I have been busy in a very domestic way this week. I have been getting the house ready in preparation for 6 guests who will be staying with Ed and me this 4th of July weekend. We have not hosted this many overnight guests at once in a long time.
I have been cleaning, stocking the fridge and freezer, and making beds….lots of them. I haven’t had time for anything else. I am not complaining. Getting to see family and friends for an extended visit is always worth the effort.
I always have my guest room ready, but I needed to figure out the sleeping arrangements in the other bedrooms. We had to move a few things around and ended up putting a twin bed and a blow-up bed into the fitness room. We have a king bed in another bedroom and a double mattress and boxspring in the basement.
I realized when I started to pull bedding to make the beds from my linen closet that I had plenty of towels for guests to use, but not enough pillows and bedding for all of the beds. A trip to HomeGoods was in order. I needed 6 pillows, a king comforter or blanket, and a set of twin sheets. I like buying bedding at HomeGoods since you get quality sheets, plush comforters and plump pillows at a huge savings.
While I was searching the aisles for the bedding I needed, I spotted an all white Tommy Bahama quilt and a duvet along with a set of blue and white shams from Max Studio Home. I have always wanted all white hotel style bedding. So simple and elegant.
My mind quickly went into that mode where you begin to reason with yourself on why you should buy something that you really don’t need.
In my case, I did need to buy a comforter for the king bed in another bedroom. It didn’t take me long to come up with a plan to move the king sized bedding in my bedroom to the other king bed and use the new white quilt and duvet in my bedroom so I could have the white hotel bedding I wanted.
When I got home, I made up the other king bed with the comforter and purple and white quilt from my bedroom and used the new hotel white in my bedroom. I like the fact that I now can switch them back and forth seasonally.
I haven’t had a duvet cover for a long time and remembered my blogging buddy Carrie from Making Lemonade had a video tutorial on her site on how to cover a duvet/comforter with a cover in under 2 minutes. It is an amazing trick that really does make putting a cover on a duvet super fast and easy.
Once I got the duvet cover on I went from room to room to make up the all the other beds. I felt a little like the owner of a B&B.
Now that the beds are made and the house clean my efforts are now on food prep and adding a few festive 4th of July decorations.
I am loving the new clean and crisp look of the white quilt along with the Max Studio Home blue and white shams in my bedroom. They say summer coooool! The color scheme is perfect for summer and even for getting the rest of house “4th of July” ready, except…
…I realized I have no red in the house to be truly 4th ready. It is not a color I usually decorate with…
…but I do have some on my front door. :-) I think that counts, right?
Wishing you a very Happy and Festive 4th of July. XO
As a HomeGoods Ambassador, I was sent a gift card to buy items that fit my style. I used it to help me pay for some of the bedding I bought. Thank you so much for supporting the sponsors that make In My Own Style possible.
Vanessa says
I love your room. I love the changes you made especially with the soft lavender.
Audrey says
Your rooms all look beautiful but I really love the first one with the black & white checkers/lavender accents. Be careful making your guest rooms too nice, or your guests might never want to leave! :)
Diane Henkler says
Thanks Audrey – So far no one has stayed past their intended visit. We did get a new mattress recently that is very comfy. That could change things :-)
Elaine Williams in Baltimore says
Your home looks lovely and inviting. Any guest would feel welcome. I love Home Goods too – I am now inspired to take a trip there.
Diane Henkler says
Hi Elaine – Thanks. HomeGoods makes decorating a home so affordable. I don’t know what I would do without it or TJ Maxx and Marshalls. :-)
Stephanie @ Casa Watkins says
Diane, the bedding is gorgeous! I love all white bedding and HomeGoods always has great prices. I do not decorate with a lot of red myself, so I think the flags count. :)
Sheryll & Critters. says
I absolultely LOVE your new bedding! And your entire house. And I so wish I could do white slipcovers and white bedding……….. but with 9 fur babies, it just does not work for me. I wish we had a HomeGoods here, but we do have Kmart & Macy’s. I have lucked out and got a wonderful sale on a King Sized Bedspread at Kmart for less than $30.00 with tax. Just recently I purchased a King Size quilt with two shames at Macy’s called Triangles for less than $20.00, so I better not gripe…. lol. (I really want yours instead though).
Carla says
Read your blog all the time. I know the feeling trying to decide if I should buy something I don’t “need”. Also know the feeling of regret when I pass on something i wish I had bought. You are going to enjoy these so much and I know we will see some wonderful decorating ideas in later posts. Love your ideas – always ideas I can fit into my own home.
Elizabeth @ Pineapples and Polka Dots says
So beautiful! I love your beautiful bedding, especially those blue and white shams with the white quilt!
sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com says
oh those rooms look as sweet as can be! and there’s nothing more American than a pre-4th HomeGoods trip, is there?!! lol!
enjoy your fun weekend ☆
Brenda from Arizona says
I am borrowing your fabulous front door decoration! Thank you for the great inspiration!
Sharon H says
part of the fun of having guests is in the preparation! Sounds like you hit the jackpot THIS 4th of July! I know you will enjoy every minute, Diane. Your home is so lovely and comfortable!
Betty says
Your home looks so lovely. Have a happy and safe 4th of July, and enjoy your family and friends. I’m envious you have a HomeGoods in your area!