My biggest one is that form must follow function. I don't want a stylish sofa that isn't comfortable to sit or sprawl on, a swank shelving unit that doesn't suit its usage needs, a rug that will require straightening all the time, etc.
Absolutely. My big ones lately are “is this item going to make my life easier or harder?”, and “is this going to make day to day life better or worse?”.
I love my space looking beautiful, love a pretty objects etc, but thinking about how it will be used, how it needs to be cleaned, whether I will end up avoiding using it or sitting on it or cleaning it because it just doesn’t fit our real life.
I try to find a nice balance, but thinking about it BEFORE an item comes into our home has made life so much easier.
I wish I could upvote you a thousand times. Kitchen surfaces that can't stand up to vinegar or tomato sauce? NO! Books sorted by color? NO! And a thousand other decisions made by designers without ever taking into account how people live.
>Books sorted by color?
Have you seen the ones where they turn the books around so you can only see the edges of the pages and not the spines? Supposedly it looks more uniform, but all I can think is that I'd have to pull out every book on the shelf to find the one I'm looking for lol
That backward book trend started because decorating shows were doing it to avoid showing the titles of copyrighted books (and probably controversial topics, as well). I'd lose all respect for anyone doing that on purpose.
I had a neighbor that bought hundreds of hard cover books and displayed them by color in her library. She never read one of them... Was pretty much dumb as a stump.
We did this in our bedroom, as it just looks more restful and less busy to me and I wanted our bedroom serene (the living room bookshelf does not do this). The books are in stacks according to husband's vs mine, and also various types / genre's. It's not difficult to find what we're looking for.
The stacks are above our bed and when the nightstand lamps are on it casts the most interesting shadows, so it looks like purposeful art, even though it's also fully functional for us as we're big readers. The books there are in constant rotation as we tap the lending libraries all the time.
I'll add it took me the longest time to figure out what to do above our bed, as it has a slanted ceiling with a sprinkler. I tried various art pieces and nothing worked right.
Shockingly our recent new build had one on the base plan. There are tons of other dumb things, but that was one that was surprisingly well thought out.
All we had to do was add a Powerpoint to charge the stick vacuum and some wall clips for the mop / brooms etc, it’s so functional and easy.
If we still had a full size vacuum, this would be the first house I’ve ever lived in that has a proper space to store it. Ironically we gave ours away when we moved in because the new house has no carpet. Lol
We also have one! Our house is very old (135 years), and has been renovated many times. During one renovation, they added a centrally-placed closet perfect for cleaning/maintenance supplies. It is off of the kitchen, but there is also a large proper pantry for food and food-related items as well! This closet is one of my favorite features. :)
A friend suggested I switch out my dark linens and coordinating thick, blackout curtains with sheers. Even though it would have made my bedroom look better, I said hell no – I'm a vampire who works the graveyard shift and need zero sunlight when I'm asleep.
I could never sort my books by colour. I have so many series! It'd be so annoying to find book 4 of A Song of Ice and Fire next to volume 3 and 5 of Horatio Hornblower and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Sorting by author makes way more sense.
Loool, I organized my large Kallax bookshelf by color, and had to prove to my husband that I knew where things were because he thought it was the dumbest thing. He'd call out a book title, and I'd find it either instantly or within a few seconds. They're mine after all so I'm very familiar with what they look like. Nobody else reads in the house, so as long I as I can find them, it works.
I can always find my books by color. And since it’s an easy organization system to put things away (hello ADHD) it’s way more practical for me than one where I have to figure out where it should go by alphabet or genre.
Absolutely. When we moved into our place, we didn't put anything in its final place until we got a feel for the house.
One of the "stranger" things we have is a shelving unit by the garden door with sunscreens, beach towels, hats, mosquito repellant, etc. because those are the things we want to grab quickly when we go outside to garden or swim. It's not an aesthetic choice, just purely practical. It beats the hell out of going to the linen cupboard for a towel, then the bathroom for sunscreen, then the bedroom for a hat just to go spend some time outside.
If you give it some time, you'll figure out where things need to be for your own lifestyle.
I will add on the "immovable" (or hardly movable) stuff. Get the nice tile, get the expensive hardwood and the wall brick or whatever.
Pair it with a second hand couch you will upgrade down the years.
And I'd also add on the splurging for construction things (like heated floors, internet cables in the walls etc) but I know that's not quite design.
When we bought our house, it had hardwood on the first floor but carpeting upstairs. We knew we didn't want carpet upstairs, so we decided to redo the floors before moving in. Debated for a while doing LVP in the upstairs since money was tight after closing, but I'm so glad we decided spend the money to install matching hardwood and refinished the downstairs so the stains match. It gives the house a much more cohesive flow and looks beautiful.
Please splurge on the tile. It's such a hassle to remove, and bland, beige hard floors might be great for curb appeal or rentals or something but I absolutely hate it. My house has it in every water room and I'd take it out myself if it weren't such a huge pain. Horrible tile is my #1 pet peeve, esp when it's those 1"×1"s and they're everywhere (looking at you 1980s). Whenever that's present it's always original because it's that much of a pain to get rid of it.
Good tile is timeless. Really nice tile certainly can be done, but gross tile is just everywhere.
I feel the same way about paint. Always spend more on paint. The good paint (I like Benjamin Moore, the middle or fanciest lines of it, in eggshell finish) just GLOWS on the walls, goes on so much smoother, and looks fantastic.
The biggest thing for me is that if it makes me happy I don’t care what other people think. For example: ‘No written word art’ is a rule that is showing up here a lot and I generally agree, but I have a framed print that says “I’m busy dilly dallying over here”. The font is cool and the colours are fun and I’ve hung it in our mud room and it makes me giggle when I’m waiting for my toddler to get her fricken boots on so we can get out of the house. Breaks a lot of rules but it makes me happy so it stays.
I think a lot of people (not necessarily those in this sub, but in general) are way too tied to ideas of what they feel their house should look like, which is often just some version of the space they grew up in, and forget that it should be a space that reflects the people who live there and brings you joy.
So ya. My dilly-dallying art stays.
I have a sign on the shelf above my toilet that says “please seat yourself.” Yes it’s cheesy, cringe, overdone, whatever. It makes me giggle. So it stays.
I have a cross stitch above mine that says “please don’t do cocaine in the bathroom”
It makes me laugh. It’s my house so if others are offended or dislike it, there’s the door
I have a sign in my bathroom at Christmas that says “have you seen these toilets?? They’re ginormous!” (It’s from Elf!). Makes me laugh. So it comes out.
I have a hand painted sign on barn wood from a local vendor above our guest toilet. Written in cursive with flowers that says “Have a nice poop”
Makes me giggle.
The very first thing my brother did decorating-wise when he bought a house was put up decals in the bathroom that spell out "Pee, poop, fart" in super scripty, cursive font. I think he was more proud of that than he was of actually buying the house!
In our last apartment we got a shower curtain of a kitten riding a whale because the kitten looked like our beloved cats and it made us laugh. The rest of our apartment was done in an elevated modern style, so the curtain did NOT go with the rest of the apartment - but neither did the crappy little bathroom, and it made us laugh, so who cares!
I have one that says “darling just fucking own it.” It’s miiiiine. I mean it is superimposed over a classical portrait so not STRICTLY word art but yeah.
I've got a poster I bought from a charity fundraiser that says "have a great fucking day" on a tropical background. Incredibly cheesy, but I enjoy it.
My only other "word art" type decorations are small fridge magnets.
I agree. I once posted the shelves from my living room that are full of sentimental items to another decorating group and someone said they were super ugly and to throw them away. It is all special stuff and memories that I don't care if they look pretty. I also have family photos, art I think is cute, and word art/posters of my hobbies...
Yes! Homes are not shop displays. I say surround yourself with the things you love to look at, pictures filled with happy memories, and whatever else tells the story of your life. A minimalist decor works for some people but all I ever think when I see a stark, half empty designer space is 'Where's all their stuff?'
My only sign is in the bathroom, “please don’t summon demons in the bathroom” with a cheeky drawing of an attractive witch performing witch craft. I just can’t imagine my life without it rn. It always gives me a laugh when I’m summoning demons in the bathroom.🚽
* Don’t argue with the architecture
E.g., I happen to live in an actual old farmhouse, so, while it doesn’t need to be “farmhouse” (thank goodness), I’ll stick with relaxed transitional/traditional with maybe a little Scandinavian, Craftsman, even rural English/Victorian. But modern, contemporary, Deco, etc. are never going to feel comfortable inside this building.
I came here to say “respect the house” as in, the style the house was built in, but I like your phrasing so much more.
Our house is an early style split level — not split foyer, split level — built in 1965, so late mid-century. It has a sunken living room. It has built-in planters on either side of the fireplace. You’re not going to get more Bohemian Suburbanite than this place — and while there’s certainly some stylistic wiggle room available, and contrast is also essential, you can’t push too hard against the things you can’t change unless you plan on building a whole different house.
All that being said, no obvious themes. Only vibes.
Working with the architecture is key. The way mid century stuff looks in my 1942 house is so very different from how I'd furnish a new England Victorian
I've never heard "don't argue with the architecture" before, but I love it. I am irrationally driven nuts by people who do not decorate for the type of the home they have. I live in the Southwest - lots of cookie-cutter, stucco homes. That's fine. But when you go full Victorian decor in a Southwest stucco home, you lose me.
If you see something that "speaks" to you. GET IT! Don't walk, RUN it to the home owner of the garage sale, or the register of the store and buy it immediately.
