I’m so excited to share today’s blog post with you. No recipes today. Today I have loads of pictures to inspire you, and some helpful decorating tips to share with you. I hope it gives you some great ideas to use in your own home and gets your creative juices flowing. You don’t need a professional designer to decorate your home. Follow the simple tips I’m sharing with you today and you can get your home looking just as beautiful as what you see in those designer magazines. Your home will be an unique expression of who you are and, even better, you can have loads of fun doing it too.
I’ve gotten so many requests from friends to help them decorate their homes. I have to confess, I have no formal training as an interior designer, I just love to do it and I seem to have an eye for it. Apparently, over the years I’ve learned a lot about the basic principles of interior design. In all honesty, I learned mostly from my many mistakes. Let me tell you, I made some doozies over the years. Some were quite expensive mistakes that weren’t easy or inexpensive to correct. The mauve, floral wallpaper that covered the entire first floor, yes the entire first floor of my previous house comes to mind.
My tendency to over-decorate with decidedly feminine touches filled every empty space. I decorated with the idea that if a little was good, layer upon layer of decor was even better. I collected far too much kitschy, trendy decor and settled for inexpensive, poorly made furnishings instead of being patient and saving up to purchase the good quality pieces I really wanted.
I worked feverishly to complete all the decorating as quickly as possible and then neglected to change it up often enough to keep it looking fresh and interesting. Yes my house was stuck in a style rut for many years, with way too much stuff. If something looked off, my solution was to add even more stuff. Every flat surface, bare spot on the walls, every shelf, and corner was filled with decor. I had no concept of the importance of negative space. If there was an empty spot in the house, I felt compelled to fill it with decor. I wasted so much money purchasing trendy nick-knacks that quickly went out of style…sigh. Does any of this sound familiar?
Repurpose & refinish old items to give them a new lease on life.
When we moved into our current home it was a decorating blessing. I had the opportunity to start with a clean slate. Much of what worked in our previous home didn’t work in our new home. It forced me to purge unwanted items and live with less for several months. It also provided me the opportunity to repurpose and refinish certain pieces for our new home. Not only was this an affordable solution but I now have truly unique pieces that you won’t find in anyone else’s home.
Don’t toss out those sturdy well made wood furniture pieces, if you love their shape, refinish them instead to give them new life. Learn How To Paint Wood Furniture Like a Professional. A few cans of spray paint can quickly turn dated wood items into stylish updated pieces that you can enjoy for many years to come.
If you love the shape, it’s easy to give the piece an update with new finishes. Learn How to Refinish Wood Furniture with Professional Results. Saving money on refinishing older pieces you still love leaves more room in the budget for the pieces you still want to purchase.
Learn How to Chalk Paint Wood Furniture. It’s easier to do than you might imagine, and you will end up with a beautiful piece that’s a one of a kind custom item you won’t find anywhere else. One of the key elements in creating a curated home is using unique pieces that you’ve collected over time and won’t find purusing the isles of Hobby Lobby or Home Goods.
Less is more.
One big lesson I learned from living in unfinished open spaces for a few months is that I love how calm and relaxing it is living in a space that isn’t filled to the brim with stuff. This was a huge revelation to me! Not only do I feel calmer in my surroundings but I am able to appreciate the items I do actually choose to display since there are less of them competing for my attention. An added bonus? Cleaning is so much easier when you have less items to clean. Gotta love that!
Start with a solid foundation. Take your time and purchase the good quality foundational pieces that you love; sofas, dining room tables, cabinets, chairs. Try to choose timeless, classic pieces that won’t quickly go out of style. These are the investment pieces you will live with for many years. Take your time and pick the pieces you truly love.
Stick to a neutral color palette. This neutral foundation allows you to easily add your personality to your home. Those decor items will make it really unique and add the Je ne sais quoi; that appealing quality that sets your home apart from everyone else’s.
Add Texture.
Resist the urge to fill your home with trendy tchotchkes! Look for more subtle, unique ways to add personality to your home. Texture is a great way to add interest to your home. Look for nubby pillows, fluffy blankets, chunky baskets, fill a wooden bowl with pinecones or place balls of yarn in a bowl for an unexpected textural accent during the cold weather months.
Are you a wine lover? What about adding texture with a backsplash made from all those corks you’ve been saving? It’s such a unique way to add not only texture and interest, but it allows your personality to shine through without adding any clutter or kitschy, dust collecting tchotchkes to your home.
