“That which we elect to surround ourselves with becomes the museum of our soul and the archive of our experiences.”
—Thomas Jefferson

I like to think of home decorating in light of the above quote. The way we arrange things, the type of things we collect, the colors we like, all provide a sort of window into our personalities. That must be why it is so much fun to go to other people’s houses.

Perhaps you have struggled sometimes, as I have, with almost feeling guilty about “decorating.” One excellent book along those lines is The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer. She points out that God “decorated” the earth; He made it beautiful, not just practical. We, of course, have to balance the urge to decorate with other areas of life that need attention and with the finances at hand.

Most of us can’t just go out and buy a houseful, or even a roomful, of furniture or accessories. Most of us start off with hand-me-down furniture from our parents, yard sale finds, etc. (a friend of mine describes her home décor as “early married.”) But as we do start to try to figure out what our own “look” is and try to incorporate that into what we have, one helpful way to do that is to go through some decorating magazines and pull out the pages that appeal to us (or, alternately, look at magazines in the library or decorating books at bookstores and jot notes, or search online). Then go back through those pages and note what appeals to you about those rooms in the pictures. Do you generally notice bright colors, deep, rich ones, pastels, or neutrals? Do you like the sleek lines and modern forms of a contemporary look, the cozy florals of a cottage style, or a rustic look? Do you like straight lines or softer curves? Do you like a lot of cozy clutter or a minimalist look? You’ll get an idea of what styles you like plus see ways of putting that style together. Then when you do need a new sofa or bedspread, or need to paint a room, you’ll have some idea of what you want to look for rather than being overwhelmed by the wide variety of choices. Having some pictures on file also helps you explain to your husband what you are trying to do or what look you are going for.

I started a file over 20 years ago for a Home Interiors class. The file then had required folders for different color combinations or period furniture styles. Over the years I adapted it to my own tastes. There is a file of ideas from magazines for each room, for window treatments, wall treatments (different painting techniques or ways to do wallpaper), wall groupings, and accesories. I want to add a folder for things like centerpieces. Sometimes it is fun and inspiring just to take out a file folder and browse through it.

For more tips, go to Rocks In My Dryer.

(Graphic at top courtesy of Creative Ladies Ministry)