Refreshing the Guest Room: A Search for the Perfect Lamp

A New Home for a Lamp

When I started to refresh the pretty guest room recently, I decided the lamp on my night stand would be much better suited for the night table in this guest room, so I moved it there.

The Quest for the Perfect Lamp

Doing this made my search for a new smaller lamp for my night table intensify. Most of the lamps I find at HomeGoods, Walmart, Target, and online are too large, small, more rustic or modern than I want.

Conclusion

The search for the perfect lamp continues, and I’m still on the lookout for a lamp that fits the bill. If you have any recommendations, I’d love to hear them!

I can help you with that!

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Melbourne’s Top 6 Design Trends in 2025 and Beyond

Melburnians are renowned for being style-savvy, and this is especially evident in the design and décor they choose for their homes. According to Robert Nguyen, Lead Designer at Boutique Homes, "everyone seeks good design in all things they use and purchase, and a home is, of course, no exception—it’s probably where it matters the most." As the city’s design scene continues to evolve, here are six trends to watch and be inspired by:

1. Multifunctional Spaces

Traditionally, Australian homes tended towards designated rooms for each activity. However, as city homes shrink and housing costs rise, maximising living space is key. Modern homeowners are embracing spaces where the family can be together. "Designing flexibility into homes allows them to adapt seamlessly to changing family needs, avoiding the costly hassle of relocating," Nguyen notes. Small changes like installing sliding doors can transform living areas.

2. Indoor-Outdoor Living

Seamless indoor-outdoor living is cherished by Melbourne buyers, with homes making the most of the Aussie climate attracting higher prices. Modern designs enhance this connection through features like living areas around open courtyards and double-height spaces with large windows. "Courtyard floorplans like our Portofino range really enhance this by placing all the living areas around the open courtyard to foster strong indoor-outdoor connections and lines of sight," Nguyen says.

3. Bolder Colours

While neutrals remain staples, Kat Moore, lead designer at Boutique Homes, sees Melbourne buyers embracing bolder hues in 2025 and beyond. Greens and blues lead the charge, with vibrant reds and rich browns gaining popularity. Cherry, in particular, stands out. "It’s set to make waves in home décor and beyond, indicative of a broader lifestyle trend," Moore notes.

4. Vintage and Retro Influences

While design often looks to the future, Moore notes a strong interest in past influences, particularly mid-century modern styles that mix materials with functionality. "Brown is prominent in this trend, named Mocha Colour of the Year 2025 by Pantone," she mentions. Moore suggests subtle ways to incorporate this trend, including using vintage materials and upcycling decor with personal significance.

5. Minimalism

Minimalist buyers seek simple, organized spaces for their clean aesthetic. In Melbourne, this trend embraces serene, functional living areas with stylish simplicity and urban sophistication. "Moore cites features like closed-door storage and monochromatic schemes that create focal points while fostering calm.

6. Artisanal and Handcrafted Elements

Counter to minimalism, many stylish Melbourne homes are embracing unique, handcrafted items and bespoke furniture to infuse personal flair and self-expression into their surroundings. Moore highlights elements such as "feature-wall tiles with undulating edges, surfaces with a chalky texture, and slight colour inconsistencies that give a handmade feel" as emerging styles. Homes with character and texture are being embraced by buyers.

In conclusion, Melbourne’s design scene is poised for a thrilling future, with bold colours, vintage influences, and artisanal touches set to make a mark. As Nguyen notes, "play with scale. There are no rules here—it’s like everything has a story. Have fun!" For those seeking inspiration, these six trends offer a starting point for creating a home that’s as unique as it is stylish.

It’s no secret that people tend to put bedroom decorating on a back burner. It seems like the first area of your home you decorate is always the most public. I think we should all remember that home decorating is about creating a home for you and the ones you love, and making a wonderful refuge with DIY bedroom decor ideas is a must! You can decorate (even on a budget) with a little creativity and elbow grease. Here are The Budget Decorator’s top tips for bedroom ideas on any budget!

Bedroom Ideas

First Things First

• Get rid of all clutter! The bedroom is supposed to be a restful place, and how can any of us rest with a week’s worth of laundry piled on the dresser, or all those things you dump in the bedroom because you need to speed clean, and you know you can close the bedroom door? Spend one afternoon and dive in, or split it up into several afternoons and do one area at a time. Find a place for everything, and put everything in its place!

