I am not a self proclaimed interior designer...just an avid decorator! I especially love to decorate for each holiday and season. This however can be challenging when you are on a budget! So, I wanted to share with you how I decorate for the 4th without spending money!
1. Go gather all the red, white, and blue things you can find around your home!
In the picture above you see everything I found from simply searching for three colors! I was pleasantly surprised! (confession: I did pick up those American Flags at Target in the $1 bin, because I simply could not find the ones I used from last year!)
2. The mantel is a great place to get creative and festive with every season/holiday
I like to think that our mantel is the center of our home, and so just keeping some simple decorations on the mantel that can go well in any season...makes for a great place to just add a pop of color with every holiday/changing season. Below is a photo of what my mantel looked like before I started decorating for the holiday.
~The framed maps of Savannah (where we live) stays up all year round. It's a great neutral decoration that can work in any season. I also have the idea that I could print some free printables out for the holidays and put them in the frames as well!
~ I change my vases and foliage out seasonally. As you can see I have a shell vase, this comes out only in the summer! My green vase works well in any season.
~ My mantel is big and so I have shells displayed on the left for Summer, and lanterns and candles on the right. My lantern/candles are another set of items that work well in any season!
~ The wooden crate on the hearth and the brass bucket also typically stay out and I just change what is inside of them.
So think about your mantel, what staple pieces can you leave out all year round...and then simply add either the seasons colors to it, or replace a few items to make it look more festive?
3. Start In the Center of your mantel
I knew I wanted to hang the three American flags together in the center of my mantel, so I started there. I always like to have something in the center and then work my way out. Symmetry is important in decorating your mantel. If you have too many items on one side, it looks lopsided or messy. So work to get just the right amount and size of items on both sides. Also, make sure your bring in varying textures and heights of items. You don't want it to look to matchy matchy.
4. Don't neglect the hearth
For a long time I didn't have anything on the hearth, I just never realized it needed something. Until I inherited this wooden crate and needed someplace to put it. Hello...sitting on the hearth filled with festive blankets, is the perfect place! It also brings in more texture and warmth to this space that is filled with so much cold brick! On the other side of the fireplace I have a brass bucket and I've been filling it with foliage, I think I need to add some twinkle lights to it! Yes, any season where I can add twinkle lights, is my favorite season! haha!
And the final reveal of the 4th of july mantel....drumroooollll......
In case you are wondering how I hung those American Flags...tape! I know I know...like I said, I'm not an interior designer people!
What is your favorite place to decorate in the home?
FYI...if you are wondering where those red white and blue pitchers went in my photos...I decided not to use them on my mantel...but instead put them in my dining room! Also, if you watched my instastory about this, you saw that I also wanted to include a watermelon into my decor! Haha! Here is what I came up with ...
Anyone else love milk glass?!