Hello Friends!
I hope the new year is off to a wonderful start for you all. With each new year, there is no shortage of opinions and articles predicting the new trends for the upcoming year, what’s in and what’s out. I’ve read that marble is in, marble is out, copper is in, copper is out, shiplap is over, shiplap will never go out of style, etc. You get the point.
One article in particular really struck a chord with me. The article’s author had been all in on the farmhouse fixer upper trend, but is now convinced that the trend is over. She predicted that people will be throwing away their farmhouse decor so fast it will make your head spin. She no longer decorates her home with a farmhouse style, and has moved on to a more glamorous look. My initial thought was, “Great! This means all sorts of farmhouse decor will be showing up in thrift shops. More for me to score on the cheap.” Ha!
I have been thinking a lot about decorating trends, and how we all can find our style. First, let me give you a little bit of history on how I found, lost, and then re-found my style.
When my husband and I bought our first home about 20 years ago, I threw my heart and soul into decorating it. It was a 1910 brick cottage, definitely a fixer upper (rats in the basement and raccoons in the attic kind of fixer), but loaded with charm nonetheless. I discovered that I loved using vintage pieces to decorate my home, each with imperfections, history and a story to tell. I regularly visited our local flea market, and my passion for vintage decor began. I started collecting old pottery, mason jars, vintage books, and just about anything that “spoke” to me. I also started painting old furniture and filling our home with my DIY projects.
Our second home was an early 1900’s classic Seattle bungalow (also a fixer but sans rats), and my love for cottage style continued. We remodeled much of the house, restoring original details like the oak floors, pretty wood moldings and casement windows. We added back vintage inspired details, like subway tile and bead board wainscoting, that had been removed over the years.
We purchased our third, and current, home when my son was a baby and my daughter was on the way. I loved our old bungalow, but with two babies, we needed a home with all of the bedrooms on one floor, more storage space and a better floor plan. The home was then new construction, had a modern and open layout, but also vintage inspired details like a claw foot tub, board and batten wainscoting, and generous moldings. It was a perfect solution for our young family.
Shortly after we moved into our new home, something happened. Maybe it was the sleep deprivation and general insanity of having a newborn and a toddler, but I lost my mind a little bit. I decided to completely change up my style. I sold my white slipcovered couch, my antique cast iron and brass bed (I’m still crying about that one), and my antique English scrubbed pine buffet and bookshelf. Other pieces went into storage. In their place, I purchased two modern brown microfiber couches, a dark brown leather ottoman, a sleek dark espresso stained dining table and chairs. It was all dark, really dark, and modern, and never felt like me. (In all fairness, the dark brown couches were practical with two small kids, a cat and a dog, so there’s that.)
We lived with the new furniture for many years, but I struggled to make it work, and to feel like home. I eventually slipcovered the couches in a light linen, and that helped. I painted the espresso dining chairs. I sold the leather ottoman and the dark dining table. Over many years, I have been ever so slowly finding my way back to the style that feels like me. I’ve made many more decorating mistakes along the way, that is for sure, but those mistakes have also helped me discover what I truly love.
Instead of trying to decorate my home to fit a particular style, I have focused on how I want my home to feel. I have added pieces that I truly love, regardless of whether or not they are on trend or fit a particular style. My goal has been to make our home feel light and bright, welcoming, calm, cozy, comfortable, and to tell our story. Along the way I rediscovered my passion for vintage decor and of course, lots of DIY projects. It’s always been hard for me to label my style, but I guess I would say it is cottage/farmhouse/flea market and vintage. Is that a style? I don’t know, but who cares!
I pulled my slipcovered parsons chairs out of storage, and use them once again in my dining room.
The vintage books and blue mason jars displayed in my home make me happy.
Comfy white slipcovered furniture fills my home.
I have thrifted furniture pieces in every room.
White painted china hutch / White dining table
I decorate with all kinds of vintage and thrifted finds.
With all that said, here is my point. Decorate your home for you, your family, and for how you live your life. Let your home tell your story, and make your heart happy. Let that be your style. If you love farmhouse style, if it feels like “you” when you walk in the door, that is how you should decorate your home. Don’t for one second think you should throw it all away just because someone says the trend is over. If you love brown couches, and brown leather ottomans and espresso stained wood, keep it in your home and do not ever feel bad about it.
As for the woman who wrote the article, maybe farmhouse style was never what really made her heart sing. Maybe farmhouse decor was to her what the brown couches were to me. Just a blip in her journey to discovering her true style.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. It means so much to me to be able to share my home and journey with you.
I just love this post! Thank you for that:)
Thank you, Paige!
Thank you for the reminder that we should focus on how our homes make us feel! I’ve been obsessing on how to make countertops in the bathrooms (speckled with brown tones) work with gray-toned towels and accessories and I’ve come to the realization that I don’t have to do GRAY! I can keep warm tones and still have a lovely space that feels more like me.
Love your home- thank you for sharing!
