10 Tips to Help You Decorate with Intention

I don’t know about you, but I always get stuck in the home decor section in Target. I’m certain that entering that section is not only dangerous to my bank account, but it is also compete euphoria! I want every throw pillow, every table lamp, every knick-knack, and, let’s be honest, everything that Joanna Gaines has ever designed. Do I need them? Absolutely not. This is because last year, last month, last week, I already bought a throw pillow, a table lamp, a few knick-knacks. This is a problem, and my husband…and my mother, can both vouch for it. It’s my consistent desire for redecorating. I think we all like following the latest trends from time to time, at least to an extent. And this is what gets me. Not that long ago, rustic DIYs, chalkboards, marquee signs, and mason jars were all the rage. Then came neon signs, tropical fauna, rattan everything, and butterfly chairs. What’s next, right? Not that any of these things are bad or ugly, it’s just the cycle of it all, and how quickly these trends come and go these days. And I’m just another sucker who falls in love with all of it.

I honestly do the same thing with my clothes, and last year I finally hit a breaking point. I made a promise to myself to take my time shopping, to try on every piece of clothing, and really be critical of it. I wanted to make sure that every piece of clothing I bought would be one of those shirts that I’m still wearing 10 years later. You know the shirts I’m talking about. The ones you mend if they get holes in them, the ones that are full of memories, and the ones that even when they really should be thrown away, you can’t seem to bring yourself to do it. It’s called intentional shopping. And I am planning on doing the same thing with our home.

So if you’re like me where you count up how many empty walls, bare shelves, and pillow-less cushions you have, and immediately become overwhelmed by how to make it all look cohesive, or how to narrow down the things you love to choose just a couple…just breathe…because I got you covered.

Here are 10 tips to help you decorate with intention, and choose meaningful items that you’ll love forever.

Don’t follow the latest trends (if you can help it)

I mentioned this above, and sometimes the latest trends are right up your ally. And sometimes, (I’ll be bold and say most of the time), they’re something you’re going to love for the next year, maybe two years tops. I’m 1000% guilty of this! Man oh man, I am one sucker for the latest trends. But now my garage is full of all the things I don’t like anymore, and the amount of stuff I’ve accumulated over the years gives me so much shame. “Never again!” I say. When I go to the store or online to shop, I will look at something for a VERY long time to determine if it truly sparks joy, or is it just making me happy because it’s pretty and fun to buy things. And a huge thank you to Ms. Marie Kondo for enlightening me with those two magical words that I needed to decipher what’s important and whats garbage in my life.

Display your family heirlooms

If you’re looking for timeless pieces, look no further. If you have just a couple family pieces to display, I think this will very much help you fill up some wall/floor space that needs filling. I love displaying the few I have because, one, most of them are handmade by my ancestors and it’s a node from one creative family member to another. Two, because it brings a little of them back to life, and obviously I wouldn’t physically be here now if weren’t for them, so some kind of recognition is always appreciated. And lastly, it’s a piece of history, but not just any history—YOUR history. It’s like having your own private and personal museum. And I cannot wait to share their stories with my children.

Share photos and items with a GREAT story or memory behind them

Basically, think of your home as a three-dimensional, immersive, extension of everyone in the household as a whole—in other words, a story. Your family’s story, to be exact. If you have guests over, what is the story that you want to tell? What are the memories you want to share? What traits about yourself, your spouse, your pets, your kids do you want people to know? What accolades are you most proud of? Don’t be afraid to give a little insight to you and your family. I promise, those personal touches will really make your home feel like it’s YOUR home.

Show off the creations of the makers in the house

Hey, you can draw or paint? Frame your art and stick it on the wall. You can throw clay? Put it on a shelf. You can bake some bomb muffins? Put them out on a stand to share. You can sew, crochet, or knit? Hop to it and make some pillows, throws, or quits for the bed or couch. You can garden? Press some of your flowers and frame them. You can write? Display some of written words with vinyl letters or frame a poem or short story. Your kids love to color or finger paint? Frame those bad boys too. All these things are literally made for your home…because they’re homemade. See what I did there?

Make a mood board of all your items together, if you’re shopping online

I did this with each of my rooms before I bought all my furniture and light scones, and it’s unbelievably and extremely helpful. I usually have a good eye for these things, but when you’re struggling to see it, or you just need a guide to double check your work, this is a free and sensible solution. Usually online, there will be multiple pictures of your items with just a white background. Take screenshot of these images, or save them to your computer, and compose a collections of them all together on a single page. It doesn’t have to be pretty because, remember, this is just for you.

Stay within your color palette

You might be thinking that this is easier said than done. But I beg to differ. Start with a design style: bright and airy, rustic, bohemian, traditional, mid-century modern, etc. Collect images on Pinterest of these styles and start to notice the colors you’re being drawn to within these photos. If you’re still stumped, use this free app called Adobe Capture. It will create a color palette from an image for you. And side note, my husband and I use this app quite a bit for graphic design stuff as well.

It goes without saying, get some plants (faux or real)

And it doesn’t just have to be green leafy plants. You can use decorative sticks, reeds, branches, or feather. A few organic decor pieces will immediately add a more homey touch to the place.

Don’t forget about the nose

Remember, you have FIVE senses. And scent is the one that truly can make or break a space. There’s candles, diffusers, incense, or, shoot, just bake some cookies. Ask yourself whats the vibe and energy you want in your home? Elegance? Minimalism? Cozy? Adventure? Warmth? Calm? Cheer? Masculine? Bright? You can easily set the mood with the right scent.

Play with different textures

There are sooooo many different kinds of textures out there so do NOT get hooked on just one. This will also further develop your design palette if you’re getting stuck on your colors. There’s stone (i.e. marble, quartz, granite), wood (i.e. oak, cedar, pine), metals (i.e. brass, copper, silver), leather, concrete, brick, paper, wool, cotton, porcelain, glass. I mean…the list just goes on and on, guys. A different texture in a space can really make it POP, so don’t be afraid to mix it up.

Comfort is key

Ultimately, you’re going to be the living in your home, so you want to have a couch you can plop onto, warm throw blankets to snuggle in, and chairs that give you proper support to your back and hinny. Beautiful design AND comfort are two things that absolutely can go hand-in-hand. You just have to make sure to read the review before you buy something, try it out/see it in the store, and/or make sure there is an agreeable return policy on it if you don’t like it after trying it out for a while. This is YOUR home after all, and you want to make sure it’s up to par with what’s going to make you the most cozy, relaxed, and comfortable.