There are three things that we Dockum women were not born with: Crafting skills, hair/makeup skills, and home decorating skills. Some people can pull things together so effortlessly, but I've now gone to three large home decor stores and haven't found anything that makes my heart sing. Maybe it's just that I lack the vision to see how a random object on a store shelf can translate into aesthetic harmony when hung on the wall or placed on a shelf. It's frustrating to have a house and not know what to do with it and to walk endlessly up and down aisles and come out empty handed. I feel like many of the things sold in stores are a bit bland and I love color (see above), but don't know quite how to incorporate it. I can also look at a picture and say whether or not I like the decor, but don't know how to describe or recreate it. In my dream life I could hire an interior decorator who could bring my vision (or lack of it) to fruition and create spaces that are bright, happy, and welcoming, while being elegant and liveable at the same time.So my plea to you is: Help a poor sap out and share your home decorating secrets! Do you have a store you always shop at or do you have the best luck at yard sales and thrift stores? (I am a huge fan of both) What magazines or books do you look through for inspiration? How have you come to discover your own sense of style? I sit here anxiously awaiting the pearls of wisdom to drop from your lips.
10 comments:
Annette's been published?!? Why haven't I heard about this yet? Where can I find it?
As for the comments you actually asked for, I'm definitely not the expert here, as my barren walls will attest, but I think you're on the right track. I start with an inspiration photo...or file of photos. I usually tear them out of catalogs and magazines and then maybe jot down what it is I like about each one. Then I try to let it guide me as I shop. I don't try to recreate the room, just the feel, or the element I liked. So, if it's the green in the picture you like, find a few green pieces you like (pillow, vase/pitcher, picture), throw it on your couch or shelf and see where that takes you. As for shopping, TJ Maxx is probably my fave. Always after a bargain!
I've got nothin' because I'm a Dockum. Not only am I devoid of crafting skills, hair/makeup skills, and home decorating skills; I'm also missing the thrifty skills! Everything I love is 'spensive! Curse my good taste.
Just for your viewing pleasure, please enjoy my friend Liz's decorating skills. Here's a link to her last project. She's more about the natural aesthetics but if my home looked like this, I could get on board with the au naturale!
http://galvinfamily.blogspot.com/2008/05/house-beautifulfront-cover.html
Sorry, not a decorator. I've found HObby Lobby to have a wide range of stuff, maybe you'll see something there that sings to you.
i feel your pain, nollie. we've been here almost two years now and there are still walls that i can't quite figure out what i want to put up on them! i do love the home section at tj maxx and marshalls though! (and homegoods is even better if you have one of those!)
I definfitely think Ross or TJ Maxx are the best. Tons of variety for really good prices.
I'm in the same boat, Nollie, but you already know this about me. I just looked on the comments to see what everyone else said. :) Good luck to you...
Nollie, I also will not claim to be an expert, but I agree with what Mandy said about starting with the photos. I've also learned that I like to bring the outside in. Whether that's through bursts of greenery here or there, real plants, or other things from the outdoors --I've liked drying my own fruits (oranges, pomegranites, apples) whole or sliced for display and collecting odd nuts/seedpods from trees, etc. -- they all seem to bring life inside. One last thing I've found is that often when something has sentiment behind it, you like it a lot more in your house. Ex: One of my favorite things in my house is a cool glass vase filled with dried pomegranits from my tree back home, oranges that hardened on their own from my days in college dorms, and chesnuts that I gathered from the trees lining Cache Valley streets. Every time I look at this collection it reminds me of happy memories. So there's my tips. Sorry for the mile-long comment!
I usually look through magazines and pull out the pages of things that I like. I figure someday when I have my own house I'll look through them and hopefully be able to pick out some themes and go from there. My problems is that I like too many different styles. Personally, I think you have fabulous style!
Hey Nollie! Couldn't help but leave a lengthy comment...first of all, you must have some of those "skills" because YOU always look beautiful, and from what I've seen, your house is so cute. I feel your pain...I feel so lost in the house decorating area as well. I LOVE potterybarn.com although I have never bought one thing there (too pricey). But I love the colors they are using right now. And I get Better Homes and Gardens. Also, I was not a huge fan of Twilight either. We may be the only ones in the world...but I am reading The Host and you are welcome to borrow it if you want to. I like it, but don't love it yet. Sorry this is so long, but so many things struck me that I had to comment on!
Definitely start a file with samples of each room...that way, decorating won't be a daunting task. Then find your accessories at Hobby Lobby...one of the pearls of the Midwest.
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