Home: A Dive into Decor
Couch, table, and side table: Crate & Barrel
It has only been a few weeks since moving into our house, but my desire to decorate has gone into overdrive. Unpacking and putting all of our stuff away is one thing (almost done). Decorating an entire house is an entirely different experience. It’s no small task. It is not a small feat.
My extra effort to unpack the boxes quickly doesn’t translate when it comes to interior decor/design. No, with this part of being a homeowner I’m going to need to learn to practice patience. Lucky me! However, I suppose it’s a blessing in disguise because one quick Google search for “modern decor and design for Victorian home” led me down a rabbit hole that I’m currently living in day in and day out. No joke.
Being the minimal-patience person I am, and a fan of quick decision-making (this is a joyful personality combo), I have purchased a few items that have already made our house more “us” and have been able to hone-in on the most important items I’m looking to purchase next. If you’re following along on Instagram, I’ve been sharing my decor decisions in Stories and polling the audience using a “this or that” method for choosing various decor. It’s quite helpful! I hope you’re enjoying it.
In reality, I know decorating our home will take time. I’m not quick when it comes to certain pieces, like rugs, because they really are an investment (and are not one size fits all. At all). Since a budget does exist, as I assume it does for most people, I cannot order everything I want right away. Rats! But I actually think that’s a good thing in this particular instance.
As I’ve read in many design articles (there are so many) and heard from several home-owning friends, decorating a home is a process and it’s best to go slow (and it’s never really done). Decorate one room at a time. Take time to find the pieces that are truly favorites rather than just ordering “placeholders.” I’d rather save up and be able to order the items I love the most, which will slowly turn our house into a home that’s totally us and will actually reflect our style and vibe. Yes, I said vibe.
And who knows, by the time I’ve got this place (mostly) decorated, we may finally be able to have friends and family over to see it! ;)
Now, let’s get to the good stuff! I’ve divided my design search into categories and I’m linking specific pieces I’ve been considering to give you a sense of my style. Our home is from 1900 with plenty of original detail and charm. I’m hoping to add in a bit of modern flair, but still keep things elegant and semi-formal (without being too fussy) to honor the house’s history. Home is the place to relax, unwind, and chill, so I hope I can design rooms that exude that feeling: chill. And chic. I think that’s possible, right?
Note: Many of the shops I’ve been browsing have several home departments so you’ll most likely see overlap in each category.
Bedframe: Crate & Barrel
Furniture
Even though we owned some furniture that we brought with us to the new house, there are definitely some gaps and empty spaces. No surprise there - our house is much larger than any of our previous apartments. On the plus side, my personal taste goes quite well in our older, Victorian-style home (our existing stuff fit it nicely). What am I looking for now? Specifically, bedside tables, a bench for the end of our bed, a desk for my office, an accent chair or two, and maybe a bar cart (for the dining room).
Shortly after we moved in, I bought a table for the dining nook in our kitchen, a new bed frame, an office bookcase, and a side table for the living room. This sounds like a lot, but they were the biggest “gaps” that needed to be filled immediately. OK, the side table was an impulse purchase, but it was on sale. ;)
I have countless tabs open and have saved many images of pieces I like for the furniture I’m considering. I linked a few of the items here, but am also including a list of stores since one of you may be in the market for something new, too. I hope this is helpful!
Furniture I’m considering…
I’m loving this desk for my office.
But I think this one could be great, too.
Bed side tables are tricky due to the narrow space we have available (and my inability to decide on material and color). I’ve been eyeing these and these.
A bench for the end of our bed is not an essential, but it would be nice to have one. I love the look of this one, and this one as well.
Accent chairs. So many choices! Who knew? I like this one. And this green leather one. And this ivory one, too. Options seem to be endless. I’d like one in my office, one in the living room, and maybe one in our bedroom.
A bar cart (more formal) is something fun to consider for the eventual guests we will have in our home. Someday we’ll have a party and it will be fun to have a bar cart (more fun) at the ready.
Shopping for furniture? This is where I’ve been browsing…
Our kitchen floor is tile. Adding a rug will warm it up.
Rugs
I’ve long-admired the look of vintage rugs in older homes, and more modern ones, as they add such a special look and feel to a space. While not always the softest on the feet, vintage rugs (to me) make a room look more inviting and cozy. Throw on some soft socks and you’re good to go.
