In the world of Instagram and blogging, where it seems everyone’s home has gone from Pinterest DIYer circa 2011 to 2016 Bohemian Queen overnight, it can be really tough to keep your head down and remember decorating your home is a process, and not an overnight thing! Choosing the right decorations for your home can be kind of a daunting task if you don’t know what your personal style is and how to translate that personal style into timeless pieces for your home! It has taken me a few years to really define this, but through trial and error I finally have a firm grasp on what I love and what I don’t. Here are a few things that I keep in mind when shopping for home decor.
I ENJOY HAVING A CLEAN, SIMPLE AESTHETIC.
This means that I don’t buy a ton of small, trinket items. I used to be really guilty of this because I never wanted to invest in the bigger, more expensive pieces, but I still wanted the satisfaction of purchasing a new item. It was easier and more cost-effective to buy small! But this somewhat frugal part of me created a cluttered atmosphere that didn’t really align with my personal style. So, now I try to buy bigger statement pieces and do so less frequently. Even though it’s more expensive to buy the larger items it ends up being more cost-effective because I’m buying less!
WHEN IT COMES TO PERSONAL STYLE I AM REALLY INSPIRED BY THE OUTDOORS, NATURAL ELEMENTS, AND ECLECTIC FINDS.
Because of this, most decor that I bring into my home falls into one of these five categories: wood finishes, greenery, clay, weavings, and the occasional brass element. There are of course exceptions, but sticking to these five categories generally keeps our home aesthetic cohesive. Understanding your personal style is the most important take away here! Know what you love and what you don’t love. For example: I love working with a blank canvas (white walls) and adding pops of color and texture through greenery, throw blankets/pillows, and unique vessels. I don’t love tan walls and choosing an “accent color” for my home. Neither is right or wrong, but understanding what I personally love helps keep the aesthetics of my home cohesive.
STORAGE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE UGLY!
I love to use baskets for most of our visible storage rather than a plastic bin or cheap, gimmicky organizing solution. I have several baskets in every room of our home and love to hide our clutter inside them! Loose TV remotes? Throw them in a basket. Chapstick, nail clippers and lotion on your bedside table? Throw them in a basket! Cereal above the fridge?….You get the idea.
AND LASTLY… PATIENCE!
This is not my strongest suit. We have been building our collection of furniture and home decor for six years now and sometimes it feels like such a slow process! Learning to enjoy this process is part of the fun. I love a good hunt for the perfect piece of art or accent table! Every room in our home has furniture and decor with a story. And though I would love to bring the entirety of West Elm’s mid-century modern collection into my home, it wouldn’t feel as satisfying as it does to have a home filled with sentimental pieces we have hunted for.
My biggest piece of advice is to define your personal style. This will be the groundwork for incorporating new things into your home. Once you define this, it will be much easier to add timeless pieces to your collection over the years!
