Design, Basically: Why decorate?

Photos in today’s posts are from the lovely home of Emily from Go Haus Go.  Thanks for sharing, Emily!

For the first post in the new column on the basic principles of decorating (titled Design, Basically), I just wanted to say a little about WHY we decorate.  (Besides the fact that we love to!) 

It was years before this question ever even crossed my mind, but I think it’s important to think about it consciously.  It’s too easy to forget the big picture.  

To paraphrase Hazel and Julius Rockow (interior decorators and authors) on the subject:
We decorate to bring beauty into our daily lives.  We all have a need for beauty and when beauty is brought into the home, it enriches our life and the life of our family. (From the 1942 book New Creative Home Decorating.)



Or, as Albert Hadley put it,

"Decorating is not about making stage sets, it's not about making pretty pictures for the magazines; it's really about creating a quality of life, a beauty that nourishes the soul.”

Think about your favorite outfit, one in the colors and style you love.  It doesn’t have to be dressy, just flattering.  You put it on and feel great, right?  Did you ever notice how that outfit also raises your standards?  You stand up straighter, you smile more, even present yourself better to people.  It gives you a relaxed confidence. 



Now compare that to an outfit that you just throw on because it’s a shirt and pants and it does the job.  Sure, you can go out in it (and we often do), but you aren’t really relaxed and full of confidence.  You’re not necessarily going to stand up straighter or worry if it gets wrinkled or you spill food on yourself.  It really does have an influence on the way you go about your whole day.



What we clothe our home in is no different.  And this is the real reason we decorate: to be truly comfortable—mentally and physically, to raise our standards, to make ourselves and our families happy to be home.  This is why it’s important to get the basics of decorating right, and next Friday, we’ll get started with 4 basic elements of design.

So, had you ever thought about the purpose of decorating before?  And have you ever noticed how certain spaces can change your whole mindset?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Christina

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