When did decorating your home become such a serious business? I see so many people obsess over the misperceived rights and wrongs of decorating a room that they're paralyzed from doing anything, or feel like they're not even qualified to choose their own paint color. Do you think it looks good? You like? Does it make you smile? Did you have fun putting it together? In my book, those are the only things that should matter when it comes to setting up your living space.
My home is one big, bold experimental adventure after another, stretching from room to room, floor to floor, inside out. A realtor's nightmare, I'm sure. But whether I end up moving out tomorrow or end up living in this house for the rest of my life, live in that.
I install what I want to install, I hang what I want to hang, I paint what I want to paint, I grow what I want to grow, and I love every square foot of it. That's the beauty of having your own home. It should tell your story, reflect your personality and celebrate your ideas.
I love it when owners aren't afraid to like what they like and act accordingly. It is what makes our spaces much more colorful and interesting.
Sometimes you just have to launch so-called "decorating rules" right out of the window and explore new ways of doing things. A good place to start is using unique materials in non-traditional settings. I, for example, have grown tired of seeing drywall in every corner, so I decided to cover the walls of my bedroom and a few other walls in the house with reclaimed brick. This is of course a decorative decision to be sure of because there is no going back without some major demolition. But when you approach a project without fear, the reward is much more exciting.
The appearance of the brick used in all four walls is amazing; it gives the room interest and charm that no painting technique could compete with. I kept experimenting with different materials on different surfaces and parquet is what ended up on the bedroom ceiling.
When you go to the home improvement center and see materials as the materials themselves rather than their intended use, you'll be amazed at the ideas you can generate. I looked at that floor, not as flooring, but as a cool wood product that had an interesting checkerboard pattern that would beautifully complement the horizontal pattern and textures of the brick. Turns out I like the product on the ceiling much better than the floor.
The wonderful thing about experimenting is that one idea almost always leads to another and another and another. Since then, this flooring material has found its way onto tables and cabinets. The challenges that come with playing with using non-traditional materials in non-traditional places is that you have to spend a little more time thinking, planning, and learning, but it's those kinds of challenges that lead to the fun discoveries. The discoveries will make you smile every time you walk into the room.
Break some rules in your own house and live by them. Let that wall-to-wall personality shine through.
