If you ask any interior designer or design enthusiast for decorating advice, you’ll encounter a wide range of opinions. Some suggestions will appeal to you, others won’t, and some may even confuse you. Everyone approaches design differently, and not every idea will match the way you want to live. The key is to seek out inspiration that resonates with you and adapt it to your own life and home.
I view design as a process of discovering what you love and embracing inspiration in whatever season you’re in. After decades of studying design principles and learning what works for my home, I have a clearer sense of the look I prefer. Still, my style continues to evolve as I learn more about who I am and how I want my home to feel.
There is no single correct way to decorate a home. Even if you don’t have a strong opinion about design yet—or decorating simply isn’t your passion—you probably know what appeals to you when you see it. You recognize what feels comfortable, which colors and textures draw you in, and which patterns or styles spark joy. Your home should reflect the people who live there, so surrounding yourself with things that matter to you makes a difference.
I wasn’t sure whether to feel offended or amused when a recent Amazon reviewer of my book, The Inspired Room, criticized my color choices, questioned how I arranged kitchen chairs, and insisted I had decorated all wrong. She even suggested bloggers shouldn’t share their homes or decorating ideas, likening it to the blind leading the blind.
That review missed the point of the book and the philosophy behind blogging about home.
I don’t expect everyone to decorate the same way I do. I share my home not because it is flawless—it isn’t—but because I want to offer realistic, attainable ideas that have worked for our family. My hope is that readers will feel encouraged to embrace what they love and become more confident using what they already have.
When you are invited to be true to yourself, you’re more likely to fall in love with where you live.
“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.” — Coco Chanel
My home and decorating choices will probably never appear in Architectural Digest, and that’s fine by me. Despite imperfections, our home nurtures our family and remains a place we enjoy coming back to. That sense of belonging and comfort is what matters most. After nine years of sharing a message about authenticity at home, I remain convinced that this reminder is valuable—perhaps more so now than ever.
How do you embrace authenticity in your style?
Thank you for all your thoughtful comments and encouragement over the years. If this message resonates with you, I’m grateful you’ve been part of the journey. If you’re new here, welcome.
Related posts:
How to Create the Perfect Home for You
Update in 2024: I’ve developed step-by-step decorating, style, and home courses to help you love the home you have in the HomeBody Gathering Place community.
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