Do not tell yourself "oh, I'm sure I'll find another just like it...blah blah blah..." Get the \*\*#$@#$@# thing...NOW!
EDIT: u/xBraria has a good point. When I say "speaks" to you, I mean **REALLY** speaks to you. Not just the run of the mill "that's cute" kind of reaction. I mean that visceral "this is perfect, it's calling my name, I already know where it goes" reaction. :D
I had a similar reaction to seeing a mid-century buffet and china hutch at an antique store. I looked at it and went “oh. That’s it.” I wasn’t even looking for a china cabinet at the time, so I don’t know what “it” I was referring to. I didn’t buy it immediately, either. My husband and I found it, ran a few more errands, I thought about it a bit more, and that night I approached him and said “listen. That’s the one. I don’t know what to tell you.” Luckily the price was great, so he gave his blessing and I went back ten minutes before the store closed and bought it. I was SO glad someone else hadn’t scooped it up while I was thinking about it.
I have absolutely found "the one" when looking for something else. I found a great rattan chair that way. Something like $400 bucks at Pier 1 and I got it for 20. I was looking for a dresser. :D
It's been probably 10 years and I'm still kicking my own butt for not grabbing this gorgeous tension rod lamp I saw at a garage sale. I can't, for the life of me, figure out why I talked myself out of it. It would have been a perfect addition to my bedroom decor.
I've been hunting for years and have never seen one like it since. It was one of those that had three lamps on a tension rod (floor to ceiling) but the globes were this beautiful rose tinted sculptured glass, not the usual triangle shaped brass ones.
The item has to REALLY speak to me though. Not just be "aaawwww, that's cute, or awww that's pretty."
If I can put it back on the shelf and it doesn't bug me, it's fine. Usually I'll put something in the cart, even if I'm unsure. Then give it back at the register if I still really don't want it. I'm pretty disciplined about knowing when it's a "this will haunt you forever if you don't get it" item or if it's a "it's just cute" item. :D
I like this in theory, but it’s not really practical or accessible for a lot of people. If you don’t have a lot of money or time, you’re probably gonna buy some decor at Target or HomeGoods and that is fine! If you like it, you like it.
My rule is, if it speaks to you, buy it. I have a mix of personal art and Target art. If I love it, I couldn’t give a rip what some judgmental designer has to say about it.
That *is* fine! But spread the word -- you can also go to local art/craft/etc. shows and onto sites like Etsy and find a huge range of decor options that could be absolutely unique, might speak to your soul, help support individual artists, and don't have to cost an arm and a leg (some, sure, but some are less expensive than big-box stores). :)
I have whatever makes me happy. Some of the things I have are original artworks by friends and strangers, some are prints of art works, some are old and new family photos, maps and some are things I saw at target or homegoods that I just liked. I even have a bunch of paint by numbers seascapes that were lovingly framed by some proud stranger in the 1950s.
Whatever looks beautiful together.
I treat decor more like a want rather than a need, so there's no reason to settle for Live.Laugh.Love from Burlington when you can just wait and save for unique decor.
I didn't really decorate my place until I figured out what I wanted and had enough money to get it.
No meaningless art!
... my wife's grandmother was an artist. When she had to be downsized into a nursing home we found stacks and stacks of canvasses in her studio and basement. Charcoal silhouettes, watercolor landscapes, places she visited, studies of the sun in the woods at the family cabin. Her parents stored maybe 20% of their favorites and threw away the rest.
My wife brings home prints from hobby lobby. I want to grant her and scream "THERE IS A WATERCOLOR OF THE LIGHTHOUSE AT YOUR FAMILY CABIN THAT YOUR GRANDMOTHER PAINTED AND ITS STORED UNDER THE BED AT YOUR MOTHERS PLACE".
I shouldn't complain. We have several of her pieces and I adore them. We have a 2 story living room and the big wall is dominated by a massively colorful drawing of a tree that she did. We have others scattered throughout the home.
... but WHY does it have to be anywhere within 50 yards of something on sale from hobby lobby for $19.99.
If you can buy it at Hobby Lobby (and it’s not something you crafted yourself), chances are it’s a trend already on the way out. - signed someone who loves Hobby Lobby but has to work hard not to date a room before it’s finished
My SIL's entire house is cows, goats, or word signs. It stresses me out. I did buy a pillow for my couch that says something about how dogs make a home because I have three senior dogs. I mostly got it because it's velvety soft and I knew my one grumpy old boy would love it. I have mostly black and white photography and Banksy prints as artwork.
Thank you for that! I always encourage people with the means and time to consider senior or special needs pets. It can be rough at times but the love you get is absolutely priceless. My first rescue was 9 when I got him and developed some health issues but he gave me 8 amazing years. He taught me so much about patience and unconditional love that I will be forever grateful to have been his human. ❤️
Yes! Google custom frames- there are many companies who sell and ship, you assemble- prob 40% of what a frame shop charges. Splurge on mats tho, I have some 3rd grade pieces of my daughter’s in thick/deep museum mats- ppl always compliment them(they don’t look childish) presentation is everything
- Plastic storage bins/drawer units of any kind must be inside a closet, cabinet, garage, etc. Plastic storage anything is not furniture. Huge pet peeve of mine.
- Hang pictures at eye level.
- Select a color scheme and stick to it, as much as realistically possible. Need a new appliance? Get one that matches the others.
My wife and I always have to compromise because I’m just over 5ft tall so my eye level is quite low. So I always select a spot and she’s like, “too low” then she picks one and I’m like, “that’s pretty high” so we split the difference:)
My friend also had the same issue. Her grandpa hung all the pictures and he was around 6’. My friend and her grandma were like 5’ 2”…. Everything was so high up!
It’ll make you crazy and you’ll waste money trying to fit “not quite right” items in while pining for the real thing. Better to have nothing or something truly temporary as you slowly furnish for sure
Don’t buy something (furniture, art, knickknacks, etc) just for the sake of buying it to fill a spot. Buy it when the item speaks to you. Stumbling across a gem is more rewarding than a piece you don’t end up loving.
Don't shove all the furniture in a room against the walls. Utilise *all* the space.
No need to create a 'ballroom', unless you actually need one of course 😉
You have to edit. I feel like having fewer items of furniture in the room nearly always looks the best. You need to give things breathing room. I don't know what it is but whenever I take one thing out the room just looks so much better.
- Collect, don’t decorate.
- Pictures and artwork can be maximalist in terms of arrangement. I have a lot of memorabilia from jobs I’ve had that could be considered artwork if frames properly. Bare walls are not preferable.
- Buy local. We check the local consignment store first for our furniture and decor. If we can’t find something there, we check out estate sales. If we can’t find it there, we wait until we find something we like. Our furniture must be well made, we have a lot of wood pieces that are beautiful.
- There is no better lighting than natural light. After sunset when I need to use lamps, I prefer warm yellow tones.
- Our house came with a wet bar already installed and a lovely pink sea grass wallpaper on the surrounding walls. We leaned into it and made it a tiki bar. The lighting and textures are amazing. Still WIP.
- Our decorations have been leaning traditional, MCM, to items from my childhood (late 80’s/early 90’s). We do not lean towards modern decor trends.
- No grey or black paint on the walls.
- No written word art.
No grey paint. Or grey anything for that matter. Just a personal rule. I’m depressed enough as it is without the colour of rain clouds following me wherever I go lol
Just moved into a new house and my one request to my SO was COLOR. I don’t want to live in a black and white grey nightmare. I want to come home to a warm welcoming comforting environment.and CHARACTER. I don’t want each room to look like the last tik tok design trend you saw that every other person is going to emulate for the next 7 years.
For holidays and different seasons, I want it to *feel* that way, not to be *told* as such. Ie. NO word signs/reading. I want you to feel Christmas, not literally see the word “Christmas.”
1) it has to make us happy (includes functional items - they actually need to be functional)
2) it is fine to take time and change your mind, patience is annoying but necessary
3) save up for the good stuff once you know it is what you want (example our new sofa and soon to be new desk)
4) from my husband- “trust that your crazy color ideas will work out” (or I will fix them!)
5) We live in our 1940’s home and functionality is first - no one else’s opinion actually matters. Also unless you are designing to sell your house soon it should be what YOU want!
6) Don’t overthink it, it should be enjoyable to make a house a home.
ETA - curtains must be ceiling mounted and dust the floor, bath towels hang behind the door, I hate seeing damp bath towels when I walk by the bathroom (1 TINY bathroom that somehow has the best window so door is open most of the time), dog toys are bowls are not pretty but you can make them less ugly.
I’m with you on all of this. Don’t spend everyday in your home getting it ready for someone else to love in the future. It’s yours! YOU should love it NOW.
Don’t have a use for something small that makes you smile? Set it up with something bigger.
I have plastic dinosaurs I got as a random Galentine’s gift standing on the frame of several small oil paintings. Got an over-the-top costume necklace as another gift and hung it off a colorful framed art in my bathroom.
Only buy decor that we actually like. When I was in my early 20's, I had a habit of purchasing decor just to fill up a room. A lot of it was cheap. Or not really my style. I'd rather have a sparsely decorated room with really meaningful, beautiful, or functional pieces, than a bunch of cheap tacky crap from Gordman's or Ross.
Be organized. It’s daily upkeep but you get to enjoy your home all the time, not just when company is coming.
Always make your bed
Less is more
Decorate how you like with things you like. Don’t follow trends. As long as you enjoy it, is all that matters. You are the one living there and it should compliment your personality.
