Decorate with Intention: Create a Vision for Your Home
Make sure your home is a true reflection of yourself by following these helpful steps
I am a proud new mama in the process of creating a home I love on a tight budget, squeezing in design classes on the side. You can find me on my blog Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), where I share inspiring interiors, design finds, cute baby pictures, and updates on my own progress in decorating my first house.
I am a proud new mama in the process of creating a home I love on a tight... More »
If you crave a home that not only looks beautiful, but feels warm and personal and perfectly you, it's time to start decorating with intention. In this new series, we will be exploring ways to tap into your unique personal style and decorate from the heart. This week, we are working on creating a vision for your home. Let's get started!
Working on this step will help train your eye and give you a place to collect all of your ideas. It may take you anywhere from a single weekend to several months, but the time put in at this stage means fewer regrets down the road.
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Seek inspiration.
Look through your favorite magazines, books, catalogs, websites and blogs for images that inspire you. Keep magazine tear sheets in a file and bookmark your finds online so that you can easily find them later.
If you find most of your inspiration on websites and blogs, you can use online tools to organize your finds, like creating an ideabook on Houzz.
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Look through your favorite magazines, books, catalogs, websites and blogs for images that inspire you. Keep magazine tear sheets in a file and bookmark your finds online so that you can easily find them later.
If you find most of your inspiration on websites and blogs, you can use online tools to organize your finds, like creating an ideabook on Houzz.
An important tip: Be sure to note down what it is you like about each image as well as the source. Just like the cool floor lamp or the paint color? Write it down! You do not want to realize at the wrong moment you lost the name of your favorite paint color or the phone number of a shop that carries your dream rug.
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Visually organize your ideas.
If you have lots of magazine clippings, you might want to try creating an inspiration board. Any cork or magnet board will work beautifully. You can also clip photos to art wire or a simple length of twine strung between two hooks.
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If you have lots of magazine clippings, you might want to try creating an inspiration board. Any cork or magnet board will work beautifully. You can also clip photos to art wire or a simple length of twine strung between two hooks.
If your collection includes heavier items like fabric swatches, you could create a style tray instead, or even hang larger items from hooks or pegs. The point is to get all of your ideas in one place, where you can begin to make connections and soak in your inspiration.
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Look for patterns in what you love.
Once you have amassed a large collection of inspiration images, sit down and take some time to begin picking out themes and similarities in what speaks to you. For instance, my inspiration file almost always includes lots of pictures of open shelving in the kitchen and chalkboard paint. This is an important step, because it will help you hone in on what you really love.
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Once you have amassed a large collection of inspiration images, sit down and take some time to begin picking out themes and similarities in what speaks to you. For instance, my inspiration file almost always includes lots of pictures of open shelving in the kitchen and chalkboard paint. This is an important step, because it will help you hone in on what you really love.
Edit, edit, edit!
Take one more look at those inspiration images and this time, be ruthlessly discerning. It is so much better to end up with a handful of images that perfectly capture your style rather than a bin full of so-so examples.
That said, no one image is likely to encompass everything you want, and that's good. The unique way you combine things is what puts your personal stamp on your home.
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Take one more look at those inspiration images and this time, be ruthlessly discerning. It is so much better to end up with a handful of images that perfectly capture your style rather than a bin full of so-so examples.
That said, no one image is likely to encompass everything you want, and that's good. The unique way you combine things is what puts your personal stamp on your home.
Make room for your passions.
Love to sew? Surf? Dance? Wherever your passion lies, be sure that it has a place in your home. This could mean carving out a nook to write in peace, organizing a hall closet to hold your knitting projects, or simply hanging inspiring artwork and photography that reflects the loves in your life. Take a moment to jot down a few ideas while they are fresh in your mind.
