Linen and Twigs

Hello Friends! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week. It’s hump day and the weekend is almost here. I’m hoping to knock out a couple of projects that have been on my list. The weather here in North Carolina has been quite steamy which makes it hard to work outside for long periods of time. This is the time of year when I try to knock out some indoor projects like painting (go figure) and organizing spaces that have been let go for too long.

Since my paint roller has yet to hit the pan, I have decided that cleaning out some things were in order. In doing so, it has made me take a good look at the things I have around my house. I reflected on how much my style has changed over the years and I had to laugh at some of the styles I had been through. I have a learned a lot about decorating through the years and probably could have saved a ton of money if I knew some of these things earlier.

The most important thing that I have learned is to be true to yourself. Everything in your home should either be something that you love, something that is sentimental to you or something that functions for you. I do understand that some things that are in our homes serve a purpose but we might not necessarily be in love with it. Always be on the look out for something that you love to replace it with, that will serve that purpose.

Take your time collecting what you love. The most beautiful homes are put together over time. I have made this mistake before. There was one time when I decided that I wanted a different look in my home. I wanted my home to look brighter and cheerier. So I went on a shopping spree with my mom to TJ Maxx and bought napkins to sew into pillows (we were on a shoestring budget), a few decorations to put on my tables and then painted my bookshelf what I thought was a pretty berry color since that was the trendy color at the time. What I ended up with was a hot pink bookcase with a bunch of doo dads that were not “me”. To my defense, I was eight months pregnant with my second son so I chalked that one up to pregnant hormones but I have made similar mistakes while not being pregnant too. Lesson learned. Let your home develop over time. When doing this, your style develops too. Having a blank space in your home is better than filling it with something that is not “you”.  Mindlessly filling a space distracts you from your style and could steer you in a direction that you don’t want to go.

Don’t label your style. Each and every person is different in their own way and your home should be as well. Generally, styles fit into certain categories but you should never feel like you have to stick within a certain category. If something speaks to you and makes you feel good, then chances are it will fit into your home. That is how “style categories” are created. For example, industrial farmhouse, modern cottage, urban chic, etc…these people couldn’t make up their minds either nor should they have to. Be yourself.

Don’t be afraid to change. If’s funny how people change over the years but their homes stay the same. I’m guilty of this too. I have some decorations and furniture in my home that I have had forever and yet they have lost their luster to me. I’m just “used” to them. They no longer make me smile and don’t have sentimental meaning to me. I have also had furniture and decorations that have meaning to me but no longer look good in my home or serve a purpose. Don’t be afraid to let go. It’s important to edit your things to fit who you are. I’m learning to pay attention to what I have in my home. This makes it a lot easier to let things go. As for the things that are sentimental to me, I offer them to my son and daughter in law for them to enjoy in their home or I put it away in the attic for my other boys, should they want it for their home one day. Change can be good.

Your home should represent you and the people that you share it with. It should make you smile when you walk into a room. It should offer you comfort and peace knowing that you are home. It should be your safe place, a place of memories and laughter. Whatever time of life you are in. Whatever stage you are going through. Whoever you share your home with. Let it tell your story and let it develop naturally.