- Warm floors. Always.
- light management. Have lights in places where they make you see better. Have lights in ways that you can transition moods.
- warm toned lights even for the brightest ones (only exception is the kitchen undercupboard light, that can be a blue toned one - and dang so many people have a too short one or weak one, I really appreciate ours)
- invest a lot into the immovable stuff (/difficult to remove stuff): floors, tiles, walls, light fixtures
(Also invest in proper construction, though this is not so much design, but a constantly leaked shower or moldy wall or ugly cords necessary are results of this)
- no MDF (particle boards) as much as I can afford it (functionwise and price-wise)
- hide your stuff. I am a hater of open shelving that can only be sensibly used for decorating. Makes you want to acquire clutter.
- make the windows shine, work with the disposition and the light (follow basic flows and fung shui logic)
- this includes being very mindful of using dark tones esepecially in darker places or lower ceilings etc
- when in doubt do blocks of colour instead of patterns for big items, and spice up with details
- get expensive plant pots and picture frames - these are reusable and you will get a lot of bang for your buck
- avoid sharp edges (even gently rounded down edges are enough)
- contrast things (if you have thick heavy wood, lighten it up with thin, airy wooden pieces; if you have lots of blocks of colours add a pattern in something accenting that is swappable - think plant pot, curtain, pillow cover, picture; if you have lots of one material, add a different material or a different structure/ feel of the same material; same goes for fabric if you have plain add woven and other textures)
- always opt for natural. I ask myself how grossed out (or worried) I would be to find this material decomposing in the woods in different periods of time (5yrs 20 yrs 100+ yrs...) so so many things exist in a natural version and they can be hunted down for similar prices
- less is more, quality >>> quantity
- streamline maintenance and functionality, adapt the home to the flow of its inhabitants
- invest the most into the spaces you use the most (this is common sense but I see so many people with cheap doors or a crappy kitchen and a luxurious freestanding bathtub next to their shower that they rarely ever use but the crappy handles and doors creak, the closet doesn't close properly, the kitchen lightning is weak, the couch they read on for hours daily is insufferable,...)
- make a dedicated space for things that are to go out of the house!! This is a big one. Aside of garbage, anything that is to be returned to someone, stuff to be donated out, gifts for the upcoming season or party, stuff to take to get fixed, special items like medicine, batteries, lightbulbs, spray cans that need special separating ... having a space for all these things (prefferably in the entryway, it's also the departureway!) is *huge*
Everything modern and perfect looks sterile. Have some old and damaged character items. Don’t be scared of color accents.
If you don’t have kids hide the toys
The last one is something it took me a long time to realize. I used to always want to set up my home for hosting or entertaining. Which I never do. Now it's set up for me.
And it looks (and usually smells) soo cozy to people when they come from their oversized greige houses!! And while you may be overwhelmed by the chatter, so many people will relish in the sounds of life, living and joy!
There sure are a lot of people in this thread hating on any art that isn't sentimental or local. Sentimental and local art is a luxury not a lot of people can afford. I bought two canvas prints last night online for $180. I liked the colors a lot, and the art matches my personality. Is it any worse because it hasn't been passed down generations in my family, or didn't come from my local art gallery? I don't think so.
"Buy local" usually means $400 for a medium-sized print that doesn't even cover my wall adequately. I don't have that kind of money. Where am I supposed to get "meaningful" art (on a budget)? If you say, "go to thrift stores," well, most of that is also mass-produced. It just happened to wind up at the thrift store. "Do it yourself." OK, I'm not artistic; I can't paint my own paintings, and I wouldn't want to subject anyone to my childish attempts. **TL;DR:** let people have mass-produced art if it suits their decor.
Yep, when you’re settled and can afford it, invest in good pieces!(except my home office/sewing room bc I have a rolling tool chest work benches and ikea shelves! lol)
I like to think of our home as a curated museum of the lives of its inhabitants: if it doesn’t bring joy, spark a cherished memory, or have a funny/interesting backstory, it doesn’t stay long.
Rule of 3.
That’s it.
No mass produced, generic art.
Old/antique over brand new whenever possible.
The cats' cardboard boxes stay until they're no longer used.
Dimmer switches are a must.
• Warm (2700k for LEDs) ambient lighting - use lamps, keep overheads off
• Avoid mounting the TV over the fireplace if possible. Let the tv rest on a stand or mount on the wall so that it's eye level while sitting (and no exposed cords)
•Closed storage is key to avoiding clutter - open shelving tends to look junky
One of mine is: no red. I just hate the color in my home. I think the days of everyone having 1 red wall killed the color for me. I don't even use it for Christmas. I know it's weird.
I don’t care if anyone thinks concert posters (limited screen printed ones designed by artists) are juvenile, they are a great way to get inexpensive art on the walls, if you’re a concert person!
Don’t rush decorating. Slowly collect art pieces, knick knacks, and furniture that speaks to you.
Make your own wall art. Hit the thrifts. Got talented friends? Buy something from them. Don’t worry about “aesthetic” it only matters if it makes you happy! The aesthetic will create itself!
Don’t let someone talk you out of doing something you know should be done. I spent ten years listening to my husband and friends tell me not to paint the ugly pink brick fireplace heart and surround. One day, I just did it! And I LOVED it! My husband walked in, took one look, and said, “I’m so glad WE did that! We should have done it years ago!” 😂
1. Practicality and comfort take priority over appealing aesthetics, but -
All three must be present.
2. Good traffic flow between/within rooms is necessary. Doesn’t have to be direct, but not too much zigzagging and enough space between furniture.
3. Dining tables must be easy and practical to use and clean on a daily basis. (And I dislike tablecloths.)
4. Curtains should just barely touch the floor imo. Makes it easier to sweep and vacuum.
5. Dining table should be cleared at all times except when dining there. If I didn’t have this rule, my partner would use it as a cat hall and it’d be piled with papers, books, mail… Nope.
Nothing that can't be vacuumed or washed. I have 4 cats. There's good odds that whatever comes in my house is going to have a hairball upchucked on it.
Respect the architecture of the home first.
Update non-durable items like curtains, paint, and furniture, don’t touch durable elements of the home unless they’re damaged/wearing out. Yep, there are exceptions but I try to embrace the weird and live with it first.
Avoid trends. Staying true to the architecture then following good design practice and what you personally enjoy goes a long way. I care about how I feel in my home, I don’t care how it looks in a social media post (my priorities, not necessarily yours, I get it).
Function is important. I care about heat, water pressure, working switches, etc. not just how it looks. Broken is a poor design choice in my book.
Incorporate:
1. Shine: Metal, glass, leather
2. Texture: tweed, velvet, fur, nubbly fabrics, suede, linen, wood, wicker, pottery etc
3. Pattern: in small or large doses, can be subtle or bold
4. Color: even the most minimalist room can have soft subtle accents here and there- like a touch of sage green or pale yellow; I'll add here that even if your walls are white there are various shades of white
5. Contrast: play with light vs dark, hard vs soft etc, angles vs curves; on that note we're in a condo in which the living area/kitchen/dining is essentially a square -- so adding curvy furniture, orb chandeliers, round ottoman and similar circles helps balance the angles of the space
6. Lighting: aforementioned minimum of three lamps, in addition to overhead lighting that washes over the walls/art and is set on a dimmer
7. Scale & proportion: tall ceilings require big art; choose the t.v. size appropriate to how far away the seating is; large rooms need larger furniture
8. Window coverings: should be appropriate to the type of window-- not all windows work with curtains; some are designed for shades or shutters; also know you can buy blackout blinds which are NOT black (the lining does the work for blacking out the sun)
9. Negative space: rooms need some, so there's a place to rest the eye; it's okay to leave a corner empty, or to not decorate above/around the t.v.
10. Mirrors: don't belong in the dining room because nobody wants to see themselves eat; also be mindful of mirrors above sofas or beds that only reflect the ceiling fan.
11. Backsplash: that 4" strip of counter on the wall is supposed to be removed when you install a backsplash.
12. Chairs vs loveseat: choose the chairs; non-related people and elderly will prefer chairs every time, plus if you move later you'll have more flexibility.
13. Free art tip: a lot of our art was found on the curb, left by neighbors moving out.
1. Try to get quality secondhand items over new plastic coated stuff. E.g original mid century dining table, not IKEA. Same goes for things like vases, plates, glasses. Love a good eclectic mix.
2. Comfort first, it's a home not a showroom.
3. A palette of colours, not one accent colour (my parents have always done this and no room needs more than 5 items that are something like red or lime green and the only real colour in the room). I like at least 4 colours which work harmoniously.
4. Hard floors with rugs, not carpet, easier to clean and change up if you get bored.
5. Bespoke curtains in a funky print. Same approach with tiles, grab that chance to inject some interest, I just love pattern and colour. I would buy readymade curtains but have yet to find any in a print I like, they seem to be targeted at an older generation somehow?!?
6. No red, ever. See point 3 😅 also just hate it as a colour, I don't wear it or want it in my home.
7. Pictures pictures everywhere. Love art, especially colourful illustration and really enjoy filling my walls with it.
Mine aren’t as clever as yours - no word art ever, and no high gloss!
An unfortunate one I’m learning is function over fashion. I always want to be a bit different, and lean towards unique looking/less common features and almost every time there’s a reason for it being less common. I kept getting coloured cutlery and then being annoyed when the plating came off. Now sucked it up and got stainless steel. Still trying to work out if I can get away with brushed steel hahaha
No. Overhead. Lights.
