Melanie Laidlaw
High Park Area Toronto, ON, Canada

Spring has finally arrived and it's time to start enjoying your outdoor space! Whatever the size, the key to enjoyment is making it personalized to your wants. The first thing you need to do is decide the use of the space; do you want a lounge? a dining area? For my balcony, I wanted a place to relax and unwind at the end of the day. I placed my furniture to face the view I wanted myself as well as my guests to experience. To soften the concrete and define the space, I adde...d an outdoor rug. Cushions are always a must for decoration and comfort. I kept to a minimal colour scheme of cream, black and grey. The dog house is for our Rosie, who loves to hang out in the grass and watch people pass by. I used a lot of artificial plants because they're very low maintenance. Make sure you enjoy your space and maximize your time spent outside! See more

Spring has finally arrived and it's time to start enjoying your outdoor space! Whatever the size, the key to enjoyment is making it personalized to your wants. The first thing you need to do is decide the use of the space; do you want a lounge? a dining area? For my balcony, I wanted a place to relax and unwind at the end of the day. I placed my furniture to face the view I wanted myself as well as my guests to experience. To soften the concrete and define the space, I adde...d an outdoor rug. Cushions are always a must for decoration and comfort. I kept to a minimal colour scheme of cream, black and grey. The dog house is for our Rosie, who loves to hang out in the grass and watch people pass by. I used a lot of artificial plants because they're very low maintenance. Make sure you enjoy your space and maximize your time spent outside! See more

Do you decorate for Easter?

https://www.pinterest.ca/melaniejlaidlaw/easter-spring/

Four ways to keep your house tidy: 1. Schedule a time each day to clear surfaces and floors in your home 2. Always have a donation bin ready for your unwanted items 3. Use your weekends wisely. Plan for the upcoming week, clear out & stock your fridge, wash your bedding and do a more thorough clean. 4. Be wary of sales - clutter often comes with a reduced price tag!

I made a Pinterest board all about organization. Check it out! https://pin.it/fwmccwkgt3ryox

https://melanielaidlaw.ca//5-tips-to-declutter-your-bedro/

Do you decorate for Valentines Day?

Need ideas for Valentines Day decorations? I wrote a blog all about simple and easy ways to do just that. Check it out! https://melanielaidlaw.ca//easy-ways-to-decorate-for-vale/

I put together a Pinterest board full of ideas for Valentines Day decorations. Check it out! https://www.pinterest.ca/melaniejlaidlaw/heart-day-decor/

One of my favourite Christmas photos, back in 2016! Merry Christmas everyone!

Are you hosting or attending a new year’s party this year?

https://melanielaidlaw.ca///18/looking-ahead-to-new-years/

Do you decorate your whole house for Christmas or just the room the tree is in?

https://melanielaidlaw.ca//my-tips-for-indoor-christmas-d/

What a difference a few decorations can make! Even on a balcony. The first thing I did was add some greenery, as my planter had nothing in it and I needed a good base. After that, I added some woodland themed decorations and a sign that reads "Reindeer parking only". Around the bottom, I tied some tinsel with jingle bells to complete the look. So simple, but looks great!

Do you put up outdoor decorations for Christmas?

https://melanielaidlaw.ca//my-ideas-for-outdoor-christmas/

Looking for a unique way to decorate your Christmas tree? Here are three of my favourite! 1. Pastel 2. Frosted 3. Monochrome

If you're in need of some inspiration for decorating your Christmas tree, I put together a Pinterest board with some of my favourite ideas. Make sure you check it out! https://pin.it/4252fho3nzhaos

https://melanielaidlaw.ca//six-steps-to-creating-the-perf/

Do you currently have any ongoing home design projects you’re trying to complete before the holidays?

https://melanielaidlaw.ca/?p=966

Which 2018 Christmas trend is your favourite?

Looking to incorporate this year's holiday decor trends in your house? Make sure you read my latest blog post! https://melanielaidlaw.ca/20//13/christmas-trends-of-2018/

My Top 3 Kitchen Trends of 2018: 1: High Contrast Marble. Its dramatic and makes a statement, perfect for your kitchen counters. 2: Blue/Green Cabinetry. Can be used as the main colour or mixed with other colours/complimenting wood stains. 3. Rustic & Modern Combo. Perfectly complimenting styles for a unique look in your kitchen.

