3 Easy Strategies for Refreshing Your Space
3 Easy Strategies for Refreshing Your Space
It's all OK, I’m just a little rusty
Does anyone have an oil can? And can we agree that blogging is hard and time-consuming? That’s my excuse/no-excuse.
Blogging has changed so dramatically in the last few years, at times I don’t recognize it. I miss the folksy Blogger formats and goofy stories, occasional snark and bad photography. You too?
There really are no rules for blogs anyway, are there? Make money, be weird or overly serious, tell off color jokes or wear slippers 24/7. Blog naked. What ever you want: It’s all Ok.
Rusty or not, I’m slogging my way through this and hopefully I’ll get you to read at least some of it! Fingers crossed that I might actually find my oil can again.
let’s talk design
Express Your Style & Write Your Story
I look at houses much like storytelling. I have had the opportunity to renovate and live in many diffent homes and each one had a narrative that made it special.
So for me, design begins with the story and how we use the space to elaborte on that story.
You can go to any big box store and buy stuff and put it in a space and it will probably look pretty darn good. Especially because new means current, trendy, bright and shiny.
But with that type of decorating, every house, your house, your neighbors house, the houses we continually see so much of on Instagram and Pinterest become this homogeneous glob of sameness.
The fact is, you already own things that can create and tell your personal design story. It’s really a matter of putting them to use in a fresh and new way.
Your Personal Design Lab
Explore your opportunities
The key to a great room is exploring your style and designing in a way that celebrates your uniqueness. What everyone else is doing may not be the best choice for you or for the house you currently live in.
I’m going to share 3 easy strategies for telling your story and decorating a space that gives you the opportunity to shift your point of view to one that is truly you.
You may find you like things just as they are OR you might find that by exploring a bit, your spaces will seem more unique, more calm and as current and on trend as you choose.
Clear The Clutter//Create Collections
Select and edit to create compositions of similar items
Strategy:
Adding personal collections to rooms is what defines who we are and when we have been. Collections are simply complimentary pieces that when grouped together are more than the sum of their parts.
Group your items by similar scale, color and material to define the collection and try to edit down to 5 items per grouping.
Spreading decor all over the place, will dilute the great things you value as collectible. Limit your collections to 2 or 3 in a room. If it doesn’t have impact add a couple more items to the specific grouping not more collections.
Old jars are a great collectible. They are simple and useful and look great filled or empty.
The photo to the right is a great example of small groupings. There are three collections: Hubley dog door stops, Roseville pottery and French caning jars. All different yet they relate to one another in subtle ways without seeming cluttered.
One Great Piece
Anchor and elevate the space with a large unique item.
Strategy:
You probably own a few wonderful pieces of furniture. They might be hiding in the guest room or more likely the dining room. If you have a piece that you really love, drag it into your living room and share it with the world.
If you need to orient your furniture in a certain way, look for opportunities to include something really special. Remove something else if you need to, but find a way to showcase that one great piece that truly speaks to you.
In this contemporary apartment I anchored the space with the incredible blue cupboard. The room was almost entirely windows but I angled the cupboad in a corner and it became the statement piece for entire space.
An old Biergartens picnic table above, was used as a sunnny spot for morning coffee but when the french doors were open, it was perfect for lunch or casual parties, spilling out onto the deck beyond. This is an odd table for an interior but it was so much fun and everyone loved it!
Add Texture & Color
Use natural elements, color and texture for strong impact
Strategy:
If there is anything that will lend great character and spark to your house it has to be the use of texture and color. Even if your palatte is neutral you can integrate color in small doses.
Think about texture in simple terms when using decor: baskets, breadboards, antique textiles and great pillows. Flowers and potted plants are simple, fresh and full of color.
Glass, wood, metal, leather all add unique and timeworn qualites. And often elements are more interesting when they are opposites because opposites attract!
This living room is all about texture. We used old barn wood, white linen and neutral wicker all of which work together without any single texture overpowering the other.
Glass, leather, velvet and raffia are used in this modern condo. The setting was modern but the textures could be used in a more rural home as well.
Rethink Your Room
Reinvent your space and tell your story
Adding collections, color and texture is the key to defining your style. Great rooms that are interesting are attractive to us in ways that sometimes you can’t put your finger on. Use simple and classic shapes and adopt a “less is more” mantra and your collections will become more important as a design feature.
I personally went through a “one of everything” period and when I look back it makes me dizzy. I love juxtaposing things that are very different but I have learned to edit and find a nice balance between furniture and objects.
More importantly, I think we should work with things we love and own. It never hurts to try something out in an unexpected location. An old desk or hand me down chair can be amazing in a spot that allows the pieces to become visually special.
And I always look for things to bring into rooms that are not the obvious and seek out things I can reinvent. I can’t tell you how many tables have given up their long legs to the chop saw so that they could be included in a family room.
If you are ready for a refresh, take a peek at some new creative ideas by a really talented crew. Everyone has a unique perspective and aesthetic, all of which are beautiful and all full of the best of individual style.
Follow the links below!
Jump-start your decorating journey with some serious inspiration.
bye-for-now
xx_oo
kelley