I am a big believer that your bedroom should be an appealing place to relax and rest. All growing up, throughout college in my shared apartments, and currently, in my home, I have tried to make my room somewhere I feel comfortable lingering and unwinding. In whatever situation you’re in - whether you’re able to completely renovate or are looking for simple changes - incorporating one or more of the ideas below will help you create your own personal refuge. 

via Apartment Therapy

Consider your paint color. Light colors tend to make a room feel bigger and brighter while darker colors can feel cozier. Whatever your preference, the paint color you choose makes a big impact on the room overall.

via Beneath My Heart

Push for soft lighting. Using lamps or overhead lights with dimmers will change the tone of your room and make it feel more luxurious.  

via Planete Deco

Using a variety of textures and pattern with your bedding, pillows, rugs, and blankets will add interest and comfort to your room.

via Dream Homes

Speaking of pillows, add pillows to your bed! You can obviously go overboard, but using pillows to add depth, the feeling of softness, and pops of color can make a big difference in your room.

via Elle Decor

If you have space, incorporate a seating area. Having a seating option other than your bed will make spending time in your room more inviting.

via RC Willey

Remember the purpose of your room and invest in a good mattress and headboard. Considering how much time you spend sleeping, having a comfortable bed is worth the investment.

There are so many ways to make your bedroom a space that you will be excited to retreat to at the end of the day. If nothing else, making your bed immediately makes your room more appealing. I tell myself this every day and sometimes I actually get it made before it’s time for bed. Sometimes.

What have you done to make your bedroom more appealing? Do you have plans to renovate your room?

When my husband and I first got married we lived in a teeny, tiny, less than 500 square foot apartment.  We had to get really creative when it came to living in a small space.  We tried really hard to make it feel a lot larger than it actually was in order to have people over without feeling like we were all sitting on top of each other.  It was at this point in my life that I discovered the beauty, and function of a good mirror.

You see, mirrors are one of your best friends when it comes to decorating in small spaces.  They reflect so much light, and have a way of making a room look and feel ten times bigger than it actually is!  (That might be an exaggeration, but you get the picture.)  The best part is that they come in all different shapes and sizes, and most of the time you really can't go wrong throwing a mirror into your design scheme.

Whether you are living in an itty bitty space and are desperately trying to make things feel bigger, or you just want things to feel lighter, here are 5 places around your home where you should really consider hanging a mirror to get the most bang for your buck...

1. The Kitchen
If you live in a small space, chances are your kitchen feels cramped.  Simply hanging a mirror in non-traditional places like above the sink or stove can do wonders!  And if you really want to spice things up, mirrored kitchen cabinets can be pretty awesome too.

via apartment therapy
 

2. Above the fireplace
I love layering a nice mirror with artwork and some greenery on the mantle.  Not only does it look nice, but it's an easy way to make the room feel more spacious.

via pinterest 

3. Above your bed
I'll be honest.  I am very fearful of hanging anything above my bed because I worry about things falling on my head while I sleep!  Ha!  Am I the only one?  If I ever get enough courage, I would definitely consider hanging a huge vertical mirror above my headboard, because look how much bigger this bedroom feels!  It's like magic.  

 
Architectural Digest via Pinterest

4. Tucked behind a sofa
If figuring out a gallery wall behind a sofa stresses you out, then this is the trick for you!  Grab a full length mirror, and place it directly behind your sofa, and voila!  Not only is it pretty, but it adds so much depth and light to the room.

Pop Sugar via pinterest
 

5. The hallway
If you have a hallway that feels boring and small, add a floor length mirror and you've literally doubled the size of the hall!  Such a little thing that will produce large results.  

The Design Co via pinterest

 Where's your favorite place to hang a mirror in your home? Shop mirrors now.

Kimberly Martinez nominated her mom Sandra Martinez for a room makeover.  The Martinez family lost their home and all of their possessions in a devastating fire in July 2016.  They were sleeping when the fire started and they barely escaped before their entire modular home burned to the ground.  “The Night that Tooele Burned”  10 families lost everything in this devastating fast-moving fire.  

They just finished rebuilding a new modular home for Sandra and her family.  RC Willey – Citywide Home Loans makeover team came in and furnished the home last weekend.  

We are grateful that 94.1 KODJ (an iheart radio station) partnered with us on this successful home makeover.  The Martinez family loves their new home and are beyond thrilled that they can finally move in and relax in their new, comfortably furnished home.  

You can watch Sandra’s reaction to her home makeover here and we’d like to share some before and after pictures of her home below. 

Enjoy your home, Sandra! We're so glad we could work with you! 

Having a mattress that is comfortable and supportive makes a huge difference in how well you sleep and how inviting your bedroom is. A mattress that is too firm or too soft can leave you feeling achy and sore in the morning. Knowing this, it’s important to have some information in your back pocket when picking out a new mattress. 

Innerspring Mattresses: This is the most common mattress type and uses coil springs for body support. These mattresses come in a variety of firmness and price and are generally considered comfortable for most people. Be aware that the cheaper the mattress, the fewer the coils which will affect the level of support.

