When you’re decorating your home, there is usually a laundry list of design problems that arise. Sometimes it’s storage, or too much clutter, or just something about a room that feels off. Well, today we are taking a second to help you solve eight potential design problems that are very common, BUT very easy to fix! These are all product-based solutions, but the great news is that they are all on sale from one of our favorite online retailers…Wayfair. They are currently having their Hot Summer Sale, where a ton of their best-selling items are on a deep discount (and will ship to you fast). Spring may be the time for cleaning, but to me, summer is the time for upgrades:) Let’s start checking those boxes asap!

Design Problems: Bad Airflow (And An Ugly Ceiling Fan…)

Given that it’s about to be heating up soon (if it hasn’t already where you are), a lack of cool airflow is nothing if not a huge bummer. So if you need a ceiling fan and don’t have one, then boy does Wayfair have some great ones to choose from. But also maybe you do have one, but it’s very old and really needs an upgrade, that’s just as important (at least to me:)). Here are our three top picks:

1. Jamarreon Low Profile Dimmable Ceiling Fan | 2. Nicola 3 Blade Modern Ceiling Fan | 3. Modern Ceiling Fan

These are all on the modern side, style-wise, have lights with remotes (amazing!), and are safely under $200. #2 and #3 also come in a few other color options if you love the look but need a different tone. Oh, and they all have 4.5 or 5-star average reviews.

Design Problems: Plain White Lamp Shades

We know that calm, neutral-toned rooms are extremely beloved, and we get it. The idea is that they are calm and promote a sense of stillness, which is greatly needed when life is crazy. Emily just talked about this, saying that when life is more chaotic, she wants less color in her home. However, this doesn’t mean less texture. Mixing materials and textures in neutral tones is what will make your space still feel cozy and inviting. It’s important! An extremely easy and affordable way to add more texture is through a lamp/lamp shade. Let me show you what I mean…

1. Arched Dimmable Rattan Floor Lamp | 2. Ganya Burlap Drum Lamp Shade | 3. Plumeria Black Arched Floor Lamp

It’s all about rattan and burlap! Not only are these materials beautiful and warm, but they also give off a soft, warm light. I gave an almost identical burlap lamp shade to one of my best friends, and it totally transformed her space, but in that perfectly subtle way. The kind of way you feel as much as you see. Look at the photo above as an example and imagine the floor lamp with a plain white shade. The room would still be pretty, but read a little flat. With the rattan shade, it adds depth and interest (just like #1 and #3 would do).

Design Problems: Boring Neutral Lighting

But maybe you’re like “Jess, I love color but am a little afraid of using or committing to too much of it.” The answer?? A colorful table lamp. I love few things more than a colorful/playful table lamp. They can really be the piece that adds your personality to the room, or a much-needed moment of color that doesn’t feel too committal. Here’s what I mean…

1. Xyanna Metal Desk Lamp | 2. Tavaner Vickery Metal Table Lamp | 3. Barletta Elio Table Lamp | 4. Lieselot Rainville Table Lamp

See! You can go bolder with a lamp like #1 or #4. But you can also just dip your toe in with options like #2 or #3. The trick here is to know if you want to have “A MOMENT” and contrast your space and color palette, or simply amplify a color that already exists in your design, like Kaitlin did in her living room in the photo above. It’s up to you!

Design Problems: “Too Simple” Subway Tile

This is NOT any shade on a wonderful classic subway tile. But if you want something that has a little more movement and interest (that’s still affordable), may I suggest a textured subway tile? Emily used a rectangle-shaped zellige tile in her Los Feliz kitchen, and it was stunning. I loved being in that kitchen so much. The way the light would hit the tiles made the whole kitchen come to life, showing the beautiful texture in the tiles but not in a way that was overwhelming. Here are some affordable options you can get at Wayfair!

