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I put myself on the backburner. Even when it comes to items I personally need, I wait until the very last moment until I finally buy them. I feel guilty about spending anything on myself. When it comes to buying items for decorating my home, I feel even more guilty.
Does that resonate with you?
As I’ve made homemaking my primary vocation over the past four years, I’ve come to realize that decorating my home —including purchasing decor —is a part of my vocation and that I shouldn’t feel guilty about it.
Why you shouldn’t feel guilty about decorating
HGTV shows and IG home decorating accounts are popular for a reason: as human beings, we long to be surrounded by beauty. It brings us peace and reminds us of the beauty we hope to find in our eternal home.
Home is where we are comforted. It’s where we receive our most primal of needs (food and shelter) and where we are fed food for our souls (beauty and love).
It’s in our nature to be moved by a sunset, a quiet walk through the woods, a song, or artistic masterpieces.
Our homes can also be a place that inspires movement within our hearts. Surrounding ourselves with beauty daily reminds us of the eternal home we strive to enter.
Curating versus decorating
Guests often comment on how comfortable they feel in our home. I think part of it is because of the thought and effort we take in curating items for our home.
I’ve learned to ignore decorating trends because I get tired of them. Instead, I trust my instinct when I see something I think is beautiful. In trusting that, I’ve realized I have a distinct taste even if I can’t quite name what it is.
By following what I think is beautiful, I’ve been able to curate a home that’s meaningful and beautiful.
Creating beauty in our homes can be done simply and on a small budget.
Three inexpensive items you can bring into your home to add beauty are small picture frames displaying favorite family pictures, small house plants (or faux ones), and candles or twinkle lights.
Pictures
I realized the impact of pictures when a visitor specifically commented on the pictures hanging on the walls. He felt more at home, noticing that in his home they don’t have many things on the walls and wished they did.
If you’re like me and struggle to decide what to hang on the walls, a simple solution around it is to display tabletop frames. I check stores such as Marshall’s and HomeGoods for pretty frames for $5 or less and print pictures at home. (Pretty frames, meaning, whatever draws your eye …not what the trends are saying.) Displaying two or three of your favorite pictures makes the home feel more personal.
Houseplants
I’m no plant lady, and I definitely struggle to keep plants alive. However, house plants do wonders to a home. Repot house plants in simple, inexpensive terra cotta pots, or find pretty pots (again, pretty as in what draws your eye) at a discount store such as Marshall’s and HomeGoods.
Here’s a list of hard-to-kill houseplants to try to care for. And as far as watering, add watering plants onto your weekly cleaning rhythm so you don’t forget!
Lighting
I never put much thought into lighting until I read Sally Clarkson’s The Life-Giving Home. She mentions candlelight quite a bit, so I decided to try it.
My goodness, candles create a comfortable, homey atmosphere —even when they’re unscented.
The dollar store has an array of unscented candles and glass votives. But if you have little ones around, I also love twinkle lights that you can find for $6 at Walmart. LED candles are also a good alternative if you worry about safety.
Your desire to make a beautiful home isn’t selfish
I’ve also taken on this view when it comes to decorating my home.
Sally Clarkson writes, “God is a God of creativity and dimension, and so He is pleased when we co-create beauty in our own realm, through the power of His Spirit.”
I don’t want to feel guilty about creating beautiful spaces in my home, and I shouldn’t be. My home is a domestic church where I tend to the physical and spiritual needs of my family.
Beauty is a longing in every human heart. And it points to the deepest desire of our souls …our eternal home with our loving Father.
If you need direction on how to decorate your home, I’m now offering a limited number of fully-sourced, personalized inspiration boards as part of my personalized coaching services.
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