Graduation season is almost upon us, and as you’re getting ready to close out one chapter with your grad and begin a new one, it’s a good time to start thinking about a gift to congratulate them on their incredible accomplishments. Whether you know a student finishing high school or college, these gift ideas will carry them from one journey to the next. See our graduation gift guide below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

1. Noise-cancelling headphones will help block out loud roommates, chatty coworkers, or anything else that distracts them from getting *ish* done.

2. A wireless charging station for all of their techy gadgets will be the gift they use time and time again. Why does everything always need to be charged?!

3. Jewelry is a sentimental way to celebrate the grad. This compass necklace or bracelet will serve as a reminder to follow their own path.

4. A book of lessons, wise words, and funny anecdotes will inspire, instill joy, and provide a little motivation.

5. This inspirational makeup bag, filled with all her favorites and maybe a gift card or two, would make a great gift!

6. A weighted blanket will keep them warm, help reduce anxiety, and replicate a warm hug from mom when she’s miles away.

7. The tassel was worth the hassle! These funny socks would make the perfect addition to a DIY graduation gift basket.

8. And if they’re a coffee lover, this mug is another basket filler that will get tons of use.

9. A tool kit is a must!! This is one of those gifts that they don’t know they want but will be grateful they have when they’re in a pinch.

10. This phone wallet is super convenient. Pop it on the back of your phone, tuck your cards and cash in, and boom…out the door you go.

11. This themed gift box comes with an “adult merit badge” coffee mug, 400 different fun facts, and a motivational book—a little bit of everything!

12. A 3-piece luggage set will get a bunch of mileage. While they make think it will be for all of their exotic adventures, their broke selves will really be using it for all their trips back home so they can do laundry for free.

13. Who doesn’t love a sweet treat?? This tin of delicious cookies will be gone in the blink of an eye, but the sugar high will keep them going for hours.

Shop Graduation Gifts

Luggage Set
Gift Set
Book
Cookies
Weighted Blanket
Tool Kit
Phone Wallet
Headphones
Charging Station
Bracelet
Necklace
Makeup Bag
Socks
Mug
a graduation themed illustration

We’re back with another room redo from Kristy! This time she upgraded her out-of-date dining room with a fresh coat of paint and some new furniture and accessories – and it changed the whole vibe. From dark and drab to bright and beautiful, her dining room transformation is one for the books! Take a look at the redo below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

This is the dining room before – not bad, but it definitely needed a little love! A fresh coat of paint and some new, carefully curated furniture and accessories would make this a brand-new space. I couldn’t wait to get rid of the beat-up table and the decades-old curtains.

Step one: pick the paint color! This gorgeous green is “Eden” from Hearth and Hand with Magnolia.

Here you can see the room mid-transformation. The new green paint color is sleek and contemporary, and blends seamlessly with the other upgrades I’ve made in my home!

A new dining table set and light fixture took the old, dark feel of the room and turned it into a fresh, modern farmhouse vibe! The light wood table and neutral chairs are classy and sophisticated, and the open-frame pendant light is eye-catching without being overwhelming.

Another small change that made a huge difference was replacing the old valances with these gorgeous sheer curtains and new curtain rods! They make the room look soft and bright, allowing plenty of natural light in while still feeling cozy and warm. See how I made that beautiful floral arrangement here.

And the completed look!! This new rug helps to open up the space and add a little dimension. It also helps the room feel finished – it ties together all the pieces. You can grab the faux marble-topped side table here, and check out the dining table decor here.

Thanks for reading! Let us know what you think of Kristy’s dining room redo in the comments below xo.

We’re back with another room redo from Kristy! This time she upgraded her out-of-date dining room with a fresh coat of paint and some new furniture and accessories – and it changed the whole vibe. From dark and drab to bright and beautiful, her dining room transformation is one for the books! Take a look at the redo below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

This is the dining room before – not bad, but it definitely needed a little love! A fresh coat of paint and some new, carefully curated furniture and accessories would make this a brand-new space. I couldn’t wait to get rid of the beat-up table and the decades-old curtains.