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Love to sew? Surf? Dance? Wherever your passion lies, be sure that it has a place in your home. This could mean carving out a nook to write in peace, organizing a hall closet to hold your knitting projects, or simply hanging inspiring artwork and photography that reflects the loves in your life. Take a moment to jot down a few ideas while they are fresh in your mind.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
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| Take a trip down memory lane. Private Comment
Think back to your childhood home, and anywhere else you spent a great deal of time. What about the space itself do you remember most fondly? I loved a round table full of family photos my grandmother kept in her entry hall; I always paused there to look at the old black and white photos. Today I might take this idea and give it a fresh spin by placing loose photos in a bowl — more my style, but still honoring the memory. |
| Focus on color. Private Comment
Look over your inspiration images, this time paying special attention to color. Are there certain colors or color pairings that show up often? Are you more drawn to rooms with richly colored walls or spaces where color is an accent? |
Take a step back.
Sometimes we are just too close to our own homes to determine what needs to be changed. When this happens, I find it helpful to take photos of the space; it's much easier to have an impartial eye when you are critiquing a photo rather than the room in which you are sitting.
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Sometimes we are just too close to our own homes to determine what needs to be changed. When this happens, I find it helpful to take photos of the space; it's much easier to have an impartial eye when you are critiquing a photo rather than the room in which you are sitting.
Enjoy the process.
This is decorating, it's supposed to be fun! There is no need to rush or seek absolute perfection. In fact, as far as I am concerned, a house is never "done." Experiment, make mistakes, dive back into your inspiration files when you need new ideas, but also commit to enjoying and using your home as it is right now.
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This is decorating, it's supposed to be fun! There is no need to rush or seek absolute perfection. In fact, as far as I am concerned, a house is never "done." Experiment, make mistakes, dive back into your inspiration files when you need new ideas, but also commit to enjoying and using your home as it is right now.
Now I would love to hear from you. Which magazines, books or blogs are currently inspiring you? Do you prefer to create mood boards on your wall at home, or are you more of a virtual organizer? How are you doing with this step? What challenges are you facing?
Next: Browse thousands of home design photos
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Next: Browse thousands of home design photos
Comments
nanaanne says:
Thanks for these great ideas Laura. I cut out photos and put them on my bulletin board. I'm not a designer and usually do best when I change 1 or 2 things in a room, see how it looks, then add or subtract 1 more, and so on.
4 months ago ·
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Amy Cuker, MBA, LEED AP says:
As a professional designer, this is the type of process I use for my clients - not everyone has the time/desire to do this on their own, but they may still want their unique personality to shine through in their home- hiring a professional who "gets" you is a great shortcut to a cozy house that reflects you.
4 months ago ·
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Traci Rolz says:
I get the inspiration borad, but not sure how "Make room for your passions" could be used to create an intention.
4 months ago ·
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furpants says:
I love this ideabook! I have only one tip to add: save up and buy the thing you really want. Every time I settle for a budget substitute, I'm sorry I didn't just wait until I could afford my first choice.
4 months ago ·
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Angela Conley says:
After many attempts at decorating in different styles & colors, it's best to only buy and use something that really wows you. Something you just have to have. Otherwise, you'll be settling & likely to want to change your selection later on.
4 months ago ·
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Laura Gaskill says:
@ nanaanne - I do the same thing! Tackling things a bit at a time is a great approach. :)
@ Traci Rolz - I see creating an intentional home as being part of creating an intentional life, and there are lots of great ways our home can support our interests. In other words, this is a way to be sure that your home is set up in a way that helps you do what you love to do there.
@ furpants & Angela Conley - I totally agree! It can be hard to be patient, but I know I always regret it when I pass up something I really love for a budget alternative. Of course, budget finds are great at times, but when you see something that really makes your heart go boom, I say, go for it! :)
@ cathk - Ooh, this is such a good question! I suggest saving money by shopping for "holding place" pieces - ones that you may not love forever, but that fit the bill and mesh well enough with your personal style for now, and saving up one at a time for those special pieces you have your heart set on. Vintage furniture on Criagslist or in your local shops is a great place to start - if you are willing to put on a fresh coat of paint, there are plenty of bargains to be found with lots of character. Otherwise, stores like Ikea and West Elm are great for affordable basics with a bit of style.