• Good storage for the bedroom doesn’t have to be expensive. If you have good bed frames, under bed storage can include inexpensive plastic tubs, or you can even cut sturdy cardboard boxes down to the proper height so they can slide easily under the bed. Store off-season clothes, craft supplies, even extra linens under the bed. Check out our post on DIY Under Bed Storage you can make!

• Create a theme and color scheme for your bedroom, and let it reflect who you are. You will save a lot of money with your bedroom ideas by having a plan to keep you on track. Name your theme, even if it’s something simple like, “Cool refreshing minimal”. Now whenever you make a purchase or a decision for your bedroom, all you have to do is ask yourself this question… does it fit with my theme? If the answer isn’t clear, don’t waste your money!

DIY Bedroom Decor

Master Bedroom Ideas

We suggest if you haven’t started decorating your master bedroom yet, start now! It should be a private, restful space for you to recharge and escape the world. These master bedroom ideas can be done on a budget, have tutorials for DIY bedroom decor, and are super easy to start implementing. So do it!

This DIY board and batten wall transformed this master bedroom into something really special! ‘Angela Rose’ walks you through this project step by step, and even shares the paint color they used. We also love the simple wood art above the bed. So simple, yet has such impact!

Small Bedroom Decorating

If you have a small bedroom, decorating it might seem like an afterthought. We tend to worry so much about storage, we forget to make it pretty too! These small bedroom decor ideas will help you make even the tiniest space a real oasis.

Medina at ‘Grillo Designs’ took a tiny master bedroom in a rental, and turned it into a gorgeous space. They even carved out a tiny office space! Tons of simple bedroom ideas here and a couple cool tutorials as well. We love the way they hung their gallery wall asymmetrically… it looks so much more interesting. They even made the old closet pretty!

Farmhouse Bedroom Decor

If you love rustic, you will love a farmhouse bedroom! Find inspiration and easy projects with this farmhouse bedroom makeover!

Ok. This bed? That ceiling? Go right on over to ‘The DIY Mommy’ and find out all her bedroom ideas! (And, this farmhouse bedroom decor was done on a budget!)

Cheap Bedroom Decor DIY

Finally, if you are really watching your pennies and dimes, you want to check out these cheap bedroom decorating ideas that don’t look cheap!

‘A Taste of Koko’ shows us how to do this Ikea bedroom makeover, on a budget! This Boho chic DIY bedroom decor is inexpensive, and super dreamy too.

Hopefully you got enough bedroom ideas here to jump on into a DIY project or two! You might also want to take a look at our posts on DIY Bed Frames, Charming but Cheap DIY Bedroom Decorating, and our very own Boho Bedroom Reveal. And for the little ones, also check out DIY Bunk Beds over at OhMeOhMy!

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There is no spot in our house that is less organized than our closet. It doesn’t seem to matter if you have a walk-in closet space or a tiny little builder closet, you never have enough space for your pretty purses and your favorite pair of pumps, right? And is there anything wrong with wanting it to look lovely, while you are at it? We think that isn’t too much to ask! However, basically, to get the look we are all dreaming of, you need to pay big bucks to have a custom closet built. Not on this blog! We tracked down the best bloggers out there and found for you DIY closet organizer plans that any of us can use to build a custom organizer from scratch! So let’s get to it, pick yourself out the best match for your situation, and dig out the saw and the drill. We’re organizin’!

 

DIY Closet Organizers

 

DIY Closet Organizer with Drawers

If what you are looking for is a gorgeous built-in that gives you drawers, shelving, and jewelry storage… Then this DIY closet organizer from Nick & Alicia via Build Something is perfect for you. Throw in the fact that it can be adjusted to fit almost any size closet, and we have a winner!

 

Kids Room Idea

Got kids? Then you have closet crud. Let’s join together in the fight against “the crud” and check out Houseful of Handmade’s closet organizer plan perfect for any kids’ room. Drawers, shorter hanging spaces, and even open areas under the drawers for those inevitable skates or skateboards… Find Mom there whenever she needs to make a phone call.. It will be that nice!

 

Small Closet Organizer

If you have a tiny sliding closet like we do in our condo, then you want to squeeze every last inch of storage out of it. Enter, the DIY closet organizer from Fix This, Build That. Follow along all their step-by-step directions for turning this too-small closet into a super-organized space. And, it has drawers! Built-in dresser!

 

Custom DIY Closet

So we’re going to end with this gorgeous DIY closet organizer from Pinspired To DIY… Not much more to be said, right? Go check out their complete tutorial!