Step one: pick the paint color! This gorgeous green is “Eden” from Hearth and Hand with Magnolia.

Here you can see the room mid-transformation. The new green paint color is sleek and contemporary, and blends seamlessly with the other upgrades I’ve made in my home!

A new dining table set and light fixture took the old, dark feel of the room and turned it into a fresh, modern farmhouse vibe! The light wood table and neutral chairs are classy and sophisticated, and the open-frame pendant light is eye-catching without being overwhelming.

Another small change that made a huge difference was replacing the old valances with these gorgeous sheer curtains and new curtain rods! They make the room look soft and bright, allowing plenty of natural light in while still feeling cozy and warm. See how I made that beautiful floral arrangement here.

And the completed look!! This new rug helps to open up the space and add a little dimension. It also helps the room feel finished – it ties together all the pieces. You can grab the faux marble-topped side table here, and check out the dining table decor here.

Thanks for reading! Let us know what you think of Kristy’s dining room redo in the comments below xo.

We’re back with another room redo from Kristy! This time she upgraded her out-of-date dining room with a fresh coat of paint and some new furniture and accessories – and it changed the whole vibe. From dark and drab to bright and beautiful, her dining room transformation is one for the books! Take a look at the redo below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

This is the dining room before – not bad, but it definitely needed a little love! A fresh coat of paint and some new, carefully curated furniture and accessories would make this a brand-new space. I couldn’t wait to get rid of the beat-up table and the decades-old curtains.

Step one: pick the paint color! This gorgeous green is “Eden” from Hearth and Hand with Magnolia.

Here you can see the room mid-transformation. The new green paint color is sleek and contemporary, and blends seamlessly with the other upgrades I’ve made in my home!

A new dining table set and light fixture took the old, dark feel of the room and turned it into a fresh, modern farmhouse vibe! The light wood table and neutral chairs are classy and sophisticated, and the open-frame pendant light is eye-catching without being overwhelming.

Another small change that made a huge difference was replacing the old valances with these gorgeous sheer curtains and new curtain rods! They make the room look soft and bright, allowing plenty of natural light in while still feeling cozy and warm. See how I made that beautiful floral arrangement here.

And the completed look!! This new rug helps to open up the space and add a little dimension. It also helps the room feel finished – it ties together all the pieces. You can grab the faux marble-topped side table here, and check out the dining table decor here.

Thanks for reading! Let us know what you think of Kristy’s dining room redo in the comments below xo.

Sometimes your home needs a refresh. And not just a new coat of paint or some different decor pieces, but a total revamp…a whole new vibe for a space that may be outdated and inconvenient. While the thought of completely redoing a room may be overwhelming, it’s easier than you might think! With a little elbow grease and a lot of imagination, you can transform any space into one that’s inviting, relaxed, and comfortable. Check out Kristy’s complete living room renovation below.

Before

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Kristy’s old living room was definitely outdated, and this room has been on her “to-do” list since she bought her house. But, as we all know, life happens, and the redo was pushed back more than a few times. Finally though, she had enough of the “casino carpet” as she calls it, the old tiled fireplace, and the lack of storage space, and she put her plan into action! Her vision: bright and clean, yet cozy and comfortable, with lots of shelving for all her decorations and a more favorable layout for her family to enjoy and grow into. Her modern farmhouse living room was ready to come to life.

During

Goodbye casino carpet!! Kristy’s least favorite part of her old living room was the carpet. This bad boy was getting ripped up and tossed out and replaced with gorgeous new hardwood flooring. The dark color was chosen to complement the rest of the light, bright colors that would dominate the space, and give the room a sleek, modern look.

