Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. -William Morris

When I was younger, I used to think interior design was only about buying cool stuff – and the more I could afford, the better. (True story: I bought a giant disco ball for the living room. And bumped my head on it. A lot.)

My life is a bit more complicated since the days of dancing under the disco ball. I live with three busy family members, a dog who drools and think about things like the cash budget system.

I’ve grown up – but I still want my home to be beautiful … in an organized, mindful, reasonably-priced way.

To me, good design matters – but now I know there’s more to it than buying stuff.  Like the famous quote above, good design marries the concept of what is beautiful and what is useful. Design isn’t just about stuff – it’s how we arrange it. Color choices. Furniture placement. Flow.

It is how we use our homes everyday.

It is art we live in.

Do it Yourself Decorating: Ideas & Inspiration

I asked three of my design-savvy friends to share their favorite places for ideas and inspiration. (One of the talented vixens owns Larky Park. Check out her Etsy shop!)

None of the links below are affiliate links – They are simply tools that can help you create a home as beautiful – and useful – as you’ve always dreamed.

Important tips from me:

• Shop mainly for ideas – not stuff. True – the retail links below are stores that want you to buy stuff. That’s not very simple or frugal or minimal of me. I included them so you can observe furniture placement, color schemes and interesting ways to arrange and store the stuff you already have – without spending a dime. You could also recreate the looks in simpler, greener ways. I challenge you to try!
• Shop at home first. Try moving artwork, pillows or furniture from one room to another to create a whole new look.
• Plan ahead. Then, let your ideas grow up. Who hasn’t had the urge to makeover the living room in less than an hour? (Or hang a disco ball in the middle of a room??) Good design takes time. You need a plan. If you have a wish-list, let it “age” for a couple weeks. This will help you avoid costly mistakes.

And now for the list:

Online (for ideas & inspiration)

• Apartment Therapy
• Design Sponge
• Pinterest (follow people with a keen design sense)
• CB2
• West Elm
• Urban Outfitters
• Crate & Barrel
• Nood Design
• Remodelista.com 
• Etsy (for unique, handmade art & decor)
• Heltenkelthosmig.blogspot.com
• Decor8blog.com
• Yellowtrace.com.au/blog
• TheSartorialist.com 
• Jonathon Adler
• IKEA 
• Chiasso
• Z Gallerie
• Tammy’s tiny house. Beautiful example of how less is more.

Magazines (library visit recommended)

• Dwell
• Architectural Digest
• Elle Décor
• ReadyMade
• Lonny 
• Domino & Blueprint – Two magazines now defunct but worth searching out

Books (again, the library is your friend)

• Easy & Elegant Rooms by D. Landis
• Domino Book of Decorating
• Junk Beautiful by Whitney and Nassuer
• Jeffrey Bilhuber’s Design Basics
• Design Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney
• Jonathan Adler:  My Prescription for Anitdepressive Living
• Jonathan Adler:  Happy Chic Accessorizing
• Jonathan Adler:  Happy Chic Colors
• Apartment Therapy:  The Eight-Step Home Cure
• Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small Cool Spaces
• Domino:  The Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy
• PAD:  The Guide to Ultra Living by Matt Maranian

* * *

Personal update: The Channels, my novel in progress, is keeping me busy … and up at night … and writing all the time. I’m thrilled to report I exceeded my word count goal … but lesson learned, that doesn’t mean my novel is “done.”

My plan is to finish editing the final chapters as soon as possible. That said – I better pour a fresh cup of coffee and get to work.

Peace and love to you and your projects.

-Melissa

Photo by Anna Fischer