Read the Easy Trash To Treasure DIY: Cork Wine Bar Backsplash post to learn how you can make one for your home if you have a bunch of corks laying around like I did.
Functional decor.
Functional decor is my favorite way to add personality to my home. Use functional everyday items as accents for your home and use them in unexpected ways when you can. Choose pretty everyday items when you can. It’s especially easy to do in the kitchen.
Resist the urge to over-decorate.
Pick a few strategic spots in your home to display decor items. Resist the urge to cover every horizontal surface of your home with nick-knacks. Focus on adding accents in just a few prominent places in each room; coffee table, fireplace mantle, sofa table, side table, dining room table, kitchen island. This makes it easy change up the decor to reflect the seasons which keeps your home looking fresh and interesting with a minimum of effort.
My favorite decor spot is my kitchen island. It’s the spot where everyone congregates. I have a beautiful wooden board that I use to corral any decorative items I set out. The items I display on my kitchen counter need to be both beautiful and functional. The easiest way to add interest is with natural items such as fresh flowers or greenery.
Repeat elements for a cohesive look.
Here at Nature Way it’s all about the birds. They flock to the fountain out back and we enjoy their sweet songs all year long. I love to display birds in my decor. A word of caution: use a restrained hand when displaying themed items. Too many and it will quickly look kitschy and contrived. Just a few subtle touches here and there are all that’s needed. Remember…less is more!
Add greenery.
Mixing natural elements with man made elements gives your home an organic touch that is both calming and relaxing. It softens a formal room and provides a more comfortable approachable feel. Besides looking beautiful they also serve a very useful purpose and clean the air in your home. Add them throughout your home for lovely natural accents.
I love using Pothos in my home. They are easy to grow and if cared for properly will stay full and tropically lush looking. They are a beautiful organic accent for your home. Learn How to Propagate Pothos. They are one of the best plants for beginners and even if you think you are cursed with a black thumb, it’s virtually impossible to kill them.
Utilitarian items can be beautiful.
Who says salt & pepper shakers can’t be beautiful? Display often used kitchen utensils in a beautiful, decorative white pitcher. Elevate a simple white butter dish on a decorative wooden cutting board. Use white pitchers as vases to display fresh cut flowers. Drape a decorative dish towel over the mixer. Instead off storing fresh parsley or cilantro in the crisper drawer of your fridge, display it a glass jar or small pitcher filled with water on the counter for a lovely natural pop of color.
Display one really special decorative item in a prominent location where it can be truly appreciated. Being a writer I searched for months looking for an antique typewriter. When I finally found one at an affordable price I brought it home and it sits prominently on the coffee table where I can enjoy it everyday.
You are never done decorating your home.
Have you ever walked through your home and really looked at it with an eye to how guests see it when they come to visit? Walk through your home with a critical eye. Start at the front door and take a look around. What are the first things guests see when they come in? Is there a pile of shoes at the door that may need a new home? Is there unopened mail and backpacks piled up in the entry? Look for better solutions to keep these areas clutter free.
Move items around in your house regularly so it doesn’t become stagnant. Nothing should be displayed in the same spot, in the same way, for more than a month of two. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune buying new tchotchkes to cover every flat surface in your home. Shop your home and use what you already have. At most, purchase just one new item to incorporate into your decor and freshen it up. Move things around, use a decorative piece from the living room in another room of the house. Concentrate on the key decorative spots in you house, updating and changing them regularly. This simple trick will keep your house looking fresh all the time. It will also keep you from getting bored with your house, and it’s an affordable way to keep it updated and interesting without spending a fortune.
Learn How to Create Vignettes. Placing items willy-nilly on every horizontal surface in your home will create a cluttered, chaotic feel in your home. Learn the designer trick that will make those items attractive accents in your home, and give it a designer touch. It’s something anyone can do. It doesn’t require any special training or purchasing any expensive items. All it takes is a little creativity and practice.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember a curated home takes time it won’t be done in a week, or even a month. It may take several months to get it looking the way you want it, and that’s ok. A curated home shouldn’t look like a four star hotel lobby where everything is all matchy-matchy perfect and devoid of all character. Resist the urge to fill your home with the latest trendy decorative items from Hobby Lobby or Home Goods. Take your time finding beautiful, unique accents. Your home should be a personal reflection of you and your family, and we all know families are anything but perfect. So give yourself some grace and relax. Slow down enough to enjoy the journey of curating a home that is as unique and interesting as you are.
Did You Find These Decor Tips Helpful?
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And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
Remember…Jesus ❤️’s you!