Welcome to Thistle Key Lane as we share part two of our spring home tour with simple spring ideas in the family room. We’re also sharing views into the kitchen and breakfast nook.
Bloggers’ Best Spring Home Tours
You’re in for a real treat today, as I’m jumping in on day four of the week long Bloggers’ Best Spring Home Tours. A big thank you goes to our host Kelly of The Tattered Pew for organizing a beautiful week of tours. In fact, you’ll get to explore 30 homes up close from coast to coast. I love getting a peek at how everyone celebrates this glorious time of year, and I know you will too.
If you’re popping in from White Lilac Farmhouse, come on in and make yourself at home. I hope you enjoyed Tammy’s post on 6 ways to welcome spring into your home as much as I did! All the links for everyone participating this week is at the end of this post.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for those joining in on Friday. Now are you ready for the tour? Let’s get to it!
Simple Spring Ideas In The Family Room
Spring is officially here indoors and outdoors too. In fact we’ve been enjoying springtime weather for weeks now, as well as spring thunderstorms. So far we’ve endured some real whoppers and expecting more storms today.
I think this is a good day to stay inside, and share some of my simple spring decorating ideas for the family room. You’ll get a glimpse of how I’m using fresh plants, patterns and vignettes to update and welcome spring into our home.
Spring Mantel
Our tour today starts with the mantel, which is where I usually jump into seasonal decorating. The large watercolor landscape over the mantel is from my childhood home. It brings back happy memories of the rolling hills and mountains to the north of where I grew up.
To change up the look, I sometimes layer an additional piece of art. This time a quirky thistle watercolor brings out some of those green shades that I love so much in the large landscape.
More of those green healthy vibes come from plants which are very happy in this room. Our southern exposure allows light to flood in from the arched windows.
The fern and the shamrock on the mantel are the newest members to the family, and they really seem to like me. Let’s hope I can keep it that way.
If you’ve been following me for a while you know how much I love decorating with books. Every season I find ways to incorporate them on every flat surface including the mantel.
To balance the look on the other side of the mantel, I’m displaying books with a handsome rabbit and a piece of coral. This is what I call my no fuss decorating, and it will be so easy to change up after Easter.
Spring Coffee Table
Last winter we replaced our coffee table when we also replaced our sofa. It’s a lot smaller than the last table, but that’s not preventing me from using my oversized accessories.
I still enjoy using the large hurricane candle holder. I’ve had it for years and it’s still one of my favorite accents.
To see before photos of the room be sure to check out last years home tour in, Fresh Spring Ideas In The Family Room.
Next to the hurricane is a wooden bowl holding painted eggs from my recent post, Wooden Keepsake Easter Eggs. I love this simple way of displaying them on a nest of Spanish moss. How easy is that?
This year instead of flowers on the coffee table, I’m continuing with my unplanned plant theme. This philodendron is still growing like crazy, and I love these shinny leaves.
Updating Pillows And Throws For Spring
Updating pillows and throws is one of the easiest seasonal changes to make. I’m using a variety of pillow covers on the leather sofa. Stripes, solids and flowers mix easily when they have similar colors.
To brighten up the brown arm chair in the corner I’m bringing back the same white pillow from last year. I love its nubby weave which also brings in a layer of interesting texture. Cotton throws lighten up the room too, and are getting a lot of use on chilly evenings.
Views Into The Kitchen And Breakfast Nook
If you’re standing in front of the mantel looking in the opposite direction, you can see the navy wall that wraps around to the entryway. From here you can also see into the kitchen and breakfast nook.
A vintage printers drawer I found thrifting last year is now replacing the chalkboard on the wall between the entry and kitchen bar.
Right now I’m keeping the cubbies empty, but I’m thinking it will be a cute spot for layering a wreath. I guess I’ll have to work on that for a late spring to summer look.
Our bar area is perfect for snacking and entertaining, while I’m cooking in the kitchen. Instead of bar stools we have what I like to call grown up bar chairs. They’re one of my favorite updates from a few years ago, and look great with our navy wall.
On the kitchen table we’re enjoying the sweet basket tray vignette from our February Pinterest challenge. It is full of spring cheer with a rabbit, clay carrots and the prettiest little green fern.
I switched a few things around on the tray to make watering the delicate fern easier. Having a plant inside the lantern looks so cute, but I didn’t want to risk breaking off any stems.
To see the original design and a closer look at the handcrafted carrots click on my post, Spring Lantern Tray Vignette.
Spring Styling Open Shelves
I’m keeping the styling very simple on the open shelves with room to breathe. On the top shelf is cafe bowl holding some of my white ironstone creamers that I’m always searching for along with a stack of blue and white towels.
By the way do you call them cup towels, dish towels or kitchen towels? Growing up my mom and grandma called them cup towels, which sounds so old fashioned to me now.
This year I’m displaying my little sheep on the open self instead of the kitchen table. I’m not quite ready to let the grand littles handle the sheep, and I think they will be a lot safer out of reach.
Be sure to follow Thistle Key Lane on Pinterest, where the boards are up to date with inspiration that you can use right now!
Now I’m going to send you over to visit Libby at A Life Unfolding. I know you don’t want to miss her modern spring cottage decor. Thank you so much for stopping by today, be sure to check back tomorrow for six more spring home tours!
Cheers!
Bloggers’ Best Spring Home Tours
This week I am joining some of my blogging friends for the 2023 Bloggers’ Best Spring Home Tours. Thirty talented and creative women will be opening their homes up for you to tour all week long. You can visit each Spring home tour by clicking the links below.
