What’s your style? Do you know exactly what your style is or is it ever-changing and evolving?
(Coastal Living)
I think for me, I have known my style is Traditional for a long time now. I’ve been drawn to that look over the years and still love it, although in the last few years, I’ve felt the need to de-formalize that Traditional style and make it a little less stuffy. My living room is going through a little tweaking now. It’s the most formal room in my house and even though I still love my furniture, I want to take it down a notch.
With the surge of decorating on the internet that has been going on for a long while now, it’s easy to get sucked into house envy. We see what everyone else has in their homes and I’m not so sure this habit we have of peeking in the windows of all our online friends is a completely healthy one. Fun, yes absolutely, but healthy, maybe not! 🙂
(Traditional Home)
I dived into the online decorating world back in the late 90’s, when decorating boards like Better Homes & Gardens were going strong and were the place to hang out. There I met other obsessed home owners who wanted to talk about houses all the time and it was a lot of fun. I went on to join a private decorating group online in 2000 and from there, blogging took over and here I am.
I still remember the thrill of seeing other people’s house pics and sharing my own and the back and forth conversation that ensued with all of us back in those days. We lived for a new inspiring project from someone else. Now, it’s a little old hat. You can click on any blog and see house after house, style after style of as many differently decorated homes as you can imagine.
So, where am I going with this?
(My living room)
It seems that now that there is SO much out there to absorb and mull over with all the styles and visual overload, we can start to get dissatisfied with what we have. It becomes “oh my gosh, I love that, I want MY house to look like that!”.
We’ve seen the trends of the first decade of this century: Tuscan, French Country, Coastal cottage, Swedish inspired, and a host of others in between, especially the Pottery Barn phenom. I too, am not immune to falling in love with ALL of these looks at one time or another and I enjoy seeing them all. Does that mean I’m going to change out everything in my house and become a devotee of one of those styles?
Absolutely NO WAY!
I’ve carefully acquired and collected every single stick of furniture that’s in my house currently, one piece at a time and I still love every single stick of it. Whatever redecorating goes on at my house will consist of rugs, pillows, fabrics, accessories, and artwork changing out for the most part. You won’t see a whole lot of new furniture coming in my house. If something comes in, something has to go out.
So, as pretty as I think the current trend towards all white might be, it’s not going to happen at my house. I won’t be painting all of my pretty brown antiques white. Cause you see, brown is classic and never goes out of style. It might not be the cutting edge of design at the moment, but I love every single piece of those carefully chosen treasures.
We all have to do do what is right for each one of us when it comes to decorating our homes. I don’t live in a Tuscan home with architectural features to be envied, nor do I live in a stately old historical home with loads of character and patina. I live in a 10 year+ old subdivision and instead of wishing away everything that’s here, I have chosen to embrace my home and make it the best it can be.
I encourage all of you to do the same. It’s so easy to get caught up in blogland with what everyone else is doing, but you live in your home and I live in mine. So, that’s why on this blog, you will see me encouraging all of you to be yourselves, do what makes YOU happy in your home.
That’s how to truly make a house a HOME. A haven for our families. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have a pretty house, in fact, I think women have that desire innately built in, but we all have budgets and limitations to what we can do. I can see a gorgeous home online and drool all over it, but at the end of the day, I live in my house and choose to make it what works best for my family and lifestyle. Be unique, don’t be afraid to do what makes you happy, even though it may fly in the face of current trends. Trends come and go, we all know that.
So, here’s what you won’t see in my house that is currently all the rage:
- All white slipcovered sofas and chairs, along with all white walls and minimal color (I do have one white slipcovered chair and ottoman that Grandma helped me with. The slipcover cost me $5 in yardsale fabric, labor was free). 🙂 As pretty as this look is, it just won’t work in my house.
- Brick walls or floors, heavy wood beams, a home built with age. My house has limitations on what it can be. So, I live with what I have and make it the best it can possibly be.
(Babs Watkins, House Beautiful)
- All French inspired furniture and accessories. I love this look too, but I’m not going to get rid of everything I have to achieve it right down to the last detail. Practical rules for me.
(Christopher Petkanas, House Beautiful)
- Swedish design, all pale gray/green and minimal furnishings. Again, beautiful and I love to see it in magazines but it’s not me. I have to use what I already have and make it work.
- Sleek styling ala Pottery Barn, with minimal accessories. Again, I enjoy that look too, but much prefer my old antiques and I like my stuff too much to pare down that minimally.
So, how about you?
What do you truly love?
This pic below from House Beautiful probably speaks to me the loudest at this moment. But, will I totally have this look.
No, but I can get inspired from this pic.
Do you fluctuate between styles trying to find the REAL you?
