Family room storage & decor

My MIL bought me a cube storage unit for my birthday and I was so excited to put it up! I've wanted one of these for several years, ever since I saw my cousin, Rachel's. But you know how it is, I just never got around to purchasing it plus something was always occupying the wall where I wanted it. Once we moved my computer into the craft room, I was able to put the play kitchen on the computer wall (where I originally wanted it) and that left room for the cube! I'm excited about this for a couple reasons: 1. I just like how it looks, 2. I knew the unit would allow for decorating and 3. The canvas bins that fit perfectly in the unit have so much room for storing toys! The kids' toys always make it downstairs and add up little by little so this is a great, quick clean-up solution. Not that I want them to be lazy, but this provides easy access to more toys and less complaints about picking up toys and bringing them "all the way" upstairs. Of course, plenty of big toys still make it down that have to make the long, mountain-like climb up the stairs, but for the most part this is perfect. Bet ya didn't think I could talk so much about a cube, huh? Well, I sure proved you wrong. :)

I would've liked to get orange, purple or red bins because those are the pops of color in this room, but Target didn't have those, so I bought the neutral color and they work nicely. I bought the B lamp a long time ago on sale at Kirkland's and knew I'd eventually have a place for it. I originally made the subway art, frame and candle for the hall shelf, but like them better here. Will found the bird's nest in my parents' yard while helping my mom with yard work and gave it to Daniel and I as a gift. 

When the idea for the hall shelf started coming together, I knew I wanted to frame subway art about home and family. So I got to work making it- they never look like much but deciding the font, direction and placement of all the words takes me some time. I made the art specifically for our family and printed it out. I found a dollar frame at Michael's- or maybe Walmart- and chose paper from my stash to decorate the frame. Then cut everything to size, adhered the paper with modge podge and wah-la!

The candle was even easier than the frame. I made one for a Christmas gift last year and have wanted one for myself since. For the gift, I bought a really nice, scented candle but I knew mine was strictly for decor, so  I bought it at the dollar store. Then I added a rub-on phrase from my scrapbook supplies and that's it! A typical candle turned pretty decor in moments.

The cubes could hold a little more decor, but with little ones readily available and well aware this decorative piece holds their toys, I doubt I'll add any more. :)