DESIGN BOARD! - CHALLENGE #33

 

       OR IS IT?    

 

When someone walks into your house . . . what is the first thing they would see? You can often get a good sense of what the rest of the house is like and what the occupants are like from that snapshot glance. That's probably why most people end up waiting outside on the front steps. 

 

I remember stopping off at an acquaintance's house and being taken aback at the nude art greeting me in her front foyer. I wasn't quite sure where to look as it was so BIG and so . . . NUDE.  I could only imagine some poor kids' hockey team canvassing for pop bottles - lol.  I'm sure that would have generated some talk in the van!   Funny.  Sort of.  They were a very avant garde and outspoken household - European with a flare for the bold and beautiful. And yes . . . the rest of their house was exactly as you would imagine. 
 

 

I have mentioned in a past post on surrounding ourselves with things we love and bring us joy.  I am sold on that idea.  Unfortunately, it's not always so straightforward on how one achieves that look. For some it comes easier than others.  Some pay a designer to come in and give them ideas or actually shop for them.  Some bring home random items they love and plant them in places.  I remember a friend once telling me, "You KNOW you can enjoy them at the store and leave them there.  You don't have to buy everything you love!"   Made me laugh but she probably had a good point.  You can have too much stuff.  After a while, it starts to look a little chaotic, so you end up missing the look you might want to achieve.

 

Christmas is a good example.  I have so much in my storage, you'd think I had a "side business" or something.  In the past few years, I have been only taking out a few things and I have to say, the ambience is a little nicer.  It's pretty easy to go overboard.  The smaller your rooms, the better it is to not overkill.  "More" is not necessarily, better. 

 

Something I have come across a while back was a Designing Board.  I have also seen Vision Boards (they go by other names, too) - same sort of idea but more of a focus on "life" and not so much on decorating your home.  Vision boards are an interesting idea, but many can be a little too "New Age" for me.  I think they have a cool jumping off point, though - collect pictures and sayings of how you want your life to unfold. 

Some people have had some pretty unsuccessful / difficult / traumatic events in their life and "envisioning" something more positive can inspire or motivate them to turn things around.  It's quite amazing how we can continue to move in the same negative direction and not realize it.  Sometimes, it's just nice to be reminded or encouraged.

These boards can have quite a range in how they are designed - some are aimed more at physical desires (money, career, clothing, cars, travel, etc. - in essence - a visual bucket list) and some are about personal growth. 

I've seen room designing boards, holiday boards (Christmas, a dream vacation),
favourite quotes / verse / inspiring words 
boards &



wedding boards (all the lovely details one might want for their special day).

Baby boards (designing the Baby's room), Books to I Want to Read boards, etc. - really no end to the possibilities.   It doesn't have to be about perfection . . . it can just be about motivation.  While, I am not a fan of greed or superficial stuff, I think boards like this can get you focused and are a fun way to make things come together.  When you come across a picture or saying (in a magazine or off of a website) cut it out and glue it onto our board.  It could even save you a lot of money in the process. These sorts of boards are helpful in setting goals for yourself.  As time goes on, you might even see that the direction you were going with them, changes.  Having them framed and hanging some place gives you an idea if you are on track. If nothing else, nice decorating and conversation piece!   I'm one of those people that needs visual reminders - out of sight / out of mind.  

I think they are a great "tool" but that's about all I envision them for me.  There are endless web sites that try to impress upon you all sorts of ideas about what these boards can do for you - the main one being, "the law of attraction."  That's code for:  surround yourself with ideas/pictures and the good stuff willl come to you.  For me, I simply like reminders and focus - the fact that I am hanging a board does not mean that if I accomplish them, I will be a millionaire or will "have it all".  Most things in life, take work.  Lots of people look for short cuts but the truth of the matter is, LIFE doesn't usually roll  that way.  Generally speaking, if you want something different to happen, you have to DO something different.

Here is my "cyber Christmas board" - the blog wouldn't allow me to transfer it over from a word document - but it gives you an idea.  Pinterest / Houzz (www.houzz.com) have incredible ideas for Designer Boards. 
 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

Food for Thought:                  

 

 

In the end, Beauty (joy) is in the eye (heart) of the beholder.  Whatever board or inspirations you come up with - make it something that is your own you, embraces the kind of presence you want in your home, or simply makes you smile!  

 

  

 

      Note to self: 

Martha Doesn't Live At Our House

and

That's a Good Thing! 

 

See you next week!      

 

 

    

Images by:  homespacing.com; pinterest - Amy Harrison; eventthis.blogspot.com; sunfloweronthesea;com; pinterst; nafbm.org; thebigmacblog.com;sparkmotive.blogspot.com;

interiorsbydonnahoffman.blogspot;

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