Decorating an Empty Chest

Do you ever stare at a blank canvas and get over whelmed with what to do with it? Your canvas may be a

real painter’s canvas,

an empty cooking pot,

an untouched yard landscape,

a boring bookshelf,

blank pages in a journal,

an artless wall,

or endless other options. For me, I have been staring at an empty chest. This wood chest sits right inside my foyer and is one of the first things you see when you walk into our home. It’s very special as my brother made it for me almost 10 years ago. This piece probably drives him crazy because it was one of (if not THE) first wood projects he ever did, where now he is a professional. I love this piece because he made it for me, it’s a touch of his creativity, and I just love it!

I have been trying to decide what to put on top (besides my purse, keys, and any other junk from the car when we walk through the door) now that it has such a prominent spot in our new house.  I played around with several things and ended up placing an old green jar, a welcome sign, and a little bird house on it. I really liked those simple elements. I thought they added a fun touch but still left room for my purse and keys (just minus the junk, mail, and receipts). Yet, something was missing. I left it for days trying to decide what it needed.

Finally, one day in the Dollar Tree, I realized what it needed. It needed a pop of color and something that added a little height but was simple. I bought two metal flowers that I think are supposed to be placed outside in the ground or a flower-pot. I broke off one of the leaves and bent one of the ends of a flower so it would fit down in my glass jar lower and allow the other flower to be taller and created two different heights between the identical flowers. I love the use of metal and the added pop of color these two flowers brought to my wood chest.

I love bringing outside elements indoors. I think sticks, pine cones, acorns, and plants look amazing inside. Now, I can add garden decor elements to that list.

What about you? Are you decorating anything lately? Does a blank canvas sometimes intimidate you too? It’s crazy how breaking that intimidation and blank canvas can somehow bring so much satisfaction! It’s the process of just starting it, giving it time to process, and adjusting as you go that changes the emptiness into something.