Remember the “Things That Are Awesome” print we picked up at a local craft fair last Christmas? It was created by an artist named Rachel and we bought it with the simple goal of hanging it in the guest room so visitors could study all the wonderfully mundane and happy things while they stayed. We finally framed it and hung it, and it feels like a small but meaningful finish to a corner of the house that’s been neglected for a long time.
This view shows a side of the guest room we haven’t photographed in ages. The last time we shared this space was years ago in a post where the room was in a very different place. Since then we moved the big mirror out to the mantel in the kitchen and we cleared out an old dresser at a yard sale when one of the drawers stopped working. Those changes left this wall feeling a little bare for a while.
For a time the wall just waited until we brought in a bookcase that had been used for styling book photos. The shelf-backs in the bookcase are painted in a few different colors, a technique that came out of a previous project and gave the whole unit a playful, layered look. After the bookcase was positioned, the only thing left to do was find a frame for the print. We ran to the craft store and picked up a frame, using a discount coupon at checkout to keep the cost down. It’s a small detail, but the right frame really elevated the print and tied the whole corner together.
From a distance you get the basic composition of the space—the bookcase, the framed print, the chair and rug—but you don’t get the personality. Up close, the “Things That Are Awesome” print has so many small, delightful details that make it worth lingering over. It’s the sort of artwork that draws you in, makes you smile, and sparks little conversations about the odd, specific pleasures that add up to daily joy.
Beyond aesthetics, safety was a priority. Because we often host guests who travel with children, we anchored the bookcase to the wall to prevent tipping. The unit originally came with an anchor system and we installed it quickly, which provided a lot of peace of mind. Taking that extra step made the corner feel not only finished but also secure for families with kids.
A few days after hanging the print and anchoring the bookcase, I walked by and found Clara sitting on the floor with a toy, completely contented in her own small world. That quiet stamp of approval made the update feel even more worthwhile. It’s always nice when functional improvements and simple decor upgrades can coexist—making a space both pretty and practical.
This little room refresh got me thinking about the rooms in other homes that sit dormant for months or years, only to be revived suddenly. Often it seems like the spaces that feel “almost done” get put on the back burner while attention shifts elsewhere. Then, months or years later, a small decision—like framing a print, moving in a piece of furniture, or adding a safety anchor—can make the whole room feel completed and loved again.
What rooms in your home have gone from idle to active after a long pause? Did a single change make all the difference—a fresh coat of paint, a new piece of furniture, or a quirky artwork? I’d love to hear about the small updates that transformed forgettable corners into places you enjoy spending time in.