When everything looks new , co-ordinated and just so , you end up with an unwelcoming and often boring home. Such spaces can make visitors feel confined and uncomfortable. Nothing invites you in because when everything is perfectly matched objects become a blur.
Is there a middle road?
What makes an interesting and inviting space? Do you need a large budget to have a great home?
Fortunately you can have a very interesting space on a modest budget. It just takes a little ingenuity. As with most things in home decor what someone finds interesting or inviting is dependent on their likes and dislikes; I can only write about what I find interesting in a space. Here are some of the characteristics I think create interesting spaces.
It has a collected feel
That simply means that the home has objects that have been acquired over time and in different ways. It could be objects collected from travels , antiques , personal items , family heirlooms , original art etc. The space does not look like you went out to several stores on one day and outfitted the place. It definitely does not look like a model home!
I am intrigued by the chain hanging from the candlestick. Does it have significance to the homeowner? Did a visitor drop it and it's placed here to keep it safe? Did the homeowner change her mind just before going out?
Each piece has its own compartment that acts like a mini frame. Together there is coherency in the pieces and it is very pleasing to the eye. My favourite is the white doll. Where did that come from?
And why not end with glowing forsythia , bold in scale and vivid in colour? The arrangement look so great in front of a simple , repetitive composition of fish.
What tricks do you use to create an inviting home?