I’ve definitely honed in on my style much more as I’ve gotten older. I’ve become a bit of a snob when it comes to buying vintage things, I so prefer old to new and it’s a whole lot more fun to shop like that.
Does trolling blogs make it easier or harder for you to find your style?
If we’re not careful, we can definitely have house envy, myself included. I see SO many beautiful homes out there, but at the end of the day, I love my home so much and have the best time tweaking it and changing things around. I am truly grateful for our home. We have so many great ideas at our fingertips now, visual overload at times and it can make for some frustration and joy all at the same time.
So, here’s the bottom line on all of this. I urge you to be yourself, find joy in YOUR home and don’t get sucked into doing the latest and greatest in blogland. While there is certainly nothing wrong with getting inspiration and ideas from others in blogland, just be careful that you are going in a direction because YOU truly love it and not because it’s the thing to do this year. Copying might not be the best way to get the home of your dreams. Look, listen, and learn for yourself so that you can take the information you glean and use it in a positive way at your Home Sweet Home.
The End! 🙂
Mary Jean says
Perfectly said!! No all white for me EVER! I love color! Thanks for sharing this. It is so true!
Sherry says
Thank you for this post. I am pretty new to reading blogs and very new to writing one of my own. I have collected “old”, sometimes antique furniture for several years, over 30 actually. My husband and I call our decor “early yard sale” style. I have enjoyed sewing curtains, pillows, tablecloths and making and painting many things to make our house our home. I will stick to that but enjoy finding new ideas to spruce things up by reading blogs. Thank you so much for the encouraging post.
Oma says
Thank you so much for expressing a thought that was nagging at me…
After visiting so many beautiful homes I too began suffering from home envy…I live on a ranch in a Mexican style ranch hacienda home…rustic…and I am a true Victorian cottage style lady…I was so busy crying over not being able to enjoy the charm of the white picket fence and all that sweetness…
Well, I finally slapped myself into the real world..and started to apply a Rustic Victorian decor…and voila…I was redeemed!!!!…I love it and everyone that comes to visit and stay with house feel like they are staying in a Bed and Breakfast..with very antique vintage style…I am so happy now and confident…
Your blog today just cinched it for me and I found myself tearing up with joy…you put my feelings into words…thank you…
Hugs,
Oma
Oma says
oh well so much for editing…lol…but I was so excited in responding…lol…
Becky in SC says
Great post Rhoda!! I’m just not liking the whole white thing…sorta puts me in mind of an insane aylum. 😉
Your style, however, is likable. Your home is gorgeous! I don’t envy what you have…just love looking at it and developing some really great ideas of my own! I am very thankful for what God has allowed my family and I to acquire over the years and just really enjoy dillying with it and changing things out occassionally.
Have a BLESSED Easter!!
Cindy S says
Trolling blogs, as you so aptly put it, has given me tons of inspiration and has actually helped me find what is best for my house. I have a limited budget, which is probably good, that means I am never tempted to sell everything and buy another style altogether. I have to work with what I have already. I try to let my house speak to me, telling me what it best for it. I know that sounds wierd, but it has worked for me in every house I have tried to decorate. Great post, and I totally agree with you! My home is ME and my hubby, and it reflects US. Hugs, Cindy S
bonnie says
I truly like my house and what I’ve done with it over the years, but sometimes after looking at blogs I feel like what I’ve done is not good enough or out of date. Like you, I could never do the all white thing or paint any of my fine wood antiques. Thanks for reminding us to enjoy what we’ve got and who we are!
ValerieGail says
I don’t have a style! lol The design/style gene skipped me. I like blue and that’s what I try to match everything too!! lol
blueloom says
Hello Rhoda
As always a great post. Thanks for the inspiration. Loved all the styles and feel like redecorating again!
Your blog was our first inspiration in the blogging world, and we would like to invite you to participate in our first giveaway.
Cheers!
Kinga from Blueloom
HollyM says
Good points were made in your post today. We each have very individual likes, dislikes, and gut instincts about what is right for us – – and we should listen to OURSELVES. I’m currently a bit out-of-step with what is fashionable, and have absolutely no intention of painting my vintage oak cabinets and the matching wainscoating white in my kitchen! : )
I found that when I was house hunting last year, I was completely tired of seeing the same floor plans in every house. The same granite. The same jet tub. The same tile. The same breakfast bar. When I walked into the home we bought, it audibly spoke to me – – “Buy me!” – – because it had features most people don’t want today. But it was absolutely perfect for the furniture and accessories I had spent a lifetime collecting. We had only to buy a sofa and foyer table. We will do some minor refurb in the next few years, but it suits us . . . and because it does, everyone thinks it’s a beautiful home. Even without the granite counters and stainless appliances so de rigueur these days. Oh, and we insist on color in our house, too.
seanymph says
Sometimes I wonder, why do we have to have a decorating style that someone else defines? Why isnt my “style” actually one? We all love many things and we are all different and yet the powers that be try to put us in catagories. I love the painted furniture Im seeing….the pretty white pieces and creamy colors and such… but I think Id get bored looking at that all the time. I dont like tons of color but I do like color.
