Mama's Got The Blues

Mother Nature that is…..

One of the easiest ways to accessorize is to add greenery. If live plants are not your forte, artificial plants are an excellent alternative and can be potted to resemble the real thing.

In New York City, certain areas lack an abundance of greenery. To remedy that, I fill my living space with as many live plants as possible. Live plants add warmth to a space as well as aiding in the reduction of pollutants in the air, producing clean oxygen, lowering stress levels, and elevating your mood.

Be sure to leave the roots intact and add some of the plants original soil.

Purchasing plants can be expensive. I occasionally barter with fellow plant lovers or search the grounds of our vacation home for plants to add to my aesthetic. We are extremely fortunate that Mother Nature has filled our property with numerous varieties of plants and foliage. There are also pine cones, stones and shrubbery I often use as decor or in various projects.

I’m often referred to as a “budgeting wizard” for my ability to spot low-cost items for DIY projects. I’m happiest when I can personalize or modify an object. The thrill of a good thrift find fills me with endless possibilities of how I can upcycle the item. When I personalize an item, it serves as a great conversation starter and working on its design is calming to me.

If you aren’t as crafty as you want to be, there is no reason why you can’t still add your own personal personal touch. For instance, you can affix stones or broken ceramic pieces to the outside of a planter. Finish it with paint or leave it unfinished, if that’s your preference. It is easy to shop and purchase a desired item, but having something creative and different from the masses it more interesting.

Have a cracked mirror lying around? In a safe area, (and wearing protective eyewear and gloves), break the remaining portion of the mirror, situate pieces in a design that pleases you, attach the pieces using the appropriate glue for mirrors, seal the finished product and you have a glamorous addition to your space, complete with bragging rights!

Unfinished, low cost planters.

A planter can be transformed into a show stopper. Rather than spending money on purchasing accessories to go with my new, blue accent wall color, I decided to paint my current accessories, including planters, to infuse the color blue throughout my space.

Lining the bottom of the planters with Styrofoam saved from delivery packaging, using Mother Nature’s gift of lush greenery found on our property to fill them and adorning the top of the soil with rocks that I gathered from walks on the beach, excitedly, this project cost very little.

The roots should not sit directly on the bottom of the planter.

The vibrant blue featured is rich, glossy and bold. This color definitely makes a statement and is not for the timid. I’m excited to let this be my accent color of 2019. Should I desire a new color in 2020, paint is an easy fix..

Navy blue spray paint was used to obtain this glossy finish.

Go ahead, dare to be different. Let Mother Nature in and work with her to personalize your space. Make your space exciting, cozy and yours.