When I Need Decorating Inspiration…
Where I Go When I Need to Find Decorating Inspiration
Over the past few weeks I have not been feeling very inspired to do much of anything. I don’t know if I was simply tired, burnt-out or it was just the winter blues, but no matter what it was, I was feeling it… uninspired!
It wasn’t until the sun started shining last week and the temp hit 80 that I started to feel like I was getting my groove back, the sunshine and also a trip to the bookstore gave me the dose of inspiration I realize I had been longing for.
I thrive on creative and colorful inspiration and books are my number one way to find it. Here is a stack of some of the books that have inspired me again and again.
Since I was in college, I have always made a date with the bookstore and library every few months. I think this habit started when I was a kid and my mom took my siblings and I to the library every week. She used to tell us to pick out books that would …her words.. “broaden our horizons” and become better readers. I was never interested in novels and always headed for the visual picture books and when I got older, the decorating and craft books.
Nowadays I call these forays to the bookstore – “Bookstore Days”. I usually don’t go to buy books, although I usually end up with a few that I can’t live without and want to have nearby for continued inspiration. I also do “library days”, but I don’t spend as much time there to really call it a day.
I plan ahead for my Bookstore Day and my latest one proved very inspiring. I head to Barnes and Noble before lunch and do nothing but browse the shelves, choose a few books, go sit down on a comfy leather sofa while sipping a latte or even on the floor if the seats are all taken. I have even headed to the kids section when it is not storytime and sit in the kiddie chairs and tables so I can browse through piles of books. This is quite different from the cold linoleum floor and stacks of musty smelling books of the local library I experienced as a child. Although I do cherish that smell and ambience, uncomfortable as it was.
Once I go through one pile of books and place them back where they belong, I get more and repeat the process all day, stopping for lunch at the Starbucks that is right in the bookstore.
Last week, I looked through every decorating book there was as well as a few cookbooks and craft books. These were the books that I enjoyed the most and two came home with me.
Flea Market Style – By Better Homes & Gardens
This book has been out for a year. I don’t decorate my house entirely with flea market finds, but this book has so many doable and colorful decorating ideas on what to do with used stuff or even stuff you already own using your personal style.
Modern Farmhouse Style: 250+ Ways to Harmonize Rustic Charm with Contemporary Living – By Country Home
Love the clean-lined casual style that is featured through the book. Lots of color and livable decor to gaze over. I might end up ordering this one on Amazon, I really liked the casual, but chic vibe on every page.
A Touch of Farmhouse Charm – Easy DIY Projects to Add a Warm and Rustic Feel to Any Room – By Liz Fourez
This is the book that came home with me. It has been out for a year and is written by blogger, Liz Fourez of the blog, Love Grows Wild. I like the personal aspect of this book and the fact that is a DIY project driven book. Even though I don’t decorate my home completely in Farmhouse style, this book has clever, doable and stylish DIY projects that you can tweak to make them fit your style.
The Complete Book of Home Organizing – By Toni Hammersley
I know this book is not about decorating, but of all the books listed here, this is my favorite which is written by Toni Hammersley the blogger behind, A Bowl Full of Lemons. I bought it and can’t put it down. It will have you wanting to organize every nook and cranny in your home. I love how the pages are laid out with a mix of text, photos and illustrations. If I ever wrote a book, I would like it to be laid out like this.
The Complete Book of Clean – Tips & Techniques for Your Home – By Toni Hammersley
This book is presented in the same format, as her Organizing book listed above. I love how the book is organized and the pages laid out. So many ideas, cleaning recipes, hacks with lots of photos and illustrations to help inspire you to clean your house from top to bottom.
Sometimes the bookstore doesn’t have a new book yet, this is when I pre-order books I think I will like on Amazon, like these two:
Magnolia Table – A Collection of Recipes for Gathering – By Joanna Gaines – Available for pre-order on Amazon. Comes out on April 24th
Not a decorating book, but I am sure it will be an inspiring visual treat for the eyes and appetite.
The DIY Home Planner – Beautiful Tips & Inspiring Ideas to Decorate It Yourself – By Karianne Wood – Available for pre-order. Comes out on March 6th
Fellow blogger, Karianne from Thistlewood Farms is always a fun read, but I also adore the illustrator of this book, Michal Sparks and am excited to see her work again in print.
Spring is a month away and that ALWAYS helps to inspire me to live life with as much gusto and passion as I can. I am happy that the sunshine and trio to the bookstore have gotten me back on track.
When you are feeling uninspired what do you do to find inspiration?
If you have a way, please fill in the blank in the following sentence. You may help others find decorating or creative inspiration where they may have never looked for it.
When I need Decorating/Creative/Lifestyle Inspiration I Go To/ or Do_______________.
Happy week… I hope it is inspiring.
