DIY Christmas Dreamcatcher Wreath!

   The Christmas traditions I must tick off every year are watching "The Family Stone" and making a Christmas wreath that goes on my front door. Watching "The Family Stone" is easy because Dermont Mulroney is pretty, Sarah Jessica Parker is quirky and Rachel McAdams is fierce, in fact I could go on all day about this warm movie with its great cast!

   It's the wreath that requires a little more thinking. With my Pinterest feed over bursting with dreamcatchers and boho chic vibes, I thought why not add this idea into my wreath?! And that's exactly what I did! I created a rustic, slightly vintage Christmas wreath with a touch of weaving.

Here's how it's done:

1. Wind/ tape some wooden sticks around a circular frame like a pipe or a wire

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2. Use some rope to fix the rope finally in place at 6 or more points and start your weaving. (The internet is filled with weaving tricks).

3. Using a glue gun add on Christmas accents like pointsettia flowers, pine cones, mistletoe and such and voila! Your Boho chic Christmas wreath is ready to go!

Fairy lights can be added too!

Here's a video to help you understand. Hope you like it!

 

The Good Ol' Runner

 

      Christmas comes with winter and winter comes with layering. From cardigans to shawls, mufflers to gloves, dhurries to rugs, runners to drapes, we love our Christmas layering!

      The runner is a pretty way to add some color to any room. The fabric can also soften the overall set up.
      Here are a few different ways to add a runner to your home decor.  Maybe these images can be of some inspiration to you!

The Traditional Table Runner:
                                         
                                                   

Take it to the Edge of the Bed for a colorful touch:

The Console Runner that can add a touch of fabric to an entryway:

The Coffee table Runner that can soften any work area:

The Displayed Runner that acts as a tapestry on a wall:

 Christmas is the best time to add a touch of festivity through a runner and try out the look. If you like it, maybe the runner can stay throughout the year keeping it's appearance on par with the season, of course!

The Christmas Spot

       Ever felt like Christmas suddenly creeps up on you and you don't have the energy or the time to go all out with decorations? Or are you one of those persons who wants to just dip a toe into the Christmas decor pool? Then this post is for you!

      With no place for a whole Christmas trees or a lack of fondness for the over decoration Christmas can bring, a Christmas Shelf is perfect! Take a book shelf, a showcase or even a space above your T.V. or music system and turn into a spot of Christmas wonder.

     Here are a few images to get you into the minimal Christmas decor space!

     Book shelves are easiest to fill with festive cushions, candles and smaller trinkets. You can even make your bookshelf christmassy by making it tree shaped!

                   

    Lower spaces like a coffee table or a console work equally well!

           How about creating a corner by the window with a bench and some hooks?

   If rustic decor is your thing, trunks are perfect spots for Christmas decor.

We've got some shelf decorating on at Sanctum, Take a look at the video for some added inspiration!

Kettling Away!

      The difference between a  house and a home are those tiny, quirky accents that come from the minds of its residents. The easiest way to add your own touch to your home decor is to refurbish an old item into something new. Today we give you ideas on how the age old kettle can turn into a fun, quirky decor item with a touch of old world charm. But keep hold of the fact that we want you to use our ideas but make this item your own!


Paint them!
   Get out those acrylic paints and give your kettle a makeover. You can take inspiration from an Aztec, Moroccan or any other print or make it completely your own.

(Pinterest)

Turn them into vases/ planters/terrariums

        Flora can turn on the vintage and romantic charm in any decor piece. The kettle being no different! Add in a bunch of dried flowers or fresh flowers and create a statement vase for your coffee table. If you have a glass kettle a terrarium is the way to go. And if you have a garden brightly colored kettle planters are the prettiest sight!

   
   

             (Pinterest)

(www.jigdi.com)

(Pinterest)

Turn them into watering cans

         If you don't want to grow plants in them, water your plants with them! You can paint it a bright color or keep it rustic. Either way this is one watering can that doesn't need to get stored away, instead it can proudly take part in your garden decor.

  

Kettle chimes, anyone?

     This idea has been around for a while, but is definitely one you can play around. Instead of hanging spoons, hang beads, feathers or an assortment of both for a boho chic dream catcher vibe.

Light up your Kettles

          If you're feeling extremely crafty then lighting up your kettles is a great industrial chic idea. Punch holes in them or remove their base to create hanging lamps. Or you can use a kettle as a base for a lamp.

(Pinterest)

       And there you have it! Different ways to refine your kettle while making it your own statement piece. Happy Kettling!

