I love to decorate.
I love fabrics and accessories and colors. But I have always felt that my home lacks continuity. It's missing a cohesiveness that is inherent to really great decorating. I'll see something that I like and buy it(or make it), but once I step back and really look at it I realize
"um...that doesn't really go in my house".
I'm not really talking about things that match - I'm not a matchy Pottery Barn style decorator (although I do love Pottery Barn...). I'm talking about the overall feel of my house. It has just seemed that so far in my life, everything doesn't go together. I may get one room just the way I want it, but it doesn't really echo the feelings of the other rooms.
So right now, I have no house to decorate(or clean)...which means I have lots of time to think about decorating; to really evaluate the situation while I'm not in it (see? I'm trying to make the best of this situation ;). I was talking to my sister about this whole problem, saying "I can't even find pictures of exactly what I want." There's no one store or style or picture that I could find to capture what I have in my head. So she had a great suggestion -
"How about creating a phrase to describe your style?
Everything you buy/make must fit into that phrase." For me, it was the perfect solution. Not as limiting as a photograph, but a way to still keep me focused(a challenge to be sure..).
So here's what I came up with:
Textured. Vibrant. Bohemian.
That's the phrase for my home.
It has helped me soooooo much! I'll pick up a fabric that I really like, but realize it's very subdued or too modern looking. I still like those things, but that doesn't mean I should put them in my home. Does that make sense? Here's an example: I have had to purchase several rugs because the base housing has no carpet. The store shelves are filled with all styles of really pretty rugs - and I bought one, but when I brought it home I realized it did not fit my style. It looks a little too traditional. So I went back out - this time repeating my phrase to myself - and purchased a rug that I really love and that will look really nice with the rest of my things.
Now every time I am shopping, I ask myself
"Does it have texture? Is it vibrant? Does it have a bohemian feel?"
(anyone else talk to themselves while they are shopping...??)
Not every item has to meet all three qualifications, but I know those qualifications harmonize with one another - therefore the items will as well.
So how about you? Do you feel like your house is cohesive?
Does anyone else struggle with this?
If you do, I'd love to know what works for you.
xoxo
jessica
