Decoration

If there is one area of life that doesn't come naturally to me, it's interior design. [Well, lots of things don't come naturally to me, but interior design is the one relevant to this post.] It is not very easy for me to make a room attractive, especially when I'm limited by so many practical concerns, including budget (all-important) and the fact that I have a resident energetic and messy preschooler. However, I'm beginning to make inroads into an understanding of how to make my home both functional and beautiful.

Part of the issue is my own personal aesthetic, which trends toward the utterly classic. Yesterday, I was being teased by Candace, who is both friend and sister (-in-law-once-removed-ish), about my preference for neutrals. "That's right," I joked. "I've got to make sure those beiges aren't too light or too dark!" It's not quite as bad as all that, but even so, there's a bit of reality under the humor. The problem is, I really prefer to work with a lighter and more restrained pallet. I would rather have my walls, floors, and furniture be pale neutrals, and allow my wall art and shelved curiosities to take center stage. And as I work on decorating my little cottage, I've come to realize that the old adage, "Be yourself," is as most cliches because there is good reasoned truth behind it. Your home is where you have to live, and it should reflect you. If, like me, you recoil at most trends, and any professional decorator would break out in hives just looking at pictures of your house,well, it doesn't matter as long as you like it.

Here are some elements that I, being me, plan to incorporate in my new home:

• Neutrals - I really do better with furniture that is in whites and softly cool-toned off-whites, or light wood such as pine or white oak. It's what I liked when I was 13, and I haven't changed. Any attempts to branch out of this have resulted in expensive purchases that I found I didn't actually like. Same for walls, floors, etc. Exception: I don't mind a more ornate area rug or accent rug, and I might be able to handle a border or even mild wall-paper on some walls. But the latter is not certain.
• Owls - Owls are my favorite bird, owing to an old family tradition that would take too long to explain, and I've collected them since high school. I have a sizable collection, and I'm always looking to add to it. Owls are enjoying a boost from a current popularity trend, so it makes it easier to acquire owl-themed household items, but as with all trends, it's fated soon to pass.
• Blue - My favorite color, ever since I was old enough to have a favorite color. Blue can serve as both a neutral and as an accent or theme color. I own plenty of blue stuff, and I hope to find a rug that has plenty of blue. It's so versatile, but moderation and variety in its usage prevents rooms from feeling too cold if there is a lot of blue.
• Maps - Maps have fascinated me all my life, and I now possess several antique maps that I am planning to have matted and framed professionally, so that I can put them up in my front room.
• Natural - I may be or of the least hippie members of my family, but I still have an affinity for natural materials rather than synthetic, so I use a lot of woods, rattan/reed baskets, and nature-inspired art or fixtures.
• Jungle - Hey, a few really cool jungle-themed items can really make a room, right?
• Books - I own too many books, and while I am always culling my collection, I still seem to be being constantly overwhelmed by numerous tomes. Despite my scale-back efforts, I will always need to incorporate BOOKSHELVES into my home design.

We'll see how it all works out.