Sometimes, less of ‘you’ in your home is better
I’ve heard designers say a bazillion times: The best home interiors reflect those who live there.
Uhhh, I want to add, that all depends who lives there. Though I agree in spirit with this comment, I have seen many interiors that are dreadful precisely because they reflect their inhabitants a little too well.
I’m picturing those homes where the owners smother every doily-covered surface with memorabilia, where rows of souvenir cups in their matching (sometimes crocheted) koozies line shelves, where all the loose teeth their children and grandchildren have left under their pillows are displayed on a velvet cushion, and where oodles of family photos spread across tables like the tattoo plague.
Sometimes, less of ‘you’ is better.
On the flip side are homes void of personality. They’re decorated to a T, but the place is so sterile you could perform bone surgery in it.
I kept this all in mind recently when designing and accessorizing my new home office. I stood in the room and pictured what I wanted: an uncluttered space that felt serene but wasn’t drab, that reflected my life in a few simple gestures, and that provided a quiet, nurturing place to write.
Then, I did what I talked about in last week’s column (“7 redecorating steps to transform any room into a dream come true”). I sized up what the room had going for it: Double French doors, white beadboard wainscoting, two closets with shelving, plantation shutters, good natural light, and a view of the front yard. In short, it had good bones.
Next, I addressed the shell. I refinished the blonde oak floors a midtone brown and painted the walls a soft herbal green (SW Clary Sage). I had drapery of lightweight linen made with a vaguely Floridian botanical motif. I placed my
desk front and center. I put a vintage wooden chest where I keep files and supplies along one wall, and a glass console opposite.
All good, except the room could have been anybody’s office. It needed the You Factor, accessories and accents that reflected the inhabitant.
So, I spread a cowhide rug on the floor, a nod to the fact that I’m a fifth generation Californian on my dad’s side, and hail from a long line of ranchers. I hung a large portrait of my daughters. I placed four watercolor prints of French scenes that used to hang in my childhood home, and that speak to my love of France.
To reflect my work, I hung three shadow boxes, each with a copy
of one of my books.
That’s how I layered in the You Factor. Here’s how you can, too:
GET PHILOSOPHICAL >> When decorating a room to reflect you, get beneath what décor style you like and ask what matters to you: Who am I? Where did I come from? Who were my ancestors? What am I proud of? What do I care about? For me it’s my heritage, my parents (and the home where I grew up), my children, and my work. For others, the list might include a cause (saving whales or historic homes), hobbies or interests (sports cars, wine, music, theater), political
Don’t try to express everything. Fascinating though you may be, your space should read like a Haiku poem, not a memoir.
activism, or faith. Find accessories with a double entendre: Look for pieces that look good and resonate with who you are. I once saw the office of a business owner who loved to fish. He had a collection of the most beautiful lures framed and prominently placed.
CAPTURE THE ESSENCE >> When reflecting an interest don’t get too literal, choose items that are representative but not themey. If you love Hawaii, don’t put up curtains made of Hawaiian fabric and a tourist map of the Hawaiian Islands, rather capture
the spirit of the place with seagrass wallpaper, coasters made from coconut, and the scent of plumeria. Suggest don’t saturate. USE RESTRAINT >> Don’t try to express everything. Fascinating though you may be, your space should read like a Haiku poem, not a memoir.
Jameson is the author of two home and lifestyle books, including “Downsizing the Family Home — What to Save, What to let Go” (Sterling Publishing 2016). You may reach her at www. marnijameson.com