Now that it’s time to find a few vintage rugs for our house, I’m realizing that finding the “perfect” one is hardly a quick decision. I have scoured the internet for vintage rugs and I’m learning a lot. Not only is it necessary to know the exact size you need for each space, but having a preferred budget (or maximum you’re willing to spend) in mind will go a long way to curb the choices. Without a budget, you could look at options forever, which is very fun, but not too productive.
I am seeking rugs for my office, our bedroom, the main bathroom, the dining room, and kitchen. Obviously, I am not buying them all at once. I’m still working on optimal rug size for each space, but I’m beginning to get an idea about the size that will work best for each room (frequently grabbing the tape-measure). I’d love a runner for the front hallway too, but that’s proving difficult due to the unique width and length of that area.
Design-wise, there are so many ways to go! I have seen some photos of smaller vintage rugs layered over more basic/plain ones if the one you find isn’t quite large enough and that looks great. Personally, I’m trying to find rugs that will fill the space, but also go with the existing furniture. Do I want it to blend in? Stand out? A little of both? How faded should the rug be? Which neutral colors are best? Will I ever like red? All of these questions, and many more, swirl in my mind right now.
Below are the sites I’ve been poring over daily for vintage rugs (specifically Turkish, Persian, Moroccan). Their collections are awesome and it’s pretty easy to jump down the rabbit hole and spend way too much time looking at all of the options. If you’re also looking for a rug (vintage or otherwise), then I’d say first set your budget, then determine the size needed, and finally, start to think about a color scheme. It can definitely feel overwhelming, but just remember: they’re just rugs. You (me included) will find the right one. Eventually.
Searching for a rug? Right this way…
Natural sunlight in the dining room.
Light Fixtures
Much like rugs, the world of lighting is far more vast than I expected. I am looking to replace the light fixture in our main hallway, the upstairs hallway, both bathrooms, and potentially the sconces in the living room. Of course, I’m not trying to do all of that at once. I have already ordered a replacement for the hanging pendant over the kitchen table as well as a slightly-more-formal light for the dining room. I can’t wait to show those to you when they eventually ship. Both are on backorder so they’ll arrive….someday.
In terms of style, I’m once again trying to find something modern, not too minimalist, but still fun (and timeless), for each space. A bit of a tall order, don’t you think? Out of everything on my design list, lighting is something I’m willing to wait on to find the right fixture. We have new lightbulbs throughout the house and every room is nice and bright, which is why lighting isn’t “urgent.” I’d like to have the light fixtures modernize our house and be a good mix of new/old style. This is not an impossible task. It will just take time. And much research.
Similar to rugs, I’d say the first step for finding light fixtures is determining a budget. What are you willing to spend on each piece? Would you rather spend more on a fixture for the dining room than the bathroom? After figuring out the preferred/required cost, then it’s time to get searching! I continuously take screenshots of light fixtures I’ve been liking as well as saving images all over the place. Having options is great. Having too many options is fairly unavoidable.
While I haven’t ordered any lights beyond the two I mentioned above, I have been looking at fixtures from the following sites. If you’re in the market for a way to brighten up your living space, then I’d recommend checking these out.
Here’s a bright idea…
Mirror: West Elm
Mirrors + general DECOR
Last, but definitely not least, it’s time for mirrors and general decor. This part of designing our home will probably take the longest as it will evolve over time. However, I couldn’t wait any longer and ordered a new full-length mirror last week. And a fun one for our front hall. And a super-soft sheepskin rug because I couldn’t help myself. But beyond that I have held back and will continue to do so. For general decor, art included, I’m going to take my time. As I’ve been advised, it’s important to stop and live in the house for a while. The things (and styles) that are “missing” will become more apparent once we live here for longer than a few weeks. ;)
Meanwhile, here is what I bought immediately. I am who I am!
Window Mirror (front hall)
Arch Full length Mirror (office, closet extension)
Sheepskin Rug (bedroom)
To be continued…
Thank you for reading and for joining me on this adventure in home decor. If you’re also amidst some home decor projects or research, I’d love to know! And if you’ve found another great source for any of the products I’m looking for, please share. :)
Enjoy!