I am not a fussy decorator. I like details and {second hand} quality and all that, but when it comes to displaying accessories and decorations around the house, I like to keep things simple, easy and unfussy. If it looks like it took me a few hours to put something together, I don’t like it.  I like things to look like they just happened to look great and not that I tried and tried to create some foofy thing to display. Foofy accessories just are not my style. Authentic living is more my style.

I used to spend a lot more time creating and setting up stuff that looked impressive and complicated. It may have been useless and taken hours of my life to pull it together, but I thought it was impressive! But I think now I have found my rhythm and style in decorating –  it is much more laid back and subtle. It embraces the beauty of real life.

My favorite accessories to display are the ones I actually use or have special memories attached to them. Dishes, pitchers, plates, books, baskets, shells, chalkboards, wooden game boards, heirlooms or family hand me downs and things my kids have made or given me are pretty much all you will find around my house. No fancy centerpieces, useless stuff on shelves, or walls lined with random decor … just a happy mix of pretty things we use in every day life. When you make every day things pretty, your home is attractive automatically.

I do love creative ways of displaying things and decorating my home. If it is unusual, attractive and functional, I am all for it. I am a bit of a decorating rebel because if EVERYONE has something and it is all the rage, I tend to shy away from the trend, unless it is something I have had forever or is  a classic — or at least something I had long before it became trendy. I just don’t want my home to intentionally look like my neighbors. Something just seems wrong about that.

Even if you don’t have a decorating gene in your body, I think you can have a personal style all your own.

• I love that unusual iron fencing in the top photo adorned with fabric jackets or aprons. Unique simple useful and pretty.
• The open shelves in the second photo are beautiful and functional. Real life dishes on open shelving! SIMPLE BEAUTY.
• The third photo is so real life, hooks with a cute bag and a dog leash!
• And the accessories in the last photo tell me that a beautiful life happens there.

Don’t worry about all the rules, what is trendy, what your neighbor has or what looks great at someone else’s house. Your life is unique and your home can reflect where you have been, what your life is about and what you value. Be unique and let your life dictate YOUR style.

I really believe that decorating doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or only for those who “have the eye” or know the rules for it. Keep things simple, and make real life beautiful. You can’t go wrong.

Need more inspiration? Here is a related post!

inspiration images: BH&G

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