Nothing can brighten and liven up a room like a lush house plant.  Just as plants add a dose of happy, nothing can add warmth to a room like real wood.  I know white, light, bright, and airy rooms are all the rage right now, and I even love the look.  But I also love contrast, and there’s just something perfect about the combo of white and wood.  I’m a self-proclaimed lover of natural elements, including but not limited to wood, plants, leather, linen, cotton, and metals.  To each their own, but I see a lot of beautiful rooms that could be amazing if only a bit of wood was included.

So, how do you go about incorporating wood pieces without overwhelming a space?  Start with a small item, like a side table, mirror, picture frames, or lamp.  You’d be surprised at how much character just that small item can add to a room.  Don’t belive me, just look at the difference a mirror made in our main bathroom.  Before:

After:

When choosing and adding larger furniture, wood detailing can add a lot of character.  Look for classic, clean lined pieces with wood accents in natural places.  An exposed frame, legs, even heavy wear areas of arms.

Avoid wood additions to odd places, like the top of the back of a sofa.  I’m totally thinking of a couch my parents used to have on that one.

Even though this petite sofa is 90 percent fabric, the slim lined exposed wood frame offers a touch of wood with a beautiful grain.

For larger furniture, I think the most important thing to consider is the grain.  Grain is impossible to change, so if you want a more refined look, typically finer grained wood is a better fit.  If going for a rustic look, a heavier or more prominent grain may be ideal.

Furniture is one thing, because it isn’t permanently attached, therefore easy to replace, but what about cabinetry?  Of course white cabinetry is an easy option due to the go with anything simplicity, but cabinets can look stunning in wood.  That’s not to say all wood varieties are created equal.  Pine, oak, poplar and such are prime candidates for painting based on availability and price point.  Finer, more expensive wood varieties are better suited to cabinetry.  When choosing wooden cabinets, I prefer to stick with unstained, natural walnut.  For the last ten or so years, it has been a favorite of mine and pairs nicely with many finishes.

Keep in mind that trends come and go, and try to avoid the dark, nearly ebony tones of the 70’s or honey oak that plagued the 80’s and 90’s.  When in doubt, keep wood cabinets as clean lined and simple as possible, opting for flat slab or shaker fronts.

Solid wood cabinets can cost considerably more, especially depending on the species.  Consider creating a wood wrapped island, which will give that warmth, without the added expense of wooden perimeter cabinets.

If you’re hunting for furniture at thrift shops, Craigslist, or estate sales, keep in mind that solid wood or thick veneer can be refinished.  A thorough sanding can erase dents and scratches as well as a terrible stain color.  Don’t walk away from a piece with good lines just because of an ugly finish.  I’ve found that most often, I prefer a mid tone warm stain.  Special Walnut from Minwax is usually my choice for fresh or refinished wood around our house.  In this post alone, I used that stain on the campaign style mirror, the mid-century modern chairs, the wood frame sofa, as well as the bed and night stands seen below.

Most recently, I’ve incorporated a bit of wood in my wardrobe, thanks to my new JORD watch.  Based on my favorite stain color, it shouldn’t be a surprise that I chose a Koa and Ash Frankie watch.

Though I’m far from a fashionista, I love how easy it is to slip this watch on for a casual accessory.

I love that it’s a unique, but not glitzy or flashy addition to my daily outfits that usually consist of jeans/shorts and a t-shirt.

Now it’s your turn to get a wood watch on your wrist.  Go ahead and enter the giveaway here, where one lucky winner will win a $75 coupon code.  All other entries will receive a $20 coupon code, so get your entries in before the giveaway closes July 28th at 11:59pm.

Watches Made From 100% Natural Wood by JORD

I know full remodels, big overhauls, and before and after room reveals are incredibly fun and exciting to see-in our own homes as well as on tv shows and web sites.  Sometimes, it’s easy so feel bogged down or inferior because real, lived in homes are never perfect.  Even if you can’t start a full remodel, there are minor upgrades you can add to increase the function of your home.  The following are my favorite additions, none of which are style related, but most are easy to implement.