Hi Jeanne – Right, you don’t have to do gray! I love warm tones, too, and have been moving to more warm neutrals like greige, linen and creamy whites. I used to have cooler grays with lots of blue undertones, but I have found that I prefer the warmer tones in my home as well. Thanks so much for stopping by and for taking the time to leave your comments. Susan
Lovely post. You just made my day! 🙂
You are so on target for me! I have liked old stuff since I was a kid. And finding and fixing up old things has been my joy. Like you, I trended to new stuff when my children were young, I think at that time with working full time and raising children searching in antique stores sounded like more work than a shiny showroom with everything displayed together seemed like the right option. I have since left that behind (with the exception of a bedroom suite that I hate and am ready to heave out) and am decorating with what I love. Lots of fun old junk and lots of estate/thrift/antique store finds. Vive la cottage!
Hi Laura – I totally hear you about how decorating with little kids, it just has to take a back seat sometimes. Now that my kids are a bit older, they love going with me to garage sales, estate sales and thrift shops! We have so much fun together hunting for treasures. Viva la cottage! Susan
I’m with on this one, Susan. It took me years and years to discover that I love…and it was only when “farmhouse” style came into vogue…then I was a bit dismayed to discover that EVERYONE apparently loved farmhouse. lol I agree…if it goes out of style, I can nap awesome things at the thrift shop! 🙂
Hi Claudine – “Farmhouse” is a bit of a buzzword these past few years. I think the underlying style is really rooted in cottage style, which has been around for a long, long time. I look at my old copies of magazines like Country Living (yes, I keep old magazines, haha), and much of the decor is still relevant today. If and when others tire of it, those thrift shops will be full of great finds for us! Susan
Susan,
Your posts and decorating style always warms my heart and makes me smile. I’d love to meet you someday and share a cup of tea in your enchanting home!
Hi Chelli – Thank you so much for your sweet comments. A cup of tea with one of my blog friends sounds wonderful. Susan
Amen and amen! It wasn’t until I was fifty and stumbled across a shabby chic magazine that spoke to my spirit that I knew what I wanted. I grew up in a very traditional ‘everyonedidthesameway’ era. Then we moved to our ‘daudy haus’ Aka, retirement home and I went full tilt at shabby chic. I absolutely loved the lighter, whiter look! I’ve since culled out and purged and added some farmhouse looks. And I love it so much there’s some things I don’t change because why fix what isn’t broken? ☺️
Hi Esther – I am so happy to hear you found a style that you love. When you find a style that speaks to your heart, it makes decorating your home a joy. Susan
I love your style, the post, the pictures, spot on!
Thank you, Kim. I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by my blog and leave your sweet comments.
I am on a decorating rediscovery journey myself. I let someone talk me into some design choices several years ago that never felt like “home” to me. This time I am taking it slow and making my own decisions. The promise I have made to myself is that this time it will be what makes ME happy, what makes ME smile. I feel no obligation to follow any trend. Thank you for your heartfelt post!
Hi Mary Kay – Taking it slow is the way to go for sure. Those mistakes along the way will help us figure out what is actually right for us. Enjoy your journey, friend!
Susan, such a great post. Every design enthusiast needs to be reminded of this. It is so hard in the world of social media to stay true to your own style while being able to appreciate everyone else’s too. I personally find so much inspiration from your blog and style and love that you have a signature look beautifully showcased in your photos. Thank you for sharing your home and heart with us.
GREAT post!! Decorate your home so that it makes you and your family happy.
Thank you, Donna. Staying focused on what makes us happy when we decorate (and not what we see on social media, etc) is the way to go for sure.
Thanks for this post. It rings true for me. I don’t really follow trends, I decorate with what makes me happy.. It is a tan couch. leather chair. some painted pieces. and some that aren’t it all fits together for me. I for one can’t afford to toss and start over…that is why I follow blogs that give me ideas,like yours.
Hi Melinda – Your mix of pieces sound lovely – when you decorate from the heart it shows. Not many of us can afford to throw everything away and start over. But in the end, I think taking your time to decorate and going slowly is best. Susan
Love this post Susan 🙂
No one style fits everyone’s personality, we all have something that is uniquely us. Trends will always come and go because that is what drives the economy but that doesn’t mean you have jump on board and love what’s trendy. I know this is an over used phrase but it’s true ‘you do you’, ultimately it will make you the most happiness.
Hi Annie – You are so right about trends driving the economy. I also think they are good when they inspire us, but we should never let them make us feel bad about what we have or love in our own homes. Thanks for stopping by. Susan
such a good write up! Very relevant.
Thank you, Anna.
Thanks for this — I’m always inspired by your posts and your beautiful home. Glad to see you in my inbox again – I was missing you!
Hi Martha! You made my day! It means so much to me that I am able to inspire you in some way. Susan
I totally agree with you. Keep your own style, each of us unique and enjoy life in our own way. Your home should reflect your life’s comfortable style.
Susan I love this post! I am stuck in the brown couch phase, with 4kids a dog and a whole lot of crazy! I have always been a vintage loving kinda gal and I am trying hard to get back there one piece at a time. Thanks for the nudge if encouragement and hope! Love your style and your home!
