topic Re: Your Decor in Home

Your Decor

OhioAngel — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 14:08:53 GMT

On HGTV shows and also from Nate Berkus online I have heard often that things you surround yourself with in your home, should always tell a story. They should mean something and not just be random.

I wonder your thoughts on this?

Most of my stuff is random and things that others gave me!!

Re: Your Decor

millieshops — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 14:19:48 GMT

@OhioAngelI do think our decor tells a story even though I don't necessarily think that's its main function.

As I look around the room where I sit right now, I see whole chapters of the life I've lived, the places I've seen, the people who are a part of my life, the pets I've had, the activities I like....

I suspect everybody's decor tells a story, but the same objects in the homes of different people tell different stories.

Re: Your Decor

gmkb — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 14:23:49 GMT

@OhioAngel Generally speaking, I agree with that statement. Most of the paintings I have on the walls and the things I have in two curio cabinets have been purchased on trips, both USA and internationally. When I look at them I am reminded of that travel experience.

Other things have been handed down or given to me as gifts. Those you remember the person from whom you received the item.

The furniture has no special meaning, just pieces that I like.

Re: Your Decor

Veridoc — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 14:30:28 GMT

Mostly everything in my home has a story behind it. I inherited this. I found this piece on the side of the road and brought it home and turned it into that. I bought this to go with something I already had. You get the idea. I think maybe what he meant by not being random is going into a furniture store and buying a whole room at one time. And there is nothing wrong with that, either. I say make your home whatever makes you happy.

Re: Your Decor

phoenixbrd — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 18:43:11 GMT

The story it tells is subjective. The things that remind you of your story, may tell a story of clutter and disorganization to others as they don't share your experience. If taken to extreme, this is often a classic hoarder syndrome,,,,the reminders of the past that emotionally/physically can't be released,

Re: Your Decor

faeriemoon — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:04:57 GMT

Not everything in my house tells a story, but everything I chose was chosen for a reason. Sometimes the reason was simply because I liked it. I don't really have random things.

People know not to give me things for the house. I have certain likes and dislikes, and if I don't like something I won't display it.

Re: Your Decor

ID2 — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:07:19 GMT

My decor is cottage because I live in a cottage on a lake. We built this place 4 years ago and retired here. I gave away all of my furniture to my kids or sold it at our garage sale. Everything I have is new. I love finding pieces that fit into our theme. We get compliments all the time when friends walk throuh our home. They always ask who was my designer.

Re: Your Decor

Sweetbay magnolia — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:52:49 GMT

It's all about form meeting function, or vice versa, to me. And with that comes some rendering of wabi sabi (I'll let you look that up if you want).

It's a beautiful picture when it pleases you, and yes, in a very philosophical sense.

Re: Your Decor

Sweet Caroline 1 — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 16:01:44 GMT

Yes, my stuff definitely tells a story. When you come in my home, you are taken back in time. There is a lot of whimsey and romance. I don't have a smart phone or other way of taking some pictures to post. I think many would like it.

Re: Your Decor

AuntG — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 16:24:22 GMT

Mine doesn't tell much of a story. Pumpkins, gourds, scarecrow and a VPH lantern are what I have out. My kitchen shelving has a lot of old glassware so that has a family history.

Re: Your Decor

RedTop — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 16:34:16 GMT

I totally agree. Visual clutter is a very big issue with me; I don’t like to be surrounded by an abundance of stuff. What I love most about my house is walking in and seeing bare wall space, open floor space, and bare tabletops.

Re: Your Decor

Peaches McPhee — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 16:57:10 GMT

@OhioAngel wrote:
On HGTV shows and also from Nate Berkus online I have heard often that things you surround yourself with in your home, should always tell a story. They should mean something and not just be random.

I wonder your thoughts on this?

Personally, I think this is pretentious and poppycock. Good grief.

Re: Your Decor

151949 — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 19:00:47 GMT

OP i think you can take that statement two ways. One - objects you surround yourself with should tell YOUR story, but only as you see them. Your memories that belong to those items.A story only you know.

On the other hand - I suppose items can be selected to specifically tell a story.Can be purchased and placed in a way that would bring something specific to mind when you walk into a room. I think this was what he meant and is something a designer does.There is nothing personal about it. For instance if you walked into a room and it was all decorated in a jungle theme. Statues and pictures of animals and fabrics in animal skin prints etc.

Re: Your Decor

Mominohio — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 21:11:32 GMT

Whether people plan/choose it to or not, every space we create does indeed tell a story and has something to say about us.

