Does the thought of summer make you wanna change up your home decor? Yeah. me too!
During the spring months, my palatte starts craving fun colors, sheerer fabrics, and oddly enough, strawberry fruit rollups. And at 50 calories a pop with no known side effects for eating the entire box, it is just the start of a beautiful summer experience.
Speaking of sweet experiences, this is the year for brightening up my home. I wanna feel easy going and casual. I wanna feel lighter than Posh Spice. I wanna walk in the door, kick off my flips, and wear shorts again. That is the feeling that inspired a little story. This story of summery transformation begins with a $3.50 placemat find at the Pottery Barn outlet.
And this is how it motivated an entire couch redo in funner colors (kinda like when fruit rollups went from only in red to swirly hues!):
Our fall/winter pillows are super fun right? I still adore that chocolate/green color combo especially with that graphic brownie-on-top-of-my-sundae pillow smack dab right in the center. But on the down side, it definitely gave off a cooler month vibe. Not exactly a swim-inspired look….unless those colors were on a VS model….they could make some pocket lint, a key ring, and a post-it-note look like a bathing suit. grrr.
And now my pillows are funner than a bunny farm! I am loving the combination of the navy with the pale turquoise and spring time green. Plus the trio of graphic prints and the various fabrics give the couch visual & textural interest. And the sheer number of pillows comes in handy come kanoodle time. Wahoo!
So how did we start with a placemat and end up with a summery couch? I am so glad you asked. A+ for you and one thousand points for excellent inquiry skills.
The little accent pillow is actually a placemat. You know – one of those things that sometimes makes it onto the table under the paper plate only if company is coming? Just ripped open the seam where the front layer meets the back layer. Two inches will do ya. Then just stuff that hole like you are on week 6 of Survivor. Hand stitch the sucker closed and BADA BING! An accent pillow!
I actually considered attempting to sell this sucker back to Pottery Barn to see if they would give me more money since pillows cost more than placemats. But God would be watching. Also, I am quite sure that Pottery Barn could trace my credit card and I would like to continue shopping there in the future. But the point is, this little piece of summery heaven looks a heck of a lot more expensive than $3.50. And since I chose a pillow with several colors, all I had to do was mix and match pillows till I found a combo that screamed “POOL PARTY!”
So are you changing your home decor for the warmer months? How do you do it? Are you a pillow-switcher or a slipcover & go kinda peep? I hear that drapes make a springtime switch…although I have never done it. Have you ever made a placemat into a pillow? Please share. Oh and if you guys wanna attempt this project at home – be sure that you get a placemat with two layers. Otherwise you will end up with one ripped piece of fabric and fiber fill all over your sofa…and I can think of other things that are cooler 🙂
I love the pillow switch – and as a fellow making-pillows-out-of-table-linens girl, I think we should take our ideas straight to PB.
I switch out the shower curtain, rug & towels in the guest bath, decorative items (and sofa pillows!) in the living room and kitchen, and in my bedroom i change from darker, heavier curtains, duvet cover, and accent pillows to lighter ones, both in color and texture. I like the darker, heavier, warmer feeling things during the fall & winter, but I want something lighter during spring & summer, because it makes me feel "cooler". and in Louisiana, we need all the cool we can get!
I love the idea of seasonal decor but haven’t gotten around to doing it myself. Pillows are out since I have three boys (one of which is my husband :oP) in the house and leather sofas so I’m sure you can guess how often the pillows look good (clue: the number looks like an egg.)
Love your makeover and how clever using the placemat!!
Love it! You make me want to go on a pillow-making-extravaganza. 🙂 In theory, we have a winter quilt for our bedroom and a summer duvet – but in reality, I love the colors of the summer duvet so much that I leave it on year-round. Oops! (But I’ve been itching for a summer look for our den, and this may be just the ticket!!)
What a creative idea! It looks awesome!
I’ve never taken the plunge to switch out pillows since I love the red ones in my living room but I’m tempted to now. Love the new pillow you made – very creative! My summer activities include swapping out the bedding – from a down comforter to a blanket with a coverlet on top.
Oh my that is so cute, I wish I could have Pottery Barn outlet near me. I reall think this is so clever, just like all of your posts!! Thanks for the great idea
I’ve never made a placemat into a pillow, BUT I have made one into a stethoscope/blood pressure cuff pouch carrier. Which to me was equally as great as home decor 😉
-Steph
(hmmm, now I’d rather have a pillow)
“And now my pillows are funner than a bunny farm”
False.
So great!! I can’t wait to try it myself!! Where did you get the green pillows with the white on them? I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere. I also love your couch. Is it slipcovered or just looks that way?
Freaking brilliant. Seriously, how did you come up with that?? Now I’m going to be scouring the stores for placemats. 🙂
Love the idea, you are so dang creative! The green and navy really pops and totally makes me feel like summer may actually be lurking around the corner. 🙂 We used to have a PB outlet 90 minutes away… then we moved… now it’s 6 hours away, boooooo.
that looks great! I love those colors together and what a difference a few pillows make in transforming an entire room!