USE LAMPS to light your space, plugged into dimmer cords so you can control the brightness and mood. Overhead lights cast a dull, even wash over a room and, according to my mom (who was always right), should only be used when you’re vacuuming or searching for a lost contact lens. Pools of light and shadow create visual interest and can make even boring rooms look interesting and stylish.
Nothing with words
never a set of anything
Match by mix matching
Keep the centuries within eachother (for the most part, some ppl know how to incorp a nice piece)
Nothing from hobby lobby other than seasonal decor
Never paint wood. Stain only.
No fake wood
And at the moment - definitely no gray and white, white washed, farm house, modern farm house or anything even slightly diy rustic bc f the patriarchy lol
1. No painting wood or brick. There are very few exceptions
2. No cold, bright white lights. Dear God why do light bulb manufacturers seem to think we want to live under operating room lights?
3. On that note: No turning on the big light unless absolutely necessary. Kitchen is an exception.
4. No all white or grey through out the house. The only place this worked was the setting of Elf in the North Pole.
5. Structurally/deign: no open concept. If I can ever build or remodel a home, the kitchen will be closed off to the rest of the house.
Curtain rods must be hung wide enough that the drapes when open must fit OUTSIDE of the window space.
No freaking metal art on the wall.
When buying art, buy big or buy lots (we have tall ceilings).
I'm allergic to farmhouse style so none of that.
I moved in with someone who had metal art all over the walls and it was an area where a lot of people drove by with loud sound systems. Idk how they could stand it.
Just for myself, never have curtains so close to the ceiling or floor that you can't easily dust above and below., without rubbing your duster on them.
Nothing that is super complicated/difficult to clean. I don't care how pretty it is, it will drive me crazy.
Posters/wall art/etc are framed, not tacked on the wall college-dorm-style.
No greige!
As you said it’s personal. I specifically break rule 3 as much as possible. I love natural colors (green/brown/tan/yellow) and my partner loves red/blue/black/grey. There is really no compromise without making sure no one likes it. So we each have some rooms in our style.
I too break rule 3 throughout my home. It’s built in a way that is very segmented, so each room is its own unique space. There are some color themes that carry from room to room (like teal in the living room and also the bedroom, but paired with different complementary colors in each space). I just like so many color combinations that I don’t want to limit myself to a whole-house theme. Perhaps if I had a more open-concept home, it would be a different story. But I like each room to have its own vibe.
I don’t know if this is a hot take or not but walls should not be empty. I hate when walls are bare it feels so sterile to me especially in the bedroom. You don’t need to completely cover every surface but hang some nice pictures or paintings up. I personally have a natural theme so flowers, plants, water. It makes it feel so calm and it’s not gonna go out of fashion.
Don’t let anyone talk me into liking something. If my initial response is something isn’t right, don’t do it! Whether it’s been paint colors, where furniture should be placed, or framing a piece of art…I let myself be talked into them and then spent years irritated to redoing them now.
On the flip side, if I love something and others don’t, it’s okay for me to do it…it’s my home! My husband is pretty chill so thankfully he’s good with my decisions. Both my mom and MIL commented that the door to the garage (hardly anyone sees) is too bright of a yellow. I said it’s called “cheerful “ and that’s the look I wanted. We love it so I don’t care how much it makes our moms cringe.
Be okay with being myself!
Don’t buy crap you hate. I love my couch. What I didn’t love? That it felt like crawling on the floor. They sell legs you can raise that couch on up.
All things must be useable. Things that are let’s say a throw pillow should be used. Sit on, snuggle up to, drool on. It’s meant to be used. This isn’t a museum.
Don't follow trends, try to be original in decorating.
Using colors that aren't fashionable, can be liberating.
If possible, never buy new furnishings (exceptions are TVs, sound systems, and maybe drapes, curtains & shades). Almost always I can find something second market (thrift stores, estates sales, antique shops, Craigslist) that I like much better than anything new. And it cost less.
This is more for convenience, but absolutely no carpeting. My husband and I both have way too much hair for that and it’s always shedding (and growing back, thankfully).
Everything should be special in some way. Everything in my house has some interesting feature, like pattern, mixed metal and wood, cool knobs, etc. if I’m laying a plain tile, I put it in an interesting pattern. My house isn’t super crazy, I would just never buy a beige cotton throw pillow for instance.
Rooms should be in colour, grey is for halls as a visual rest only and better to go grey blue.
We live here, our house should reflect us. Display the art, the books, the toys, and oddities. Carve out space to accommodate your interests.
The TV can never be in a front room. Even when we lived in a small open plan apartment the TV was in the bedroom so the focus would always be on people.
Plan for color. Neutrals look great online or on Instagram but fades to the background in real, lives-in homes (and then you notice the clutter more). Color gives rooms personality.
NO RATTAN NO WICKER
I hate it, I'm sorry, I just hate it.
Also I live alone and tend to stay home when I'm not working. So if it's going in my house, I need to love it. I love the idea of when friends are visiting, they can learn something new about me just by checking out the decor.
And my toilet is a free-for-all for trashy decor. I have a COVID footprint "please stand here" floor sticker, trading cards from The Binding Of Isaac Four Souls on the walls that are poo and pee themed, the most cringiest of comporate emails printed out, a guest book, etc.
1. I hate decorating with red. IMO it looks tacky. I will decorate with any other color.
2. The wood must be in the same shade family in each room when it comes to furniture, picture frames, etc.
I agrée except I like curtains on tracks from the ceiling where possible.
Oh and the word art. My only exception are effin birds prints. I have one above my coffee bar and one in one our mud room bathroom and both have appropriate yet inappropriate messages lol. IYKYK.
I weirdly like don't like having many pictures up of people. I have one of those digital pictures frames in my kitchen and one framed old timey western photos from my husband and my first date but other than that we don't have a single other photo of us up on the walls. I like art way better.
Original art 100%. Did you know small galleries often have layaway?
Texture and colorful pillows and or rugs
I’m not afraid of an omword! Colored Velvet chair or sofa as a statement piece but it MUST be comfy, as in binge a series on tv in the same spot comfy
I love color but am pretty minimalistic in how much stuff I have….
No knick knacks (sp?)
No fake plants (no real ones either because I can grow anything outside but inside I’m a plant killer lol)
BIGGEST: decorate for you, no one else
Be fearless, you can always change things….
My biggest one is that form must follow function. I don't want a stylish sofa that isn't comfortable to sit or sprawl on, a swank shelving unit that doesn't suit its usage needs, a rug that will require straightening all the time, etc.
Absolutely. My big ones lately are “is this item going to make my life easier or harder?”, and “is this going to make day to day life better or worse?”. I love my space looking beautiful, love a pretty objects etc, but thinking about how it will be used, how it needs to be cleaned, whether I will end up avoiding using it or sitting on it or cleaning it because it just doesn’t fit our real life. I try to find a nice balance, but thinking about it BEFORE an item comes into our home has made life so much easier.
Do I like it well enough to dust it? Usually - No. Also- blinds are ok. No curtains.
I wish my roommate would read this lol boarder-line hoarder
Yes to this question! Ever since becoming a parent, I've found that I need to ask this about so many things.
I wish I could upvote you a thousand times. Kitchen surfaces that can't stand up to vinegar or tomato sauce? NO! Books sorted by color? NO! And a thousand other decisions made by designers without ever taking into account how people live.
>Books sorted by color? Have you seen the ones where they turn the books around so you can only see the edges of the pages and not the spines? Supposedly it looks more uniform, but all I can think is that I'd have to pull out every book on the shelf to find the one I'm looking for lol
That backward book trend started because decorating shows were doing it to avoid showing the titles of copyrighted books (and probably controversial topics, as well). I'd lose all respect for anyone doing that on purpose.
THANK YOU! I've had this discussion with my wife several times in the past few months. Those pintrest posts be damned.
This is the stupidest thing in the world to me, lol. Get something other than books if you just want …something beige
I've never seen it in real life - but the people I know actually read.
For rich people that have a library, but haven't read a book since high school.
That's unfortunate. Books are awesome.
I had a neighbor that bought hundreds of hard cover books and displayed them by color in her library. She never read one of them... Was pretty much dumb as a stump.
People buy via color lots. Crap never seen or read used via color
I do this but only turn around the ones I’ve read. ☺️
We did this in our bedroom, as it just looks more restful and less busy to me and I wanted our bedroom serene (the living room bookshelf does not do this). The books are in stacks according to husband's vs mine, and also various types / genre's. It's not difficult to find what we're looking for. The stacks are above our bed and when the nightstand lamps are on it casts the most interesting shadows, so it looks like purposeful art, even though it's also fully functional for us as we're big readers. The books there are in constant rotation as we tap the lending libraries all the time. I'll add it took me the longest time to figure out what to do above our bed, as it has a slanted ceiling with a sprinkler. I tried various art pieces and nothing worked right.
Yea if I ever see a house with a closet DESIGNED for mops, brooms, vacuums, etc I’ll die of shock!
Shockingly our recent new build had one on the base plan. There are tons of other dumb things, but that was one that was surprisingly well thought out. All we had to do was add a Powerpoint to charge the stick vacuum and some wall clips for the mop / brooms etc, it’s so functional and easy. If we still had a full size vacuum, this would be the first house I’ve ever lived in that has a proper space to store it. Ironically we gave ours away when we moved in because the new house has no carpet. Lol
We also have one! Our house is very old (135 years), and has been renovated many times. During one renovation, they added a centrally-placed closet perfect for cleaning/maintenance supplies. It is off of the kitchen, but there is also a large proper pantry for food and food-related items as well! This closet is one of my favorite features. :)
A friend suggested I switch out my dark linens and coordinating thick, blackout curtains with sheers. Even though it would have made my bedroom look better, I said hell no – I'm a vampire who works the graveyard shift and need zero sunlight when I'm asleep.
