Sometimes after I watch "Fixer Upper", I am left wondering why a show like that speaks to so many people. Why do so many people (myself included) flock to Joanna Gaines and her knack of making a home where others can only see broken down walls and nasty tile? Whether or not you like the "modern farmhouse" style, I think we can all agree that to make a home is more than throwing up four walls and a roof and THAT is why so many people are drawn to Joanna Gaines and her art of making a home for so many families.
I wrote a post a couple years ago called "home as art" (you can
read it here) and I still feel strongly that creating a home is art for many people. What you decide to hang on your walls, the plants you choose to place on your shelves, the colour of paint you choose, that is ART. You are making something from nothing. Your creativity is coming out as you decorate and turn plain, empty rooms into welcoming spaces.
But what is the point of decorating your home? Isn't there more important things in this world to be focusing on instead of deciding what colour to paint your walls or whether or not that snake plant looks good in the corner?
I believe that there is GREAT value in decorating your home. You are creating a welcoming space for conversation and life. You are making a space where people - your family and friends and strangers - feel welcome to share their story with you. You are creating room for healing and peace.
Last summer, we decided to move our TV out of our living room and move it to the basement. I was tired of the boys asking me over and over if they could watch a show (haha!) AND when we had people over, we would never have enough room for people to sit and feel cozy. The TV went downstairs and now we had an empty corner of our living room to bring in a comfortable chair, a lamp, a plant and a little side table. The floor is still a favourite place for some people to relax on, but we now had more room for people. That is what is important to us.
I have decided upon white walls, simple plants (that I can't kill), mirrors and books to decorate our space. Little vintage paintings that show the mountains and lakes, bring in colour and calmness. Our couches have a few throw pillows (that usually actually get thrown on the floor...) and cozy blankets for cuddling up with books or a warm cup of tea.
People feel welcomed and comfortable when they enter our home. They don't feel like they can't put their feet on our coffee table or that our couches are too nice to sit on. They don't have to worry about their children touching things that they shouldn't be. They can snuggle up on the floor or couch with a cup of coffee and squeeze around our kitchen table to share a meal (or eat in the living room, with their plates balancing on their laps!).
Our boys know they can have fun and play in our home. Our home is their home too. They have their books on our shelves, easy to grab if they need to quiet down. Their games and lego and toy cars are all ready to play with. There isn't anything in their way that they can't touch or be around.
Maybe it's time to look at your space and really work through if it is working for you or not. Does it welcome you in? Is there too much clutter so that people can't find a place to sit? Is there colour? Either on the walls, or through plants and throw pillows?
Decorating our home is important. Not for a good Instagram or Facebook picture. Or even for a blog post. It's time to decorate our homes to welcome people in - your husband, your children, your friends, and soon-to-be friends. Let's create spaces where people feel comfortable and ready to share life and feel at peace.
