welcome, winter...

my personal word for this next year is light 

along with the many meanings that word encompasses.

 i often hear people talk about how dark winters are -

yet after we remove the holiday decor, our homes feel lighter. cleaner.
(and yes, some say emptier.) 

but do we really want to fill them up again with a lot of stuff? 
why not welcome the new year with the lightness of a refreshed home?

i'm embracing the aesthetic of lightness and simplicity this year,

as well as a renewed focus on the beauty of nature in every season.

that's going to affect the way i approach my own home decor

and by extension the content i share here to inspire you.

as i plan and create new projects for the upcoming season,
i'm asking myself questions about how i want my home to feel,
how i want to feel IN my home, and how i can inspire you
to create a home you love to live in.

continue reading to see where i'm heading...

i find myself wanting more simplified and natural elements

to decorate with and enjoy in my own home...

less 'cute'. less holiday, more everyday. less STUFF.

honestly?  i don't really want to REdecorate every month.

i'd rather focus on seasonal living,

incorporating the rhythm of nature 

into my decorating projects and my home.

speaking of 'seasonal decor':
my experience with nature here in Southern California

isn't the same as my sister's in Wisconsin or my past in the PNW... 

decorating with snowy things here in winter seems disingenuous and contrived. 

so i've been thinking about how to reflect nature in a way that is relevant,

embracing the regional beauty outside my home in a creative way,
and sharing those ideas so you can do the same - wherever you are.

what do i see in winter? 

bare brown branches and seed pods, white roses, green leaves and moss.

maybe a little frost if i'm lucky! it's not a winter wonderland here

yet there are signs of winter that i can bring indoors,

and some of those will easily transition into early spring.

how do i interpret that and create a decor plan around it?
capture the colors, textures, and moods in creative ways.
forage the yard and wild areas near my home for free elements.
include textures and shapes that speak to this season.

my winter color palette includes hues + tones i see in nature:
white, brown, clay/dirt, and green.

materials and textures add interest:

rusty metal, woodgrain, terra cotta, white ceramics and glass,

yarn, candles, and white matlasse' fabric.

 i already have all of these in my stash,  ready for use in fresh creative ways. 

the natural elements will include real leaves, flowers, twigs, moss, and seed pods -

all outside my windows, ready to come indoors.

with a simple subtraction or addition to these palettes, 
i can bring the changes of each season indoors
to fill my home with the essence of the beauty of the changing seasons -
which is where my decorating inspiration originates.

i find these elements timeless and elegant...

it's not about the expense, or following trends,

but about decorating in ways that are personal,

and creating a home you love to live in.

a simpler, calmer, more natural and upscale style is what i'm craving,

so my mind is mulling over ways to reach that goal

while still espousing my thrifty 'use what you have' philosophy.

my new decor projects will span multiple seasons with simple changes,

incorporating more 'found & foraged' elements

along with thrifted and upcycled materials already on hand.

that approach comes with the opportunity to take on larger projects

that can't be wrapped up in one post or tutorial -

i have a few in mind, and am excited to share them

as i plan and undertake the process of those changes.

(just in case you're wondering, yes, i DO still love yellow!
just as the seasons and years change, so do we
and our tastes + preferences for the rooms we live in every day.
a new perspective opens wide the windows of possibility
that feeds our creativity!)

i'm glad you're with me on this journey of design evolution,

and hope that my upcoming content will continue to inspire you

to embrace your creative side as you create a home you love to live in.

creatively, deb

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