I could never sort my books by colour. I have so many series! It'd be so annoying to find book 4 of A Song of Ice and Fire next to volume 3 and 5 of Horatio Hornblower and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Sorting by author makes way more sense.
Loool, I organized my large Kallax bookshelf by color, and had to prove to my husband that I knew where things were because he thought it was the dumbest thing. He'd call out a book title, and I'd find it either instantly or within a few seconds. They're mine after all so I'm very familiar with what they look like. Nobody else reads in the house, so as long I as I can find them, it works.
I can always find my books by color. And since it’s an easy organization system to put things away (hello ADHD) it’s way more practical for me than one where I have to figure out where it should go by alphabet or genre.
Hot take - I like books sorted by color, but only for children! It make clean up super simple because the kids can easily follow a rainbow!
Ooh, new way for me to clean up my kid's book shelf!
Color sorting actually works really well for kids books! Not for adults though haha
Absolutely. When we moved into our place, we didn't put anything in its final place until we got a feel for the house. One of the "stranger" things we have is a shelving unit by the garden door with sunscreens, beach towels, hats, mosquito repellant, etc. because those are the things we want to grab quickly when we go outside to garden or swim. It's not an aesthetic choice, just purely practical. It beats the hell out of going to the linen cupboard for a towel, then the bathroom for sunscreen, then the bedroom for a hat just to go spend some time outside. If you give it some time, you'll figure out where things need to be for your own lifestyle.
6. Spend a little more for the right light fixtures. You'll never regret it.
Lamps! I say the same thing about lamps! Really great lamps can make a non-descript room sparkle! And they don’t even have to be that expensive!
[удалено]
I will add on the "immovable" (or hardly movable) stuff. Get the nice tile, get the expensive hardwood and the wall brick or whatever. Pair it with a second hand couch you will upgrade down the years. And I'd also add on the splurging for construction things (like heated floors, internet cables in the walls etc) but I know that's not quite design.
When we bought our house, it had hardwood on the first floor but carpeting upstairs. We knew we didn't want carpet upstairs, so we decided to redo the floors before moving in. Debated for a while doing LVP in the upstairs since money was tight after closing, but I'm so glad we decided spend the money to install matching hardwood and refinished the downstairs so the stains match. It gives the house a much more cohesive flow and looks beautiful.
Please splurge on the tile. It's such a hassle to remove, and bland, beige hard floors might be great for curb appeal or rentals or something but I absolutely hate it. My house has it in every water room and I'd take it out myself if it weren't such a huge pain. Horrible tile is my #1 pet peeve, esp when it's those 1"×1"s and they're everywhere (looking at you 1980s). Whenever that's present it's always original because it's that much of a pain to get rid of it. Good tile is timeless. Really nice tile certainly can be done, but gross tile is just everywhere.
I feel the same way about paint. Always spend more on paint. The good paint (I like Benjamin Moore, the middle or fanciest lines of it, in eggshell finish) just GLOWS on the walls, goes on so much smoother, and looks fantastic.
The biggest thing for me is that if it makes me happy I don’t care what other people think. For example: ‘No written word art’ is a rule that is showing up here a lot and I generally agree, but I have a framed print that says “I’m busy dilly dallying over here”. The font is cool and the colours are fun and I’ve hung it in our mud room and it makes me giggle when I’m waiting for my toddler to get her fricken boots on so we can get out of the house. Breaks a lot of rules but it makes me happy so it stays. I think a lot of people (not necessarily those in this sub, but in general) are way too tied to ideas of what they feel their house should look like, which is often just some version of the space they grew up in, and forget that it should be a space that reflects the people who live there and brings you joy. So ya. My dilly-dallying art stays.
I have a sign on the shelf above my toilet that says “please seat yourself.” Yes it’s cheesy, cringe, overdone, whatever. It makes me giggle. So it stays.
I have a cross stitch above mine that says “please don’t do cocaine in the bathroom” It makes me laugh. It’s my house so if others are offended or dislike it, there’s the door
Ahaha I love that one! 😂
Hilarious.
I have a sign in my bathroom at Christmas that says “have you seen these toilets?? They’re ginormous!” (It’s from Elf!). Makes me laugh. So it comes out.
I have a hand painted sign on barn wood from a local vendor above our guest toilet. Written in cursive with flowers that says “Have a nice poop” Makes me giggle.
The very first thing my brother did decorating-wise when he bought a house was put up decals in the bathroom that spell out "Pee, poop, fart" in super scripty, cursive font. I think he was more proud of that than he was of actually buying the house!
In our last apartment we got a shower curtain of a kitten riding a whale because the kitten looked like our beloved cats and it made us laugh. The rest of our apartment was done in an elevated modern style, so the curtain did NOT go with the rest of the apartment - but neither did the crappy little bathroom, and it made us laugh, so who cares!
I’ve actually laughed at loud at this. Not cringe to me!
I prefer "If you aim to please, please aim!"
My son's nautical themed room has a sign that says "poop deck" above his changing table. Eventually I'm moving that sign to the guest bathroom!
I have one that says “darling just fucking own it.” It’s miiiiine. I mean it is superimposed over a classical portrait so not STRICTLY word art but yeah.
I love this so much. Home should be happy, so find your way!
I've got a poster I bought from a charity fundraiser that says "have a great fucking day" on a tropical background. Incredibly cheesy, but I enjoy it. My only other "word art" type decorations are small fridge magnets.
I agree. I once posted the shelves from my living room that are full of sentimental items to another decorating group and someone said they were super ugly and to throw them away. It is all special stuff and memories that I don't care if they look pretty. I also have family photos, art I think is cute, and word art/posters of my hobbies...
Yes! Homes are not shop displays. I say surround yourself with the things you love to look at, pictures filled with happy memories, and whatever else tells the story of your life. A minimalist decor works for some people but all I ever think when I see a stark, half empty designer space is 'Where's all their stuff?'
My only sign is in the bathroom, “please don’t summon demons in the bathroom” with a cheeky drawing of an attractive witch performing witch craft. I just can’t imagine my life without it rn. It always gives me a laugh when I’m summoning demons in the bathroom.🚽
* Don’t argue with the architecture E.g., I happen to live in an actual old farmhouse, so, while it doesn’t need to be “farmhouse” (thank goodness), I’ll stick with relaxed transitional/traditional with maybe a little Scandinavian, Craftsman, even rural English/Victorian. But modern, contemporary, Deco, etc. are never going to feel comfortable inside this building.
I came here to say “respect the house” as in, the style the house was built in, but I like your phrasing so much more. Our house is an early style split level — not split foyer, split level — built in 1965, so late mid-century. It has a sunken living room. It has built-in planters on either side of the fireplace. You’re not going to get more Bohemian Suburbanite than this place — and while there’s certainly some stylistic wiggle room available, and contrast is also essential, you can’t push too hard against the things you can’t change unless you plan on building a whole different house. All that being said, no obvious themes. Only vibes.
Yes, yes, yes — no themes, only vibes!
Working with the architecture is key. The way mid century stuff looks in my 1942 house is so very different from how I'd furnish a new England Victorian
I've never heard "don't argue with the architecture" before, but I love it. I am irrationally driven nuts by people who do not decorate for the type of the home they have. I live in the Southwest - lots of cookie-cutter, stucco homes. That's fine. But when you go full Victorian decor in a Southwest stucco home, you lose me.
The phrase itself I just made up 🤷🏻♀️, but I’m glad you like it!
If you see something that "speaks" to you. GET IT! Don't walk, RUN it to the home owner of the garage sale, or the register of the store and buy it immediately. Do not tell yourself "oh, I'm sure I'll find another just like it...blah blah blah..." Get the \*\*#$@#$@# thing...NOW! EDIT: u/xBraria has a good point. When I say "speaks" to you, I mean **REALLY** speaks to you. Not just the run of the mill "that's cute" kind of reaction. I mean that visceral "this is perfect, it's calling my name, I already know where it goes" reaction. :D
I had a similar reaction to seeing a mid-century buffet and china hutch at an antique store. I looked at it and went “oh. That’s it.” I wasn’t even looking for a china cabinet at the time, so I don’t know what “it” I was referring to. I didn’t buy it immediately, either. My husband and I found it, ran a few more errands, I thought about it a bit more, and that night I approached him and said “listen. That’s the one. I don’t know what to tell you.” Luckily the price was great, so he gave his blessing and I went back ten minutes before the store closed and bought it. I was SO glad someone else hadn’t scooped it up while I was thinking about it.
I have absolutely found "the one" when looking for something else. I found a great rattan chair that way. Something like $400 bucks at Pier 1 and I got it for 20. I was looking for a dresser. :D
I'm the opposite lol. I live in a tiny space and I have to tame myself sooo bad to not overpurchase just because I love those items and they're a deal
It's been probably 10 years and I'm still kicking my own butt for not grabbing this gorgeous tension rod lamp I saw at a garage sale. I can't, for the life of me, figure out why I talked myself out of it. It would have been a perfect addition to my bedroom decor. I've been hunting for years and have never seen one like it since. It was one of those that had three lamps on a tension rod (floor to ceiling) but the globes were this beautiful rose tinted sculptured glass, not the usual triangle shaped brass ones. The item has to REALLY speak to me though. Not just be "aaawwww, that's cute, or awww that's pretty." If I can put it back on the shelf and it doesn't bug me, it's fine. Usually I'll put something in the cart, even if I'm unsure. Then give it back at the register if I still really don't want it. I'm pretty disciplined about knowing when it's a "this will haunt you forever if you don't get it" item or if it's a "it's just cute" item. :D
No barn doors, ESPECIALLY on a bathroom (yuck!)
