Never one to let a day pass without at least some introspection, let me be the first to say that sometimes it’s just a good idea to let it all go. You can only think so hard about something before that something is going to start to seem a lot less important and another something is going to take it’s place or, at the very least, distract you.
Rather than fight the distraction, though, I think it’s a good idea to welcome it. There are two ways to catch a break in life and while I believe a lot of it has to do with effort, there comes a point where you have to sit back and let things be. What comes into and out of our lives does so for a reason; and there I go getting all introspective again. These things though, that come into our lives, well sometimes they are just that: things. And these things, no matter how superficial they may seem, have their place in making us happy and acting as a distraction that is not so much pushing aside something more important but rather providing a balance that we may need more than we think.
In an effort to not analyze what’s inside my head more than what’s in my house (/car/office/gym bag) I’m going to share some of my “things” that I adore most. While they are not likely to reveal the answers to my deepest questions, they do hold some secret to happiness.
No matter where we live, or what we find comfortable, it can be very important to like what you have to come home to. I think it’s really important to make the space you call home a place that makes you feel good.
For me, I’ve always wanted a home that feels welcome. I want it to be like a place you can come into and feel like you’ve left a little of what burdens you outside. A lot of my friends would say I do this not so much by furnishings but rather by way of the Great Margarita, but that’s only partially the case. I like to think that people can drink margaritas anywhere, what they can’t do is walk through the door, take off their shoes, sit by the fire and pet the dog while they have that margarita. Or coffee. Or chai tea.
The above sign as well as the candle (below) are both from the Sundance catalog. And while I like to believe that Robert Redford personally gift wraps every thing just for me, what I like more about Sundance is it’s Western-but-not-too-Western feel. Maybe it’s because I grew up out here, but I find myself liking Western-inspired decor more and more. Just, you know, not so Western that you feel like you’re a saloon door short of living in Tombstone. Modern Western, if you will. I’m also not a theme kind of person. I like finding a way to incorporate what you like, maybe things you find while traveling, with realistic accessories. It suits me better to have an influence around me rather than a place that screams “hey, how about a lasso with that?”
It’s hard to decorate a home, though. Not only can it be difficult to decide what exactly your tastes are, it can be expensive. And though I love a nice home, I’m not about to give up weekends at the lake or days on the beach in order to get it. I like $600 mirrors but that is not realistic for me, at least not at this point. Which is why I’m glad there are other places that will accommodate the budget of someone who wants nice looking stuff, but doesn’t want to max out the AmEx. This is why I like Pier 1. Yes, that Pier 1, from the olden days, when you’d be dragged around by the hand and told to “absolutely not touch anything, or else.” Or maybe that was just me.
What I like about Pier 1 is not only can you go on a bit of a shopping bender and not feel like you broke the bank afterward but you can find a lot of different things and put them together with things you already own (or buy elsewhere) in a way that looks like you tried. There are a lot of unique things, that if you pair them with your every day $15 throw pillow or $10 rug, can actually make you feel like you don’t just have stuff lying around the house. You can sit down with your book or your remote control ready to watch Rock of Love and look around at your complete room. Complete is a good feeling in a room, and in a home.
Speaking of complete, part of the reason I don’t like to spend a lot of money on some of these little things is because you’re going to use them. I could never be one of those Museum House people where there are things you cannot touch. First of all, anyone that lives with a dog and/or allows children into their home (either their own or someone else’s) will tell you that things, no matter how obsessive your cleaning may be, will be used. And after a while, they will likely start to look that way. I’d rather have a $10 rug the dog can sit on while she barks at invisible cats on the patio than something that costs much more and, let’s face it, all looks the same with dog hair on it anyway.
So if you’ve made it this far, what are some of the little things in your home that make you feel like it’s really home? How do you decorate in a way that incorporates your personality?
{ 13 comments }
your words at the beginning of this post really hit home for me. sometimes we just need these little everyday distractions, to offer the balance that we need daily.
in my home? candles. specific ones that either go with the season, or that are just my staple standbys. hmm… also? let’s see- picture frames and black and white photos of my friends and family. and a good set of both cocktail, and beer glasses.
Oh good one… I’ve been looking for good beer glasses.
framed art and photos make my apartment feel like home. my books and knick knacks collected from my adventures. flowers and plants.
i love decorating. i’m always changing something- throw pillows or the centerpiece on a table or moving the furniture. i love that stuff!