Memory Foam Mattresses: This mattress will contour to the shape of your body, which will help reduce pressure points and relieve pain. It also absorbs movement, so if you share a bed with a partner who tosses and turns, this may be the solution to your problem. Because these mattresses are temperature sensitive, memory foam mattresses can make you feel hot during the night. Also, if you sleep on your stomach you may want a firmer mattress rather than one that forms to your body to keep your back from aching.

Latex Mattresses: This mattress is similar to memory foam but is more supportive and has better temperature control. It is made from either synthetic or natural rubber and is a very durable mattress. For some, though, this mattress may be too firm and not as comfortable as other options.

While these are not the only types of mattress out there, it can give you a good start when swapping out your old mattress for a new one. Stop those back aches and get a good night sleep! Check out all of RC Willey’s mattress and get ready to sleep like a baby.

There is nothing that makes me happier than a bouquet of fresh flowers on my kitchen table. Something about having something fresh and alive in my home really makes a difference in my day. If you have access to fresh flowers in your garden that you can clip and arrange, lucky you! For those of us who are still waiting for spring to fully arrive, we may have to stick with grocery store flowers. Either way, here are some tips on how to arrange flowers in a way that will make them unique and completely yours - even if you did buy them at Albertsons. 

via Brit+Co

Use scissors to trim the ends of the flower stems. Even if you get the pre-cut, be sure to snip them right before you put them in water. That way the flowers will be able to absorb the water easier and last longer.

Remove all leaves will be below the water level and start with the biggest flowers first. Remember that your flower arrangement will be looked at from multiple views, so be sure to arrange from every angle.

via We Are Scout

If you’re using more than one flower type, be sure you use an odd number of each variety. Odd numbers are more aesthetically appealing than even numbers. Also be sure to vary the height, texture, and colors of your flowers for a more interesting arrangement.

Don’t be afraid to use branches and greenery. In fact, greenery will make a more dynamic and interesting bouquet. Put in the greenery last to fill in empty spaces.

Flowers are so beautiful that it’s hard to ruin an arrangement, so go for it! And, from my own experience, I can say that arranging my own flowers made me feel significantly more creative and artistic than I actually am.

Do you have any other tips on arranging your own flowers? Which flowers have worked the best in your home?

An accent chair is a great way to add more seating, fill an empty corner, and add a pop of style. The beauty of an accent chair is that it doesn’t have to match the other furniture in your room. In fact, as long as it compliments the existing furniture, be bold with your colors, pattern, and style! An accent chair is a glimpse into your personality. Below are some of my favorite accent chairs. If only I had space for them all! 

Click on the pictures for more information- 

Go bold with your accent chairs and check out all your options at RC Willey.

Would you use an accent chair in your home? Which one is your favorite?

Here in Salt Lake, seeing the air pollution that we’re breathing in can get pretty depressing. Limiting driving or carpooling, using public transportation, and trying to avoid idling your car all help clean out the air, but what to do in your own home? You can always buy an air purifier, but you can also incorporate greenery into your home as a way to naturally clean your air. Below are some of the best houseplants for clean air.  

via Foodie Gardener

Aloe Plants: These plants not only clear the air of pollutants from chemical cleaning products, they also have gel in the leaves that can be used to help heal cuts and burns. Aloe grows best with lots of sun, so a window sill with direct sunlight is an ideal place for this plant to live.

via Today

English Ivy: Considered one of the best air-filtering houseplants, the English Ivy is extremely easy to grow. This plant grows well in moderate temperatures and medium sunlight.

via House Beautiful

Rubber Tree: This is a great plant for an empty corner of your home. Rubber Trees are super easy to grow in dim lighting and cool climates.

via Types of Flowers

Gerber Daisy: These bright flowers need direct sunlight every and pots that have drainage holes. Mist their leaves a couple of times a week and enjoy a pop of color in your home.

Bring some plants into your home and breathe easy knowing that you are doing what you can to clean your air.
What tips do you have on keeping your plants alive? What houseplants do you have?

It's late, but I just came home from a super fun event and I wanted to share it with you. Beddy's decided to launch their 2017 Spring line in our Salt Lake City store and they invited us along for the ride. They also invited a mega-list of the who's who in the blogging world, so look closely, because you should see some familiar faces. 

All good parties start with good food. 

And then you add great people! 

Next up, party games! Beddy's had custom puzzles made of each of their pieces in their new line. The first group to get the puzzle together won a prize! 

Then the moment we were all waiting for...the reveal!

Then you make sure everyone goes home happy with a parting gift. Thanks to our friends at Beddy's for a great night and Candle Warmers and Saranoni for giving great gifts to our guests. 

Expect Beddy's new 2017 line in RC Willey in the next few days!

As I’ve mentioned before, my entryway is a hot spot for clutter. It drives me completely crazy. Dog leashes, coats, keys, unopened mail, bags of things to be donated or returned, muddy boots, scarves...I could keep going but I’ll spare you. We don’t have a mud room and our entryway opens directly into our living room, so something’s got to change. My goal this week is to figure out a system to organize that area and keep it clean! Here are some of the things I’m going to try to do to get organized.

