The things you keep on your coffee table say a lot about who you are and where you’ve been. And mine is a pretty good example of this… Coffee tables are the centerpieces of most homes. It’s a place where friends and family gather round to catch up, unwind and unplug. In a way, the coffee table truly is the pinnacle locale for socializing within the home (aside from the dinner table, of course). That said, I thought it would be fun to share what’s on my coffee table at my Paper Crown office. Take a look:

1. D.L. & Co. candle in Peony Delight. I adore these candles. The scent is lovely and not too overwhelming. I usually buy them on sale when they are on One Kings Lane or Gilt. 
2. Yves Saint Lauren: Style. Aside from the fact that I adore the cover, the contents are simply breathtaking. 
3. In Vogue: The Illustrated History of the World’s Most Famous Fashion Magazine. If you’re a fashion enthusiast like me, this book is essential to your collection. When I’m feeling uninspired, I love to flip through the pages and get lost in the Diana Vreeland era… 
4. Mercury glass votives. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for mercury glass. There’s something so charming yet simple about it. I found mine at a flea market. Cheap and chic.
5. Vintage glass tray. I love picking up pieces from local flea markets such as my glass tray. I keep candles and other miscellaneous trinkets on it since it makes the tabletop look less cluttered and more organized. 

Capturing your style sense in a coffee table may seem intimidating. For that reason, I’ve put together a little guide to help you master the art of creating a perfectly personalized tablescape. Here’s what you should keep in mind:

• Ambience is everything so keep a few of your favorite candles on deck.
• Add a few decorative accessories that reflect your personal style. Pieces from your recent travels are always a good idea.
• Keep things organized in a tray.
• Pile on a few of your favorite books. Not only are they lovely to page through from time to time, they will also likely spark conversation when guests are in tow. 

What’s on your coffee table?

Snap a photo and upload it to your LaurenConrad.com profile page. Click “Submit this photo” for a chance to be featured on the site!

XO Lauren


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One of my favorite ways to update a space is with paint. It can completely transform a room and it’s relatively inexpensive if you do the painting yourself. For most people though, the challenge isn’t the actual painting, it’s picking the color.

A few days ago I was talking with an interior decorator that said before she paints someone’s home, she goes into their closet and looks at all the colors they wear. Because we tend to buy colors that compliment our own skin tone, we also gravitate to similar shades when decorating our home. Based on the colors she discovers in their closet, she is then able to help them select the perfect paint color. This makes sense because if you’re going to be surrounded by a color, it’s going to reflect on you a bit. And who doesn’t want to look their best in their own home? In a nutshell, you should pick paint colors that compliment both your skin tone and your closet.

I thought this was really interesting and figured you might find it helpful too. I honestly never thought of it! Once I finally selected a paint color for my room, guess what I did? Went into my closet to make sure it went with all my clothes, of course…

What color are your walls? If you were to paint them a color, what would it be?

In case you’re wondering, I went with a really pretty blush color. Surprise, surprise… I’ll post a photo once it’s done.

XO Lauren



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One of my New Year’s resolutions is to organize my closet once a month. It’s the only way I can keep my closet in check. Otherwise things get out of hand…or lost. Below I’ve put together a few of my best tips for getting your closet in order to kick off your spring cleaning:

Once a Month: Organize! By the end of the month the contents of my closet and dressers look like a bomb went off. It’s not that I’m intentionally messy; I just forget to fold things when I’m in a rush. Plus I don’t always put things back in their proper place. Needles to say, when I organize my closet once a month I find that my closet is easier to navigate. I put together better outfits because I can find (and see) everything too. I like to organize the hanging pieces by cut, color and length. As for my folded items, I group things together based on cut.  

Every 6 Months: I suggest going through your entire closet every 6 months or so. Try everything on. If something is permanently stained or ripped, trash it. If you are unsure about something, ask for a second opinion. That’s what friends are for! Just channel your inner Bradshaw:

Once a Year: It’s time to break up with the old and make room for the new. Donate things or organize a clothing swap with friends. I realize that breaking up with pieces you’ve had in your closet for years can be tough. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that sentimentality should not warrant a precious piece of real estate in your closet. Another idea is to do the "switcheroo." At the begining of the year, turn all of your hangers backward (like this). As you wear items, turn the hanger back around so it's facing the right way. By the end of the year you will see which pieces you wore and what you can get rid of. Easy!

Do you have any space saving tips for your closet? If so, share your suggestions in the comments below!

XO Lauren

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This is a photo of one of the walls in my office at Paper Crown. When we first moved in we had a lot of blank, white walls and a few brick ones too. I wanted to infuse the space with creativity so decided to decorate accordingly…by booking it! To add a textural yet whimsical vibe to the room, I tore out pages from an old book and layered them onto my wall in lieu of traditional wallpaper. This was an inexpensive way to not only add personality to the room, but provide wall cover as well.

Do you have a creative décor idea using non-traditional materials?

Let me know in the comments below. Or better yet, upload a photo to your profile page and link it in the comments!

XO Lauren

P.S. Don’t forget to follow @PaperCrownLuvsU to stay up to date on all things PC!

