Lovely readers of my Facebook page, Gretchen and Gemma recently
asked if I’d share my décor tips. I had
a think about them, and here they are; I hope you enjoy!
Ask yourself what the
vision for your home is
The wonderful Peter Walsh has a question for his clients
that I’ve heard him use over and over in his books and audiobooks, and that is ‘what
is your vision for this room?’
It really helps to articulate that, and also note down the feelings you
want to get from a room.
For the master bedroom my answers would be something like:
Soft textures, serene,
boudoir, luxurious, hotel-like, clean and clear (clutter-free), relaxing,
soothing, etc
This probably goes for the whole of my house actually, so I
choose warm neutral tones to feel soothed and calm, I declutter and tidy on a
regular basis so it feels organised and peaceful.
If you tear out magazine pages (or pin on your Pinterest
board) bright coloured rooms with a statement neon sign, my style is going to
sound so boring to you, but for me I couldn’t do with all that
stimulation. The thoughts in my head
which never stop are quite stimulating enough, thank you! So I choose a tranquil colour palette at
home.
Go looking for your
style
If you have magazines you can tear pages out of (not library
magazines for example), tear out pictures you immediately warm to, even if you
think they aren’t your style (‘too modern’, say). Let them pile up a little, and one day go
through them. You might find certain
colours or styles coming through.
When I did this I found I was drawn to warm neutral tones,
with smokey glass, deep ochre and gold or bronze metals. It was quite illuminating and helped me
realise why the few shabby chic pieces I had in my home never felt right. Integrating these elements into my home bit
by bit really zazzed up the neutral décor; there wasn’t much cost involved
either – a Salvation Army lamp, candle holders, cushion covers, a gold tray on
our coffee table and different runners or cloths to dress the tables made from
fabric remnants.
Update – don’t stay
stuck
One very good reason why I like to keep a streamlined home
with not too many possessions, is I can then update my décor on a semi-regular
basis without feeling like I’m wasting money.
One lady I know of, has a highly decorated home with a lot going on in
each room. She told me she’d love to
declutter for a more modern look, but she’s afraid to let go of the stuff
‘because it all cost so much’. If you
have collections and lots of things and enjoy them, that’s fantastic, but if
they are weighing you down, that doesn’t sound like much fun!
It’s the same with clothes for me too. I like to have just enough, because then I’m
happy to update seasonally when required because I’ve worn a few things
out. It’s a far nicer feeling to shop
when you need something than if you’re bored and know it won’t even fit into
your overstuffed closet. And having the
opportunity to replenish your wardrobe on an as-needed basis means you are
always tweaking your look and remaining current.
I love the saying ‘the
way you do something is the way you do everything’, so issues you have with
your closet (or eating, or money) are likely the exact same issues you have
with your home possessions/decluttering, just showing up in a slightly
different way. It’s strange but true!
I know with large items such as sofas, dining suites, you’re
likely to have them a long time; I think I’m more talking about smaller items –
it’s nice to refresh your overall look.
If you wanted to describe your ideal décor look (and feel)
in ten words or less, what would those words be? Don’t think about them too much, just write
down the first words that come to mind (please share in the comments!)
