Changes Around the House: Embracing Your Personal Style
Our individual styles in interior decorating are always growing and evolving. For some of us, trends come and go, and we ride along enjoying them for a time and then moving on to the next…and the next…and the next. Just like fashion. Sometimes it is hard to pin point your own personal home decor style when you find your preferences changing.
Do you stay in the box you have always been…or do you branch out to try something new?
I can remember the first time I really “knew” my style. It was during a summer home from college when I discovered Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic and Romantic Homes magazine. I was in love. I stayed in love with that style for many years. I think back now to some of my decorating choices then and cannot believe it (or that my husband let me “girl it up” like that!). I painted things pink, had china and knick-knacks everywhere and roses galore…eeek.
Then, I moved into a love of white and romantic: all shades of white, feminine, vintage and chippy,
Then rustic farmhouse: old scales, crocks, burlap, etc. Eventually, industrial found its way in.
Over a year ago, I found myself increasingly drawn to what I would call eclectic bohemian style. For me that involves kilim rugs and pillows, tribal patterns, rich colors and textures, large leafy plants, succulents and cacti, cozy, lived-in spaces (especially cabin style), less cluttered, and mid-century modern furnishings. I had been hesitant to move in this direction in my home though, for fear of what others would think. Not only in my “real life” but here on my blog as well.
What if you don’t like coming to my blog anymore?
Do I have to stay in a box that I am “known for” forever?
These are the questions that have gone through my mind from time to time.
I’m just a wife and mom living in the country in Western New York afterall. Not a single girl living in a Brooklyn apartment or a hipster in a California bungalow. I drive a minivan for goodness’ sake.
Maybe my style should just stay put.
But eventually, I couldn’t anymore. And I started allowing myself to remember that finding your personal style is a journey. Not a destination. One that takes a lifetime of evolvement with no end. Only new beginnings.
I started small, with these pillows that my husband bought for me because he knew I loved them.
It is an enormous kilim rug and definitely much bolder than anything I have ever had before. It is taking some time to adjust to the jolt of red color, but I love the patterns, muted shades of gray and mustard yellow. I am not sure it will be a permanent fixture in the living room, but for now it has brought an exciting change.
I am most drawn to eclectic and bohemian styles right now because together they seem to work well with a tight budget and young children in our home. I can keep things casual and inexpensive. I like that. I want to create an environment where my children’s imaginations can run wild and there aren’t a lot of “restrictions” on what they can and can’t touch. I want this to be as much their home as it is mine.
So if you find your style evolving, but you are afraid to take the next step my advice is: follow your heart.
Start small, maybe a throw pillow or an art print. Something that doesn’t cost a lot, in case you change your mind. Test it out for awhile. See how it sits with you. Then move on to bigger things, as you feel ready and find the pieces that you know you love. Eventually, you may find yourself surrounded by a new style, but one that speaks to you and where you are on this journey.
I put together a mood board with some elements that fit into my idea of “Eclectic Bohemian” that I hope you will enjoy!
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20 Comments
Melissa
Lately I have been really loving eclectic styles too and my home has slowly started reflecting that! I'm still not ready to add much color so I've been honing the style to fit with my love of white, wood, industrial and nature. It's been so fun playing with new finds and styling new vignettes around my house. Just when I think I have finally figured out my style, I find something new I love! 🙂
Alice Wingerden
I am still on the fence with color Melissa so I totally know what you mean. I add little bits here and there that I really love (like mustard yellow) but then I got this rug and when we brought it home my husband said, "it's just so…red." lol! I actually took it out for awhile because I wasn't sure about it, but I brought it back with a new arrangement and am liking it so far. I think for me though…the lesson learned is that in big things (like gigantic rugs!) I need to stick with neutrals for it to really reflect my style. I really like looking at spaces with a minimalist palette and a little bit of color, you know? Thanks for stopping by! Will pay a visit to you soon.
Pamela
Love your changes Alice! You do not worry one bit about people getting inspired or not by you. You have such a beautiful home no matter what style you choose to go with!
Junkchiccottage
Love the changes Alice. My thoughts are always if you surround yourself with things you love you will find your style.
Love the eclectic style. Go with all things you love. Looks great.
Kris
Cozy Little House
We'll always love your blog, so don't worry about that! Styles and decorating and tastes evolve. I'm trying new colors in my home lately, a golden yellow and a green called Crushed Oregano. And I love them. I too start out small, with one or two things, and live with it awhile before I do more.
Brenda
Dyanna
I love the rug! Sometimes even good changes take a little time to get used to. Our eyes are expecting to see the old color. I have a red plaid sofa and ottoman in my home and everyone loves it. I don't believe we have to keep things neutral. Too much neutral can be boring. Enjoy finding your new style!
Rhonda Vaudt
You know Alice, I love all kinds of different styles, not just the one I decorate in. I love, love, love bohemian style, with the bold but muted colors, just like your rug. I love velvet, brocade, etc, everything I don't decorate with. Maybe someday:) I love your rug and your pillows, I think if you just surround yourself with things you love is what making a home is all about. Change is good, I'm not going anywhere!
