Room decorating doesn't have to be difficult, time-consuming or costly, it can be a very enjoyable experience with a bit of creativity and inventiveness. Here are three very easy DIY Room Decor Ideas taken from my newly decorated bedroom:

1) Flower Holders

For these cute flower holders, simply paint some recycled jars and add brightly coloured flowers. It's a good idea to look around and see if you have any paint testers lying around the house before going out to buy paint specifically. I used two different testers I had from when I was deciding what colour to paint my walls so the jars now fit in with the colour scheme of the room. One coat of paint will suffice and all that's left to do after they have dried is to add some beautiful flowers. I used artificial ones that I bought very cheaply but of course you can use fresh flowers as long as you remember to look after them! 

2) Stationery Organiser 

To make this handy stationery organiser, you will need:

• 9 toilet rolls (start collecting them now!)
• Craft glue 
• Cardboard from an old cereal box
• Ribbon
• Paint (again, I used paint testers for this project)

First of all, cut out a 15 cm x 15 cm square from an old cereal box, this will be the base of the stationery organiser. Next, paint the grey side of the cardboard with one of your paints. After that, it's time to paint the toilet rolls with whatever colours you have chosen. I took three different paint testers and painted three toilet rolls with each one. Once all of the paint has fully dried, line the bottom circle of each toilet roll with craft glue and press each one firmly down on the cardboard square, making sure that the toilet rolls fit together snugly. Finally, wrap a pretty ribbon around the completed organiser and glue it in place. Add a cute little bow before filling up your new stationery organiser with pencils, pens and highlighters. Tah-dah!

3) Floral String Lights

I've always loved the idea of fairy lights in my room, they add such a warm atmosphere to any space. These battery operated floral string lights from Penneys are just gorgeous. You can get so many different variations of string/fairy lights online or in homeware stores and battery operated ones are, in my opinion, the best as you don't have to deal with long wires and plugs. I attached my floral lights with sellotape along the top and sides of my wardrobe, garland style. Simple. The soft glow they give off makes my room feel so cozy.

Doireann 

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Get Creative Series: Part 1 - Photography

This year, more than others, I've really broadened my creativity. I've started a blog, I've began taking photographs with a more critical eye and I've developed, even further, my taste in music. But being creative can involve a whole lot more than just the few things I have mentioned. From fashion and food, to art and even dancing, the possibilities of outlets through which you can express your creativity are endless. Over the next short while I'm going to be posting some of the ways I like to chill out/enjoy myself through creativity and I hope these ideas will also help you to awaken your artistry. The first topic in my Get Creative series of posts is the art of photography. Hope you like it!

This photo was taken with my smartphone's 5MP camera,
proving that expensive photography equipment isn't always
needed for impressive results

Start Snapping

Photography is something I only began to appreciate and take a bit more seriously in recent months. I mostly just use my smartphone (with its humble 5MP camera) or a pretty basic 10MP Fujifilm digital camera as I don't think pricey SLR cameras are always necessary when starting out. I find that using your smartphone wisely and trying out different photo editing apps can give just as promising results.

For my Instagram account (@lifebeautyblogger), I sometimes edit my photos with an app called AfterFocus and then use a softening filter like Walden, Valencia or Nashville to give a nice finishing touch. Other times, I leave  photo just the way it is, if I am already happy with the colour and lighting.

An untouched photo I took this morning

The same photo edited, as described above, for Instagram

The most important aspect to keep in mind while taking photographs is, of course, lighting. Also, consider the photograph as a whole; the background is equally as important as the subject, and clutter will only take from the picture. Lastly, always keep your eyes wide open as you never know when the perfect photo opportunity may arise (and I'm not talking about selfies!) whilst exploring a bustling street or strolling along a quiet country lane.

A recent unedited photo I took while on a boat to the Aran Islands.
This was also taken on my smartphone.