This is one of my favorite topics to write about because it empowers you to find your own style and learn what speaks to you! I am not a decorator, I have no formal training in interior design, but I do like to pride myself by saying I know what I like when I see it, and I can re-create it!
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience which may reward me in the event of a sale. Note that I only recommend products I love.
Get inspired anywhere
I was in Atlanta for a girls weekend last month and we ate at Nina & Rafi (great pizza BTW), right off the Beltline for dinner. I loved the feel of the place, “the vibe” some would say. So much so that I took a picture of the wallpaper to see if I could do some research later to identify the print. I pulled up the picture on the flight home and entered a quick google search for “vintage floral pattern wallpaper”, and low and behold I found it. Amazing what the internet can do. I learned it is a William Morris print from 1876, and comes in four color varieties. The one I saw and loved in Nina & Rafi was in the colors olive and brick.
Did you know… most of William Morris’s original work can be found in the Morris Collection at the V&A Museum in London. He loved this pattern so much, he actually hung it in his own dining room!
I found the exact wallpaper from Studio McGee here. Now I just need to figure out where this wallpaper deserves to reside in my home! Marynn at Wildflower Home shared that she’s planning on putting this wallpaper in her daughters bathroom. I can’t wait to see how it turns out! See her plan here.
If you love the print, but aren’t ready to commit to something so permanent, time consuming, and expensive as the wallpaper, check out the products I found on Society 6 that use the pattern! I personally love the art print and think it could go in my guest bedroom.
Links to shop:
One of my favorite bloggers I have been following for almost a year is Lauren at Bless’er House. She used a shower curtain to create large scale canvas art, brilliant! See her tutorial here, maybe you could use the Pimpernel print to make giant shower curtain art!
Don’t get pressured
Moral of the story here is keep your eyes open and don’t be afraid to find inspiration in unexpected places. At the same time, don’t feel pressured to like a trend or product everyone is raving about. It will soon go out of style and you’ll be stuck with something you actually didn’t love in the first place.
This happened to me while researching for paint colors, and all I could find was all Agreeable Gray everywhere. I didn’t like it with the floors in my hallway, bedroom or bathrooms, but loved it next to the darker floors in my kitchen, living and dining room. No more than 2 days after the deed was done (AKA I painted my walls gray), 2 of my favorite bloggers painted over the gray in their whole house with WHITE. I couldn’t believe it. Had I made a mistake? How was this color out already? Wasn’t it just 2 days ago that it’s all I saw anywhere? I started to second guess my decision and got caught up in staying “on trend”. Thank goodness I realized it’s not about what the bloggers have, its about what I like. And I loved the way the gray looked in my house against my floors.
Find your style
Your home is all about bringing you joy. My advice is to take some time to study inspiration pics on Pinterest or Instagram and make a mood board. Then, identify the elements in these pictures that you like. If you can find a pattern, make a note of what it is (whether its a color, texture, or finish) and before you know it, you’ll find it much easier to decorate according to your style!
The images above are from my home inspiration board. I love a neutral background with black accents, and lots of raw wood. Spaces that mix new items with fun vintage finds. After some research, I learned these pictures most align with the Transitional style. It’s a mix of traditional and modern/contemporary. Keywords that come to mind are simple, classic, timeless, fresh and balanced. There is a focus on warmth and comfort with a neutral color pallet of creams, taupes, grays and blacks. Popular textures include suede, chenille, leather, linen, wood, and rattan. I found inspiration with interior designers Amber Lewis and McGee & Co.
Here is Amber’s book “Made for Living”, full of inspiration for every style
My style is evolving, and I think that’s normal! It’s a slow process, and slowly I am updating all my farmhouse style decor that covered my first single adult apartment to bring our house into a space that both my husband and I love and feel comfortable in.
And don’t forget to be creative! If you see something you like but can’t afford, keep it in the back of your mind as inspiration and find a way to re-create it. I’m hoping to provide inspiration in this space to allow you to want what you have NOW, not in 6 months-1 year when you’ve saved up to afford it. Visit these pages for more ideas, including:
–This DIY wood look front door
–How to make custom, affordable chalk paint
–Refresh your exterior vinyl shutters
–Create custom, wooden entryway wall hooks