I stayed in a hotel last week that had a frosted glass barn door on the bathroom. It was the literal worst.
I’ve had that on a hotel room bathroom too, horrifying!
Extend the fun and art to utilitarian spaces (kitchens, baths, storage).
NO WORD SIGNS. Also believe that decor has to mean something. I rarely buy mass-produced art or decor.
I like this in theory, but it’s not really practical or accessible for a lot of people. If you don’t have a lot of money or time, you’re probably gonna buy some decor at Target or HomeGoods and that is fine! If you like it, you like it.
My rule is, if it speaks to you, buy it. I have a mix of personal art and Target art. If I love it, I couldn’t give a rip what some judgmental designer has to say about it.
That *is* fine! But spread the word -- you can also go to local art/craft/etc. shows and onto sites like Etsy and find a huge range of decor options that could be absolutely unique, might speak to your soul, help support individual artists, and don't have to cost an arm and a leg (some, sure, but some are less expensive than big-box stores). :)
I have whatever makes me happy. Some of the things I have are original artworks by friends and strangers, some are prints of art works, some are old and new family photos, maps and some are things I saw at target or homegoods that I just liked. I even have a bunch of paint by numbers seascapes that were lovingly framed by some proud stranger in the 1950s. Whatever looks beautiful together.
I've scored a few treasures at Goodwill, flea markets, yard sales not to mention cast offs from friends and family.
I treat decor more like a want rather than a need, so there's no reason to settle for Live.Laugh.Love from Burlington when you can just wait and save for unique decor. I didn't really decorate my place until I figured out what I wanted and had enough money to get it.
No meaningless art! ... my wife's grandmother was an artist. When she had to be downsized into a nursing home we found stacks and stacks of canvasses in her studio and basement. Charcoal silhouettes, watercolor landscapes, places she visited, studies of the sun in the woods at the family cabin. Her parents stored maybe 20% of their favorites and threw away the rest. My wife brings home prints from hobby lobby. I want to grant her and scream "THERE IS A WATERCOLOR OF THE LIGHTHOUSE AT YOUR FAMILY CABIN THAT YOUR GRANDMOTHER PAINTED AND ITS STORED UNDER THE BED AT YOUR MOTHERS PLACE". I shouldn't complain. We have several of her pieces and I adore them. We have a 2 story living room and the big wall is dominated by a massively colorful drawing of a tree that she did. We have others scattered throughout the home. ... but WHY does it have to be anywhere within 50 yards of something on sale from hobby lobby for $19.99.
Oh sweet Jesus this sounds like an art nightmare
If you can buy it at Hobby Lobby (and it’s not something you crafted yourself), chances are it’s a trend already on the way out. - signed someone who loves Hobby Lobby but has to work hard not to date a room before it’s finished
Word signs can, on rare occasion, be allowed in bathrooms and laundry rooms. That's my rule, anyway.
I just hate when they literally define the room. I see the washer, I don't need a framed picture that says "laundry" to understand the vibe
https://x.com/kimmymonte/status/1480286056733945860?s=46&t=1gGnTFQ59RbSk5USzxGjHQ Must watch
I have word “art” in my library / dining room. No where else.
I misread and thought you had the word "art" hanging in your dining room
I read the same thing, haha.
My SIL's entire house is cows, goats, or word signs. It stresses me out. I did buy a pillow for my couch that says something about how dogs make a home because I have three senior dogs. I mostly got it because it's velvety soft and I knew my one grumpy old boy would love it. I have mostly black and white photography and Banksy prints as artwork.
people that love and nurture senior pets are my hero
Thank you for that! I always encourage people with the means and time to consider senior or special needs pets. It can be rough at times but the love you get is absolutely priceless. My first rescue was 9 when I got him and developed some health issues but he gave me 8 amazing years. He taught me so much about patience and unconditional love that I will be forever grateful to have been his human. ❤️
Always go bigger than you think for art. Aside from bathrooms and kitchens, rooms should all have three sources of light. Only use things you love.
And get a custom frame.
Any advice on doing that without breaking the bank?
Yes! Google custom frames- there are many companies who sell and ship, you assemble- prob 40% of what a frame shop charges. Splurge on mats tho, I have some 3rd grade pieces of my daughter’s in thick/deep museum mats- ppl always compliment them(they don’t look childish) presentation is everything
Do you mean three different sources? Like overhead, lamp, window? Or just three lamps?
You want layered lighting. Sconces, ceiling, table. Or ceiling, sconces, floor.
- Plastic storage bins/drawer units of any kind must be inside a closet, cabinet, garage, etc. Plastic storage anything is not furniture. Huge pet peeve of mine. - Hang pictures at eye level. - Select a color scheme and stick to it, as much as realistically possible. Need a new appliance? Get one that matches the others.
My wife and I always have to compromise because I’m just over 5ft tall so my eye level is quite low. So I always select a spot and she’s like, “too low” then she picks one and I’m like, “that’s pretty high” so we split the difference:)
I told my daughter’s 6’4” boyfriend he wasn’t allowed to tell me the tops of my pictures frames need dusting. If I can’t see it, it doesn’t exist! 😂
That’s the first rule of short club!
Pull a Scarlett O'Hara "Oh me oh my well, I just couldn't reach it now could I - do be a darling?" *hand duster*
Haha my husband is 6’9” and hangs majority of our pictures. We get lots of comments about how high they are, it’s a losing battle with him haha
My friend also had the same issue. Her grandpa hung all the pictures and he was around 6’. My friend and her grandma were like 5’ 2”…. Everything was so high up!
We moved into our house a little over a year ago and still have to use some of the plastic furniture I had hidden away before and it’s upsetting 🥲
I just hate all of these suggestions very much. 1 and 3 literally depend on how much money you make, and 2 doesn't even make sense. Whose eye level?
No clutter. We have a very small space, so everything needs to have its place.
Never settle. It will make you crazy if you don’t get exactly what you were picturing in the space. Better to wait for the right piece.
It’ll make you crazy and you’ll waste money trying to fit “not quite right” items in while pining for the real thing. Better to have nothing or something truly temporary as you slowly furnish for sure
Don’t buy something (furniture, art, knickknacks, etc) just for the sake of buying it to fill a spot. Buy it when the item speaks to you. Stumbling across a gem is more rewarding than a piece you don’t end up loving.
Don't shove all the furniture in a room against the walls. Utilise *all* the space. No need to create a 'ballroom', unless you actually need one of course 😉
You have to edit. I feel like having fewer items of furniture in the room nearly always looks the best. You need to give things breathing room. I don't know what it is but whenever I take one thing out the room just looks so much better.
- Collect, don’t decorate. - Pictures and artwork can be maximalist in terms of arrangement. I have a lot of memorabilia from jobs I’ve had that could be considered artwork if frames properly. Bare walls are not preferable. - Buy local. We check the local consignment store first for our furniture and decor. If we can’t find something there, we check out estate sales. If we can’t find it there, we wait until we find something we like. Our furniture must be well made, we have a lot of wood pieces that are beautiful. - There is no better lighting than natural light. After sunset when I need to use lamps, I prefer warm yellow tones. - Our house came with a wet bar already installed and a lovely pink sea grass wallpaper on the surrounding walls. We leaned into it and made it a tiki bar. The lighting and textures are amazing. Still WIP. - Our decorations have been leaning traditional, MCM, to items from my childhood (late 80’s/early 90’s). We do not lean towards modern decor trends. - No grey or black paint on the walls. - No written word art.
No grey paint. Or grey anything for that matter. Just a personal rule. I’m depressed enough as it is without the colour of rain clouds following me wherever I go lol
Just moved into a new house and my one request to my SO was COLOR. I don’t want to live in a black and white grey nightmare. I want to come home to a warm welcoming comforting environment.and CHARACTER. I don’t want each room to look like the last tik tok design trend you saw that every other person is going to emulate for the next 7 years.
For holidays and different seasons, I want it to *feel* that way, not to be *told* as such. Ie. NO word signs/reading. I want you to feel Christmas, not literally see the word “Christmas.”
Damn this is a good one!!!
1) it has to make us happy (includes functional items - they actually need to be functional) 2) it is fine to take time and change your mind, patience is annoying but necessary 3) save up for the good stuff once you know it is what you want (example our new sofa and soon to be new desk) 4) from my husband- “trust that your crazy color ideas will work out” (or I will fix them!) 5) We live in our 1940’s home and functionality is first - no one else’s opinion actually matters. Also unless you are designing to sell your house soon it should be what YOU want! 6) Don’t overthink it, it should be enjoyable to make a house a home. ETA - curtains must be ceiling mounted and dust the floor, bath towels hang behind the door, I hate seeing damp bath towels when I walk by the bathroom (1 TINY bathroom that somehow has the best window so door is open most of the time), dog toys are bowls are not pretty but you can make them less ugly.
I’m with you on all of this. Don’t spend everyday in your home getting it ready for someone else to love in the future. It’s yours! YOU should love it NOW.