1.   Tubular Skylight/sun tunnel: Prices start at $170 for materials, labor/install prices will vary.

In dark, windowless rooms in the center of a home, consider installing a tubular skylight/sun tunnel.  It adds all the benefits of a traditional skylight, but are smaller and easier to install.

Ben installed ours, so we saved the labor costs, so ask a contractor for a total cost.

2.  Rain Shower Head:  Prices vary widely based on extension arms, shower head size, and brand.

Another minor change that we adore is the ceiling mount rain shower head.  In fact, we love it so much we suggested it to our friends in their new build home.  The day after move in, they said they love it so much more than a traditional wall mount shower head.

If you don’t want to move plumbing, don’t worry, there’s a similar option.  Hit up your local Home Depot to pick up a wall mount shower arm.

3.  Outlets with Integrated Guide Lights:  GFCI Outlets cost $20, SnapPower covers are $15

Another quick bathroom upgrade is a GFCI outlet with integrated LED guide lights.  A small sensor turns the lights on or off automatically and provides enough light to navigate in the dark.  This style keeps outlets free and is perfect for rooms kids use.

If swapping outlets is out of your DIY realm, check out SnapPower guidelight covers.  After nearly two years of use, I can attest to the greatness.  Not only are the covers simple to install (literally unscrew the old and screw in the new), they’re great for illuminating main walkways.  We have sever throughout the house, near the back door, top of the stairs, and halls on both levels.

4.  Junction Box Mount LED Lights:  $30.00 per light with easy install

Speaking of lighting and the basement, let’s discuss a cool new lighting option.  Since the ceilings are a bit lower than the standard eight feet, we chose recessed lights.  During our kitchen remodel, we installed traditional can housings, then popped LED lights inside.  Each housing and light cost about $40.  After the remodel, we learned about a new style of LED light.  It gives the look of a recessed can, but installs in a standard junction box.

Everything you need comes in this little box, and costs about thirty dollars per light.  A standard junction box costs around a dollar and accommodates this light, making install quick.

5.  GE Bright Stik LED Bulbs:  Cost $10 for three

While you’re stocking up on LED lights, look for GE Bright Stik LED bulbs.  Some LED bulbs are still expensive, but the prices are steadily dropping as more come out.  After getting annoyed by the CFL bulbs in our main bathroom, I looked for a better option.  When I spotted a three pack for $10, I didn’t have much to lose if I didn’t like the bulbs.  What a difference!  Unlike CFL bulbs, LED lights don’t have a warm up time and are even more energy-efficient and long-lasting.  Look for the soft white to avoid a blue tint.

So, those are the cheapest and easiest functional upgrades we’ve done, but I have a few more that we love.

6.  Central Vacuum:  Prices vary based on house size, vacuum system, and accessories package, but pipe materials are somewhere around $300.

If you’re building a house, or have an unfinished basement, I can’t recommend a central vacuum system highly enough.  Pipes are run through the walls, similar to plumbing, but come out to outlet sized receptacles that the hose plugs into.

In our first home, Ben installed the system before we finished the basement, while we still had easy access to everything.  This house came set up, but Ben installed another system at a friend’s house.  Once the pipes are inside the walls, replacing or upgrading elements is straight forward.

7.  Whole House Fan:  Units start around $200 and go up depending on CFM

If you don’t have central air, or even if you do, take a look at whole house fans.  On cool summer mornings, we open several windows, turn on the fan and let it run for a while to pull the cool outside air in.  Depending on the high temperature, it either delays or eliminates the need for air conditioning.  By placing ours near the kitchen, we are also able to nix a big, low hanging vent hood over our cooktop.  If the kitchen gets smoky, we crack the window over the sink, flip on the fan, and it’s cleared within minutes.

What are your favorite upgrades that increase the function of your home?  Do you have any of my seven favorites in your home?