curating your home aesthetic
Do you want to curate a living space that encourages you to become your ideal self? If you curate a home that reflects the best, calmest version of yourself then you will have a sanctuary. Unfortunately, many of us settle for spaces filled with things that we are comfortable with, but they are uninspiring and unwelcoming.
I spent months poring over design magazines, books, Pinterest boards, vintage shops, boutique furniture stores, IKEA, and many more to curate my perfect living space. Many items were returned but in the end, the pieces that I kept eventually came together perfectly into a warm, welcoming nest.
With a lot of patience and very intentional shopping, I can safely say that I absolutely love every single thing in my home. This mission to find the things that made me feel centered in my home took me hundreds of hours of shopping, both online and in person.
It can be overwhelming to know where to start with turning your space into one that reflects the best version of you. It’s not your fault: it is not easy to make a decision on what to buy when there are over a million options.
If you are starting from scratch and you have essentially no functional furniture, then you are actually in a very good spot. This is a rare opportunity to curate a home that is your dream comfort space. Sometimes when you are surrounded by your old things, it is difficult to completely move on from past lives, at least subconsciously.
If you already have a fully furnished space, you have two options: (1) start collecting better pieces and replacing the pieces you have one by one until it is like you started with a clean slate and your home is wiped clean of any past lives, or (2) throw it all away and start over.
I am a major advocate of keeping the items that I purchase for a very long time, until they are no longer usable. But if your goal is to curate your dream space, then keeping things that you do not love does not serve this goal. This is your opportunity to let go of past lives by replacing the items that you do not love with purchases that you can keep forever. Please keep in mind, I am not recommending spending a fortune to re-furnish an apartment. Many of my favorite pieces of furniture and home accents were free. It will take time but you can find what you need with enough persistence and patience. I found many of my favorite things I own in this book, but see below for full list of my furniture and decor. Tell your friends and family that you are taking donations, go to garage sales, stop at that roadside vintage furniture store…
In the meantime, use these steps to create a clear vision of what your home is missing:
Think of your ideal future self. Imagine the routines, interests, and style of that version of you. Think of a few key words to describe the aesthetic of the future you.
Make a Pinterest board of spaces, furniture, and decor that this ideal version of you would live in.
Make a list of what items in your home need to be purchased and/or replaced, organize them by priority.
Shop.
It is very difficult to shop with intention. We have millions of options and we have thousands of advertisements thrown at us daily. Don’t let the advertisements tell you what you need to buy. Refer to your Pinterest board and keep your key words in mind. If you are unsure what to purchase, think about whether it fits this aesthetic.
If you would like some help getting started, or with the whole process, please contact us to work together on your home curation and interior design.
and don’t forget…
My full list of furniture (I highly recommend each piece named here):
Cesca Dining Chair (I purchased mine on Facebook Marketplace)
IKEA JÄTTEBO 2.5-seat mod sofa w chaise (bonus: It has TONS of storage inside!)
IKEA VARMBLIXT LED table/wall lamp (aka The Donut Lamp)
how to curate your ideal space
1. make a style vision board
This is easier than it sounds. Just go to Pinterest and login, or create an account.
Search “interior design” and find a photo you like. Pin this photo to a new board, this board is your place to keep photos of furniture and spaces that you like so you can see your style.
Do a quick build out of your vision board using the prompts below or anything else you are interested in. Save anything you love to your Pinterest board. Here are some prompts to get you started on your search. You do not need to align with any of these categories, this exercise is to see what’s out there so you can find what you like and dislike:
minimalist interior design
maximalist interior design
midcentury modern
rustic home
scandinavian style decor
japanese interior design
california casual interior
french rustic interior
mediterranean interior design
spanish interior design
traditional living room
modern living room
1950s kitchen
modern kitchen
80s style furniture
funky furniture
2. make a shopping list
Refer to your new pinterest board. Assess everything that is in your apartment now, and decide if it fits with your style. For every item that does not align with what you like, add it to your shopping list. Keep what you have for now, but keep an eye out for one you love to replace it.
This is also a good time to look around your apartment and assess what is missing that could improve the functionality of your space, such as a bed frame or a full length mirror.
3. make your buying guide
Refer to your shopping list and decide which items are the highest priority. I find it best to prioritize by what will most improve the functionality of your space. The highest priority items are the ones you should start looking for now.
If you are unsure about a purchase, ask yourself:
Will I keep this long-term?
Does this fit with the style I want?
Is this on my shopping list?
Will this improve the functionality of my home?
Is there a spot for this in my home?
If the answer is “yes” to the majority of these questions, then it is likely going to improve your home.
Designing your home is not something that needs to be rushed or finished all at once. The most meaningful spaces are built slowly, one thoughtful decision at a time.
w/ Love,
Anni
