Does your home reflect who you are or who a magazine says you should be? So many times I have left walls and shelves bare more concerned about finding the right decorations than finding decorations that tell you who I am.
My home will never be featured in a magazine. Number one it only stays that clean for a minute after it’s done, the rest of the time is sort of messy chaos, in a friendly, happy way. Secondly, what I love, and what’s important to me aren’t necessarily the things other people love.
Family is most important to me, and I think my home reflects that. I have walls with family pictures, framed pictures of my daughter everywhere. My family room wall is dominated by a portrait of a mother and child. The things that touch my heart are connected to my family and that is what I want to be surrounded by.
My grandmothers pitcher and bowl has a place of pride on a bookshelf. It’s not especially beautiful or even valuable, but it reminds me of my grandmother, so it stays. My grandfather loved to fish, I want to find an old fishing rod to lay on my mantel. Again, not beautiful or valuable except for the memories it will bring.
My bed isn’t covered in the lasted style of comforter in a particular color. Instead I have bright colored quilts and afghans in muted tones. To me, they suggest warmth and love.
My refrigerator is covered in family pictures and artwork from all the little ones in my life. I smile every time I open it.
Now that I live alone I could have a magazine worthy home. I could replace all those chipped, faded, otherwise imperfect things with bright, shiny new things. I think my home would lose it’s personality and I would feel like a guest in someone else’s home.
I’ll keep my jumbled, happy, messy chaos. It’s a sign of the love in my home.