@ Traci Rolz - I see creating an intentional home as being part of creating an intentional life, and there are lots of great ways our home can support our interests. In other words, this is a way to be sure that your home is set up in a way that helps you do what you love to do there.
@ furpants & Angela Conley - I totally agree! It can be hard to be patient, but I know I always regret it when I pass up something I really love for a budget alternative. Of course, budget finds are great at times, but when you see something that really makes your heart go boom, I say, go for it! :)
@ cathk - Ooh, this is such a good question! I suggest saving money by shopping for "holding place" pieces - ones that you may not love forever, but that fit the bill and mesh well enough with your personal style for now, and saving up one at a time for those special pieces you have your heart set on. Vintage furniture on Criagslist or in your local shops is a great place to start - if you are willing to put on a fresh coat of paint, there are plenty of bargains to be found with lots of character. Otherwise, stores like Ikea and West Elm are great for affordable basics with a bit of style.
4 months ago ·
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heypam says:
Great idea book! Thanks so much. I have a binder full of magazine pages, a Houzz idea book, and Pinterest, but never thought about placing everything on a board together (cork board), and I'm such a visual person! And I, too, have experienced too many times, the regret of the "bargain" purchase. If you could see my garage..... :))
4 months ago ·
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sillysquidget says:
This ideabook is great - finally a sense of order I can follow to curb my creative chaos :)
4 months ago ·
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Kirby Carespodi says:
I use Pinterest as well; I like that I can 'store' things there, as well as in Houzz. I also have an accordion file folder with tear sheets. When I need to redecorate a room, I do create a storyboard, but I find that EVERYTHING goes onto it. I have to learn to edit!
4 months ago ·
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Laura Gaskill says:
@ heypam - I spend a lot of time online, but I also love to create mood boards on the wall because like you, I am a visual person. I'm always glad when I take the time to make one, because I can enjoy it whenever I walk by. :)
4 months ago ·
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ethnicitidesignonline says:
Great ideas about a inspiration process. Here are some shots of my studio i use to help me kick of projects
Thanx,
Bill
Thanx,
Bill
3 months ago ·
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A & D Glass says:
I love my "Hawaii house" ideabook. It is my dream to move to Hawaii, and when I'm tired or stressed I can look at that ideabook and imagine where my life will hopefully take me!
3 months ago ·
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Anna_Katrin Strauss says:
I love using tools like Houzz and Pinterest to organize my ispirations. I just wish they could work together so I could keep everything in one place!
3 months ago ·
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littledeb50 says:
I love all these ideas. My only problem is... How do you deal with a husband or partner that has a totally different opinion of what your space should look like. My husband and I have gone round and round about a sofa for a greatroom for eight years. He wants the big fluffy leather mancave recliner style and I want comfortable but stylish. How do we solve this delimna?
I'd love to give him his own room but that's not an option.
I'd love to give him his own room but that's not an option.
3 months ago ·
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jasmineaubert says:
Littledeb50 - perhaps you could buy the 2 sofas for an eclectic style that could be decorated around and still complement each other like same color ?
3 months ago ·
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Kathy Ryckman says:
@ littledeb50 - girl I hear you. But being married (26+ yrs) is all about compromising! I suggest letting him find a big leather recliner and pair it with a stylish sofa. Pottery Barn is a good place to find just the look/ideas. Pretty sure he'll end up on your sofa ;) Good luck!
3 months ago ·
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William & Mary says:
Great tip about taking a photo of your own space to gain objectivity. I have done that in the past and it is so true that it gives a different and fresh eye to how you see the room.
3 months ago ·
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dseaman says:
Hi Thanks for the tips! I am not a professional! But I love this site!! HAve always decorated with an inspiration piece. My mother gave me a teal blue hand-made wooden lighthouse that you put a tea light in the bottom. Well that has become an inspiration color in my home. I usually decorate based on color schemes.
3 months ago ·
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