at home with Ashley

a home decor blog, making it pretty one space at a time

How to Paint Gingham Floors

If you’ve been embracing the Cottagecore trend like me, you’ll know gingham is one of the signature patterns- sweet, nostalgic, and full of charm. So today, I’m sharing how to paint gingham floors step by step so you can try this affordable upgrade in your own home.

I love my living room, but I’ve always despised the grey floors. When we bought our house seven years ago, the gray painted floors stayed “temporary” while we waited for the right time (and budget) to upgrade them.

But I finally got tired of waiting! Instead of spending a fortune, I decided to give them a new look with just paint.

I’m going for a gingham (or buffalo check) pattern, which feels so right for the space.

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DIY Oven Curtain

All I want is for my kitchen to feel cozy. I’ve been loving the cottagecore trend lately, and to really embrace it, that means layering in soft textures and sweet fabrics. So today, I’m making a DIY oven curtain! There’s absolutely no practical need for this project—but if your oven or dishwasher isn’t quite as cute as you’d like, this one’s for you.

For my version, I’m sewing a little skirt that ties onto the oven handle. It’s like a mini curtain for your appliance—simple, removable, and full of charm. You could also use a magnetic rod instead of ties if that’s easier for your setup. My stove isn’t magnetic, so this is the simplest option for me.

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DIY Lamp Makeover

I am fully embracing the cottagecore decor trend, which means that I needed a kitchen lamp! When my friend Laurel from Wicker Picker Vintage found this lamp, I talked her into selling it to me—and I’ve been so excited to make it over! Anthropologie has a few lamps with bases covered in ceramic flowers, and I used those as my inspiration for this DIY lamp makeover.

Before of the thrift store lamp. Super cute, but I want to add more personality!

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How to Make a Quilt Coat

Have you ever spotted a beautiful quilt at the thrift store and wished you could turn it into something wearable? Today I’m sharing how to make a quilt coat using a $6 coverlet I thrifted. It’s white with sweet pink roses embroidered on it—so romantic and perfect for the colder months.

I’ll be using the Joni Jacket pattern from Etsy, which features an oversized ruffled collar, bow closures, and a hip-length fit. I was so excited when I found this pattern! It’s the exact look I was looking for.

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Alice in Wonderland House Costume

For Halloween this year, I thought it’d be fun to make an Alice in Wonderland house costume! It takes a classic dress-up moment and punches it up with a whimsical twist — the house!

This look is inspired by the scene in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland where Alice grows too big after eating a cake labeled “Eat Me.” She becomes enormous, getting stuck inside the White Rabbit’s house, with her arms and legs poking out the windows and doors. Later, she eats a garden carrot and shrinks back down to her normal size.

When my cousin told me his wedding celebration was going to be a costume party, I knew it was the perfect excuse to go all out. Here’s exactly how I made this magical costume — from foam core to finishing details — so you can make your own too!

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Colorful Halloween Mantel

When it comes time to decorate for the holidays, I like to go all out. Each year, I look at my past decorations and decide what I love (and repeat that). What I’m not excited about, I switch up. My past Halloween mantel was a little too plain, so this year I decided to jazz it up with a Colorful Halloween Mantel! My goal? Make it bright, fun, and festive — withoutspending more than $10.

Here’s my old Halloween mantel. I was tired of the big mash of pumpkins.

To keep it budget-friendly, I challenged myself to spend $10 and use decor and supplies I already had on hand. The result is a playful, pastel-inspired Halloween display that feels sweet instead of spooky.

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Small Laundry Room Makeover

In the back of our house, past the kitchen, is our laundry room. It used to be a porch (because our house was built before modern plumbing)g, and when we moved in, we were grateful to have a laundry room, but it was dark and sad. We did a lot of work on it over the years, but the wallpaper began to fall, so it was time to do a small laundry room makeover.

The laundry room in 2019

Luckily, the bones of the space were already great—mosaic tile floors with floral patterns, tiled walls, a functional layout, and a solid washer and dryer. This makeover was less about function and more about adding personality, color, and whimsy.

the laundry room with the peeling wallpaper

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Trash Can Makeover

I’ve been working on making over my laundry room, and it’s turning out so cute! There’s just one thing that’s been bugging me: my stainless steel garbage can. It’s in great shape for being 10-plus years old, so I didn’t want to throw it away, but it was definitely sticking out like a sore thumb in my new space. So, I decided to try a trash can makeover with spray paint!

The plan? Give it a soft beige base and add fun peach stripes to match the walls. Now it will look custom and cute instead of something I want to hide in a corner. If you’ve got an old garbage can that’s functional but doesn’t fit your style, painting it is a quick, affordable way to give it new life.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to paint your garbage can so the paint actually sticks, along with some tips to get crisp, clean stripes that look professional.

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DIY Bow Cornice

Have you heard of the decorator Dorothy Draper? She’s known as one of America’s first interior designers. Starting in the 1920s, she became famous for her bold use of color and whimsical touches. When I saw photos of her work at the Greenbrier Resort featuring DIY Bow Cornice, I knew I had to try my own version! Nothing elevates a room like window coverings.

 

The best part? It doesn’t have to be expensive! We made ours with simple plywood, batting, and fabric for a high-end look on a budget. 

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