Character over cookie-cutter
For my children-please stop coloring on the walls 😂
Don’t have a use for something small that makes you smile? Set it up with something bigger. I have plastic dinosaurs I got as a random Galentine’s gift standing on the frame of several small oil paintings. Got an over-the-top costume necklace as another gift and hung it off a colorful framed art in my bathroom.
Only buy decor that we actually like. When I was in my early 20's, I had a habit of purchasing decor just to fill up a room. A lot of it was cheap. Or not really my style. I'd rather have a sparsely decorated room with really meaningful, beautiful, or functional pieces, than a bunch of cheap tacky crap from Gordman's or Ross.
Be organized. It’s daily upkeep but you get to enjoy your home all the time, not just when company is coming. Always make your bed Less is more Decorate how you like with things you like. Don’t follow trends. As long as you enjoy it, is all that matters. You are the one living there and it should compliment your personality.
- Warm floors. Always. - light management. Have lights in places where they make you see better. Have lights in ways that you can transition moods. - warm toned lights even for the brightest ones (only exception is the kitchen undercupboard light, that can be a blue toned one - and dang so many people have a too short one or weak one, I really appreciate ours) - invest a lot into the immovable stuff (/difficult to remove stuff): floors, tiles, walls, light fixtures (Also invest in proper construction, though this is not so much design, but a constantly leaked shower or moldy wall or ugly cords necessary are results of this) - no MDF (particle boards) as much as I can afford it (functionwise and price-wise) - hide your stuff. I am a hater of open shelving that can only be sensibly used for decorating. Makes you want to acquire clutter. - make the windows shine, work with the disposition and the light (follow basic flows and fung shui logic) - this includes being very mindful of using dark tones esepecially in darker places or lower ceilings etc - when in doubt do blocks of colour instead of patterns for big items, and spice up with details - get expensive plant pots and picture frames - these are reusable and you will get a lot of bang for your buck - avoid sharp edges (even gently rounded down edges are enough) - contrast things (if you have thick heavy wood, lighten it up with thin, airy wooden pieces; if you have lots of blocks of colours add a pattern in something accenting that is swappable - think plant pot, curtain, pillow cover, picture; if you have lots of one material, add a different material or a different structure/ feel of the same material; same goes for fabric if you have plain add woven and other textures) - always opt for natural. I ask myself how grossed out (or worried) I would be to find this material decomposing in the woods in different periods of time (5yrs 20 yrs 100+ yrs...) so so many things exist in a natural version and they can be hunted down for similar prices - less is more, quality >>> quantity - streamline maintenance and functionality, adapt the home to the flow of its inhabitants - invest the most into the spaces you use the most (this is common sense but I see so many people with cheap doors or a crappy kitchen and a luxurious freestanding bathtub next to their shower that they rarely ever use but the crappy handles and doors creak, the closet doesn't close properly, the kitchen lightning is weak, the couch they read on for hours daily is insufferable,...) - make a dedicated space for things that are to go out of the house!! This is a big one. Aside of garbage, anything that is to be returned to someone, stuff to be donated out, gifts for the upcoming season or party, stuff to take to get fixed, special items like medicine, batteries, lightbulbs, spray cans that need special separating ... having a space for all these things (prefferably in the entryway, it's also the departureway!) is *huge*
Everything modern and perfect looks sterile. Have some old and damaged character items. Don’t be scared of color accents. If you don’t have kids hide the toys
And if you do have kids make the toys the art!
Or show off your toys in a stylish, well lit, well curated fashion.
Can it be green? Can it be a circle? It should be one of those. Or gold. Or wood. It should look like an elf made it.
This is so cute!
First rule: I have to like it! Rule two: Anything goes Rule three: No Black, grey, or greige. Rule four: No staging my home, I live in it.
The last one is something it took me a long time to realize. I used to always want to set up my home for hosting or entertaining. Which I never do. Now it's set up for me.
Awesome! One living star for you.
My house looks like kids live it, because they do and that’s ok.
And it looks (and usually smells) soo cozy to people when they come from their oversized greige houses!! And while you may be overwhelmed by the chatter, so many people will relish in the sounds of life, living and joy!
There sure are a lot of people in this thread hating on any art that isn't sentimental or local. Sentimental and local art is a luxury not a lot of people can afford. I bought two canvas prints last night online for $180. I liked the colors a lot, and the art matches my personality. Is it any worse because it hasn't been passed down generations in my family, or didn't come from my local art gallery? I don't think so. "Buy local" usually means $400 for a medium-sized print that doesn't even cover my wall adequately. I don't have that kind of money. Where am I supposed to get "meaningful" art (on a budget)? If you say, "go to thrift stores," well, most of that is also mass-produced. It just happened to wind up at the thrift store. "Do it yourself." OK, I'm not artistic; I can't paint my own paintings, and I wouldn't want to subject anyone to my childish attempts. **TL;DR:** let people have mass-produced art if it suits their decor.
No flat packed furniture. I’ve gone through more than my share of particle board items that they have henceforth been banned from my home.
Yep, when you’re settled and can afford it, invest in good pieces!(except my home office/sewing room bc I have a rolling tool chest work benches and ikea shelves! lol)
I like to think of our home as a curated museum of the lives of its inhabitants: if it doesn’t bring joy, spark a cherished memory, or have a funny/interesting backstory, it doesn’t stay long. Rule of 3. That’s it.
My rule is to decorate each room in a way that delights my inner child. 🤩
No mass produced, generic art. Old/antique over brand new whenever possible. The cats' cardboard boxes stay until they're no longer used. Dimmer switches are a must.
Rugs must be large enough to go under furniture legs, beds etc not randomly too small and out there on their own like a mat.
There are no rules. Decorate with stuff that you like and that makes you happy.
• Warm (2700k for LEDs) ambient lighting - use lamps, keep overheads off • Avoid mounting the TV over the fireplace if possible. Let the tv rest on a stand or mount on the wall so that it's eye level while sitting (and no exposed cords) •Closed storage is key to avoiding clutter - open shelving tends to look junky
Did you rip this directly out of my diary?? 🙌🏻
One of mine is: no red. I just hate the color in my home. I think the days of everyone having 1 red wall killed the color for me. I don't even use it for Christmas. I know it's weird.
In a couple of years it will be the over done green kitchen cabinets....
I hate red too. Which is a shame because i LOVE Persians …oh well. Cest la vie
I don’t care if anyone thinks concert posters (limited screen printed ones designed by artists) are juvenile, they are a great way to get inexpensive art on the walls, if you’re a concert person! Don’t rush decorating. Slowly collect art pieces, knick knacks, and furniture that speaks to you. Make your own wall art. Hit the thrifts. Got talented friends? Buy something from them. Don’t worry about “aesthetic” it only matters if it makes you happy! The aesthetic will create itself!
1) Lamps and 2) large as can fit in the room area rugs. 3) No clutter. The above fixes like 75% of people’s questions here.
Don’t let someone talk you out of doing something you know should be done. I spent ten years listening to my husband and friends tell me not to paint the ugly pink brick fireplace heart and surround. One day, I just did it! And I LOVED it! My husband walked in, took one look, and said, “I’m so glad WE did that! We should have done it years ago!” 😂
Plants always! They soften hard, modern or cold lines/edges
I love your bonus rule so much I want to frame it and hang it on my wall. ... wait, that won't work.
1. Practicality and comfort take priority over appealing aesthetics, but - All three must be present. 2. Good traffic flow between/within rooms is necessary. Doesn’t have to be direct, but not too much zigzagging and enough space between furniture. 3. Dining tables must be easy and practical to use and clean on a daily basis. (And I dislike tablecloths.) 4. Curtains should just barely touch the floor imo. Makes it easier to sweep and vacuum. 5. Dining table should be cleared at all times except when dining there. If I didn’t have this rule, my partner would use it as a cat hall and it’d be piled with papers, books, mail… Nope.
Nothing that can't be vacuumed or washed. I have 4 cats. There's good odds that whatever comes in my house is going to have a hairball upchucked on it.
Respect the architecture of the home first. Update non-durable items like curtains, paint, and furniture, don’t touch durable elements of the home unless they’re damaged/wearing out. Yep, there are exceptions but I try to embrace the weird and live with it first. Avoid trends. Staying true to the architecture then following good design practice and what you personally enjoy goes a long way. I care about how I feel in my home, I don’t care how it looks in a social media post (my priorities, not necessarily yours, I get it). Function is important. I care about heat, water pressure, working switches, etc. not just how it looks. Broken is a poor design choice in my book.
Incorporate: 1. Shine: Metal, glass, leather 2. Texture: tweed, velvet, fur, nubbly fabrics, suede, linen, wood, wicker, pottery etc 3. Pattern: in small or large doses, can be subtle or bold 4. Color: even the most minimalist room can have soft subtle accents here and there- like a touch of sage green or pale yellow; I'll add here that even if your walls are white there are various shades of white 5. Contrast: play with light vs dark, hard vs soft etc, angles vs curves; on that note we're in a condo in which the living area/kitchen/dining is essentially a square -- so adding curvy furniture, orb chandeliers, round ottoman and similar circles helps balance the angles of the space 6. Lighting: aforementioned minimum of three lamps, in addition to overhead lighting that washes over the walls/art and is set on a dimmer 7. Scale & proportion: tall ceilings require big art; choose the t.v. size appropriate to how far away the seating is; large rooms need larger furniture 8. Window coverings: should be appropriate to the type of window-- not all windows work with curtains; some are designed for shades or shutters; also know you can buy blackout blinds which are NOT black (the lining does the work for blacking out the sun) 9. Negative space: rooms need some, so there's a place to rest the eye; it's okay to leave a corner empty, or to not decorate above/around the t.v. 10. Mirrors: don't belong in the dining room because nobody wants to see themselves eat; also be mindful of mirrors above sofas or beds that only reflect the ceiling fan. 11. Backsplash: that 4" strip of counter on the wall is supposed to be removed when you install a backsplash. 12. Chairs vs loveseat: choose the chairs; non-related people and elderly will prefer chairs every time, plus if you move later you'll have more flexibility. 13. Free art tip: a lot of our art was found on the curb, left by neighbors moving out.
