Average But Inspired

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A BIG Basement Living Room Makeover

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.  All opinions are mine alone.  #ICantEven #BigLots #CollectiveBias.

Almost two years ago, we finished our basement – adding, among other things, a room that functions as a living room, office, and guest suite.  Having spent a lot of money to actually finish the space, there wasn’t anything left over to decorate it immediately.  With friends and relatives visiting soon, the time had come to make this space bright and stylish as well as functional.  The makeover I gave this basement living room with beautiful home decor products I purchased at Big Lots has more than accomplished that!  Make your small space work for you! A small basement got a BIG makeover and now functions as a beautiful living room, office, and guest suite! #ad

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Over Thirty Fillable Lamp Ideas

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Have you noticed that glass fillable lamps are popping up all over the place?  (No?  Well, humor me and pretend that you know they’re super popular again.  Thanks.)  It’s no wonder, because these empty glass lamps are a totally blank canvas that can be personalized to fit any type of decor, room, season, you name it!

I picked one up at Target for my little guy’s Vintage Aviation Bedroom, and I gave it a super fun look that is perfect for him!  Of course I’m going to show you all the details on his airplane-filled lamp, but since it’s unlikely that many of you will want to replicate that particular lamp (I have a hunch that most of you are not three-year-old boys), I’ve also given you a list of THIRTY fillable lamp ideas that are more likely to suit your own tastes!  

If you're wondering what to put in a fillable lamp, you need to read this post! It has 30 creative fillable lamp ideas that you don't want to miss! Glass lamp fillers can add such personality to a space, and this post is full of great suggestions.

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Flying Airplane Fillable Lamp Project

So before we get to ideas of what to put in a fillable lamp, let me show you the one I did for my son’s room.  For this lamp I used some tiny metal airplanes from Dollar Tree, tiny clear 3M Command Hooks, clear packing tape, and Stretch Magic (clear string that’s used for jewelry projects).  Oh, and of course my fillable lamp base.Stumped on what to put inside your fillable lamp? There are THIRTY awesome ideas in this post, including a tutorial on how to make a flying airplane fillable lamp!

All I did was attach the clear Command Hooks to the inside top of the lamp, tie the clear string around the planes, and then attach them to the hooks. I used the clear packing tape to space the planes out a bit more by taping the string (which was already through the hooks) to points further out on the inside top of the lamp. Stumped on what to put inside your fillable lamp? There are THIRTY awesome ideas in this post, including a tutorial on how to make a flying airplane fillable lamp!
Once everything was in place, I screwed the top back on and added the lampshade, which I stamped with acrylic paint and a rubber stamp!  (Side note: I got the lampshade at Goodwill for $1.99.  It was unopened and still in its original packaging!)Stumped on what to put inside your fillable lamp? There are THIRTY awesome ideas in this post, including a tutorial on how to make a flying airplane fillable lamp!
Stumped on what to put inside your fillable lamp? There are THIRTY awesome ideas in this post, including a tutorial on how to make a flying airplane fillable lamp!
Stumped on what to put inside your fillable lamp? There are THIRTY awesome ideas in this post, including a tutorial on how to make a flying airplane fillable lamp!
Stumped on what to put inside your fillable lamp? There are THIRTY awesome ideas in this post, including a tutorial on how to make a flying airplane fillable lamp!
I think it’s cute how hanging the airplanes makes them look like they’re flying in there!  Plus, when my son gets tired of the airplane theme for his room, they’re easy to switch out for something else.

Other Glass Lamp Filler Ideas

Alright, well in case you’re thinking of adding a fillable lamp to your own decor and don’t want to take the flying airplane route, here’s a list of thirty fillable lamp ideas to get you from empty to amazing in no time!