Monday’s Tours
The Tattered Pew // StoneGable // My Wee Abode
Cottage On Bunker Hill // Cottage In The Mitten // She Gave It a Go
Tuesday’s Tours
White Arrows Home // Midwest Life and Style // Open Doors Open Hearts
Robyn’s French Nest // Cloches and Lavender // This Is Simplicite
Wednesday’s Tours
Eleanor Rose Home // Shiplap and Shells // Bricks n’ Blooms
WM Design House // Simply2Moms // The Ponds Farmhouse
Thursday’s Tours
A Life Unfolding // My Thrift Store Addiction // Pasha Is Home
County Road 407 // White Lilac Farmhouse // Thistle Key Lane
Friday’s Tours
Create and Ponder // DIY Beautify // Worthing Court
Southern Home and Hospitality // My Family Thyme // Peacock Ridge Farm
© 2023 Simple Spring Ideas In The Family Room post first appeared on Thistle Key Lane™.
Michelle!! I love your little lambs! I do a lamb every year and Easter as a reminder of what Easter is truly about. Love it!! Your home is gorgeous friend. So glad to hop with you!!
Hi Michelle! Your spring decor is beautiful! Your pretty eggs, tall rabbit, and sweet little sheep really caught my eye–pinned! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Thank you so much Cecilia!
Michelle, all of the spring touches in your family room are beautiful. Those hand painted eggs are such a lovely color and so pretty. I love your home.
Thank you for the kind words my friend!
Michelle, your home looks pretty and ready for spring. I especially like your green hand painted eggs on the moss. Happy Easter!
Thank you Kim and Happy Easter to you too!
Your Spring decor is so pretty! I love all of the touches of greenery that you’ve added throughout the space. So much fun touring with you today friend!!
Thank you AnnMarie! This has been a fantastic week of tours!
Love your spring touches and the eggs turnwed out so pretty. The sweet sheep are precious and your bar area is inviting. I’ll be over for a cocktail later. LOL Great touring with you.
Thank you Cindy! Cocktails are at 5 see you then!
I thoroughly enjoyed your spring tour Michelle. It’s like a breath of fresh air with its sophisticated happiness. Love the calm sense I get when I see the photos. Love the green eggs on the moss and how you’ve styled your mantel. So beautiful! And I’m totally jealous of your green thumb. We have another storm coming soon. :/ I bet this is the year we get a new roof. LOL – but totally no funny.
Thank you sweet friend for the lovely comments! We got lucky, this storm was not like the last two! Those storms with 80 mph winds are giving me too many gray hairs! LOL!
Loved your tour Michelle, everything looks so bright and fresh! I need a home with southern exposure, our house plants have suffered a little since relocating. Loving that little blooming shamrock! And I’ve always called them dish towels or even tea towels! Isn’t that funny how many names they have? I’ve never heard of them reverted to as cup towels before.
I got curious and looked up cup towel. According to Wiktionary it is a Texas and inland Southern US term. Now we know LOL!
Michelle your tour was beautiful and it is fun to see how you add touches of Spring to it! I loved the quirky thistle watercolor! Did you paint it? It’s perfect for your mantel! Oh and I have the same bar cart…love seeing how you styled it. Lovely as always and so thankful you could join the tour!
Thank you Kelly for the lovely comments and for inviting me to be part of the tours! What a fantastic week of beautiful homes! Yes the quirky thistle is mine. It’s the result of experimenting with a new set of vibrant paints. 🙂
Michelle,
Your home is just stunning and perfectly decorated for Spring. I love the green easter eggs also.
Thank you Rachel! The eggs are for the grand littles, but I’m having fun decorating with them now!
I’ll be right over for a glass of wine at your island!!
Haha the wine bar will be open whenever you get here Jennifer!
Michelle I love how you decorated your home for sping. The thislte watercolor is so pretty on your mantel I love how you styled it. Thanks for the tour!!! Happy spring! xoxo
Thank you for stopping by Stacy! This has been a wonderful week of tours!
Your spring touches are so lovely Michelle. The green painted eggs with the Spanish moss are my favorites! Your pillows, the sweet bunny on the mantel and all of your plants make your home so inviting and beautiful for the spring season. Thank you for the inspiration my friend.
Thank you for stopping by and for the lovely comments Kim! Happy Spring!
I love all the soft green touches with the navy, Michelle! And those eggs are beautiful. Such a fresh and pretty look for Spring. Smart to keep the sheep up high, but Jesus did say “Let the little children come to me” 😉
So true Lora, Happy Easter!
Beautiful Michelle. I love your no fuss decorating style. The blue accent walls and your great choices of artwork and style are so inviting. I enjoyed touring with you this week.
Thank you so much Wendy! Hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
Michelle, you home looks so lovely for spring, especially with all those real plants that are so happy there! I love the soft green wooden eggs and the fresh shelf styling in the kitchen with the sweet lambs. And I haven’t heard that term cup towels in forever!
Yes it’s one of those old fashion terms that takes me back! Thanks so much for stopping by Kate!
Everything looks so beautiful. Happy Spring!
Thank you Renae! Happy Spring!
I love all of the simple spring touches you added to your home, Michelle. So pretty! And you know how much I adore those cute stamped eggs. Happy to tour with you, as always. Pinned!
Thank you so much Jen for the lovely comments!
I love your little lambies, Michelle. And I totally understand about keeping them safe from the grands for now. 😉 I must have missed the post about the new coffee table and sofa in the family room. So rustic! Love all the light touches to the dark furniture! And I call them dish towels. 😉 Cup towels is a new one to me! Pinned!
Thank you Julie! Catching up on what everyone is doing, is one the things I love about these home tours! Happy spring my friend!