In this day and age we hear a lot about feelings. We read about feelings in books, we listen to songs about feelings, so how do feelings relate to interior design, and our homes?
Is it more important how a room LOOKS or FEELS to you?
I can tell you what my answer is!
It's all about how it feels for me! I have often said anyone can decorate a pretty room by copying a picture out of a magazine, design book, or by buying everything in a vignette off of a design showroom floor.
Over the years I have been in many houses, but to be honest NOT that many HOMES!
Let me explain what I mean by that.......
A home should reflect the owners personality. The nicest compliment I ever received about my home was, "It looks just like YOU, it looks just like I thought it would!"
I was so touched by this compliment because this person GOT me! It wasn't so much about the colors, or the way I had things situated in the room, but more about ME, and my family and how it made our guest feel.
Homeowners today are so inundated with what are the latest trends, and they are told what things should look like that they somehow get lost in the mix.
Their homes become just another HOUSE with the things they THOUGHT they should have in their homes according to society.
Obviously these are my own personal opinions, and observations that I have come to conclude over the years working in the home design business.
So how do we make our homes stay true to who we are, and what we represent.?
I use to have my clients do a little homework before I would meet with them. Don't worry it's not homework for a grade, so there are no wrong answers. This is homework for discovery!
The one very important criteria is that you have to be is......
Totally honest with yourself!!
Easier said than done, trust me I know!!
I want you to get some magazines, or use your pinterest board, or instagram, and start pinning or saving pictures of rooms that just make you feel good. I actually don't even want you to be thinking about your home at this point. This is all about feelings.
Try your hardest to not look at rooms that you want to duplicate, just rooms that make you feel good. In fact, at this point I don't want you to even think about the actual decor. We will get to that later. We are going strictly by your initial reaction and how it makes you feel!!
Next I want you to choose 5-6 things in your home that you have had for more than 3-5 years that you absolutely love.
They don't even have to be out on display, it can even be a dish towel, or a favorite blouse just things that make you feel happy when you see them, or touch them.
Why are we doing this?
Because we are putting together
puzzle pieces. YOUR puzzle!
Now I want to go back to your pictures that you have saved. I want you to write down how they make you feel. Use some buzz words. For example, warm, cozy, comforted, light and airy, etc. You get the picture!! These are important words to remember because they are describing what you require in a room to feel at home.
Just to give you an idea of what I am talking about.....
My own personal buzz words are, inviting, peaceful, serene,fresh, crisp, clean, airy, understated elegance.
Now I want you to look at each picture again, and I want you to dissect it into what you like about it and what you don't like about it.
Remember it is just as important that you know what you DON'T like as what you DO like!! If we are firm on these two counts we will not be so easily swayed by the newest thing we see in the magazines, or a friends home.
EXAMPLE:
My Don't list would be things such as ornate, dark, cluttered, for my Like list it would read, clean lines, high contrast, colorful, airy, crisp, clean, peaceful, serene. Notice some of the same words I am using are also my buzz words. The puzzle is starting to become more complete!
Next I want you to put all the elements that you pulled from your belongings and write down the same type of buzz words that you did when you looked at your pictures. Are they the same or did some new feelings arise when you looked at your own belongings?
I also want you to become very in tune with the colors you seem to gravitate towards, are they high contrast, colorful or all neutrals?
Now do this with the textures as well. Do you prefer shiny over textured or matte finishes.
Look at the the style of furnishings, are they curvy, straight, ornate or simple.
If I were there I could analyze all of this for you, but since I am not I am trying to teach you how to view your home, and what you like objectively.
At this point you should have a list of words that you need a room to express. You should also have a list of things you Like a room to have.
This is your guide for future purchases and design ideas. This is your own personal map so to speak. Your puzzle pieces have been put together for you. Stay true to this and to yourself and your home will speak volumes about you as a homeowner.
Chances are in the past you liked your home, but you always felt something was missing. It just might be it was not reflecting your personality at all. With your list you will now have a better grip on what you want to achieve and what the outcome will be.
When you go to make a purchase keep that list with you, does the new purchase meet your criteria? Can you use your buzz words to describe your new purchase? If not don't try to talk yourself into it, that will only make you wind up with a home you don't love, nor will it reflect your personality. (This is so important!!) Patience will be your new best friend, you will find what you are looking for eventually.
Your home will not look like anyone else's home. Your home will not say the same thing as anyone else's. Your home will reflect......