I love my oak pieces, they are not old but collected carefully over the yrs. And sometimes I imagine them painting white and I know they would look stunning. But then why do that when I purposely bought good solid oak? And what happens when I get tired of white paint and want my oak back?
I like antiques too and doggoneit every time I start to collect something it becomes popular and expense so I stop collecting then. And sometimes I like the new decorating things. I like the cottage beachy look too……so how does one person get to have all they want? So I think you have no choice but to put things in your home that you love….since you may not be able to afford to replace them. And dont stick to any particular style because some say you should. I believe your home should reflect you, not some decorator or trend.
sheila says
I do enjoy looking into others’ homes. I get some great ideas, but no, I I hope don’t get envious. I take an idea here or there, or change an arrangement around a bit, but I’m happiest when my house reflects me. Good food for thought.
Gerry Sharp says
Great post. I love getting ideas from you and others such as picture frame molding and corbels in the archway. All from you. However, my home reflects my taste, be it thrifty, antique,sentimental and yard sale make-overs. I can’t waist my time being envious of some of the lovely homes I view on blogland. I look for ideas to shop in my home and rearrange “stuff”.
Elaine L. says
I really enjoyed this post. I have very eclectic tastes, which makes it difficult to see all the ideas on the blogs. I’m attracted to so much, however I know the style of house I have and work with it.
I Love reading many blogs, because I appreciate creative ideas, however there is a glut of shabby chic white+pink and white+blue. It’s always refreshing to see other styles.
~elaine~
Maggie says
I LOVE this post! This is exactly what I am trying to acheive in my house. I don’t want to redecorate every 5 years cause it’s out of style now. I like the traditional. I want to fill it with classic and timeless pieces. I have really thought of the limitations of my family too. I love the white look, but I love color too. We are too messy for white anyways. Fragile pieces don’t work well for us either. Or cluttered tables. My kids are experts at creating clutter! The advice in this article is great! Finally, someone has given me the ok to be ourselves!
Marilyn Holeman says
Dear Rhoda, I’ve been following your blog for a few months now, and I want to say “Hear, hear!” (or however you spell that!) to your article today. I live in a small home (605 square feet with 392 detached additional feet–it’s a long story) and it’s VERY easy for me to get house envy. But I am TRYING to be content with what God has provided. Our styles are very different (mine is garden cottage) but I like what you have to say and how you say it. Thanks for your encouragement and reminders.
Have a blessed Easter,
Marilyn
Lisa says
While I enjoy looking at everyone’s houses, I have never been envious. Sure, toward the end of the 19 years we lived in a small, older home in PA, I wished we could move, or had the money to do a ton of work, but I always am grateful for what I have. I know many women who have never owned a home, or live in areas that are not so great. My house would have been their dream.
Moving to my dream home last fall (a small, but brand new home), has been an amazing experience. I appreciated it a lot more than I would have when I was younger. Armed with ideas from your blog, I am ready to turn this place into a showplace.
Sheila says
Hi Rhoda,
You hit the nail on the head with today’s post. Even though I’ve always enjoyed home decorating magazines, I always felt they were more geared towards the rich and wealthy. However, when I found my first online decorating blog I was thrilled. This is where I found ladies who were very much like myself, they lived on regular incomes and in homes that weren’t mansions. I was also thrilled with how everyone was so willing to share their ideas, diy projects, thrifty makeovers etc.
With that being said, I must admit to falling into the trap of trying to copy certain styles only to find myself strolling through store after store to try and put something similar together. I often questioned why I was doing this and why I just did stay true to my own style.
I still visit my fave blogs every day (of which yours is one of my first stops) because I enjoy seeing what everyone is up to and there is always something that catches my eye. Keep up the great work and TFS! Sheila
grannyann says
I really enjoyed looking at all those styles. thanks
Brenda says
Excellent post, Rhoda! It’s so easy to want everything you see, love every new thing, but will we still love it next year? A home should reflect who we are and what we truly love, and we may tweak things from time to time. I think, though, that if you love your basic pieces, you will never become dissatisfied with them. I believe that in a few years, people will say “why did someone ever paint this nice wood!”. Better to not be too quick to jump on every bandwagon.