A Cosy Reading Corner

If you love reading, a reading corner in the house is a must. It does not take up too much space and can be added in any part of the house. You can make it right next to your bookshelf or niches in the wall where you have your books.

The first requirement for a reading nook is a comfortable chair. It can be the one you inherited from your grandmother or just any chair you can snuggle up in. Next is a reading lamp, which can be wall, floor or table mounted. Don't just use the shelves for books, add some art work, some photos, a small vase, curios and a nice scented candle! Add a throw and a foot rest. A carpet or rug under the chair is a must! And there you go! Don't forget to add colour pops here and there.

(Image Courtesy: hgtvhome.com)

For the Love of Flowers

       We're in that time of year when the cold is starting to set in and trees are starting to go bare. The perfect time to add a touch of freshness and color to your homes in the form of flora! And flowers are flexible decor pieces perfect for just that!

       We think flower decor should be simple and easily laid out. We love the idea of arranging your flowers simply on a flat surface avec or sans a vase. And the spots available around the house are many! From window sills to consoles, doorsteps to crockery units flowers can be added in anywhere. Here are a few images to give you inspiration:

      These carefree, casual floral arrangements are sure to give your home a touch of the wild in a truly stylish way. Please do send us images if you feel adventurous enough to embark on this overflowing almost romantic way of arranging flowers.

Diwali Decor

        A few days more and India and many parts around the world are going to celebrate the festival of lights! And yes, it is exactly as it's names sounds. From roads lined with festively lit shops to lantern filled balconies, rangolis at the doorstep to lamps in  the sky, Diwali is one festival that inspires so much decor. I thought I'd discuss a few Diwali decor ideas on today's post, so you and me both can turn our homes into a light filled wonder this season.

• Pick a corner in your house and hang lamps at different heights to create a cascading light effect. These could be moroccan lamps, metal lanterns or simple glass lights

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• Get your DIY thumbs out and start making some paper lanterns. Pom poms on paper lanterns, cut out lanterns or painted ones, the internet has the key to them all!

• Playing with flowers and candles are your third lighting option this season. Make a candle setting on your console, centre table or dining table and scatter petals of your favorite flower around. Placing some floating candles and flowers in a glass bowl or jar is an interesting option too. Bowls of pot pourri around the house can also add to the festive vibe.

• Diwali isn't Diwali without diyas. With diyas, the age old traditions work very well even today. Place a line of diyas by your balcony or window or incorporate a few into the rangoli design at your doorstep. If you have steps leading to your front door, place a diya at the corner of each step. That's saying "Happy Diwali" right at the front door!

• Geometric printed cushions or sequined cushions are easy add-ons to let in the Diwali vibe.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Hang garlands of flowers at your windows, You can go traditional and go with the classic orange garlands or you can pick a flower more suited to your house theme. Try your hand at a completely floral rangoli design too!

• Opt for lighter curtains this season so that the light can enter into your house. Shimmery, glistening fabrics work well too.

   

Hope your house is filled with the light of love and happiness this season! Happy Diwali!

"Fall"ing for Wreaths!

       It is that beautiful season called "Autumn" and golden brown leaves seem to be falling everywhere, rust seems to have become the color of the season and pumpkins have become your easiest style element. While this must actually be happening in other parts of the globe, in Mumbai the only place where this seems to be happening is on our Pinterest boards!

       How about we make fall an additional season in Mumbai and put all those Pinterest ideas to use? The easiest way to feel "Autumny" is to add a fall-themed wreath to your front door. That way, you get reminded of orange brown leaves and such while your neighbors do too!

1. Burlap Wreaths
            Burlap or Jute are perfect materials to complement the rustic warm theme that fall is all about. You can use the cloth as a base for your wreath and either wrap it simply around an iron frame or create a ruffle around the frame. Add dried or artificial flowers in burnt orange, maroon and burgundy shades either at a corner or on top. You can even keep the wreath completely burlap free save for a huge burlap bow. Colored burlap with neutral flowers is an option here too.

2. Wooden Wreaths:

       Twigs of wood, flexible dried stems or wooden trunk edges work equally well in Autumn wreaths especially if you want to go all natural. Here too flowers make great fillers. The trick here is to arrange the wood in a quirky unique way.

3. Chalkboard Wreaths:

     It's always fun to add a touch of word art to your decor. Take some inspiration from our last week's post and turn an old photo frame or wooden board into a chalkboard working your wreath around it!

4. Not-So-Round Wreaths:

      Put on your thinking caps for this one and try to use all these materials but create a wreath that steers clear of the round shape. This one's a toughie but here are some images for inspiration.

     Have a happy fall!