Surround yourself with your favorite things
Home is where we surround ourselves with things that we love, including our favorite colors. Your home should tell the story of who you are. The best interiors are never instant, but develop over time.
Whether it is for a redesign, which is using what you already own, or for staging purposes when time to sell, I work with clients who have items they love hiding in closets and basements. Incorporate what you love into your decorating, and display it authentically. These are the things that have special meaning to you. Or if you have too much stuff, scale back so you can see what you love.
Our collections
On a recent redesign appointment, the client was looking for suggestions to just change things up a bit. There was a doll standing on a pedestal in the corner of the living room. There was a discussion between the mother and daughter about that doll. Seems the doll gave the daughter the creeps.
Can’t argue with that. Dolls creep people out. Maybe it was that scary dream when I was a little girl about one of my dolls coming to life and chasing me. This is why when selling, I advise people to put their collections away. It could be a “gang” of dolls, beer bottles or stuffed animals, the mounted kind.
Can a room have too much personality? It sure can, but if you really love something, go for it as long as the room functions and works. If you are selling, tone it down by volumes. Being too taste-specific will turn off potential buyers.
The sins of our choices
Color is another thing all together. Let’s say you have a favorite color. Let’s say that color is my favorite, turquoise. Years ago I had my kitchen walls painted turquoise. My kitchen cabinets are white. It never felt right to me. The new color gave off a vibe of, “where is my tropical drink?” not, this is my Hudson Valley kitchen. My house is not near a beach.
Here is a lesson you can learn from my experience. Keep your favorite color as an accent in your home and off your walls. Think about how often you paint walls and the cost. Keep it neutral. Pop up your personality and color in the accessories. It is less expensive to get playful and switch things up with a toss pillow and a few props than paint. Keep that in mind for the higher ticket furniture items, too. If it costs a lot, keep it timeless and avoid trends, especially if it stays with the house.
Mix it up
Honor family heirlooms. Comb through flea markets. Mix old with new. If you love something, show it off. If you don’t, get rid of it. Your home should be a comfortable environment where you can relax and surround yourself with things that you love.