Use a chair as a bedside table.
Use a piano bench as coffee table.
Use pink plastic spoons to make a sunburst frame.
Decorating is a more fun, way more interesting & much more frugal when we disregard the rules and think outside the box. Don’t you agree?
Be daring, it is YOUR house!
Add an element of surprise to every room!
Photo inspiration: Top two photos BH&G, last photo Country Living
For you crazy crafters, here are the directions to make the spoon mirror, Country Living.
Hi, I'm Melissa. This is where I share inspiration for creating a simple, authentic and beautiful home.
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This may be a short post, Melissa, but it will bring you an avalanche of comments! Being resourceful, having fun, seeing the potential of every object to be transformed, to inspire and be reborn because someone loves the promise it holds – are all threads in the authentic, creative style statements we weave. In our current economic situation, this simple tip encourages people to feel like feel like creative artists and not make-doers. Thank you!
(PS I’ve just made a TV stand from a chest of drawers and the fucshia bedside rug in my daughter’s bedroom is actually a washable bath mat. We’re on one salary, so doing this saves us a lot of money as well as being fun!)
janice|Sharing the Journeys inspiring blog post..Connected and Encouraged
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Such gorgeous images Melissa. I love the first one. Your philosophy has been in the back of my mind the whole time I’ve have been planning my place…. the element of surprise… “what will be the wow factor in this room?”…. it only needs to be something so sweet and simple to get a “wow”… even a cute but unusual arrangement of gorgeous soft toys in a child’s room! A-M xx
a-ms inspiring blog post..Pretty Things
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Adore the bedside chair.
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I love whimsical! I wouldn’t have picked up on the fact that the second photo is of a piano bench…it looks like a table to me.
My bit of whimsy are the pair of wooden skis I have hanging up in my entry way- they’ve got pegs in them and we use it as a coat rack. It may not be the prettiest thing but they work and I had them (I do admit that I need to paint them as they’re bright red and yellow…and don’t go with anything in my house!).
Astrids inspiring blog post..Random Bits
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Wow, pink spoons. That is so creative. It has such power too!! I love it. I’m doing a special feature on my Mom’s house. She is an antique collector with a little vintage. Check it out if you’d like. http://www.qkhunt.blogspot.com. Thanks,
Kasey
kaseys inspiring blog post..Mama’s Got Style!
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I love the bedside chair. I’ve been wanting to do that in my own room for so long, but haven’t yet found the “right” chair.
The pink spoons…not sure. Very cute, in the right house I think. I love whimsy…just not sure about the spoons! Anyway, it certainly is FUN!
kristen@nosmallthings inspiring blog post..Pretty Stories
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The spoon idea… wow! I looked at the photo and said to myself that is pretty…then you said it’s plastic spoons, then I saw it! Too cool!!
Cheles inspiring blog post..Mid-Week Shout Outs
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I love the idea of using a chair as a bedside table. What a great idea! And something I can do – there’s bound to be an extra chair around here somewhere and if not, it’s just an excuse to go hunting at a yardsale!
Kristen @ Beautifully Imperfects inspiring blog post..A Weekend Away
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Out of the box and just my style!
Deidras inspiring blog post..Oh My GOODNESS!
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This is one that I’ve never had any trouble doing. It may be because my decorating style is “Grandmother’s Attic.” What a nice idea for a coffee table. I’m using my grandfather’s toolbox.
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Love the chair and the piano bench. I don’t see me making the spoon mirror, but I could see it in a teen’s room! Your pictures are always captivating…
~Misti
Misti of Studio M Designs inspiring blog post..130-Year-Old Renovation on a Big-Time Budget
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Great ideas for thinking outside the box.
Sarahs inspiring blog post..Design Work
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I never would have thought of using spoons for a mirror frame! Very clever.
songbirdtiffs inspiring blog post..Sneak Peek
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I love seeing the unexpected. Just this weekend I purchased a red Coca Cola crate and put it in my bedroom for my magazines. Great post Melissa.
LeAnns inspiring blog post..Anonymous
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Use a piano bench? And one that has been distressed??
Right up my alley! 
Ang @ The Creative Mamas inspiring blog post..What I Found Wednesdays!
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Great post, Melissa. Thanks for the good ideas.
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I’m all for surprise! I think that’s what makes a home fun! Love that picture of the little highchair-
Thanks for a fun post-
Happy Day
teresas inspiring blog post..I’ve never-
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Never thought about the spoon mirror! It’s kinda funky and pretty!
natalies inspiring blog post..New England Saltbox shows its patriotism
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So adorable!
Karen Bs inspiring blog post..Work
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Fun ideas, Melissa!
I couldn’t use our piano bench though – it gets used too much. But I love that white bench!
Happy WED!
sandys inspiring blog post..$200 Customized Basket GIVEAWAY!
