it’s real! I get asked this one all the time, and it’s another one of those questions I answer with pride. For years and years, I was always too afraid to buy live plants, thinking I would inevitably kill them. Fast forward eight years since I picked up this Fiddle Leaf Fig from IKEA, and I’m positively obsessed with live plants! This beautiful too-tall, too-skinny tree finally gave me the confidence to learn how to develop a green thumb, and I’ve never looked back. He’s practically a member of our family.

Dark green painted feature wall

What’s the feature wall paint color in your dining room?

It’s “Cascades” from Sherwin Williams. This paint was my first foray into bold color, and I adore it. That moody dark green color has opened the door to so much more vibrancy in our home. Funny how a simple can of paint can inspire an entire new way of decorating, but this one did exactly that.

Do you have a question that I didn’t get to in today’s post? Let me know in the comments below, or feel free to shoot me an email (I’m at hello@dreamgreendiy.com) if that’s easier. And thanks, as always, for being part of my creative little community!

Abstract landscape art print

*I earn a small percentage from purchases made using the affiliate links above. Affiliate links are not sponsored. Rest assured that I never recommend products we wouldn’t use or don’t already love ourselves.

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My Self-Care Home Essentials

My Self-Care Home Essentials

It has been exactly 43 days since I left the house—well…that is, other than three or four joy rides I’ve taken in the car to get out of the house. To be honest, though, those “joy rides” kind of bring me down. When I see all of those stores, restaurants, and places I used to be able to visit whenever I wanted to, it really depresses me. So, it has gotten to the point when I’m just planning on hunkering down here at the house for good until this thing lets up.

Overall, I’m feeling great, though! You know I adore our home and I’ve always been a homebody, so I find peace in the quiet and stillness. I’ve also found special comfort in a few particular things these past few weeks, so I thought it might be inspiring to talk through them in case it sparks an idea for self-soothing practices to add to your own routines during quarantine.

My Self-Care Home Essentials:

1. Weighted blanket: On nights when I’m having trouble falling asleep (which is pretty often lately), I find so much comfort in my weighted blanket.

2. Home Is Where You Make It: This book was a birthday gift from my sister-in-law, and has made me feel so motivated to tackle little décor projects around the house.

3. Sound machine: I don’t own this yet, but I’d really like to for the reason I mentioned in #1 on this list. I use a box fan for sound control at night, but this seems like a better option.

4. Houseplants: John got me a live Bird of Paradise for my birthday, and it makes me smile every time I see it. Houseplants are great for purifying the air in your house, too!

5. Stress relief lotion: I keep this handy on my desk in my home office, and it’s such a nice little break from work tasks. I use it to give myself a mini hand massage!

6. Art print: Remember last week when I mentioned how happy art makes me feel? Well, it’s true! I’ve moved my three new Opposite Walls prints from room to room because I love them so much. You can still use the code “DREAMGREEN25” here for 25% off art now through May 7.

7. Slippers: I don’t really like walking around barefoot all the time, so these soft slippers give my feet support without feeling clunky like real shoes do.

8. Vitruvi oil diffuser: I’ve even gotten John to come around to the power of essential oils since quarantine started! Now, he can’t go one evening without refilling the diffusers in our house.

9. Retreat essential oil blend: Speaking of, this is one of our current favorites for refreshing the scents around us indoors.

10. Tazo Organic Chai Black Tea: Coffee made me feel really jittery around the time we all started social distancing, so I switched to black tea instead. This concentrate form tastes delicious when combined with lightly frothed milk.

11. Disco ball: No, we’re not hosting disco parties over here! I keep my disco ball in a discrete spot on the floor near the windows in our living room so we can enjoy happy light flairs all over the walls and ceiling on sunny days. The cats love it, too.

12. Bluetooth turntable: As you saw, we added a new turntable to our master bedroom, and it has really been a game-changer for our moods throughout the day. We love being able to turn on music whenever we want.

Now, I’m curious to know…What’s on your home essentials list right now? It seems like almost all of us have come around to the concept of “simple pleasures” these days stuck at home, and those tend to differ from person to person. I’d love to hear how you’re self-soothing in your home, so let me know in the comments below.

Opposite Wall Art

*I earn a small percentage from purchases made using the affiliate links above. Affiliate links are not sponsored. Rest assured that I never recommend products we wouldn’t use or don’t already love ourselves.

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