I love, love, love stuff brought home from somewhere else. Little reminders everywhere you look.
Glad I am not alone on the Rock of Love!
This is funny perfect timing. I always stress over decorating because there are so many options, most of which are unafforadable. But we have slowly come across great pieces of art that suit us and have been easily within the budget. Purchased Sunday night – two plates hand painted by children, proceeds going to charity. We never would have sought it out, but it totally fits. And gives me reason to think that I just need to wait and the right items will come along and I don’t need to spend $600 on a mirror, even if I love it!
I think you hit right on it- it takes time. And that’s good, because that makes up the entire picture, right? The story.
My house is all about life – whether it be in motion or at rest. The little things that make it my home are plants, bright colors of fabrics, family pictures, paintings and photographs done by my aunt, and the cats – the last because my home is truly not my home without a cat.
The photographs, oh the photographs! I think that’s an entire post on it’s own.
I love decorating but know what you mean about the expense…I don’t really have a style/theme (although my kitchen has an Italian feel with grapevines and such, that was the only room I had inspiration for though. I’m waiting to be “inspired” with other rooms…oh, my bathroom I went for a beach feel I guess too…I like inexpensive things and/or things that have gone on clearance and I get a steal on, and I incorporate them. I don’t have a lot of dogs and/or kids in the house, but it’s the fact that I don’t want to spend a ton and then get bored…if it’s cheaper, you can keep changing the style and feel right? Like my gorgeous tealight on my wall that looks like one from partylite that runs in the $60-70 range and I got for $15 on Target.com…:)
Oh yeah, Target is our friend!
Ooo…and DEFINITELY think about Twin Cities for next year…I’m working on getting a lot of people!!
I will think about it. Good thing I have all those blog buddies to put me up for the weekend. Ha ha.
It sounds like we have similar approaches to decorating. While I love beautiful things and have a very strong sense of whether or not the placement of a room feels right, I don’t believe in matchy-matchy decorating.
I have strong colours on my walls, and and odd mixture of found furniture, as well as things that are not furniture which have since become furniture, and more semi-disposable Swedish stuff than I should probably admit.
And it all feels so right.
That’s where I need to step it up, Barb- wall color.
I’m loving your new blog!
Pictures of the people and dogs (there are more dogs than people if I’m honest) that matter to me..though some of them are no longer with me.
I also have a plaque overy the entranceeway that says “there’s no place like home” it’s the one thing in that room I wouldn’t give up.
Ahh decorating… coming from the girl that just spent the last 5 hours putting up painters tape and priming (priming the walls, my hands, my hair, my shirt, my pants, the floor…). I agree with you – home should be the place where you can be you – not that you should be afraid of spilling, dropping, staining all the time.
When decorating my condo, I’ve thought a lot about what I like and what I want surrounding me. I am creating a sunflower-themed bathroom because I love sunflowers and always wanted to decorate with them. I love sunsets and beaches and gorgeous scenery, so my bedroom will have framed pictures that I’ve taken of such places. I like the decor of the southwest, so my kitchen/living room will be in desert/earth tones with a little southwestern flair. I like it. The walls will match and so what if I have deserts downstairs and oceans upstairs? To me, its home.
I went through a phase and decorated the house a few years ago. I think I even cleaned it that year. The living room is done in gray and brown. It is very northwest. I have 4 huge wolf prints, one on each wall. I also have a collection of other “wolf junk”. It’s arranged so they are all “looking” at me when I sit on the couch. It would be quite nice if every table in the room weren’t piled high with books, papers and assorted other junk. My office and the adjoining bathroom are decorated with my collection of dalmatian junk. The whole house is coated in dog hair!
Funny you should post about homes and OCD cuz that is just what I did. And funnier yet that you should mention the word museum. Well yeah my place I think would fall within the category of museum. Not because you can’t touch anything but simply because I have a lot off eclectic stuff. On every trip I bring back things that reflect my personality. In particular I am into asian and african art and furniture. So i tend to mix that in with the other more western things. I also love the beach cottage look so I guess it’s all one big mess. A sunny cottage by the sea decorated with lots of travel knick nacks and shells. And then ofcourse there is a horse or horse related item in every room.
Pier One is one of my fav places….
It can be really expensive to decorate a home. I don’t really know what my taste is. I just see someting that I like and try to coordinate with it
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