Vanessa Greenway
Lovely thoughts on finding our own decor style, Alice. Just like you, I've had a couple of different styles I loved until I finally settled with "my shabby style". Lots of whites, shabby chic and beachy vibes. Your home looks beautiful and I love the eclectic bohemian your going for. ~ Vanessa
Alice Wingerden
Thanks Vanessa! You definitely strike me as the person who knows your style. And it is always elegant, yet simple and comfortable which I love. I try to pull that look off but I don't think I am very good at it haha. Thanks again…I always love when you visit.
Olivia Godfrey
Great post! Don't worry Alice, I think we all enjoy following your blog no matter how your style changes, because you always make it look awesome and have great stuff to say. 🙂 I enjoy the eclectic bohemian look too!! It is looking awesome in you living room. I think it is funny how much personal style evolves and continues too. I think back to a little over a year ago when I was registering for wedding gifts and then I got all of this stuff for a tuscan type kitchen with wine prints and dark warm colors. Now, that is not so much what I have in mind for my kitchen…which is funny because I don't even have a "real" kitchen yet! haha oh my… and I'm only 20! I have absolutely no idea where my style will be a decade from now, but I guess that's part of the fun of decorating 🙂
Olivia Godfrey
Wow, that comment got awkwardly long! haha
sorry for rambling… 😉
Alice Wingerden
I love awkwardly long Olivia! hehe 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind words. And I totally know what you mean. I had the same ideas when I got married and then they all moved in other directions. Now, I am finally at the point where I want to let go of all that stuff I have been holding onto and embrace what I really live right now!
Burlap Luxe
Hi Alice,
A great night for me to end it with you and all you inspire.
It has a Mary emmerling feel to your new look and I loved it then and love it now! I have thought of lately that I would love to throw an Indian looking rug on my painted floors along with pillows like your, I love it ! Alice don't be surprised if you make a visit and see some of you in my home! Thank you for adding to what inspires us when we visit you my dear 🙂 love the vintage child pony, and your cozy room of comfort.
See you soon.
Xx
Dore
Alice Wingerden
Thank you Dore! That means so much coming from you! I always love your style no matter what you do!
Blondie's Journal
Alice…I say go for whatever your heart desires. You have a real talent for making everything look wonderful. I went though all the decorating stages as well, but I don't think I ever went TOTALLY into things, like all white rooms with lace and ruffles, or all rustic and wood beamed out! Ha! And I have a hard time throwing some of my favorite things out. So I have sort of a a mismatched home. It' s totally me. I know bloggers that are totally into decorating and scouring for pieces for their homes that want to visit blogs in that category. And If they don't like industrial for example, chances are they won't be back to that blog. So I can see the worry. I give a lot of credit to the content of your blog: how you write, the different subjects you take on…I think that's what keep people coming back, not just your decorating style. And for the record, I think mixing styles is great, so adding a little here and there to try it out, there you go!
Jane xx
Alice Wingerden
Thank you Jane! I just want you to know that I always love your comments when you come to visit. That one gave me a big sigh of relief 🙂 Will visit you soon! (sorry I have been soooo bad at that)
Chatelaine
I like that you are branching out. We all evolve in our styles at some point. I used to love Victorian pieces. Now I like French Country with a little Nordic and rustic thrown in. I think different styles can be successfully combined.
Nice post!
Bohemian
Well, over the years I have Experimented with various Styles for Fun… but I do find myself coming back Full Circle in the end to the Aesthetic that I Connect to most, which just happens to be Eclectic Bohemian with Addams Family Influences. *Smiles* There are just some environments one feels most comfortable in and for me that would be what I find myself coming back to again and again regardless of what is trending. I have many Loves when it comes to Style and Art Forms, and I Believe we all do Evolve constantly at various Seasons of Life… so it can be humorous and Fun to look back. I'm glad you have found a Style that for this Season 'fits' and I would suggest making no apologies for however our Homes are Styled, it is OUR intimate Space and it reflects the Essence of the one(s) living there if it is True to Self. Bravo for Creating a Beautiful Personal Space… it's Lovely! Blessings from the Arizona Desert… Dawn… The Bohemian
Rita
Alice,
I think you should be true to your home style. I think a family's home should reflect their personality and be a place of refuge. Thank you for visiting me today. Please come again!
Have a blessed day!
Arletta Sloan
I have always loved eclectic and bohemian decor. Sometimes, I also like modern and industrial; but, fortunately, eclectic can fit those in, too. For instance, there are (or, used to be) these tables on Overstock.com that are metal studded chests with legs, and, I think they would look great next to a fairly frilly bed, or, as end tables to complement a lovely, long velvet sofa. Recently, I fell in love with what I, at first, thought was a big, wild couch on the Dot & Bo site, but, as it turns out, was a big wild bunch of floor sitting sectional pieces. I guess it still counts as a couch, in some ways, but, I thought it would be higher up, with legs.