Home Life.

Decorating a house can feel like a chore sometimes + talk about an extreme test of patience! Agreed? The rug is on back order for a month? This table wasn't what I had in mind/this lamp is smaller than I measured/these drapes don't fit the vibe. So many decisions to be made...so many returns to add to the errand list... Isn't it worth every bit of the struggle, though? It truly is the most rewarding thing when you house starts coming together, especially when it begins to feel like a home.What I love about our house is it represents who we are as a couple – it’s unique to us. Jase and I have really enjoyed creating our home together and making it our own. Whether it’s the tufted sofa I bought for my first apartment or something from Jason’s childhood, we’ve been blending meaningful pieces from our lives before we met, and it's so fun and special!We love to shop together and get ideas for our new home. My mom turned me on to HomeGoods years ago and I’ve loved it ever since! We always find things that make our home feel so us – whether it is a unique piece or décor that complements our different styles. I love when you find a gem of a place with the perfect accessories, lamps (my favorite place to find them!), and kitchen pieces. Keep scrolling to see a few of our favorite spaces + I thought I would share a few fun tips I have incorporated into our design!my office.Tufted furniture makes any seating area comfortable and inviting, especially when you add a couple of over-sized throw pillows. I spend a lot of time blogging in my office, and Jason hangs out with me on the couch. When you’re moving in together for the first time, you want to be able to include pieces that are stylish without being overly feminine. I’ve had this couch for a few years – I actually had it made when I was living in my first apartment.  Jason and I have similar tastes and both love neutral tones. This couch ended up being a perfect fit for our new home, which I’m thrilled about because it reminds me of all the amazing times I had in that apartment!We love to incorporate little reminders of our lives together.  We love photography so there are photos all around our home – of our wedding, vacations with our families and our honeymoon. I found this perfect frame for one of our favorite wedding photos, which is great to have in the office so I can see it every day.I’ve had this fur rug for years and wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep it in our new home. When I found this giant, square shag rug at HomeGoods my first thought was that it would be perfect for layering – my number one favorite trend right now – and it makes my old fur rug just that much cuter!the dining roomIt’s important to have at least one room where you spend time together and enjoy each other, whether it’s just the two of us or a group of friends. For us, this place is the dining room because Jason and I are always having friends over, and I love cooking! I stick to neutral tones to complement the room’s aesthetic, but I love mixing it up when it comes to textures. Layer plates with different shades, accents and prints… not every setting has to look the same. Don’t be afraid to mix glassware of different heights and sizes – these hobnail glasses from HomeGoods are my favorite, I’m obsessed!Florals are a must for every area of the house, especially in the dining room. Always have a large vase available for when you’re having guests over – a massive arrangement in a beautiful vase is an easy way to make a statement. Bouquets like these hydrangeas (one of my favorite flowers!) instantly brighten up the room… but always make sure to buy extra so it looks fresh and full!We’ve blended our lives together (along with all our stuff!) and a bar cart is a fun, chic way to display some of our favorite things. This etched crystal decanter was a gift from our wedding, and Jason filled it with 1942 Tequila – his absolute favorite!the backyard and the fire pit.The fire pit area is really an extension of our home. It’s super important that your guests are comfortable, so we’ve outfitted the area with tons of plush pillows and soft throws. I recently bought a big basket at HomeGoods that I’ve filled up, so there is always extra!Poufs serve as great multifunctional piece because they are so portable. We found these cute chevron print ones for $39.99 a piece at HomeGoods. We tend to keep these inside the house, but they’re so light that we can easily tote them outside when we have company – it’s such a simple way to add more seating!Jason and I love the feel of soft, natural lighting and outdoor lanterns like these are the perfect way to bring in that romantic touch. Lanterns can get pretty expensive, so we go to HomeGoods to buy ones like these rugged teak lanterns. And don’t worry about lining them up perfectly, part of the fun is mixing and matching them around the yard.