Natural Jar Lamp Filler Items

1.  Rocks or pebbles

2.  Seashells

3.  Greenery (like ferns or palm fronds)

4.  Moss

5.  Decorative rattan balls

6.  Twigs from the yard

7.  Wood slices

8.  Driftwood

9.  Pinecones

10.  Acorns

11.  Faux fruit

Glass Lamp Fillers for Kids

12.  Legos

13.  Wooden alphabet blocks 

14.  Matchbox cars

15.  Barbie shoes

16.  Crayons or markers

Fill Jar Lamps with Personal Items or Mementoes

17.  Advice cards from a wedding guest book

18.  Postcards from places you’ve visited

19.  Concert tickets

20.  Antique costume jewelry

21.  Newborn mementos (new baby hat, onesie, pacifier, first footprint card)

Random and Fun Glass Jar Lamp Fillers

22.  GLITTER (or maybe just confetti)

23.  Polaroid pictures

24.  Ornaments (at Christmas)

25.  Wine corks

26.  Spare change

27.  Guitar picks

28.  Marbles

29.  PomPoms

30.  Scrapbook paper or fabric (wrapped around the inside)

Wow – that is a lot of stuff that would make for a fillable lamp with personality!  The possibilities are really endless!  What would you add to this list?

– Bre

How to Prevent Wire Baskets From Scratching Your Surfaces

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This tutorial will show you how to prevent wire baskets from scratching your surfaces. It’s super easy and affordable!

Wire baskets are EVERYWHERE! Step into any store that sells home decor or crafting items and you’re bound to find a million wire baskets that you love.

It makes sense because these fabulously utilitarian objects look just a little bit prettier with their interesting metal finishes and/or lovely liners. Plus, they work with just about any style of decor.

But you know what – left to their own devices, wire baskets will scratch the h-e-double-hockeysticks out of whatever surface you set them on. I’m talking mean, ugly scratches that will make you want to throw your once beloved baskets out the window. 

But luckily I figured out a SUPER SIMPLE SOLUTION to this problem, so I had to share my method of how to prevent wire baskets from scratching your surfaces.  

Wire baskets are pretty and trendy, but you'll hate them when they scratch your furniture or wood floors! This super easy tutorial will show you exactly how to prevent wire baskets from scratching your surfaces. You'll be so glad you pinned this!


 So back when I did my son’s Vintage Aviation Room Makeover, I purchased some cute wire baskets from Homegoods to use in his newly-painted bookshelf.

Wire baskets are pretty and trendy, but you'll hate them when they scratch your furniture or wood floors! This super easy tutorial will show you exactly how to prevent wire baskets from scratching your surfaces. You'll be so glad you pinned this!


They looked super cool, and then I realized that they were totally scratching the shelves that I’d JUST painted. To say I was annoyed is an understatement. I contemplated getting rid of them, but then I decided to see if I could fix it.  And I did!

Supplies Needed to Prevent Wire Baskets from Scratching Surfaces

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

To keep your wire baskets from scratching your furniture or floors, here’s what you need:

How to Keep Wire Baskets from Scratching Surfaces

First up, cut the felt to be slightly larger than the bottom of the wire basket.

Next, thread the needle with a long piece of yarn, and knot the end of the yarn.  

Start at one end of the basket and weave your way through the felt and the bars in the bottom of the wire basket.  

Wire baskets are pretty and trendy, but you'll hate them when they scratch your furniture or wood floors! This super easy tutorial will show you exactly how to prevent wire baskets from scratching your surfaces. You'll be so glad you pinned this!

Make your way around the entire basket. Once you’ve gotten back to your starting point, remove the needle and tie off the other end of the yarn. Trim any excess yarn.

Wire baskets are pretty and trendy, but you'll hate them when they scratch your furniture or wood floors! This super easy tutorial will show you exactly how to prevent wire baskets from scratching your surfaces. You'll be so glad you pinned this!

Once you’ve finished, the bottom of the basket will look like this:

Wire baskets are pretty and trendy, but you'll hate them when they scratch your furniture or wood floors! This super easy tutorial will show you exactly how to prevent wire baskets from scratching your surfaces. You'll be so glad you pinned this!

To be honest, it doesn’t look great.

