When purchasing new items for our homes, there are many questions that we should think about to help us make a decision on whether or not it's the right fit for our rooms. Is it stylish? Does it pair nicely with our things? Will we get tired of looking at it? While these are all great questions, ask yourself...does it make YOU feel at HOME?”.
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Oftentimes, we set out to shop with intention. We shop for furniture because we're moving into a new place and our old furniture doesn't quite fit right in the new spaces. We shop for a new bed because a child has outgrown their kid-size mattress. We shop for an extra bed because we're adding a guest room. We shop for home accessories because we've renovated our rooms. We shop for seasonal accessories because a new season has come and we want to celebrate it. While these are all great reasons to shop for a new item, they can sometimes lead to quickly shopping for an item simply for the sake of needing it, leaving the emotional considerations out of the equation in favor of saving time and completing a task.
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Our homes are our most personal of spaces. In them we afford ourselves the ability to express our personality in a way that speaks directly to us.
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As we set out to bring new additions to our homes, here's a few tips on things to consider in the process:
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- Will this item complement and enhance the overall look of the room? The look of our rooms goes beyond one item and one decision. The look of our rooms is the coming together of our architectural finishes (our walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, etc.) and our interior furnishings (our furniture, decorative accessories, drapery, lighting, etc.). Together, they create the unique style of our rooms. When bringing new items into our homes, what we bring should complement and enhance our space, not take away from it. When adding items to our spaces, we should be taking a step forward toward our design goals for our home, using every opportunity to complement and enhance what is already present and making room for new opportunities that add value to our spaces.
- How will this item affect the overall feel and mood of the room? There is an emotional connection and response to our interiors which allows us to express ourselves through, and connect with, our homes in a very personal way. It's important to understand the feeling that we want to evoke in our home to help us make the right decision about the items we fill it with. For example, are we setting out for a feeling of coziness? If so, perhaps lots of very reflective surfaces like shiny metals and lacquered finishes should be used with moderation, and soft, supple finishes like cotton, velvet and wool can have more of a presence in the room.
- Does it make you feel at home? While it's tempting to only follow the current design trends, it's important to remember that trends come and go and are in part driven by current events, seasons and larger markets. When we design our homes, our goal should be for them to speak directly to us. The interior of our homes doesn't need to be solely about how our home fits into current design trends, the interior of our homes is about how we create and express our own design personality, our own values and our own style through the items that we can treasure, find value in, and connect with in our world. As we leave all the pressure of staying "on-trend" behind, let's ask ourselves, does it make us feel at home? Sometimes it's the answer to the simplest question that will help you make the right decision. If it makes you feel at home, then it's worth the investment.
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by Wendy Gonzalez for Modern Ornament
[ a home decor + gift boutique ]