5 Decorating Mantras To Live By

  

 

I recently saw something on Pinterest that I thought I should share here on my blog.  Personally I think it is great advice and something we can all do for ourselves in our homes….

via House of Havoc found at Barnesandnoble.com

Lets take a look at each of these suggestions individually…..

1. The closer something is to your body the better it should be.

Sheets, Towels, Throws

I am a firm believer in this mantra. In fact I think I might be a bit of a snob when it comes to sheets and towels.

I don’t pay top dollar for either one. Try to wait until they are on sale. Every couple of years I replenish my towels when Neiman Marcus has their PINK sale.

Now don’t shut me out, just because you don’t think you can afford Neiman Marcus. 

Would you believe I get good quality, monogrammed towels for $12-15 each? 

If you have ever had anything monogrammed it is at least $6 a piece so this is a great deal.

Homegoods is also a good resource for finding good quality towels for good prices. I like Ralph Lauren, Charisma and Sferra. 

So keep your eyes open when shopping. I always get all white towels. There is nothing prettier to me than a stack of fluffy white towels.

2. Surround yourself with quality not clutter.

This is near and dear to my heart, and I am a firm believer in not having clutter in my home.

One of my own personal mantras for decorating a home is……

 “Less is more and Big is better!”

I know that there are two camps when it comes to this one, but I have to stress how important it is  to not have clutter in your home, in order to make your home a peaceful place.

REMEMBER

Clutter= Chaos

If you have a table full of items that are not of the same type, which one item do you see? 

The answer is, none. What your eye will pick up is visual clutter if there are too many pieces. Try to limit yourself to 3 pieces unless it is a display of a collection of like items.

Remember the eye needs a place to rest in a room or in an area like a table top.

If you see something you really love at the store, stop and think for a moment where do you want to put this, where will it’s beauty be appreciated the most.

Buy one quality piece instead of ten inexpensive pieces that will just add to the visual clutter.

3. Every room needs something living, flowers, 

    goldfish, or a pet, and I would add plants. 

This is such an easy addition to your home as far as plants and flowers go. I purchase flowers weekly at my grocery store for under $10.

If I have not gone to the store, I will go out in my yard and clip some greenery off of one of my plants. This cost me nothing but a little time and attention to detail.

I have a small vase on my guest bath vanity that I put greenery or a small bouquet of flowers.

The kitchen window sill is another pleasant little spot to view some life of greenery or flowers.

Try it, I promise you will like it!!

4. Honor the acts of daily living and make it beautiful.

 

This one made me think a bit. We all have certain habits in our families, whether good or bad they are habits that never seem to change.

For instance if you find that your family always clutters up an area with backpacks. Make a spot with hooks that will look uncluttered and organized.

Do you have trouble with paperwork/mail? Use a basket to gather it up in.

How about keys and cell phones? Are these a reoccurring problem? Then find a spot and a container to hold them.

KEYS

In other words, instead of trying to change habits and complaining about them, look for beautiful solutions.

5. Life should sparkle, every house should have some ……

Think of elements in your home that can sparkle!

I have faucets on my mind because I just got a new polished nickel faucet for my kitchen. Trust me it sparkles.

Clean glass can sparkle too! Clean those windows until they sparkle!

!

If you have silver, polish it up until it sparkles.

Crystal vases look so beautiful when they sparkle.

Look around at your home and see what could use some buffing up a bit so it sparkles.

All of the above suggestions can be done by anyone.

It does not take a lot of money, it just takes some caring, attention to detail, and effort on our part.

Instead of looking at your homes problems and dwelling on them, look for….. 

“BEAUTIFUL SOLUTIONS!”

 

 

The First Step To Take Before Decorating Your Home!

     

Let's Get In Touch With What YOU Truly LOVE!!!

Making an Informative Vignette!

I know all of you out in blogland are very creative when it comes to making a vignette.  I have seen many lovely and fun vignettes in my travels throughout blogland. 

Today I am not talking about a decorative type of vignette. I am talking about an....

 "Informative Vignette" 

An informative vignette is something that I  would have  my clients do as part of their design consult. This is a tool that has helped me and my clients really get in touch with what they will truly love in their homes.

Are you ready to make you own...

"Informative Vignette" ? 

• First, and this step is very important, I want you to clear your mind of any of the ideas that you have previously thought about for your existing home. We are trying to get to the real core of you style.
•  
•  Now, think of five items you have had for more than five years that you absolutely love.  It can be an accessory from your home, a dish from your cupboard, or even an old favorite sweater or a pair of shoes. 
•  
• Put all of these things in an open clear spot in your home, now step back. What do you see?  Look at the colors, textures, styles, overall theme or feeling? 
•  
• These are the elements that you need to have in your home to make your home, Truly YOUR'S. 

If you want to take this step a little further go to pinterest, or instagram, and pull together some of the favorite rooms you have saved. 

Do the same thing when you look at these rooms. Look for the colors, textures, styles and over all feel or theme of the room. Make a list of what you love in these rooms.

Once you have a list of elements then you can start pulling together a room that you will love. 

Shop your own home to see just how many of the elements you might already own. These elements could be living in another part of the house. 

Don't be afraid of using them in a different room, you might be very surprised at well you like them in their new environment.

It is very important that you are really honest with yourself in the process of pulling your items together.

Sometimes we talk ourselves into maybe the latest trend or something we have seen in a friend's home.

BTW: Throughout this post I have posted images that are my all time favorite rooms. If you look at each picture with keeping the elements of:

1. Color

2. Texture

3. Overall style, theme or feel of room

I bet you could analyze the elements I would need in my room in order to make me love my home.

My goal for myself and for YOU is to have you really understand your own personal style. I hope this little exercise will help you in discovering the true YOU for your home.

Now go and have fun with this, and see what you discover about yourself, be open and honest or it won't work!

You can go to my All Time Favorite pin board to see more of what I TRULY LOVE HERE! 

 

 

 

Do You Have The In-Betweens?

 

 

Have you ever heard of the, “In-Betweens?” 

This is the name I have given the time right after Christmas, and right before we finally get our mojo back and start reorganizing our entire life from top to bottom, with full intention of making great and wonderful changes!!

Symptoms that may occur:

• Feeling tired.
• No ambition to do anything.
• Lack of excitement or enthusiasm.
• The need to stay home and cuddle up with a blanket.
• When looking around one’s home, nothing looks right.
• Feeling the need for a whole transformation of one’s home.
• Nothing seems to inspire you.
• Avoid looking in the mirror.
•  

Do any of these sound familiar?

I think we all get this little malady this time of year, and if you don’t I want some of what you are taking!!!

Possible Remedy:

Yesterday I came up with a little saying that seemed to fit for the day…….

I think it will fit and be helpful to just about anything you apply it too.

Like yesterday for instance….. I wanted to do a whole lot of nothing, but instead I did some things I should do.

Nothing earth shattering!!

I scrubbed down my kitchen counters, cupboards and stove. Rode a little bit on the recumbent bike. I even went to the Doctor, and got a flu shot before the flu got me.

For myself, I have found the more I do, the more I will do. The less I do, the less I do. Funny how that works.

Anyhow, I just thought I would share this with you because it totally worked for me.

Instead of trying to conquer the world in a day, just start out by doing something you know you should do, and I am sure it will breed more activity, and you will be moving forward, and making some kind of progress.

 via

Try It, I think you will like it!!!