Before the Christmas break I started thinking about the idea to live more simply. At a time of year when it’s non stop chaos, slowing down was clearly what I was longing.
The holidays are the perfect time to slow down, be present and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Following the holidays I wanted to apply it in practise to our home. Each November I spend time spring cleaning and decluttering things we’ve accumulated throughout the year we don’t really need. This year I don’t want to repeat that process, I want instead only have in our home things we truly love and ensure we only purchase things that will add value to our home.
Those things that matter – stuff that tells a story and creates that feeling of home. I love visiting others homes, whether it’s friends or interviewing individuals for the blog and hearing the story behind their home furnishings. Where they came from and how those homewares represent who people are and all they love and have seen.
Surrounding yourself with the things you love has nothing to do with impressing other people. It’s about bringing joy and creating that feeling of home. There’s no point purchasing homewares on the basis that others will like the look of your home. It is a place for you and your family to come home to and relax together.
This statue is a treasured reminder of the trips Jeremy has taken with work, helping out in the Islands.
We each have our own individual taste, style and budgets (limitations, and non-existent ones too). Feeling the need to keep up with trends or what others have in their homes makes it harder to express your individuality and tell your own homes’ story.
Instead I like to say – ‘Do you’ – love what you genuinely love. Our homes are meant to be a reflection of our own individual tastes and stories.
If you love a certain colour accent and want to see if everywhere in your home, then do you. If minimalism is your jam and having everything in it space, or chaos is your friend – do you.
Think and purchase consciously, ensure you really love that homeware piece.
The home scene blog is a curation of all my favourite things – that’s not to mean that it is everyone’s style and I’m okay with that. On THS blog you’ll find a mix from well designed home tours, styling inspiration and features on our own home renovation journey.
Features on designed home tours are there to share a glimpse into these homes to delight and inspire. They aren’t to cause anyone to feel they can’t live up to that standard. Just like art, you can admire a beautiful piece of work, yet you aren’t left feeling inadequate that you couldn’t replicate the piece.
So as you look to the year ahead remember to love everything in your home, not worry about what your friends and family, or worse, those you don’t even know, will think of your design style. Each piece should tell a story, a memory or bring you joy.
What do you love about your home?
Absolutely love this, and I’m totally feeling it too! We are moving into our new home this weekend and I’m so looking forward to decorating – but also keeping in mind that I want to be only surrounded by things that I love. The hard thing is when people insist on buying you home decor gifts that aren’t what you like! Kate x
How exciting Kate, you guys will love getting to move into your new home! Have fun.
It can be tricky when people want to give home decor gifts if they aren’t quite our taste can’t it but at the same time they are given with love to celebrate a special milestone. Can’t wait to see your new home and the fun you guys will have decorating it.
I feel ya! I think it’s really easy to get caught up in what is ‘cool’ but most of my favourite pieces have more of a story behind them. Or are something I’ve made!
Having said that I absolutely love many ‘on-trend’ pieces too – but in that case I would rather save up for something I have coveted for a while
Love that some of your favourite homewares are ones that you have made Julie, you’re really clever with all that you create too. Nothing wrong with falling in love with something that is ‘on-trend’ and I often find I do too. I just like to make sure it’s something I will treasure rather than replace in a few months time with the next passing trend.
Very true! For years I’ve tried to make a home a home, but as a single parent with constantly evolving flat mates it was always hard. It’s only been in the past 4 years (3 really) after moving in with my partner that we’ve started really creating a home. We still have smashed up items from the Chch quakes (partners items) & loads of yellow
stained rimu furniture passed on from my mums bargain finds, but it’s slowly coming together & I’ve found my love of bohemian & scandi style. Instagram is a killer at times, but at the end of the day we’ve got a happy home with 3 kids so I’m not going stress with everything not perfect! Give me 5-10 years & it’ll be much more evolved& just as happy
You sound like you’ve worked really hard to create a space that you and your family can love and I’m sure it’s one that feels like home to them. I love the sound of your style Mani, mixing bohemian with Scandinavian style, it sounds beautiful.
Kelly, this is hands-down my favourite blog post ever! It’s how all of us should feel about our spaces. Beautiful piece, thank you for sharing these thoughts, loved it.
Aww thanks Anna, that’s so really kind of you. I’m really stoked it resonated with you and you loved it that much. I had been thinking about this for so long and decided to put the thoughts out there. It was after being named a finalist in the ANZ Home inspirer awards that I had some negative feedback saying the blog wasn’t reflecting ‘real homes’. Everyone has different tastes, whether it be monochrome lovers, or colour lovers, cluttered and busy to minimalist. It is our home and that’s all the matters.
I love this and I agree. However, I find it a lot harder to personally decorate our house because we rent and as much I want to put so many frames and new shelves in the wall, we really can’t. There’s only so much 3M strips I can put up. However, I do have some personal pieces here and there. The easiest one is my magnapix collection on the fridge which has my favourite memories.
Glad you like the post Angela!
) – we are selling soon and after the new wall paper and paint we are also conscious of putting up shelves and art simply to suit our styling tastes. My good friend Mel from Styled Canvas has a lovely post on how to style your home if you Rent. She is at http://www.styledcanvas.com if you are interested
Renting can be tricky. We are in a similar position (although different