So if you ever wanted a gorgeous custom DIY closet organizer, today is your lucky day! Speaking of organizing, we think you will also love our post on Charming but Cheap Bedroom Decorating  and also our posts on DIY Clothes Racks & DIY Murphy Beds over at OhMeOhMy! And speaking of organizing, try our post on how to organize your carry-on bag with these packing hacks and tips!

Image Credits: Pink Little Notebook, Build Something, Houseful of Handmade, Home & Hallow, Homemade Modern, Making It in the Mountains, Fix This, Build That, Pinspired To DIY
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Conclusion:
In conclusion, we have shared 8 gorgeous DIY closet organizers that you can build from scratch. Whether you have a small, medium, or large closet, these plans can help you create a custom and organized space that suits your needs. Remember to always follow safety precautions and building codes when building your DIY project. Happy building!

Whidbey Puzzle Prefab: Sustainable Design by Wittman Estes

Whidbey Puzzle Prefab, designed by architecture studio Wittman Estes, has taken shape to demonstrate the possibilities of sustainable prefab housing. Located on Washington State’s Whidbey Island, the residential project combines environmentally-conscious design with flexibility and innovation. The Puzzle Prefab is a prototype created to minimize environmental impact while bringing a healthy, nature-connected living experience for its inhabitants.

The home stands as a quarter of the size of a typical 2,000-square-foot American home, offering 600 square feet of indoor living space and an additional 557 square feet of covered outdoor space with cedar decks. Organized into four distinct modules, the design is infinitely reconfigurable. “This project shows how innovative prefab construction can be. This could be placed anywhere with little disruption to the natural ecosystem and landscape,” remarks the 2024 AIA National Small Project Award Jury. The modularity of the Whidbey Puzzle Prefab shows the adaptability of prefabrication, making it suitable for remote, suburban, and urban environments.

Net Zero Energy and Rainwater Collection

With its Whidbey Puzzle Prefab, the architects at Wittman Estes incorporate several high-performance sustainable systems, from the foundation to the energy management controls. Wittman Estes utilized a pin foundation system, eliminating the need for concrete and reducing carbon emissions by 24 tons. The project integrates a 4.1-kilowatt solar array, driving a heat pump with hydronic heating and cooling, and includes an energy recovery ventilation system. According to Matt Wittman, “Prefab delivers higher quality construction on a shorter timeline,” highlighting the environmental and time-saving benefits of prefabrication.

Whidbey Puzzle Prefab is designed as a net zero energy building, featuring a photovoltaic array that generates nearly 4,000 kWh annually. A rainwater collection system channels water from the roof into steel columns, storing it in a tank where it is purified for potable use throughout the home. This system supports the household’s water needs, including irrigation for the indoor greenhouse. Wittman notes, “Climate change is both the biggest and most accessible issue architects can influence,” underlining the importance of environmentally responsible design choices.

Forest-Friendly Construction

In keeping with its mission to respect the local environment, the Whidbey Puzzle Prefab avoids the use of concrete, opting instead for micro pin piles that minimize earthwork disturbance and protect tree roots. “The fragile forest ecology was respected by shifting the construction off-site,” said Wittman. This method reduces environmental disruption and significantly lowers the carbon footprint of the structure by 77% compared to traditional concrete foundations.

Despite its small footprint, the Whidbey Puzzle Prefab creates a spacious and flexible living environment. The design integrates indoor and outdoor spaces, with the covered cedar decks acting as an extension of the interior living areas. Wittman remarks, “It’s so compact that it feels enormous,” emphasizing the balance between size and livability. The home’s smart systems allow residents to monitor energy use, manage personal comfort, and store resources efficiently. Thus, the home creates a dialogue between daily life and the natural environment of the Pacific Northwest.

the home is 600 square feet of indoor space with 557 square feet of covered outdoor space on cedar decks

tt consists of four reconfigurable modules designed for flexibility and adaptability to various environments

the project uses pin foundations, eliminating concrete and reducing CO2 emissions by 24 tons

Conclusion
The Whidbey Puzzle Prefab is a pioneering example of sustainable design, showcasing the potential for environmentally responsible construction and innovative solutions. By incorporating green technologies and minimizing environmental disruption, this project sets a new standard for eco-friendly architecture. As architects and designers, it is our responsibility to prioritize the well-being of our planet, and the Whidbey Puzzle Prefab demonstrates that this can be achieved without compromising on livability and functionality.