With all the activity surrounding my kids’ summer break and a time-consuming DIY project happening in the backyard (more on that soon!), I got a little behind in decorating my summer mantel and adding summer decor touches to the living room.  I finally made it happen on a rainy day last week and am so pleased to have my living room looking ready for the season!  

This year’s summer mantel incorporates element you saw in last year’s summer mantel as well as this year’s spring mantel.  It’s probably a big “no no” for bloggers to re-use decor, but I believe in being thrifty and re-using things where you can!  

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Everything I used on my summer mantel was what I already had.  I filled this adorable yellow pitcher with flowering branches from my side yard, and stacked it on top of books I wrapped with leftover fabric.  I’ve had this little ceramic bird for ages!

On the opposite side of the mantel, I used the same botanical print from last year and dressed it up with a REAL birds nest I found abandoned in our backyard!  (I can hear my mother’s voice in my head: “DON’T touch that!!!  You don’t know what kind of diseases are in that!”)

It looks pretty cute sitting on top of the dollar spot cupcake stand.  

Bridging the gap between the two sides of the mantel are the same faux aged flower pots you saw in the spring.  (Check out this post to see a video on how to instantly age terracotta pots!)  

I think it all comes together in a pretty and simple summer mantel display!  

In addition to decorating the mantel for summer, I also added some more summery touches to the living room with new pillow covers and a new tray for the coffee table.  

This tray was a $2 find at Marshalls that I spray painted with a doily on top for some extra pattern.

And the pillow covers are from my new FAVORITE home decor source, H&M.  I got basically all new pillows in my living room for under $12 a piece (some were under $6 a piece)!  If you haven’t checked out H&M’s home department yet, do it!  They have really good prices and the quality of the pillow covers I bought is excellent!

This muted buffalo check pillow cover on the side chair was an Amazon find.

I love the way these simple, summery touches have made my living room look this season.  Pillow covers and blossoming branches are my new BFFs (Jasper’s too.  See him snuggled up on that chair in the corner?).

-Bre

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In order to brighten up our foyer and stairwell, we recently repainted it Seapearl by Benjamin Moore.  While we love the clean and updated look of it, parts were looking a little stark for our taste.  To add some color, I really wanted to use removable wallpaper on one wall at the top of the stairs, but when I began to understand how big of a pain it would be to wallpaper around the windows, I nixed that plan and turned to individual wall decals instead.  And friends, they’re amazing!  I cannot wait to show you how to apply wall decals for a faux wallpaper look – you’re going to love it!

But first . . . I have to show you what the accent wall looked like after its paint job but before it got the faux wallpaper treatment.  SO plain, and I was so over that metal wall decor over the window.

Thank you to Kenna Sato Designs for providing the wall decals you see in this post.  The project and opinion are my own.  Also, this post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

After surfing around Etsy one night, I fell in love with the adorable, unique, and custom wall decals from Kenna Sato Designs.  It hit me that these decals would be the perfect solution for my boring wall!  I narrowed it down to about five patterns, and then settled on the Autumn Leaf Wall Decals in Matte Gold.  I figured that these decals would be the perfect ones for my house – whimsical but not too over the top.

I got five sets of decals for my wall, and they arrived in large sheets.  

I cut them apart, grabbed my laser level (you DEFINITELY want a laser level for a project like this!), tape measure, and a pencil, and got to work!  I started right above the window and placed my first leaf decal in the center of the wall.  I then placed leaves along my laser level line eight inches apart – alternating their direction up and down.

After I finished the first row, I moved three inches down and started the next row.  I continued the same process across, and then the same process down.  After I finished the bottom row, I moved up to the top (the hardest part of the job – I saved the worst for last – ha!).

To see exactly how easy it was to apply the wall decals to my accent wall, watch this video!  I think it’s easier to understand than through written text and photos!

I spread out my wall decal application for a few days so that I could take my time and minimize mistakes.  I think that made a big difference in the quality of my work and led to an awesome finished product!

So . . . are you ready to see how my wall decals have made a huge difference in the look of my stairwell?  I think they definitely look like wallpaper!  

These gorgeous leaf decals paired with my new DIY Wall Art and Wall Art Hangers and wicker elephant planter have made this space one of my favorites in my home!  I keep stopping at the top of the stairs and admiring it.

Jasper loves it.  

And shockingly, my husband loves it, too!  I did not see that coming.  

I am beyond thrilled with how these wall decals transformed the look of my stairwell!  This accent wall has so much personality now and it makes me so happy!  If you have any bare walls that need a quick pick me up that requires no commitment (seriously – you just peel off the decals when you tire of them, and they won’t damage your paint!), I would one-hundred-percent recommend Kenna Sato Designs’ wall decals to you!  Check out her Etsy shop, and visit her on Instagram and Facebook, and get the wallpaper look with wall decals!  Plus, you can save 10% off any purchase in her store through May 31, 2018 with code ABITENOFF!

In the meantime, I will just be admiring my pretty faux wallpaper accent wall.  

Let me know what you think of my faux wallpaper accent wall in the comments below.  I love to hear from you!

-Bre

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