Once the floor was done, it was time to get started on some structural work. Two of those big projects were swapping the old fireplace for a new electric one, and installing three separate floor-to-ceiling shelving units with shelves on top and closed-door cabinets on the bottom. Now she would have a fireplace she could actually use and tons of extra storage space…plus areas to decorate and display her favorite keepsakes!

A couple of simple changes that made a huge difference were adding shiplap to the walls between the shelving units and replacing the overhead light and fan with recessed lighting. The shiplap adds texture and dimension to the space, while the recessed lighting gives it a clean, bright look. The lighting was strategically placed to highlight the shelving units and where the seating areas would be.

After

And it’s done!! Can you believe this transformation?! The living room is a totally new space and it’s ready to be cleaned up and decorated! See how Kristy pulled the whole room together below.

Couch Set | TV Stand | End Table | Area Rug

The furniture is really what brings the whole look together. The couch set, which includes a couch, love seat, and recliner, are made from soft fabric in a dark gray color, which is ideal for Kristy. With two kids and two dogs, she wanted a darker color that still looked clean and modern. The farmhouse-style TV stand has sliding doors to easily hide game consoles and TV accessories, and the white wooden end table has deep shelves inside for plenty of extra storage, plus USB ports for easy charging of everyone’s electronics. The shag area rug, with its beige and cream boho pattern, is stylish and contemporary, and soft enough for the kids to hang out on.

Blanket | Pillows (or these similar ones)

Comfort is key! This soft knit blanket and these gorgeous faux fur pillows add extra coziness to the couches. Perfect for snuggling up by the fire, cuddling during a movie, or taking a short Sunday afternoon nap (one can dream, right?) these cream-colored accessories bring a softness to the gray couches and perfectly complement the area rug to tie the whole look together.

One of Kristy’s main goals with this living room revamp was altering the layout so she could make a dedicated space for her kids to hang out and relax. With the TV hung on the back wall and the furniture placed against the adjacent wall and facing the TV, there is now a large open area for her kids to play and watch TV and movies.

24″ Clock | Decocrated Home Decor Box

Shelves for days, baby!! Look at all that space to decorate and display! These shelving units are Kristy’s favorite part of the redo. As someone who loves to swap decorations with the seasons and holidays, she now has plenty of room to showcase her style and really give the space some personality. Her go-to for decorating? Decocrated!! A lot of her pieces come from the home decor subscription box and she loves being able to add to her collection each season when a new box arrives. Curious as to how you can make the most of your shelving space and wow the world with your decorating skills? Stay tuned for our post on how to decorate shelves!!

And just like that, a brand new living room that’s light, open, and modern, but still inviting and cozy. Now, of course, you’ll probably need to enlist a little help if you want to revamp a room like this. Most of these projects aren’t DIY, and expert knowledge is key to a flawless transformation. Kristy had the awesome crew from P&M Builders, LLC, help her out with this one, and they couldn’t have done a better job. A HUGE thank you to those guys for helping her gorgeous living room vision come to life and making this space one worth hanging out in…all the time.

As Kristy prepares for the holiday season, this living room is going to look like a winter wonderland. Be on the lookout for our how-to guide on decorating for the holidays, and let us now what you think of this amazing transformation!!

Sometimes your home needs a refresh. And not just a new coat of paint or some different decor pieces, but a total revamp…a whole new vibe for a space that may be outdated and inconvenient. While the thought of completely redoing a room may be overwhelming, it’s easier than you might think! With a little elbow grease and a lot of imagination, you can transform any space into one that’s inviting, relaxed, and comfortable. Check out Kristy’s complete living room renovation below.

Before

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Kristy’s old living room was definitely outdated, and this room has been on her “to-do” list since she bought her house. But, as we all know, life happens, and the redo was pushed back more than a few times. Finally though, she had enough of the “casino carpet” as she calls it, the old tiled fireplace, and the lack of storage space, and she put her plan into action! Her vision: bright and clean, yet cozy and comfortable, with lots of shelving for all her decorations and a more favorable layout for her family to enjoy and grow into. Her modern farmhouse living room was ready to come to life.