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Last year Lauren blogged about a few of her favorite ways to deal with unruly jewelry in her post, Operation Organize: The Necklace Nightmare, so when we found Amanda PeQueen’s adorable DIY jewelry storage solution we had to show it off to everyone!

By affixing a couple strings of wire to empty frames, Amanda created a wonderfully chic place to store all of her bits and baubles. For an extra lovely finish, back the frames with some pretty fabric. According to Amanda, it’s a “$3 craft project!” To put it all together, she  “picked up the frames from the dollar store and used wire, scrap fabric, and leftover spray paint.” Brilliant right? She said that it’s “an organized and beautiful way to store jewelry!” And we couldn’t agree more!

In honor of Amanda’s creativity we have crowned her our newest Chic of the Week!

Congrats Amanda!

Be sure to add Amanda as a friend so you can take a peek at her album, Some Crafty Things, that’s filled with other simple DIY décor projects!

Are you going to give Amanda’s DIY a try? How do you keep your jewelry organized?

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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I love the magical feel of the holidays. To keep it alive just a little longer, I decided to wrap my headboard with strands of Christmas tree lights. I think it’s charming and the light they produce creates a lovely ambience. I will probably leave these up for a few more weeks until the novelty wears off…but until then, I’ll be dreaming beneath my avenue of twinkling stars. 

What do you think about my starry light strands?

XO Lauren

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I loved all of the submissions inspired by my post, Holiday Special: Deck the Halls! While I’d love to spotlight every entry, I can only show off a few… And so I give you The Holiday Décor Awards!

The Creative Ornament Award goes to Mary Rene for her adorable cupcake ornaments:

The Beautiful Wreath Award goes to Paypat for this pretty, beachy themed wreath:

The Cute Christmas Tree Award goes to Tiffani Stuart’s “apartment sized” tree:

The Original Décor Award goes to Gemma Brown and her sweet paper cone wreath:

The DIY Holiday Décor Award goes to Jessi McCormick for her mason jar snow globes:

And last but not least, the Festive Vase Filler Award goes to Alexandra Viau:

Thanks again to everyone who submitted photos!

Which one is your favorite?

XO Lauren

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I don’t know about you, but I’m a fan of decorating for the winter holidays after Thanksgiving. Walking into stores in mid-October only to be ambushed by faux snow, red bows and life-size wreaths is a bit ridiculous. Whatever happened to living in the moment? Needless to say, now that it’s officially December, I think it’s entirely appropriate to finally deck the halls for the holidays!

Without further ado, here are a few of my favorite holiday décor ideas courtesy of your fellow LaurenConrad.com members and a few my favorite websites…

I’m a sucker for glittery things, which is why I adore Martha Stewart’s Glittered Deer Table Decorations:

I love the smell of pinecones and this idea from Sweet Paul is a brilliant way to incorporate them into your home during the winter season:

This idea comes from member Sarah Teutsch. Wrap up surfaces, such as your fireplace mantle, to add a fun but festive touch to your room:

I like to mix in fun colors for the holidays. While red, white and green may reign supreme, these multi-color DIY Seed Bead Ornaments via Kaboose are an easy way to add some extra color to your holiday:

Try grouping together your favorite holiday themed accessories like nutcrackers, jars of festively colored candy and mini tress to create a gorgeous yet cheerful wintertime table spread:

Make a pretty centerpiece wreath like member Petra Zeller featured on her blog, Sweets of Life:

I was at Anthropologie a few days ago and spotted the cutest idea that would be very easy to replicate at home: Mason Jar Snow Globes! I think it might be cute to use the Glittered Deer Table Decorations as alternative filler:

When it comes to holiday décor, I go by the philosophy “the sparklier, the better,” which doesn’t always mean glitter has to be in the mix. When I came across Hayeseed Homemakin’s DIY for Firefly Christmas Lights, it was love at first sight:

Every year I like to make my own wreath for the door. I spotted this sweet idea to add the house number on Teach Craft Love and am planning to make my very own Front Door Wreath this weekend:

If you have a simple, crafty holiday decoration idea, upload a photo with basic instructions to your LaurenConrad.com profile page and click “Submit this photo” for a chance to be featured in a Member Spotlight post.

Which holiday décor ideas are you going to try?

First up for me is the front door wreath…

XO Lauren

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It’s no secret I adore having fresh cut flowers in my home. Whether they’re on my bedside table or in the kitchen, flowers add a nice breath of fresh air to an otherwise stale space. However, what you probably don’t know is that I really enjoy putting together flower arrangements. So when an occasion calls for centerpieces, I’m your girl. Instead of calling a florist and spending a fortune on pricy arrangements, I like to head down to the local flower mart and put them together myself. Now that it’s fall I’ve decided to educate myself on the seasonal pickings for my next flower mart trip…

When you buy flowers that are in season they’re typically cheaper, so be sure to find out what blooms in your hemisphere before putting together your arrangement. In California, hydrangeas, lilies, daises, chrysanthemums, acacia and other popular wild flowers are in peak season so I’ll be working those into the arrangements I’m putting together for Thanksgiving.

