A Common Decorating Pitfall That I’m Trying Not to Do!

Oh my!

Hi Everyone,

Happy November, I hope! However, there’s so much tension in the air, and I fear it will remain for a while. Please join me in prayer that things will remain calm no matter what.

On top of it all, I’m having weather confusion. Mid-October felt like December, and late October felt like early September.

In any case, let’s forget our troubles and have some decorating fun! That’s what I’ve been doing.

While doing so, I have to keep reminding myself of one of the most common decorating pitfalls: the tendency to make everything too perfect—too coordinated, predictable, and banal.

You know the dreaded term: too matchy-matchy.

I’ll never forget back in the 90s when Waverly and other companies had matching coordinates. It’s easy: Just pick your floral pattern and mix it with these matching fabrics. It’s foolproof. You can’t go wrong!

However, we all know better now. Not only can you go wrong, but it is certain that you will. It will be death by matching. Here, let me show you what I’m talking about.

The only thing interesting about this grouping is the orange X.

The whole thing looks contrived and cheap.

Remember that horrid color of the year a couple of years ago? What was it? Redend Point? It was so awful that I devoted two posts to it. Haha.

My point is made. While these palettes might not be to your liking, at least they’re interesting and will help prevent that decorating pitfall of overly matched sets of anything. However, it isn’t easy. Our minds want so badly to make it all match. Well, that is unless you’re British. For folks from England, it’s the opposite. They break out in hives if things match too much. ;]

As in our darling Ben Pentreath. Did you know that he and Charlie sold their charming home, I got to visit in 2017? Yes, they recently moved to their very own dream home. Not that this one isn’t, but the new one is far more grand. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with it. I’m sure it will be magnificent.

As for my dream home.

Oh my… I have much to share with you! I am still obsessing about searching for the right rugs. I thought I was all set with the living room. But then I did my floor plan, and the almost 8 x almost 10 looked too dinky—not from the short side, but lengthwise. So, then I found a rug that’s two feet wider and nearly seven feet long, which is fine.
 

I’ve looked at rugs galore, but in the end, I know the living room especially needs to be a vintage or antique rug.

But, but, but… I’m not spending more than $5,000 for this beauty. This isn’t the star of the show, but it’s like one of those cameo parts that burns up the screen for a minute or two. That translates to something elegant, but with enough oomph to hold it’s own while not stealing too much thunder.

This is why mood boards are essential. When I put items together, I can see in an instant whether there’s harmony or not. Harmony is not the same as matching. It’s living peacefully side-by-side despite their differences.

Speaking of the stars of the show. On Halloween and the next day, I received two items. Below is one of them.

Uh-huh… You thought I was making that up, didn’t you?

Well, by golly, it’s back to standard time. Bah Humbug.

It’s such a bad idea for us night owls. In fact, I think we should all be on Pacific Time, year-round. haha

Uh, Laurel. Didn’t you open up the tube?

Well, yes, silly. Of course, I did. ;]

WELL???????????

It’s back in the tube. ;]

Didn’t you take pics before you put it back in the tube?

Uh-huh.

Well, let’s see them— PLEASE???

Really, I want to, but I have to do the dishes and get ready for bed.

I promise to share a lot of wonderful things on Monday evening and Wednesday wee hours.

However, below is a quick preview of a small detail.

To be continued…

xo,

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