Small Changes, Big Impact: Three Floating Vases Tackle Playroom Clutter

This week my little Dude Get On That Already project centers on three floating vases (from CB2 four years ago, though they still sell them) that used to hang just outside our first house’s kitchen. They’d been tucked away in the playroom after we moved and largely forgotten—until now.

To get them back into circulation I simply tapped three nails into the guest bathroom wall and rehung the vases. That small action immediately cleared three more items off the playroom floor and made the clutter feel a little less overwhelming. For now, three grocery-store blooms fill the vases and brighten the tiny space. When those blooms inevitably fade, I’ll swap them for leafy branches or whatever small treasures I can scavenge from the yard.

This guest bathroom is one of three in our house that still needs a proper update. We’re inching closer to finishing the big kitchen project, so eventually these rooms will get their turn. In the meantime, small, low-cost tweaks like hanging these vases make a surprisingly satisfying difference.

I’ve decided tulips are my favorite flowers. It took me until almost 30 to settle on that, but now that I’ve declared it, I’m sticking with it—until I change my mind, of course. Tulips are simple, cheerful, and exactly right for these small wall vases.

In the bottom right of one of the photos you might notice a brown rectangle—that’s our giant mirror from a different room that’s temporarily leaning against the wall. Our house is still in that awkward stage of being rearranged after book photoshoots and other projects, so random pieces are often parked in unlikely places. Eventually each item will return to its proper spot, but for now the disorder is functional. Little victories like removing items from the playroom floor feel helpful and progress-oriented.

I found myself taking an inordinate number of photos of these vases from every angle in the tiny bathroom. I even laid on the floor for a few shots to get the right perspective. There’s something oddly satisfying about photographing small projects that make a space feel more intentional. Maybe I felt a little celebratory that this week’s task wasn’t pet-related, or maybe it was just the easiest view in an otherwise rough-on-the-eyes room.

These small interventions are the kind of home chores that move the needle without requiring a major remodel. Hanging artwork, installing a few hooks, relocating a mirror, or finally mounting that trio of vases can change how a room feels and functions. They’re quick to do, inexpensive, and surprisingly rewarding when you see the immediate effect on clutter and the overall vibe.

What small projects are you tackling lately? Are there stacks of items waiting to be hung, untouched bathrooms that need some love, or simple tweaks that would clear the chaos from a shared space? Even modest accomplishments—like clearing three ceramic vases off a playroom floor—add up and can motivate you to keep going.

If you have a favorite flower declaration to share, I’d love to hear it. Do you have an all-time favorite bloom like my tulips, or do you change your mind seasonally? Little details like floral choices and curated vases tell a lot about how you want a room to feel, even when the house is in a state of transition.

Psst—We announced this week’s big tile giveaway winner. Check the original announcement to see if you’re the lucky recipient.