Which kitchen trend do you prefer?

Now that Halloween is officially over, it's time to start thinking about taking those decorations down. I know, it can be a daunting task, but I have come up with a few tips on how to make this process as easy as possible. Since the process of unpacking and packing decorations is an annual process, you might as well make sure you're doing it right. My #1 Tip: Colour coordinated storage containers. Use correlating colours for each holiday. This will make it easy to find when you go to decorate next year! Another great tip is to clean before you pack up your decorations. This mostly applies to outdoor decorations, especially when the fall season is rainy. Decorations get dirty and it will make next years decorating much more enjoyable if everything is nice and clean. It's an easy thing to do but is often overlooked.

Happy Halloween!

I love looking back on pictures from Halloween’s of the past. Here’s one of my favourite pictures of my kids from when they were younger!

Have you decorated yet for Halloween?

I love finding new ways to decorate for Halloween. I compiled a list of some of my favourites from this year on my blog. Make sure to check it out! https://melanielaidlaw.ca//easy-and-fun-decoration-ideas-/

Before & After: My Kitchen (Halloween Edition) It is so easy to transform a space. I added a dark tablecloth, changed the centrepiece, and swapped out the other decorations on the table. It doesn’t have to be expensive either! The dollar store has some great finds, like the mason jars and black flowers. Decorating doesn’t have to be hard!

I put together a Pinterest board all about Halloween decorations. If you're in need of some inspiration, please feel free to check it out! https://www.pinterest.ca/melaniejlaidlaw/halloween-fun/

Do you decorate in the inside of your house for Halloween?

If you’re in need of inspiration for indoor Halloween decorations, make sure to check out my latest blog post! https://melanielaidlaw.ca//tips-for-decorating-the-inside/

Do you decorate the outside of your house for Halloween?

This weeks blog post is all about inspiration for outdoor Halloween decorations. Make sure you check it out! https://melanielaidlaw.ca//decorating-your-outdoor-space-/

As we prepare to celebrate with family and friends this weekend, I thought I would share a list of things I am thankful for. 1 - My 3 amazing children. 2 - My husband. 3 - Our fluffy dog, Rosie. 4 - My health. ... 5 - My loyal friends. 6 - My great parents & sister. 7 - Living in Canada. 8 - My mother-in-law. 9 - My hair I would love to hear from you, feel free to share what you're thankful for in the comments.

Heres a fun idea for Thanksgiving weekend: as guests arrive for Thanksgiving, have them write what they are thankful for on a paper leaf and pin it up. You can use any old frame with either cork or a foam core and cut paper leaves from textured scrapbook paper. It's simple and easy but is a great way to create memories. Make sure you check out the contest I'm holding if you haven't already. I'm giving away a $50 gift card. https://www.facebook.com/138398793297180/posts/533640140439708/

Do you celebrate thanksgiving on Sunday or Monday?

Small things can make a huge difference. I wanted to transition my dining room from summer to fall and I was able to do this in a few simple ways. One of the most noticeable changes is what is on the dining room table. I changed out the floral centrepiece for one that was more earthy and fall toned. I did the same for the plates, they were all bright and white so i switched them out with plates that are in the shape of leaves. The last thing i changed on the table was the drink ware. I swapped out the clear glass for a teapot that fits the theme. Last but not least, I took the feather wreath hanging in the window and replaced it with one that has autumn leaves. Super simple but drastically changes the feel of the room.

Homesense is a great place to shop for new fall pieces. I want to give 1 lucky person a $50 gift card to Homesense so they can incorporate some of the fall trends into their home. Rules: 1. Like and Share this post 2. Like this Facebook Page (Melanie Laidlaw) It's that easy! Make sure to edit your Facebook security settings so that I can see you've shared the post, otherwise I won't be able to tell if you've followed all the steps. ... Contest closes at 11:59 pm on October 11th and the winner will be announced on October 12th. Good luck everyone! See more

Which 2018 fall trend are you more likely to incorporate into your home?

If you want to know all about how to incorporate the trends of 2018 into your home, make sure to read this weeks blog post! https://melanielaidlaw.ca/2018/09/25/fall-trends-of-2018/