Friday, July 10, 2009

10 Things....


......That Are "Key" To Decorating Your Home!

Everyone has items that are "must-haves" when decorating their homes. You know, the little things you just couldn't live without, your very favorites, the items you are drawn to over and over and over again!!

Here's MY Top 10 Must-Haves :

1) Mirrors--They add so much depth and sparkle and beauty to any room! One of my very favorite things to hang on my walls!!

2) Chalkboards--Oh, the love I have for these pretty beauties!! I have a huge one in my kitchen, and smaller ones sprinkled in several other rooms! Perfect for fun messages & I honestly love the look too -- the touch of black looks great anywhere!

3) Botanical Prints--One of my joys is being in the garden, and botanical prints hung as art brings some of the garden inside! Flowers, ferns, and even (though not botanical) old prints of eggs or shells too. Stick to one topic (just ferns, for example) and group 6 or 9 together for a great effect!

4) Family Photos--While some decorators say that one shouldn't have family photos displayed in the main rooms of their home, I say "Phooey!". To me, family photos make my home feel like HOME! I love the look of photos going up a staircase, or sprinkled with books and other objects on a bookshelf, or grouped on a wall of similarly framed photos over a couch or bench.

5) Vintage Junk--Incorporating antique and vintage items in my home ensures a one-of-a-kind look that I adore! I go for "statement pieces" that can make a big impact, as well as the "littles" that can add a tiny unique touch to a vignette. Love the hunt, love the look, love that it's green...need I say more!?! :)

6) Items From Nature--Bird, nest & egg things are definitely sprinkled throughout my home!! But I also like to have shells & starfish, pinecones, fresh flowers from the garden, a bowl of fruit, pretty houseplants, etc used in my decorating. I bring things in or out according to the seasons, and it adds a beautiful touch from the #1 Creator Himself that I love!

7) Great Lighting--Nothing worse than a dimly lit house! Get some fabulous lamps, pretty chandeliers, & lovely sconces! Candles are beautiful too! Say "NO" to florescent lights or rooms without lamps. The best lighting makes an effort to have your room be beautiful whether turned on or off.

8) Fabulous Fabric--Gorgeous fabric makes me weak in the knees! :) I tend toward neutrals for much of my upholstered furniture. I love white slipcovered furniture!! It's the accent fabrics on pillows and window treatments that make my rooms pop with personality! I am SO looking forward to choosing fabrics for my new house, I can't even tell you!!

9) Glass Items--I have found through the years that I gravitate toward glass items. Hurricane vases, cloches, lamp bases, lanterns, cake plates, etc. I like the sparkle of the glass especially, and think these items work well in small spaces since they let the light shine through!

10) Original Artwork--I personally like the items hung on my walls to be unique and special. Some of the items listed above fulfill this desire, but I also like empty vintage frames, silhouettes of my children, & kids artwork too.


What Would Make YOUR Favorite "Must-Have"
Top 10 List
When Decorating YOUR Home???

16 comments:

Bonnie said...

A few of mine...
Lace (curtains/tablecloths)
Throw Pillows
shelves and cubbies
books
and flowers

Nancy Rosalina said...

Stacey, I have 9 of them...I'm working on #3 Botanical Prints I have a perfect wall for a collection...but framing them is costing me a fortune..lol ;) When I get them all done...I will post them.
Hope you have a great weekend. Nancy

Unknown said...

I totally agree with the family pictures. My foyer wall is graced with sepia toned baby pictures of our grandparents, parents, children, grandchilden, and also of the two of us. I enjoy it every day. Visitors to our home always comment on the display.

Have a great weekend.

Charla

Joy said...

I agree with everything on your fantastic list!
And if you want to add burlap to the list, I like to buy mine at JoAnns using my 40% off coupon. They also carry it in colors!

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

I love this list. I use fabric a lot in my rooms - lots of pillows and throws. I also gravitate towards clocks.

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Stacey, I love your list!! I am so glad you mentioned family photos...photos of families in any home always make me feel more comfortable.

I love love love really OLD photos. I have a bunch of copies of old family photos in black and white and sepia that I'm planning on hanging on a giant blank wall in our addition. I just love imagining the stories behind all the old photos. :)

Tina said...

hmmmmm, for me, it's....

baskets and glass containers filled with shells, rocks, natural stuff.

Archetectural salvage

Black and White and Sepia toned photos.

White washed or chippy and painted furniture

I'm always drawn to things, I've noticed, either look like theres a good story attached to it.

I like your list and relate to it alot.

Thanks for the post
T

Gwen said...

Perfect list! The only thing is missing is a dog and the family. They add the finishing touch.

Victoria Hayden said...

These are great tips and many that I follow too!! I am excited for you and your new home. Can't wait to see what you will be creating! Have a great weekend!!

Hugs,
~Victoria~

WhisperWood Cottage said...

Great list, Stacey! 10 must-haves!!

Amy

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

You know that I just come to you guys for my decorating tips. :)Oh, and your inpiration post.

Christy said...

Great post. I totally agree with you when it comes to family photos. Of course we want our homes to be beautiful but it needs to feel like home.

Blessings!

Wendy said...

I think every one of those things makes my list of must haves! I'm huge on pillows too!

LuLu said...

You have a great list! I too love mirrors and chalkboards. and vintage items sprinkled in throughout the home.
LuLu

Mandi @ Simple Nest said...

In our home, we would add metal items to the glass items – stainless steel or brushed aluminum vases, accents on light fixtures, that kind of thing.

Also, we love clocks!

I hadn't really thought about using chalkboards throughout the house before, and I love that idea as well!

Abbie said...

I so agree about the lighting being a must-have. My last three homes were not very well lit, and it was so hard to see, you couldn't even see the dirt on the floor. I am a modern/traditional touches kind of gal, so I like black and white photos of landscapes, clean lines, coordinated pieces, like photo boxes and magazine organizers that are tan, white and black, to hide the clutter, and I would love to have plants in my home, but I can't seem to keep them alive. -Abbie.