A boot tray to hold all our muddy boots and shoes will help control wet footprints throughout the house. If there’s room, a bench would be a good place to store the shoes under and make a nice place to sit while taking off boots.

via RC Willey

Easily accessed hooks and knobs to store keys and frequently used coats near the door will help keep things off the floor and help me know where my keys are at all times. As my daughter gets older, a hook at kid-friendly heights would be helpful for her to hang up her own coat.

via KSC Designs

Organizing the coat closet so everything has a place and the temptation to just shove things in is important. Over the door shoe racks with clear pockets to store hats, gloves, scarves, swimsuits, etc. will make things easy to access and easy to put away.

via RC Willey

An entryway table is so useful. A basket for mail to be sorted and a small bowl for sunglasses or change will help keep things organized, and if there’s room for a bin per family member underneath, even better!

Of course, the most important thing of all is to get rid of anything that isn’t being used. I’ve got a closet full of coats that don’t get worn that I need to donate. If I’m not wearing them, someone else should.

What are ways you’ve organized your entryway? If you have a designated mudroom, what are things you’ve done? If your front door opens right into your living room, like mine, do you have any suggestions?  

refinery 29 via pinterest

Hi guys!  It's Andrea, here!  As many of you know, I've done a lot of moving in the past several years.  My husband and I have been married for seven years, and we are currently living in our seventh place together!  Gosh, that sounds tiring doesn't it?!  

Anyway, in my experience, one of the hardest parts about moving into a new place is figuring out where and how to hang all of your artwork and pictures on the walls.   It's intimidating from a design point of view, it's time consuming, and it always gives me a major headache.  I've found though that the sooner you make yourself hang things up, the faster your house will feel like a home.  After all, artwork in a home is like frosting on a cake!  It really is the most exciting, personal design element you've got.  So make it count!  

Here are 5 tips that will help you when hanging your artwork...  

1. Always hang your artwork at 57" on center.  

One of the trickiest parts about displaying art is knowing exactly where to hang it on the wall.  I learned in a design class once that most people are actually hanging artwork in their homes WAY too high.  57" might seem really low, but there is a science to it.  57" represents the average human eye level, and is regularly used as a standard in many art galleries and museums.  To do this in your home, just make sure the center point on your piece of art sits at 57" (measuring from the ground up) on the wall.  This also applies to gallery walls (instead of having the center of one piece of work sit at 57" though, you will simply have the center point of the group sitting at 57").

Sound confusing? Apartment therapy lays it all out for you in these simple directions:

Step By Step:

1. Measure and lightly mark 57" on the wall
2. Measure artwork and divide by 2 (this gives you the center)
3. Measure top of your picture to the tightened wire (a small amount)
4. Subtract "tight wire" amount from 1/2 height amount for the "to the hook" amount. This will tell you how far above 57" your hook should go
5. Lightly mark wall just above 57" with the "to the hook" amount

Example:
1. Picture is 20" tall
2. Middle is at 10" (this mid point should rest at 57")
3. Wire comes to 2" below the top
4. 10" - 2" = 8"
5. Lightly mark 8" above your first mark OR 65" on the wall

via pinterest

2. Curate a variety of images, sizes and shapes.

There is a time and place for uniformity, but the best gallery walls are visually pleasing because they employ many different sizes and shapes of artwork and frames.  It's always a good idea to have at least one oversized piece that can serve as an anchor for smaller pictures.  For better balance, it's been said to hang the larger pieces on the left.  Don't be afraid of odd shapes- the weirder, the better!  Also, stay away from too many little frames as it can make things start feeling messy and chaotic.  

 via emily henderson 

3. Stick with similar color palettes. 

Things can get really crazy with a gallery wall if you've got too many colors and finishes going on.  Little things like using matching colored mats, and sticking to a similar color palette with your frames can help to make your gallery wall look polished, and collected- not just thrown together haphazardly.  Don't be afraid to have a pop of color here and there, but for the most part sticking to similar finishes and hues will keep things classy.  

via emily henderson

4. Keep at least 3" of space between frames.  

I'm not sure what makes this the magic number, but it just is.  So stick to it and it will all work out. 

5. Get everything laid out on the floor before you start pounding nails into the wall!

I have made the mistake many times of just "going for it" with my gallery walls, and every single time I end up with a lot of holes in my wall!  Try to resist the urge to figure it out as you go.  Instead, lay everything out on the floor before you even think about locating your hammer.  I like to get creative and always try a few different formations with my frames.  Once I finish a grouping I stand above it and take a picture before moving onto the next one.  In the end, comparing photos always helps me determine the very best grouping to go with.  If you still need more reassurance, you can make templates of your frames with paper and actually tape them up on the wall where you want to hang them just to make sure it's what you want.  

 thechrisellefactor via pinterest

What tips have you found helpful when hanging artwork in your home?