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My son told me the other day that we need to learn to tap dance on the box. I couldn’t agree more. I love love love your blog!
kats inspiring blog post..The Other side
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That’s most certainly the moral of to my own decorating story if you browse around… most recently being, a horsegate for a coatrack. How about an old sign for a headboard? I don’t think there’s too much normalicy in my house. LOL!
I LOVE the first photo and saw it elsewhere. I’m looking for a highchair now.
Great post! And I so agree with you! Isn’t it much cooler to create something totally uniquely yours only?
Donna
Donna at Funky Junk Interiorss inspiring blog post..The front entry – Part 2 – Horse gate for coats
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The pink spoons are fabulous!
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Never would have thought of spoons-what a great way to add a pop of color!
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That spoon mirror is so fun!
living with lindsays inspiring blog post..Pottery Barn Style on a Grocery Store Budget
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the spoon idea is brilliant
Hena Tayebs inspiring blog post..Firey Tree
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So resourceful! Such practical (yet unexpected) solutions yield such delicious magic. I’ve been wondering what to do with my mother’s beautiful wooden highchair — because my hubby is tired of it in his storage room, collecting dust. (My mom is 75 so it’s a precious antique — and while my son used it as a baby, he outgrew it a couple of years ago.) Now I’m thinking the tray could be flipped behind and it serve as a great side table. At the risk of sounding like a skippy record, THANKS, as always!
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I loved the post today and I LOVE your blog. I feel really inspired whenever I check it. Thank you so much!
Jocelyn Stotts inspiring blog post..J+K+8
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Since we have just finished painting and buying our “base” furniture for each room… it has become time to decorate. I plan to do it slowly- so the rooms don’t feel like collections but aquired. And now I will totally try to add one element of surprise to every room. I’m excited- it sounds fun. And I like the examples you gave…
ginas inspiring blog post..Enter to win a $500.00 Visa gift card from ecostore USA
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Hello Melissa – I love these great ideas! I am one who enjoys using things in unconventional ways in a room. Love surprises!
Blessings,
Marie
Maries inspiring blog post..atlanta bartlett
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You’re absolutely right! We bring pizzazz to our house when we step out of our comfort zone and do something like this. I love it!
Brenda
Brenda Kulas inspiring blog post..Outdoor Wednesday June 24
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My husband has been using a chair as a side table in our gathering room.
Reading your post today gives me the inspiration to leave the chair right where it is.
Ronas inspiring blog post..Do You Have a TV in Your Bedroom? Join In The Conversation at Lucy’s Life
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Those are great pics, but the spoon mirror made me smile! Love it!
Heathahlees inspiring blog post..A Busy Week
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Simply Intense.. n ecclectic
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Georgeous!! I believe in minimalistic and the uncluttered white space in everything, from blog designs to interior designs!!
Carey Suantes inspiring blog post..Every Blogger Needs a Sexy (Sleeping) Partner
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Oh, how I love to come here to get inspiration. You do such a great job!!
Mrs. Trixis inspiring blog post..Whew…. It has been a while!
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I absolutely love the pink plastic spoons as frame. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.
Imelda Phillipss inspiring blog post..It’s Official
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How awesome! I love the ideas you are coming up with! Keep it up girlfriend!
lylah ledners inspiring blog post..Dinner Tonight: Hot & Sour Cabbage Soup
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Oh…figured out about my photo
lylah ledners inspiring blog post..Dinner Tonight: Hot & Sour Cabbage Soup
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I like the little chair but don’t think I could pull of the spoon frame in my house. For years I had a old wooden highchair in my dining room with a plant on it. My TV used to be on an old chest. I use my grandmother’s old sewing machine cabinet as a sideboard in my dining room. Makes things a little more interesting.
Carries inspiring blog post..Keeping Cool
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Melissa, this is a good reminder! As much as I love to look at things in magazines and books (and blogs!), I’m always drawn to quirky little things in people’s houses. Your photos here are good displays of how to use something unexpected and have it flow seamlessly into the decor.
Richella @ Imparting Graces inspiring blog post..Surprised by simplicity
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Great ideas! I never thought of doing these things!
Gayle at Mountain Momas inspiring blog post..Portland by Train
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I love the idea of doing something a little different and ‘surprising’… it gives visitors something beautiful to look at and enjoy too! Great photos!
nels inspiring blog post..made it!
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So great. I love a bit of unexpected glory hound of decor pieces now and then – if they keep to the idea. Some get very far left field and make me wonder what happened on that wall, but these are great fun!
The Blushing Hostesss inspiring blog post..Happy Anniversary Old Bay and a giveaway
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I just happen to have some pink plastic spoons form the 99 Cent Store…now I know what I will do with them!
m ^..^
ms inspiring blog post..Just Say No To Glitter!!!
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Love the spoons. I can think of a lot of things to frame with utensils. How fun:-)
Amy @ Living Locurtos inspiring blog post..Mexican Chicken Casserole
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