As our nation celebrates independence, I have considered some ways in which we make our own independent mark on the design in our lives. How do we stand apart in the look of our homes? What keeps us personal and not cookie cutter? I think the key is to find how to put more of ourselves into the spaces we live in.
What reflects you? That is where to start. Take what reflects you and turn those things into design elements in your home. Maybe you feel that is as straightforward as filling your home with photos of your family and important moments. A mantle, hutch, or buffet lined with an arrangement of attractively framed pictures reveals snapshots of memories and a portrait of your family history that tells a little bit of your story. Beyond pictures of the family, an independent take on the same concept is to turn your photography into your own custom artwork. Take pictures of scenery from your travel or even a series of images on a topic that appeals to you or would blend nicely with your décor, turn them into black and white, sepia, or enhanced color images, and blow multiple photos up to any size you prefer between a 5”x7” and a poster. Frame them alike and hang as a gallery display in a living room, dining room, or hallway.
Maybe you have a really outdoorsy nature, and rustic, earthy pieces draw your attention. Bring greenery indoors, along with wood or stone components that show off more masculine textures. Maybe your passport has taken you to various countries, and elements from those excursions are things you want to surround yourself with at home. Whether it is African rugs or Chinese sculptures, cultural designs lay a good foundation to build upon to reveal personality through design. Perhaps a refined, sophisticated feel is what you favor. Rich fabrics and grand furnishings could be your style. Perhaps there is a staple hobby of yours like movies, cooking, or art that could be reflected in your furniture, color choices, and the scene you set in your day to day space. Take what you like and turn it into practical application.
Incorporate you. Home design ingredients do not have to come straight off of a retail shelf. That is what independent design is all about – taking something that reflects you and making it work in your space. Whether you buy it, inherit it, come across it, make it, add to it, or have saved it for years, what you set out and hang up at home tells a story about you to every person that crosses your threshold. What do you think your design says about you this Independence Day? And what do you want to do to further impact that storyline?
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star July 3rd.