During

Goodbye casino carpet!! Kristy’s least favorite part of her old living room was the carpet. This bad boy was getting ripped up and tossed out and replaced with gorgeous new hardwood flooring. The dark color was chosen to complement the rest of the light, bright colors that would dominate the space, and give the room a sleek, modern look.

Once the floor was done, it was time to get started on some structural work. Two of those big projects were swapping the old fireplace for a new electric one, and installing three separate floor-to-ceiling shelving units with shelves on top and closed-door cabinets on the bottom. Now she would have a fireplace she could actually use and tons of extra storage space…plus areas to decorate and display her favorite keepsakes!

A couple of simple changes that made a huge difference were adding shiplap to the walls between the shelving units and replacing the overhead light and fan with recessed lighting. The shiplap adds texture and dimension to the space, while the recessed lighting gives it a clean, bright look. The lighting was strategically placed to highlight the shelving units and where the seating areas would be.

After

And it’s done!! Can you believe this transformation?! The living room is a totally new space and it’s ready to be cleaned up and decorated! See how Kristy pulled the whole room together below.

Couch Set | TV Stand | End Table | Area Rug

The furniture is really what brings the whole look together. The couch set, which includes a couch, love seat, and recliner, are made from soft fabric in a dark gray color, which is ideal for Kristy. With two kids and two dogs, she wanted a darker color that still looked clean and modern. The farmhouse-style TV stand has sliding doors to easily hide game consoles and TV accessories, and the white wooden end table has deep shelves inside for plenty of extra storage, plus USB ports for easy charging of everyone’s electronics. The shag area rug, with its beige and cream boho pattern, is stylish and contemporary, and soft enough for the kids to hang out on.

Blanket | Pillows (or these similar ones)

Comfort is key! This soft knit blanket and these gorgeous faux fur pillows add extra coziness to the couches. Perfect for snuggling up by the fire, cuddling during a movie, or taking a short Sunday afternoon nap (one can dream, right?) these cream-colored accessories bring a softness to the gray couches and perfectly complement the area rug to tie the whole look together.

One of Kristy’s main goals with this living room revamp was altering the layout so she could make a dedicated space for her kids to hang out and relax. With the TV hung on the back wall and the furniture placed against the adjacent wall and facing the TV, there is now a large open area for her kids to play and watch TV and movies.

24″ Clock | Decocrated Home Decor Box

Shelves for days, baby!! Look at all that space to decorate and display! These shelving units are Kristy’s favorite part of the redo. As someone who loves to swap decorations with the seasons and holidays, she now has plenty of room to showcase her style and really give the space some personality. Her go-to for decorating? Decocrated!! A lot of her pieces come from the home decor subscription box and she loves being able to add to her collection each season when a new box arrives. Curious as to how you can make the most of your shelving space and wow the world with your decorating skills? Stay tuned for our post on how to decorate shelves!!

And just like that, a brand new living room that’s light, open, and modern, but still inviting and cozy. Now, of course, you’ll probably need to enlist a little help if you want to revamp a room like this. Most of these projects aren’t DIY, and expert knowledge is key to a flawless transformation. Kristy had the awesome crew from P&M Builders, LLC, help her out with this one, and they couldn’t have done a better job. A HUGE thank you to those guys for helping her gorgeous living room vision come to life and making this space one worth hanging out in…all the time.

As Kristy prepares for the holiday season, this living room is going to look like a winter wonderland. Be on the lookout for our how-to guide on decorating for the holidays, and let us now what you think of this amazing transformation!!