Hi Kelly – I am so happy my blog post was a source of encouragement for you. Nothing wrong with the brown couch phase. Your home is beautiful, my friend! Susan
What a wonderful post! And I love your style!!! I would love to know where you got your beautiful slipcovered couch. Can you share?
Hi Cindy – My couch is the Ektorp sectional from IKEA. It is really affordable as are the slipcovers for it. I have two sets which makes it nice to change. I am so happy you stopped by my blog. Susan
Oh my so so beautiful and thank you for sharing
Thank you so much, Norma!
Love your home and right, it is all about making you happy. I love shiplap, every time I see it, everytime. I am adding some to my house this year, can’t wait. Some say, what about when it comes down to selling your house? I say so be it with whatever I do, ha! I am not concerned too much when it comes time to sell my house. Thanks, great post.
Hi Shelly – Always decorate your home for you. I love shiplap, too, and I’m sure it will look lovely in your home! Susan
Well said, Susan! (What cracks me up is how the ads below this post showed brown couches and brown leather ottoman. Oh, the irony! Ha!)
Thanks, Robin! That is so funny about the brown couch ads! Amazon just picks up keywords from the post, and they obviously aren’t always a good fit. Haha! Susan
Thanks for this great post. I too am in the process of rediscovering my style after many years of being in limbo. Now that I have some DIY skills under my belt I feel as if I don’t have to compromise with what I have but instead can transform it and that is what really makes me happy.
Hi Mary – Getting some DIY skills was a game changer for me, too. It’s also a great way to try out different styles at a low cost. Good luck to you on your style journey! Susan
Your home is lovely. Did you buy your furniture already with Slipcovers ? Or did you make them ?
I love the look but can not find Slipcovers to look and fit my couch. Thanks for any info.
Hi Linda – Thank you so much for stopping by. The furniture came with slipcovers specifically made for them. In the past I used Comfort Works to have slipcovers made for my sofas. The entire process is done on line. You pick the fabric from their samples, take detailed measurements and photos of your furniture ( they walk you through the process) and then they make the covers. I was really happy with the results. I hope that helps! Susan
Styles are always evolving. I loved this post because it’s exactly how I feel! My favorite line was “Decorate your home for you, your family, and for how you live your life. Let your home tell your story, and make your heart happy.” I think nothing is more sad or boring than to walk in a home and realize ANYONE COULD LIVE there because it DOESN’T tell a story! Our homes are where we live life! And life has LOTS AND LOTS of variety, so let’s get off the “what’s in and what’s out” bandwagon and express ourselves! Look forward to following your blog.
By the way, can you share where you purchased your slipcovered furniture?
Hi Toni – The slipcovered sectional couch is the IKEA Ektorp and the armchair is the Vintage Vogue slipcovered chair from Ballard Designs. The parsons chairs in my dining room are also from Ballard Designs.
Since 2011 my daughter and her family live with us due to financial reasons. Due to a flood where all of use relocated in North Dakota there was a massive housing shortage. We bought a gutted house parked to trailers in the back yard. the guys went to work 70-80 hrs a week. My daughter and I were the main labor force to work on the house. With massive effort from everyone by the next winter drywall was on the walls. Thinking that we would sell soon I didn’t paint for me and we used my daughter furniture to keep it out of storage. They moved out last winter. Now my husband and I are finishing things like window and cabinet trim etcetera and furnishing the house the best way with in a tight budget because so many projects are still undone and finding my style again.
Lorin, it sounds like you have been through some big challenges, and had a quite a job working on your house. Best of luck to you. Susan
This really speaks to what I’m going through with our home. Our living room was filled with brown furniture and dark woods. And yet all my Pinterest pics are cottage & farmhouse style! So I’m embracing a lighter look that just makes me feel more at home.
Hi Holly! Pinterest can be a great way figure out what styles you love. My Pinterest boards are also filled with light and bright comfy spaces. Enjoy making your home feel like you! Susan
It sounds like you’re making your home very personal to you, a good thing. You mentioned slipcovers, did you make your own? I priced having some made for a love seat and 3-cushion sofa, and it was so expensive, WAY more than the cost of buying new sofas (which I can’t afford to do right now). Very discouraging.
You are right about custom slipcovers being expensive. I did not make them myself – I used a company called Comfort Works. I sent photos of my couches and all the measurements were done on line. I was really happy with the results. They were still expensive, but not as much as having a local company make them. Susan
Thank you for this post! I have been trying to find my style and realize now it is a blend of styles like yours and I am good with that! I have some rustic and vintage and farmhouse and a little bling thrown in there…I could NEVER get rid of my great grandmother’s china cabinet from the 1800’s!
Hi Maria – How lucky you are to have your grandmother’s china cabinet, and to be able to incorporate it into your own personal style makes it all the sweeter. I think mixing decor styles is the most interesting, and definitely the most personal. I am so happy you enjoyed my post. Susan