1. Karma 4 in. x 4 in. Glazed Ceramic Wall Tile | 2. Karma 3 in. x 8 in. Glazed Ceramic Subway Wall Tile | 3. Brookline Polished 2″ x 10″ Ceramic Brick Look Subway Wall Tile | 4. Hoku 3 in. x 12 in. Glossy Ceramic Subway Wall Tile

You really can’t go wrong with a ceramic tile. All of these come in a handful of colors, but these were my personal favorites:) Emily’s big tip is to always make sure to mix up the tiles from the different boxes since there’s color variation. That way, you get an even color spread as opposed to one section being darker than another.

Design Problems: Bad Medicine Cabinet

I’m sure most of us have lived in homes that either lacked a medicine cabinet or had one that wasn’t the best (aka ugly). Well, lucky for you, this design problem is the easiest to fix at Wayfair. They have so many options that you’ll absolutely find what you need. Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Garnes Recessed or Surface Mount Framed Medicine Cabinet | 2. Gervon Round Wall Mounted Medicine Cabinet | 3. Farmhouse Recessed Metal Bathroom Medicine Cabinet

If your bathroom doesn’t have a recessed medicine cabinet already, that’s ok! #1 and #2 are surface-mounted, so you can hang them on any wall, no big wall holes necessary:) I am sure into the round one because it’s a little unexpected and cool!

Design Problems: Little To No Bathroom Floor Space

Speaking of bathroom storage, don’t forget about the wall-mounted cabinet (different from a medicine cabinet). Especially when you have limited square footage, make the most of your walls. A cute wall cabinet or even shower caddy can really elevate your washroom and perfectly decrease the visual clutter that so easily accumulates. These are our finds:

1. Bathroom Storage Cabinet | 2. Drill-Free Wall-Mounted Shower Organizer | 3. Wall-mounted Striped Bathroom Cabinet

How sweet are these little wood cabinets? You get both open and closed storage, and an added organic texture to the room. The perfect solution to the design problems of a small, storage-less bathroom. But if you just need a better way to hold all of your shower products, I LOVE these black organizers. They look so clean and chic and come in two different sizes.

Design Problems: Too Many Bed Pillows

Emily has long been an advocate for the single lumbar bed accent pillow. And I have to agree with her. As shown in the photo above, that’s exactly what I did in my bedroom, and I couldn’t love it more. It makes it so much easier to make your bed – one and done. However, as you can see, I didn’t choose an extra-long pillow, so you have size options:)

But here’s an example of a longer one for reference, so you can get a better gauge of what is going to work for you.

1. Liv Throw Pillow | 2. Rectangular Cotton Pillow | 3. Lincoln Accent Pillow

These are three we really liked! Chris Loves Julia makes awesome pillows that are available on Wayfair, and that’s the line that #1 and #3 are from. A slight pattern is an easy way to make very simple bedding look more interesting. But solids are great too! I love it when a solid has one small detail that adds a little something, like the fringe on #2. Subtle but perfect.

Design Problems: Bad Kitchen Organization

One of the biggest design problems almost all of us face is a lack of organization and function. I waited at least a year to finally get a flatware organizer, and when I did, my life was 30% better! It took almost no time to order, and I couldn’t believe I waited as long as I did. So here are a handful of things we think will do the same.

1. Malaree Slide-Out Shelf Soft Close Rails Wood Pull Out Tray Organizer | 2. Protective Cabinet Liner | 3. Stackable Cabinet Organizer Shelf (Set of 2) | 4. Bamboo Expandable Silverware Drawer Organizer

These slide-out shelves are my dream! I don’t have any cabinets where I could install them in my current kitchen, but they remain on the future wish list. Since we’re on the design problems of shelves, getting some shelf risers also maximizes storage space! Oh, and don’t be like me and wait to get a proper flatware drawer organizer, promise?? Finally, I really loved the idea of this protective cabinet liner. We all know leaks and spills can happen under the sink, so why not get a preventive option and save yourself from things like mold?

I know there are so many other design problems we could have covered, but lucky for you, you can head here to the Wayfair Hot Summer Sale to solve even more! Let’s get these issues fixed so we can actually spend time just enjoying our homes and Summer activities.

Love you, mean it.

*Thank you to Wayfair for partnering with us on this blog post.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | from: Portland Project Pantry Reveal