Where You Should Get “trendy” in Your Home

INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS

Am I going to hate this after 5 years? Is this going to be out of style? These are all questions I get when a client is leaning on the fence on whether or not to do something they think is “trending”.

Here is what I tell my clients. “I don’t know if you are going to get sick patterned tile or your blue Island and yes you might get sick of it”. But the fact of the matter is eventually your kitchen, furniture and bathroom and ALL the other places you dwell are going to need to be switched out for something more fresh and current. That’s just the facts of life. Unless of course your one of those who don’t care that your bathtub insert is still pink and shag carpet is still growing in your bathroom. Which by the way is perfectly fine. But my guess is that you do or else you wouldn’t be here reading my blog;)

My case for why you should EMBRACE interior design trends.

Remember when you look at family photos and one the best parts of the photo was seeing your mom’s hairstyle or your grandma’s fashion style? Or even the car in the background your grandpa used to drive. I think we can all agree the trends in the photograph make the photo so much more interesting and fun . How boring would it be if we were still wearing the same hairstyle 50 years ago or wearing the same style of jeans? Umm what a snoozefest!

So I say embrace trends that you really love! And it’s not only so you can entertain your posterity for years to come. But also because trends help tell a story about us in the stage of life we are in. When I was a little girl I loved hunter green. My mom let me pick out green and white striped wallpaper for my bedroom along with with a flower power wallpaper border. And if that wasn’t enough she let me have a green and white checkered marmoleum floor. Yep, TRUE STORY. Not only does this say something about my angel mother but I realize now that even as a little girl I loved creating spaces and playing with color and pattern. That is all because my mother let me embrace my creativity through an interior design trend.

Now if your still a little bit on nervous side about dipping your toe into different interior design trends here are a few favorite places of mine I like to experiment.

Home office: Your office is great place to really go all in in. Experiment with color, textures, art. This is a great space to bring YOUR style to forefront.

Kate Marker Interiors

Laundry Room. This is a great place to paint the cabinets an unexpected color or a interesting patterned tile. This is also a great place to have with fun with light fixtures and hardware.

Studio Mcgee

Powder bath: Wallpaper is always a good idea in powder bath! It’s a low risk area and it is a place that is mostly used by your guests so it’s unlikely you would get sick of it anytime soon.

Lucy Williams Interiors

Mudroom: Can’t think of a better space to play with cabinet color, flooring, and wallpaper.

Kate Marker Interiors

Hope this helped give you a little boost and motivation to embrace a trend you really love! Remember keep it simple. Start with one trend and gradually you will get more confidence to introduce more into your home.

See you next week!

Love.

Hayley

Meaningful Interior Design

Remember when you walked down your grandma’s hallway of photos and you stood there for at least 20 min scanning the photographs of all the aunts, uncles and cousins. (To this day you are still trying to figure out who the lady with the mile high beehive hairstyle is.) Anyways, you loved seeing all the different hairstyles and fashions trends throughout the years. You couldn’t pull yourself away. I think we can all agree that every grandma needs a hallway “wall of fame”.

We can all recall things in our homes while growing up that were meaningful then and still are meaningful to us now. They told a story. They told OUR story.

So how do weave beautiful and meaningful things into our home?

The great news is everyone has a story. EVERY SINGLE PERSON on this planet earth has a story. The universe is sitting on the edge of it’s seat waiting for you to tell YOUR story. And what better place to tell that story then from the walls of your own home. And you should want to tell it! You have had a combination of experiences that no one person on this earth has ever had. Completely 100 percent unique to you and your family. You have had good, amazing, transformative, hard, heart wrenching, terrible and all the in between experiences. But these stories are what have molded and shaped you into the person you are today. I think that sounds like a pretty darn amazing story that needs to be told.

I love this quote by Orson. F. Whitney

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.” 

So I thought I would share with some ways you can share YOUR meaningful story in your home that speaks to good design.

CANDID FAMILY PHOTOS

Framing candid family photos seems like such the obvious choice. BUT it is SERIOUSLY one of my favorite ways to see family photos displayed. Some of my most treasured family photos are the candid ones. I love how it feels like that family member’s personality is coming right out of the picture. Dear Lillie does a beautiful job showcasing her candid photos in a straight vertical row. Framing them in all black and white gives a sweet nostalgia feel.

Maps. What is it about the special feel of a vintage map or just a map of something in general? I think it’s because a map can takes us to a place where were are heart longs to be or it can be a reminder of the wonderful adventures we have experienced. Framing maps of places you have lived, traveled to or want to go someday adds a richness and charm to our homes.

Elle Decor

An old piece of furniture that has shows generations of love is always a good idea. Old pieces have such an intriguing mystery about them. The dents and scratches are layers that help tell a story a little more deeper.

Interesting wall gallery. This is such a beautiful example of a thought out wall gallery that tells a story without saying a word.

