I am definitely a pattern and texture girl.
When I'm shopping, I'm constantly picking things up to see what they feel like. Whether I'm shopping for clothes, home decor, cloth for sewing projects.....I always do this.
Here are some glimpses of some of my favorite patterns and textures.
Guess what? All of these live in the same place.....my living room. Scrolling through them makes me a little dizzy. Just looking at them you might think that this could never work. That it would be too busy. That it would just be too much. But, when balanced with solid colors and neutrals on the walls and with furniture, I think it works just fine. I kind of like it. Actually, I love it! It's my favorite room of my house.
A lot of people have asked me for advice on decorating their homes and here it is....
just go with what you like. What are you drawn to naturally?
Plain and simple.
Here are my thoughts on decorating:
1. Just fill the room with things you like and don't worry too much about trying to match things. Typically, people tend to like the same types of things, so.....once you get them all in one room they will just all go together.
2. Building a room or a look takes time. Don't just rush off and buy a bunch of stuff all from one store. If you do you will be sitting around later not liking half of the things that surround you. Don't buy something just to fill a space. Be OK with the room being "unfinished" until you find what you really like.
3. Invest when quality matters and don't when it doesn't. I invested in a nicer dining table/chairs, bed, sofa, and one large chair when I bought my house. Pretty much all of the other furniture has come from yard sales, thrift stores, and hand-me-downs from family members. Also, I'm not above the occasional perfectly-good-piece-of-furniture-sitting-by-the-side-of-the-road-or-dumpster.
4. The items in your room should mean something. Don't buy something just because you think you should fill the space on that shelf or you think the wall looks bare over that chair. That's a good way to end up with a bunch of junk, not to mention an empty bank account. Wait until you see something you really want and then find a space for it. This brings me back to the point in #2. Don't just rush off and buy a bunch of stuff all from one store. Those things don't have as much meaning to you. Sitting in my living room typing this right now I can see:
a beautiful blanket I bought in the markets in Lima, Peru
a piece of handmade, framed art given to me one Christmas by a friend
some vintage suitcases I found antiquing while my friend was visiting from Portland
an antique birdcage I received as a birthday gift one year
my grandmother's bookshelf
a woven African basket I got at a craft fair
decorations my sister and brother-in-law have given as gifts for varied occasions
the side-tables my friends and I sanded down and painted (after we sawed off the horrendous eagle spanning the entire length of the table)
Now, yes I also have many "generic" things. My house is not filled with amazing one-of-a-kind treasures. I'm also looking at a chair from Walmart, a TV console from Bed, Bath, and Beyond, pillows from TJ Maxx and Pier 1, lamps from Hobby Lobby, and decorations from Micheal's. The point is this--- a room that has meaning takes time, but this is the kind you will love.
5. Don't worry about matching. Choose a general color scheme and just go with it. Don't try too hard. If you like it, try it. Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns and textures. This is what adds depth to a room.
6. Don't try to copy someone else's style. You already have a style whether you know it or not. Embrace yours. If you don't know what your style is....what colors are you drawn to? What textures are your favorite? What things do you think are pretty? What kind of details do you like? That's your style.
7. Have fun. Decorating should not frustrate you. It's a chance to express yourself. When you get frustrated with it, just stop. Come back to it later. Decisions made out of the pressure to "just get it done" are never good.
No comments:
Post a Comment