But once the basket’s actually in use and filled with all-the-things, you’ll never even notice the felt on the bottom (or any scratches on your furniture)! 

Wire baskets are pretty and trendy, but you'll hate them when they scratch your furniture or wood floors! This super easy tutorial will show you exactly how to prevent wire baskets from scratching your surfaces. You'll be so glad you pinned this!

This is especially true if the felt color matches or coordinates with the surface on which you’re placing the wire basket.

Wire baskets are pretty and trendy, but you'll hate them when they scratch your furniture or wood floors! This super easy tutorial will show you exactly how to prevent wire baskets from scratching your surfaces. You'll be so glad you pinned this!

Trust me, if you don’t do anything to prevent wire baskets from scratching your surfaces, you will regret ever having purchased them for your home.

This simple fix makes all the difference and will last SO much longer than stick-on furniture pads!

Vintage Airplane Bedroom Reveal

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You know how good it feels to finish something you’ve been working on (edit: dragging your heels on) forever?  Like you’re on cloud nine, right?  I am TOTALLY up there right now because I finally finished (like yesterday – no joke), my son’s nursery to big boy room makeover, and I am ecstatic to finally be showing you his vintage airplane bedroom reveal!  This vintage airplane bedroom is filled with easy and budget-friendly DIY details that will grow with the little boy who lives here!

It was a total budget re-do and it is chock FULL of DIY projects that I’ll be spilling the details on over the next few weeks.  It’s also full of hand-me-downs and thrift shop finds, but that adds to the vintage look of it all!   [Read more…] about Vintage Airplane Bedroom Reveal

15 Fresh DIY Spring Decor Ideas

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With the cold and gloom of winter melting away, thoughts are turning to sunnier days and springtime inspiration. The beginning of a new season is a perfect time to refresh your home decor, and the DIY spring decor ideas in this post will leave you inspired to do just that!

Think fresh flowers, birds, table decorations, spring blossoms, front door decor, and more!

And don’t worry: the spring decorating ideas in this post are surprisingly easy. They’re also affordable, so you won’t break the bank when you refresh your space for the season.

Welcome spring to your home with fifteen fresh DIY spring decor ideas! These spring decorating DIYs cover every inch of your home: spring porch, spring living room, and more!

When should I start decorating for spring?

Who cares what “they” say: I say you should start decorating for spring as early as March! (Of course you can start planning your decor earlier than that!)

In many places, March is when the flowers start blooming and the birds start singing. Of course that is NOT the case in Wisconsin where I live, but I choose to follow what’s happening down south when it comes to spring decorations.

Consider it wishful thinking. Maybe if I put out my spring decor, spring will get here early! (Who needs Punxsutawney Phil and his shadow, or lack thereof, anyway?)

How do you decorate for spring on a budget?

As I mentioned earlier, the DIY spring decorations in this post are all budget-friendly, so they’re a great place to start!

And, as a general rule of thumb, here are three ways to decorate for spring on a budget.

First, repurpose things you already have. Use an old watering can as a vase or tie flowers around the base of old candlesticks.

Next, incorporate natural elements you find in the yard (such as flowers and branches), into your space. Fresh flowers and plants, as well as other natural items, instantly add life to any space!

Finally, shopping at Dollar Tree or the thrift store are great ways to decorate for spring on a budget. (You may find my posts on The Best Craft Supplies to Buy at Dollar Tree and Eight Home Decor Essentials to Buy at the Thrift Store helpful!)

15 Spring Decorating Ideas to DIY

Now let’s get to it! Here are fifteen of my favorite spring decorations DIYs that I know you’re going to love!

15 DIY Spring Decor Ideas

Want to refresh your home for the new spring season? These fifteen DIY spring decorating ideas are FRESH and BEAUTIFUL. Try one of them to welcome spring into your house.

Well, I’m sorry, but I know these spring DIYs will have you running out to the craft store and garden center IMMEDIATELY! Comment below with which one is your favorite!