You know how you think and think and think about something for so long, that you come to a point where you say to yourself, “let’s just do something about it already!” I’ve been in a season of deep reflection for a while now, and what started out as personal exploration has evolved into changing physical parts of my life and day to day that need adjusted or removed altogether. The last year or two has been a slow realization of the number of things I hold onto that I really need to lay down, and possibly should have never picked up in the first place. It’s been a freeing experience! I’m continually examining my life and asking how I can further free myself of things “I should” do, have done, maintain or strive for. And my home has now fallen under this microscope.
Since starting the blog five years ago, I’ve had the opportunity to pour into our home, make it beautiful, and have fun experimenting with new decor and furniture. Along the way – whether it was a piece I purchased or something gifted to me – I got into the habit of thinking, “I should keep this because it’s really nice/it was gifted to me/I can store it for a later project/etc.” A few weeks back, something in me just clicked. I thought: why do I feel obligated to hang onto any of this, if I don’t actually love it or need it? I started clearing out anything that I could see myself living without. I went through my storage and parted with those items, as well. What I was left with was a home that felt lighter – less contrived. I had been holding onto pieces in my home that I really did not care to have anymore. The mental burden of maintaining things in your life that would better be removed really does go as deep as what we hold inside our homes. So, now, most of my house is “unfinished” – my front room needs more seating, the tv den requires a coffee table or ottoman of some kind, I have limited throw pillows and two of my bedrooms are without lighting. But it feels so much better.
This exercise ties really well into the type of design I’ve been drawn to in the past year. I’ve been obsessed with the concept of restraint in design and using limited furnishings and/or patterns to evoke feeling in space. Lately, when considering furnishings for my home, I ask, “if this was the only thing in the room, could it stand on its own? Would it be beautiful and interesting enough?” I’ve also been considering the use of rich textiles that are less pattern heavy and more of a comforting experience when you interact with them. I’ve been big into how things feel.
I started with our front room. The furnishings in this space were feeling a little tired, so I emptied it out and started from the ground up. I replaced the rug with a larger, luxurious feeling wool/viscose blend to ground the room. I went for a curved boucle sofa that is equally comfortable as it is architecturally interesting. But what I am most excited about in this room is the coffee table. I really hadn’t seen anything that I liked online; everything was either too big or too predictable. I took to Facebook Marketplace and found this Italian marble table with a white base for $30. I picked this up first with plans to design a new base for it. But a few days later, the minute I hopped onto Marketplace to find this kind of ugly table at the top of my feed for $15. I immediately told the seller I would take it. I figured that if the stone doesn’t fit in the top or it just doesn’t work with the room, I’m only out a little bit of cash and time.
Well, it worked out beautifully. I could not love this $45 table more! I’m now currently on the hunt for two chairs to accompany this room – something comfy, in a rich fabric, like velvet or mohair. But I’m not going to rush out and buy something just this minute; I’ve promised myself that I won’t bring anything into the house unless I can’t get it out of my brain.
Is there anything in your home that you’re ready to let go of, but feel as though you can’t (or shouldn’t)? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