We don’t live far apart… can you come help me decorate my house??? 🙂
Wow – you guys really know how to switch it up! WATCH OUT SPRING – HERE WE COME!
Amanda – the green pillows are from IKEA, so naturally they have been plastered everywhere 🙂 And our couch is actually slipcovered (needs a washing!) so it always looks like that 🙂
Keep it coming, ya’ll! I am lovin how you are prepping for warmer weather!
XO – Katie
Totally lurveee the new pillow combination of these pillows! Those green “twiggy” ones make my heart go pitter patter. Great job!
I would have never thought of that! I’m totally going out on my lunch break in search of placemats!
Props to you for such a great and easy idea!
I wish I lived closer to a Pottery Barn outlet! You always seems to find cool things.
Looks great! What a neat idea!
We currently don’t switch out our home decor seasonally. Except, n the guest bedroom but that’s mostly just because my lighter weight linens just happen to be in brighter, fresh summery colors lol.
I find the blue accent pieces I have right now work both in summer and winter. However, I did just find some pretty chunky cable knit throws and pillows in cream and chocolate I HAVE TO HAVE, that would be perfect for winter…. so who knows? maybe in the new house!
Love, Love, Love the pillow. I have been on the hunt for nice and inexpensive pillows, this is just the idea that I need. Now, about the seasonal decorating, I really want to decorate this way, but at this point I am just working on the basics. I have a olivey, limey green couch and I am having the hardest time decorating around it. Stop by and check it out sometime.
Delicious. I would like to break me off a piece of that gorgeous placemat pillow. Love the new spring look!
You are brilliant.
I’m totally feeling inspired.
That is the most brillaint and inspiring thing I have read all week. I would NEVER have thought of turning a marvelous placemat into a pillow. I bow. You are a genious.
I love your pillows! Where is your couch from… I’m looking for a new couch preferably with machine washable slipcovers (1yr old and dog)
Hi Kelly,
My couch is from Pottery Barn. It was called the "Griffin Sofa in Natural Brushed Canvas". We got it at the outlet and L.O.V.E. it. I hear that the Ikea version is quite comfy & considering that the floor model gets probably seventeen million patooties on it each week…it probably holds up well too 🙂 Good luck in your search!
XO – Katie
LOVE ths stuffing the placemat idea Katie–that’s brilliant!
the placemat pillow thing is absolutely GENIUS!!! if you check out my blog you will see that i have a serious issue with spending a lot of money on accent pillows, and am also obsessed with them… which is quite a dilemma. i am heading out this weekend in search of a couple placemats and can’t wait to try out this project! thanks for the inspiration.
I’m actually about to do the placemat into a pillow trick! My sister told me about it over the weekend. So, now to find the right placemat!!
Katie,
Can I ask what company you got your white slip cover from? I have been looking for a white slip cover for my couch for some time (with the individual cushions) and I love the look of yours. Please help girl in need of a new couch color out!!!
BBaker –
Actually we bought the couch with the slipcover so it is Pottery Barn. And they no longer make that couch…bummer.
Although they do make sure you can buy replacement slipcovers…heres the number 1.888.779.5176
Good Luck!
XO – Katie
I thought I asked this here but guess I didn’t — do you mind if I highlight the placemat pillow idea? Love it!
Hi Sarah!
Highlight away girl! That is really sweet of you to ask. I’m just glad that you like this idea 🙂 oh – and definitely let me know so I can be sure to check out your post!
XO – Katie
What did you stuff the placemat with? How’s it holding up? Love the navy polka dot pillow, where’s it from? Love your website. Thanks.
Hi Robin, I am so glad you asked 🙂 My little placemat pillow is holding up just peachy! At first I think I worried about stuffing it too full but now it has proven itself perfect for a little neckroll action. In short – I couldn’t be happier! Oh and that polka pillow…it was a Pottery Barn outlet purchase…I just slipped it over the previous cover for the summery new look 🙂
XO – Katie
Thanks for the response. But what material did you use to stuff the placemat? Thanks again.
No problem Robin. I just used normal fiberfill that is available at any Walmart, JoAnns or local sew shop 🙂 Hope this helps and if you end up making placemat pillows be sure to send me some photos 🙂
XO – Katie
I am so excited!! My husband and I just bought our first home. But, i’ve been anticipating and purchasing for it for quite some time.
One purchase i made a year or so ago was two napkins on sale at pottery barn, deciding they would eventually be pillows on my white slip covered couch (even laying the fabric on top of old pillows to show the new house to friends/family) …. Its the same fabric you’ve used!!! Great minds think alike 🙂
I love the other fabrics you’ve used too… Thanks, this will help complete the look!