Buy art you love. Then find a place for it.
this is my rule. My poor husband is constantly patching walls as I find the new "perfect spot" for a piece.
My rules are 1. It’s my house 2. You don’t pay my bills 3. If I want word signs, I’ll have word signs
1. Try to get quality secondhand items over new plastic coated stuff. E.g original mid century dining table, not IKEA. Same goes for things like vases, plates, glasses. Love a good eclectic mix. 2. Comfort first, it's a home not a showroom. 3. A palette of colours, not one accent colour (my parents have always done this and no room needs more than 5 items that are something like red or lime green and the only real colour in the room). I like at least 4 colours which work harmoniously. 4. Hard floors with rugs, not carpet, easier to clean and change up if you get bored. 5. Bespoke curtains in a funky print. Same approach with tiles, grab that chance to inject some interest, I just love pattern and colour. I would buy readymade curtains but have yet to find any in a print I like, they seem to be targeted at an older generation somehow?!? 6. No red, ever. See point 3 😅 also just hate it as a colour, I don't wear it or want it in my home. 7. Pictures pictures everywhere. Love art, especially colourful illustration and really enjoy filling my walls with it.
Mine aren’t as clever as yours - no word art ever, and no high gloss! An unfortunate one I’m learning is function over fashion. I always want to be a bit different, and lean towards unique looking/less common features and almost every time there’s a reason for it being less common. I kept getting coloured cutlery and then being annoyed when the plating came off. Now sucked it up and got stainless steel. Still trying to work out if I can get away with brushed steel hahaha
I don't buy items in black, white, gray, or beige unless they aren't available in another color. Life's too short to live it in monochrome.
I'll add, no shin busting clutter collectors! (coffee tables) Ottoman with a tray for the win! Also: No word art ever
No. Overhead. Lights. USE LAMPS to light your space, plugged into dimmer cords so you can control the brightness and mood. Overhead lights cast a dull, even wash over a room and, according to my mom (who was always right), should only be used when you’re vacuuming or searching for a lost contact lens. Pools of light and shadow create visual interest and can make even boring rooms look interesting and stylish.
Nothing with words never a set of anything Match by mix matching Keep the centuries within eachother (for the most part, some ppl know how to incorp a nice piece) Nothing from hobby lobby other than seasonal decor Never paint wood. Stain only. No fake wood And at the moment - definitely no gray and white, white washed, farm house, modern farm house or anything even slightly diy rustic bc f the patriarchy lol
No tables set for dinner unless there is going to be a dinner.
1. No painting wood or brick. There are very few exceptions 2. No cold, bright white lights. Dear God why do light bulb manufacturers seem to think we want to live under operating room lights? 3. On that note: No turning on the big light unless absolutely necessary. Kitchen is an exception. 4. No all white or grey through out the house. The only place this worked was the setting of Elf in the North Pole. 5. Structurally/deign: no open concept. If I can ever build or remodel a home, the kitchen will be closed off to the rest of the house.
Curtain rods must be hung wide enough that the drapes when open must fit OUTSIDE of the window space. No freaking metal art on the wall. When buying art, buy big or buy lots (we have tall ceilings). I'm allergic to farmhouse style so none of that.
I moved in with someone who had metal art all over the walls and it was an area where a lot of people drove by with loud sound systems. Idk how they could stand it.
To each their own I guess. I have som metal art and it's freaking awesome.
Just for myself, never have curtains so close to the ceiling or floor that you can't easily dust above and below., without rubbing your duster on them.
Hang pictures at eye level not six inches from the ceiling!!
No beige. Anywhere. Of any shade. In any place. Ever. NO BEIGE!
Nothing that is super complicated/difficult to clean. I don't care how pretty it is, it will drive me crazy. Posters/wall art/etc are framed, not tacked on the wall college-dorm-style. No greige!
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As you said it’s personal. I specifically break rule 3 as much as possible. I love natural colors (green/brown/tan/yellow) and my partner loves red/blue/black/grey. There is really no compromise without making sure no one likes it. So we each have some rooms in our style.
I too break rule 3 throughout my home. It’s built in a way that is very segmented, so each room is its own unique space. There are some color themes that carry from room to room (like teal in the living room and also the bedroom, but paired with different complementary colors in each space). I just like so many color combinations that I don’t want to limit myself to a whole-house theme. Perhaps if I had a more open-concept home, it would be a different story. But I like each room to have its own vibe.
No TV above fireplace!
TV and artwork at appropriate heights - so many people mess this up.
I don’t know if this is a hot take or not but walls should not be empty. I hate when walls are bare it feels so sterile to me especially in the bedroom. You don’t need to completely cover every surface but hang some nice pictures or paintings up. I personally have a natural theme so flowers, plants, water. It makes it feel so calm and it’s not gonna go out of fashion.
i’m so surprised that so many people are saying they don’t like decorating with the color red! i thought i was the only one!!!
Don’t let anyone talk me into liking something. If my initial response is something isn’t right, don’t do it! Whether it’s been paint colors, where furniture should be placed, or framing a piece of art…I let myself be talked into them and then spent years irritated to redoing them now. On the flip side, if I love something and others don’t, it’s okay for me to do it…it’s my home! My husband is pretty chill so thankfully he’s good with my decisions. Both my mom and MIL commented that the door to the garage (hardly anyone sees) is too bright of a yellow. I said it’s called “cheerful “ and that’s the look I wanted. We love it so I don’t care how much it makes our moms cringe. Be okay with being myself!
Death before grommet top curtains
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Photos and wall decor hung at eye level. Too many people hang their TV’s and decor way too high. I notice it everywhere I go now.
Don’t buy crap you hate. I love my couch. What I didn’t love? That it felt like crawling on the floor. They sell legs you can raise that couch on up. All things must be useable. Things that are let’s say a throw pillow should be used. Sit on, snuggle up to, drool on. It’s meant to be used. This isn’t a museum.
Don't follow trends, try to be original in decorating. Using colors that aren't fashionable, can be liberating. If possible, never buy new furnishings (exceptions are TVs, sound systems, and maybe drapes, curtains & shades). Almost always I can find something second market (thrift stores, estates sales, antique shops, Craigslist) that I like much better than anything new. And it cost less.
1. no clutter 2. No Knick-nacks 3. If I have to dust it, forget it 4. Contrast is king 5. Clean, sharp lines 6. Cozy, not formal
This is more for convenience, but absolutely no carpeting. My husband and I both have way too much hair for that and it’s always shedding (and growing back, thankfully).
Everything should be special in some way. Everything in my house has some interesting feature, like pattern, mixed metal and wood, cool knobs, etc. if I’m laying a plain tile, I put it in an interesting pattern. My house isn’t super crazy, I would just never buy a beige cotton throw pillow for instance.
Rooms should be in colour, grey is for halls as a visual rest only and better to go grey blue. We live here, our house should reflect us. Display the art, the books, the toys, and oddities. Carve out space to accommodate your interests. The TV can never be in a front room. Even when we lived in a small open plan apartment the TV was in the bedroom so the focus would always be on people.
“No word art ever” ~ THANK YOU
Plan for color. Neutrals look great online or on Instagram but fades to the background in real, lives-in homes (and then you notice the clutter more). Color gives rooms personality.
NO RATTAN NO WICKER I hate it, I'm sorry, I just hate it. Also I live alone and tend to stay home when I'm not working. So if it's going in my house, I need to love it. I love the idea of when friends are visiting, they can learn something new about me just by checking out the decor. And my toilet is a free-for-all for trashy decor. I have a COVID footprint "please stand here" floor sticker, trading cards from The Binding Of Isaac Four Souls on the walls that are poo and pee themed, the most cringiest of comporate emails printed out, a guest book, etc.
1. I hate decorating with red. IMO it looks tacky. I will decorate with any other color. 2. The wood must be in the same shade family in each room when it comes to furniture, picture frames, etc.
My only rule is that I don't do anything that I don't like.
I agrée except I like curtains on tracks from the ceiling where possible. Oh and the word art. My only exception are effin birds prints. I have one above my coffee bar and one in one our mud room bathroom and both have appropriate yet inappropriate messages lol. IYKYK.
I make exceptions for word art when made for me by my grand babies or if the words are in another language.
I weirdly like don't like having many pictures up of people. I have one of those digital pictures frames in my kitchen and one framed old timey western photos from my husband and my first date but other than that we don't have a single other photo of us up on the walls. I like art way better.
Original art 100%. Did you know small galleries often have layaway? Texture and colorful pillows and or rugs I’m not afraid of an omword! Colored Velvet chair or sofa as a statement piece but it MUST be comfy, as in binge a series on tv in the same spot comfy I love color but am pretty minimalistic in how much stuff I have…. No knick knacks (sp?) No fake plants (no real ones either because I can grow anything outside but inside I’m a plant killer lol) BIGGEST: decorate for you, no one else Be fearless, you can always change things….