Laundry is one of those household chores that pretty much needs to be done constantly. There’s always something that needs to be washed, whether it’s bedding or towels or the clothes of every single person in your family. If you don’t have a large space for your laundry room, this chore can seem even more unbearable as the dirty clothes and vast array of detergents and cleaning products start to pile up. These items from Amazon will keep your laundry room organized and coordinated, making laundry day a little less daunting. See the essentials below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Give yourself some additional workspace with this washer dryer countertop – just install it on top of your washer and dryer and you’ll have an instant countertop to use for a folding area or extra storage. Add this easy-to-install, peel-and-stick distressed wood faux backsplash for a little extra flair on any wall space, and place this funny floor runner in front of your machines for some cushion while you work. These floating shelves and this ironing board hanger are great for out-of-the-way storage space that’s also stylish. Keep this woven laundry basket close to throw dirty laundry in that’s waiting to be washed, and this drying rack can easily fold and expand to save space when you’re not using. This laundry room sign brings a little bit of fashionable fun to your laundry room, and this apothecary jar set is perfect for storing detergent pods or fabric softener beads. Keep your dryer sheets in this farmhouse style dryer sheet dispenser and empty your dryer lint into this cute and convenient magnetic lint box. This lost socks basket will give those lonely socks a place to stay while waiting for their solemates, and use this fabric storage basket for storing extra detergent or cleaning supplies.

Shop the Products

Fabric Storage Basket
Fabric Storage Basket
Lost Socks Basket
Lost Socks Basket
Magnetic Lint Box
Magnetic Lint Box
Dryer Sheet Dispenser
Dryer Sheet Dispenser
Apothecary Jar Set
Apothecary Jar Set
Laundry Room Sign
Laundry Room Sign
Drying Rack
Drying Rack
Woven Laundry Basket
Woven Laundry Basket
Ironing Board Hanger
Ironing Board Hanger
Floating Shelves
Floating Shelves
Floor Runner
Floor Runner
Distressed Wood Faux Backsplash
Distressed Wood Faux Backsplash
Washer Dryer Countertop
Washer Dryer Countertop
fashion man love people

Laundry is one of those household chores that pretty much needs to be done constantly. There’s always something that needs to be washed, whether it’s bedding or towels or the clothes of every single person in your family. If you don’t have a large space for your laundry room, this chore can seem even more unbearable as the dirty clothes and vast array of detergents and cleaning products start to pile up. These items from Amazon will keep your laundry room organized and coordinated, making laundry day a little less daunting. See the essentials below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Give yourself some additional workspace with this washer dryer countertop – just install it on top of your washer and dryer and you’ll have an instant countertop to use for a folding area or extra storage. Add this easy-to-install, peel-and-stick distressed wood faux backsplash for a little extra flair on any wall space, and place this funny floor runner in front of your machines for some cushion while you work. These floating shelves and this ironing board hanger are great for out-of-the-way storage space that’s also stylish. Keep this woven laundry basket close to throw dirty laundry in that’s waiting to be washed, and this drying rack can easily fold and expand to save space when you’re not using. This laundry room sign brings a little bit of fashionable fun to your laundry room, and this apothecary jar set is perfect for storing detergent pods or fabric softener beads. Keep your dryer sheets in this farmhouse style dryer sheet dispenser and empty your dryer lint into this cute and convenient magnetic lint box. This lost socks basket will give those lonely socks a place to stay while waiting for their solemates, and use this fabric storage basket for storing extra detergent or cleaning supplies.

Shop the Products

Fabric Storage Basket
Fabric Storage Basket
Lost Socks Basket
Lost Socks Basket
Magnetic Lint Box
Magnetic Lint Box
Dryer Sheet Dispenser
Dryer Sheet Dispenser
Apothecary Jar Set
Apothecary Jar Set
Laundry Room Sign
Laundry Room Sign
Drying Rack
Drying Rack
Woven Laundry Basket
Woven Laundry Basket
Ironing Board Hanger
Ironing Board Hanger
Floating Shelves
Floating Shelves
Floor Runner
Floor Runner
Distressed Wood Faux Backsplash
Distressed Wood Faux Backsplash
Washer Dryer Countertop
Washer Dryer Countertop