big lots — Blog — Lily The Wandering Gypsy

DIY ROOM DIFFUSER

I grabbed this inexpensive glass jar at a craft store, and filled it with a mixture of witch hazel, a bit of food coloring, and any essential oil you prefer. You could flat some dried lavender or other herbs in the diffuser, too. I love the idea of using some food coloring in the liquid, because eventually, the skewer sticks would begin to get an ombre effect from soaking up the colored liquid. Place as many skewer sticks in the jar as will fit, and enjoy!

LET'S GO SHOPPING!

I always have such a nice experience in Big Lots. The employees are beyond helpful, and I like that I can find a little bit of just about everything I need for my home. I was thrilled with the latest products from Big Lots, like these $18 Faux Fur Throw Blankets (shown below). I LOVE this blanket so much, because it's more like a comforter, and was such a good jumping off point for this guest room re-do. These blankets some in lots of varieties of textures, and are all more neutral colors, which I really like. The back of the throw blanket is a soft brown material, and I am really looking forward to cozying up on the couch with it when it gets chillier. My guests will also enjoy this beautiful blanket.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertisers. All opinions are mine alone. #BigLotsReady #CollectiveBias

I am here today with a cute DIY idea, and tips on how to design a space for a woman who is shopping for back-to college items, and wants to learn how to maker her space her own. My sister, Ellen is such a talented person. She is going to be a Junior at the University of Louisville, KY in the nursing program this Fall semester, and I couldn't be more proud of her! She will be receiving her BSN in no time at all! She is my complete inspiration for this post! She is so talented, and she is a gifted artist and designer.

Ellen lived in a dorm her first year, and it was super cute. She did the best she could with the furniture she was given, but last year, her design style really had a chance to blossom. She moved into a beautiful house with some of her sorority sisters, and her bedroom was beyond adorable. Now, she is moving into a house with a bit more space, and I can't wait to see how she designs the place.

Read on to see more about the space I designed for a woman who is in college and needs a beautiful space to work! The directions for a DIY Background Inspiration Board are below.

Get tons more inspirations, and shop all of the Back-To-College items here. And, click around on the image below, it's shoppable!

I shopped at my local Big Lots for many of these items, and I could not believe hoe friendly and helpful everyone was! The main cashier knew exactly right where everything was, and I was happy to find so many of the items available in-store. I also found lots of items that coordinated with my coral and mint theme, so I grabbed a few extra items while there. Another option is to shop on biglots.com, if you want an even broader selection of colors or want to see the entire line of back to college gear.

No matter what your style, Big Lots has some super cute home decor items that will inspire a cute color combo, or even an overall theme to your new space, from college dorms, new apartments, or any work space. In addition to the items I featured here, Big Lots also has: mattresses, furniture, small appliances, bedding, sheets, pillows & throws. These items will fit into lots of popular decor trends, for both guys and girls.

And, there were way more electronics than I could have imagined! They're all stocked up on items like extra battery packs for charging your phone and small devices (see photo, right), as well as cute headphones in literally every color imaginable.

I also found a ton of other apartment/dorm/new place ready items like Ninja blender, lots of vacuums, toasters, pots and pan sets, plates, dishes, cups, silverware sets, and a good selection of curling irons, and other bathroom items. I always like checking out the beauty aisle, you never know what sorts of hair products, lotions, and even gift items for your new roomies!

Rather than staring at a blank wall while you type away at your term papers, decorate the wall behind your computer with something cute and meaningful! All you need is some black and white photos. You can use your own photos and print them in black and white), or you can grab some from Tumblr, like I did! I used a bit of colorful twine and clear tape, to adhere the decor to the wall.

TO DIY YOUR SPACE:

1.) Cut a length of twine and drape it in a wide U-shape across the wall, behind your computer.

2.) Tape up the twine on both ends. Now, tape each photo to your wall with clear tape, then tape the twine down onto it, making it appear as if the photos are strung from the twine.

3.) Add 3-D paper flowers (which I found at a craft store) - you can also make these from scrapbooking supplies that you find at Big Lots! That's it! A super simple DIY decor idea for your work space.

Also, creating varied heights on your work surface makes a more visually-pleasing look. You can use a candle holder, or a stack of books to create height, and then add a picture frame, vase full of flowers, or jars full of colorful candy to add inspiration. I also really love the idea of using a small candle holder or glass to hold makeup and makeup brushes. Keep the daily essentials at close reach! A mirror would also be a great addition to this design.

And, a scented candle will definitely help keep your space smelling fresh, and could even help you concentrate! Choose a more relaxing scent for studying at night, and a more lively, fresh scented one like this Orange Lemon one, below.