Interestingly enough, flower arranging is very therapeutic and calming. In fact, I think it’s a great way to shake off the pre-holiday jitters. If you’re up to the task, take a look at these 10 beautiful fall flower arrangements I found and get inspired… Enjoy!

Pin It

What’s your favorite fall flower?

If you decide to make a fall flower arrangement, snap a photo and post it to your LaurenConrad.com profile page. Who knows…your photograph could end up in a Friday Favorites.

XO Lauren

P.S. If you're ever curious as to where I find my photos, check the very bottom of my posts for citation information.

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Photos: Laughingwithangels, Themarionhousebook, Awelltraveledwoman, Ohjoy, Pinkpreppylillylover, Betterhomesandgardens, Weddingchicks, Pinterest, Prettystuff, Shoppingterrain

Think of room accessories as jewelry. Sometimes all you need to revamp an old outfit is a bold cuff and a sparkly pair of earrings. The same goes for rooms. There are plenty of ways to change up your home on the cheap. Here are a few of my favorite ways to mix it up and give a room an entirely new personality without breaking the bank:

Paint. Believe it or not, I used to paint my room several times a year. Why? It made everything feel fresh and brand new. Paint is also an inexpensive way to transform a space based on the season.

Pillows. Swap out accent pillows for an instant pick me up. For example, a few crimson throw pillows can instantly take your bedroom from summer to fall.

Artwork. Swap out your wall art for something that’s seasonally relevant. Or you can even try rotating artwork around within your home. I adore AllPosters.com since you can buy pieces that are framed and ready to go. New artwork is like a mini facelift for rooms.

Flowers. This is another inexpensive yet effective method for changing up a room. Flowers not only add a lovely splash of color, they offer a seasonal vibe as well.

Candles. Did you know scent is one of the strongest senses? A particular smell can completely change your perception of a space. Scented candles are an excellent way to change the ambience of a room. 

Curtains. Give new life to a basic space by spicing it up with pretty drapes. Or update your curtains based on the season. Create a cozy atmosphere by subbing in heavier materials during the colder months. As for spring and summer, opt for lighter fabrics that are diaphanous or lightweight.

The best piece of advice I can offer is to make your space “update friendly” by furnishing your home with neutral colors such as white, beige, camel or grey. Having a neutral backdrop to work with will grant you the freedom to make simple updates with greater ease. In Laguna, I did my room mostly white with turquoise accents. The white setting allowed me to swap out the turquoise pieces for other colors depending on the season.

What’s your favorite way to breathe new life into a room when you’re on a budget?

Share photos of your favorite “update items” in the comments below.

XO Lauren

P.S. A special thank you to everyone at At Home in Arkansas and Bear-Hill Interiors for sharing the beautiful photograph of the bedroom!

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In addition to clear furniture, white lacquer home furnishings are making a splash in the design world. Classic pieces have been popping up everywhere in high gloss white finishes instead of traditional materials such as wood or metal. Whether it’s Jonathan Adler’s cubes, West Elm’s mod floor lamp, Horchow’s Baroque Chandelier or even Ethan Allen’s glossy lampshade, one thing is clear: White lacquered accents are in!

A simple way to work this trend into your home is by spray-painting a home accessory with high gloss white paint. You can paint almost anything—lamps, vases, candlesticks…you name it. I was so inspired after researching this trend I decided to give it a shot. One sheet of sandpaper, three brass candleholders and two cans of spray paint later I was left with three beautifully finished candlesticks clad in high gloss white. Très chic!

The entire operation took about 30 minutes, plus two hours for drying. Needless to say, it was well worth the wait. Below are step-by-step instructions on how you can transform old lackluster home items into trendy, glossy new pieces. Photos courtesy of yours truly. Happy crafting!

What you will need…

• Vintage brass candlesticks (If you want to refinish something that’s wood or metal, my instructions will work for you too! You can apply this DIY to most home accessories)
• Sandpaper
• High gloss white spray paint
• Primer spray
• Newspaper or drop cloth (It’s going to get messy!)

Instructions

1. Pour a little water onto the sandpaper.
2. Sand the entire surface of the candlesticks (or item you are going to paint). Make sure the surface is very clean before sanding.
3. Spray all surfaces with one coat of primer. Dry for 30 minutes to one hour.
4. Finally, spray all surfaces with two coats of high gloss white paint. Dry for one hour. If you think it needs one more coat, repeat this step.

There you have it—high style home décor in just four steps!

Are you going to give this DIY a try? If so, what are you going to paint?

Want to win the candlesticks I made? Leave 1 comment below telling about a recent DIY you did. I'll announce the winner next week!

XO Lauren

UPDATE: The winner is Jordon Beresford! Congrats!

Jordana said, "Recently i've been doing a ton of DIY projects. i created a jewelry hanger/holder out of a vintage picture frame, fabric and twine, an embroidered headboard out of fabric, batting, foam and plywood, as well as a lacquered lamp!"

Here are a few photos of Jordana's DIY projects...

Inspiring, right? Congrats again Jordan! And thanks to everyone who entered this giveaway!

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