Your House Doesn't Need to Look Like Pinterest

Don’t get me wrong - there is absolutely nothing wrong with Pinterest.  I love Pinterest, and I use Pinterest. You use Pinterest. Millions of people use Pinterest.  The problem begins when we start believing our homes need to look like Pinterest.  That's where we lose ourselves.

I love looking at beautiful homes, saving ideas on Pinterest, and learning about the latest decorating trends.  But I've learned something over the years. The homes I remember most aren't the perfect ones.  They're the ones that feel like the people who live there.

When I walk into someone’s home, I don't remember:

·        whether their pillows matched

·        whether their cabinets were the newest color

·        whether their dining room looked like a magazine

I remember:

·        the old rocking chair that belonged to their grandmother

·        the collection of crocks on top of the cabinets

·        the quilts

·        the family photos

·        the dog asleep on the rug

·        the stack of books

·        the bowl that always held fresh fruit

Those are the things that make a house memorable.

Your home should tell your story.  Not Pinterest's - Not HGTV's - Not your neighbor's.

Yours!

When I was growing up in my grandparents’ home, we had a formal living room that was as pretty as a picture.  Sadly, I wasn’t allowed to be in the perfect living room, and we never did anything there as a family. 

As a result, we have no good family memories of the room, and it brought no joy.  It told a story of beautiful floral furniture and pristine wood floors, but it didn’t tell our story at all.  The rest of the house was lived in and cozy, and it definitely brought me joy.  All of the things we owned that truly represented our family were in those parts of the house.  I know it sounds odd, but I felt sorry for that beautiful living room.

Looking back, I think that room taught me one of the most important decorating lessons I'll ever learn. A beautiful room isn't successful because no one touches it. It's successful because it's lived in, loved, and filled with the people and things that matter most.

Don't Copy the Picture—Study It Instead

The next time you find yourself saving a photo on Pinterest, don't ask yourself, "How can I make my room look like that?"  Instead, ask yourself, "What is it that I love about this room?"

The answer is probably not everything.  Maybe it's the soft textures that make the room feel cozy.  Maybe it's the calming blue hues.  Maybe it's the height of the beautiful items on the shelves or the way the room feels open and uncluttered.  Maybe it's a simple vignette on a table that catches your eye.  Or maybe it's just the peaceful feeling the room gives you.

Once you've figured out what it is about the image you're drawn to, stop looking at Pinterest for a moment and look around your own home.  You may already own most of what you need.  Could you move a lamp? Rearrange a bookshelf? Stack a few vintage books? Add a basket, a plant, or a favorite pitcher? Could you create a similar feeling using the things you already love?

If you discover there's one special piece that would help complete the look and you don’t have it, don't feel like you have to buy it today.  Instead, add it to your "Joy Finding" List.

A Joy Finding List is a running list of the things you'd love to find while you’re out antiquing, thrifting, or browsing estate sales. Maybe it's a particular crock, an old wooden bowl, a vintage brass candlestick, florals in just the right shade, or the perfect quilt.

Sometimes I find something on my Joy Finding List the very next week.  Sometimes it takes a year.  Sometimes it takes two.  But that's part of the fun.  When I finally find that piece, it means so much more because I wasn't settling for something that was "close enough." I was waiting for the one that felt right.  When I style the piece in my home, I know that it will bring me joy each time I see it because I took the time and put in the effort to find the perfect piece.

That's the difference between copying a Pinterest picture and creating a home that's uniquely yours.  Pinterest can inspire us, but it shouldn't define us.

When you build a home one meaningful piece at a time, you'll create something far more beautiful than someone else's picture.  You'll create a home that tells your story and brings joy every day.