Furturist

Objects. I love how this simple silhouette tablescape is made up of worn objects and a framed poem. There is a definitely a story waiting to be told here.

Residents Understood

A few ideas to help you curate a meaningful moment in your home.

* Think of a special place you have been. How could you showcase that in your home?

*People who have made a big impact on your life. How could you remember them in your home? Maybe it’s simple as a photo or maybe you have one of your grandmother’s old tea towels you could frame.

*What do you LOVE? Nature, a certain color, or hobby? Find a way to display that in your home. Remember think simple. If you love cooking you could display your some of your favorite cookbooks on your kitchen counter or frame one of your mom’s hand written recipes.

*What you BELIEVE in. Reminders of convictions bring a certain reverence quality to a home. I reminded of this when I walk into my parents home. I am welcomed with a picture of Jesus Christ. I can feel how important their relationship is with Jesus.

I hope this helps so you can tell YOUR extraordinary story through your home decor.

Have fun with this!

See you next week,

Love,

Hayley

How our home environment has a direct CONNECTION with our well-being

The definition of well being is comfortable, healthy and happy. I think we can agree that these 3 feelings are emotions we like to feel on a daily basis. WE all want to feel happy, healthy and comfortable right?

Is it possible that our surroundings can have a direct connection with our well-being?

Let me give you an example that I’m pretty sure you can relate to. You know that time when you went out to eat at that really quaint restaurant with your husband where the atmosphere was really cozy, the lighting was just right and the seating was comfortable and intimate. It wasn’t too loud. You were in no rush to leave and before you knew it, you had just spent 2 hours enjoying the food and a long conversation with your better half. On the other hand have you ever ate in the Mcdonalds dining area? My guess is your were not spending hours in the Mcdonald’s dining room. It’s more like a- “let’s get our food and leave” experience. Why is that? Certain environments encourages us to relax, and set a mood that is calm and invites connection. Mcdonalds does do not. No digs on the golden arches but I don’t really think that is part of their intentions. They are in the business to sell fast kid friendly food!

Psychologist Shilagh Mirgain states “ Your home and work environment are an important influence on your sense of well being, but they are often overlooked. These are the environments we spend the most time in, so it’s only natural they would have impact on us”.

How do you want your home feel? Did you know you get to decide this? Yes it’s true my friend. I assume you probably want to have your home feel like it’s old friend that is always there for you, not matter the time of day and always knows just what to say to lighten your mood.

So why do we sometimes put our homes on the back burner when in reality they help cultivate peace and calm in our daily busy lives? I think it’s because a lot of us believe it’s too daunting of a task or overwhelming to create. But I say NONSENSE to all of that. You CAN no matter what type of home you live in- create a home that cultivates well-being!

Here are a few of my favorite suggestions that I use in my own home that bring me joy and add to my well-being.

1. Clear the Clutter. Just pick one thing like a drawer or even one room. Schedule it on your calendar and then commit to doing it. Just know that when it comes time to do this thing- You’re not going to want to do it. But decide ahead of time to not let yourself down and just do it! Clearing the clutter allows for more joy and less ovewerhem in your life. Clutter makes you feel heavy, adds stress to you life and even your relationships. Clearing the clutter allows space for your thoughts and room to accomplish your goals. Your not wasting your time anymore on thinking about what to do with all your stuff. Instead your are putting your energy towards things that you will enhance your life! There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of cleaning out a drawer or room. Afterwards, you just want to camp out in that space all day long. Have you ever noticed that right after you clean a room- your children decided that is where they want to play or start a project? Even kids naturally gravitate towards clutter free clean rooms!

2. Add pillows to sofa. Yes this simple trick will make your sofa look like it’s giving out invitations to come sit on it. No matter how dull or unattractive your sofa is, fresh pillows can help a room feel airy and bright. Don’t underestimate the power of the pillow.

3. Lighting. One of my favorite things to do in the evening is to turn off all the main ceiling lighting and switch on my lamps in my family room. I love the feeling of dimmed lights in the evening. It’s cozy and intimate. It’s my way of putting my house to sleep at night. So if you don’t already have one, go get yourself a beautiful lamp that will help wind down your home at the end of the day and fall asleep at night.

And like I always say, just pick one thing :)

One last thought,

My home can be a very busy, chaotic place. And sometimes I feel like I might actually be in a real live circus. That’s why it’s important for my home to take care of me at the end of a long day of running kids to practices while trying figure how to be in 3 places at once. It’s not perfect, but having a home that nurtures our lifestyle has helped provide a sense of calm even amidst the chaos!

So find your own unique way to cultivate well-being in your home. And have fun with it!

“He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

See you next week!

Love,

Hayley

P.S If you would like some more help or have a question you would like help with, schedule your free mini session with me! Here is the link to my schedule.

Free Mini Session with Hayley

Talk to you soon!