Decor choices can be overwhelming, no? From Pinterest to television to magazines, we are constantly being reminded as to how quickly trends can change, the do's, the don'ts and the what-were-you-thinkings when it comes to decorating.
I want to dispel a myth or two about how you should (or should not) decorate. If you are currently living in your forever home (no plans to sell within the next 5-10 years or your last residence until your kids put you in a really nice, 24 hour butler service nursing home complete with spa) then traditional rules do not apply. For the most part.
1) Your home should be a reflection of you and your family. Modern? Traditional? Eclectic?
2) Your home should be comfortable.
3) Your home should be livable.
4) Your home should be functional.
We took on a home not long ago that was in desperate need of an design intervention. This beautifully laid out home had not only been badly built (we had to address and fix those issues as well) it had been horribly decorated. Horrible is a strong word, no? It was horrible. Really.
Having heard the history of the previous owners I had no problem believing that the house had a huge impact on how they were living. The colors were aggressive, bold, had no rhyme or reason and just looking at those colors made me feel agitated. Yes, agitated.
Home should be your sanctuary. Today's world can sometimes sadden me - we are overworked, often underpaid and scrounging to make ends meet yet we are constantly connected to our phones, our computers, our work. We all need a place to unwind and what better place to do that than home?
You should want to unwind, relax, unload and BREATHE the minute you walk in the door. And you can. No, really you can.
1. Paint: Color has a HUGE impact on our lives. Color is meant to make a statement, yes. But it should be geared to make the statement YOU want. Soft or carefully selected bright colors to soothe or bold, brash color to provoke? It's your choice. Consider the room, the lighting, the environment first. What do you want to accomplish in that room?
2. Clutter: Oh the dreaded clutter. I am not suggesting you part with your treasured collectibles. I am merely suggesting you control them. Find them a spot, a niche of their own. Mail, long forgotten papers? Trash them! Nothing clutters the mind like a cluttered home. If you can adopt the "everything in its place and a place for everything " way of life your general, overall happiness gauge just went up :-)
3. Functionality: Is your home functional? Here's a thought...it's not because the previous owners or the builder of your home called the dining room the dining room that you have to use it for the dining room. Capiche? Maybe your family room would make a better dining room? May be you don't need the dining room at all but it would make an outstanding home office? There's the box again. DO NOT feel stymied by your floor plan. Shake it up a little. Move it around. Make your home what you need it to be and not what people think it should be.
I will talk about this some more next week but let's start small, shall we? Try tackling numbers one through 3 and get back to me. Jot down your ideas, comb through magazines, find those interiors you love and make a plan. Unsure? Contact me. Baby steps. Baby steps before we go full throttle and change the way you look at your home forever.
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| Phancy will have you relaxed in no time. |