How that is interpreted may be very different to the person who lives in that space and the person who comes into that space, but it tells a story and represents a part of who the occupant/creator is.

And I believe this is true whether someone spends a lot of time, effort, and thought in creating the space, or whether they did virtually nothing and just let it create itself, or anything in between.

The space in which we live speaks volumes about us, whether we plan it that way or not.

Re: Your Decor

Sooner — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 21:37:23 GMT

Oh most certainly things tell a story in our house. Not one picture was bought simply because we thought it was pretty but because it had some meaning of place or time or event or artist for us.

We have books signed by authors or bought on trips, or relating to places like fomer Presidents homes we've toured, places we have visited, etc.

I could take you on a tour of our house and tell you lots and lots of stories about where we got this, when we met some author, or why we have this or that.

I do think it is nice when things in your home are more personal than simply decorative and have some "story" to go with them. But it's not for everyone. Just because it is pretty is great too!

Re: Your Decor

odie96 — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 21:38:39 GMT

@OhioAngelEverything here, including the house, is a precious memory for me. We live in the house where I was born and there's a story with everything in it. My Mother's furniture is still here as well as my own. I've given certain pieces of hers to my children who were also brought up here. They love all of it and I'm sure to tell them the history of all of it. The pieces I have left all have names on them as to who gets what when the day comes!! I can walk into each room and see individuals who have influenced my life...my Father, my Mother, my Brother, my Sister. I can still see the Christmas trees with hundreds of presents, the fireplace where Buck, who worked for my parents, always had the fire going when I got up. There's Mama's desk waiting to be refinished. It still has her things in it including letters that my Father wrote to her when she was in the hospital 73 years.. And there's Joe's tree growing in the driveway!! Buck found a sapling on his way to work and brought it here and planted it.....just for Joe! I adored Buck. We alll did. In fact, I gave his stool to my youngest son 30 years ago....Oh yeah, there are memories and stories everywhere. Life has been good to me!!

Re: Your Decor

jannabelle1 — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 22:52:59 GMT

I believe that surrounding oneself with decor that tells a story or has deep meaning may be easier to achieve for some, but not for all. Or maybe we were able to do that at one time in our lives, but things have changed over time. Some of us have gone through divorces that altered what was once meaningful, some don't have children, and others have gone through life changing events. It's all relative. It's wonderful for those people who are able to surround their lovely homes with items that tell their story, but not everyone can achieve that or even want to achieve it. Random items that a person likes aren't necessarily a bad thing!

Re: Your Decor

Mominohio — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 00:03:08 GMT

@jannabelle1 wrote:
I believe that surrounding oneself with decor that tells a story or has deep meaning may be easier to achieve for some, but not for all. Or maybe we were able to do that at one time in our lives, but things have changed over time. Some of us have gone through divorces that altered what was once meaningful, some don't have children, and others have gone through life changing events. It's all relative. It's wonderful for those people who are able to surround their lovely homes with items that tell their story, but not everyone can achieve that or even want to achieve it. Random items that a person likes aren't necessarily a bad thing!

I agree totally @jannabelle1

But even those random things, with no connection to family history, still tell a story about the person that chooses and keeps them.

A person's furnishing and decor and kitchenware, even if all bought at one time, just last week from Walmart, will tell us what that person likes in color and style. It might show us they are adventurous, or like to nest in. It might show us they have a contemporary spirit or a penchant for the past.

What they have or don't have, how they arrange and use it all say things about them. It can be a piece at a time, simply bought for function, expensive or thrift store, or all brand new last week, but just the totality of it and what they do with it speaks volumes.

Re: Your Decor

phoenixbrd — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 02:39:16 GMT

@Sweetbay magnolia I love language and learning new words. Thank you for introducing me to the world of wabi sabi.....I think my home is very wabi sabi.

@Sweetbay magnolia wrote:
It's all about form meeting function, or vice versa, to me. And with that comes some rendering of wabi sabi (I'll let you look that up if you want).

It's a beautiful picture when it pleases you, and yes, in a very philosophical sense.

Re: Your Decor

faeriemoon — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 11:48:04 GMT

@phoenixbrd wrote:
@Sweetbay magnolia I love language and learning new words. Thank you for introducing me to the world of wabi sabi.....I think my home is very wabi sabi.

@Sweetbay magnolia wrote:
It's all about form meeting function, or vice versa, to me. And with that comes some rendering of wabi sabi (I'll let you look that up if you want).

It's a beautiful picture when it pleases you, and yes, in a very philosophical sense.

Like John Legend's "perfect imperfections." I like it.