Whimsy just makes me smile. Sometimes we tend to take ourselves a little to seriously when it comes to interior decorating.
Every room needs a little whimsy. For some reason, we are comfortable shaking up our design plans in a child’s room or in our gardens, but we tend to play it safe in the remaining spaces of our home.
Don’t settle for plain, plan for a little plain fun. Whimsical décor can be bold or lighthearted, but always catches your eye adding an unexpected sense of humor or creativity making your space one of a kind. Deeply personal, whimsy shows off your quirky, playful spirit, and it can make you smile.
The kitchen is a great place for silly signs and upcycled containers. If you are a wine enthusiast, fun signs like “I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to my food” and “It’s wine o’clock” can hang along your backsplash making a cute addition to your décor. Or try using an unusual glass vase to corral your coffee pods or an oversized ceramic flowerpot to house your spatulas and slotted spoons.
In the dining room, look for unique chandeliers that hang teacups, silverware, or photographs to bring some wit to an otherwise formal room. When you have a dinner party, be creative with place cards by tying them to a mini cheese grater for a whimsical touch.
Over the years, I’ve framed a bathing suit for a beach-themed bathroom, pinned family photos to a dress form, hung straw hats on a dressing room wall, strung white holiday lights along a kitchen window frame, glued a feather boa to the bottom edge of a lampshade, sewed pillows showcasing Boy Scout and Girl Scout badges, hung a denim jacket on the wall to house a young man’s Hard Rock Café pin collection, and used glue dots to add dozens of white paper butterflies to a brightly colored hallway.
Don’t be afraid to express yourself with a few whimsical touches around your home but keep it simple; one cheeky piece or one cheerful collection is sufficient per room.
With many satisfied clients since 2008, Barbara Graceffa owns and operates Secretary of the Interior in Quincy, MA offering decorating services at reasonable rates. If you have a blog topic to suggest or need professional help with decorating, downsizing, decluttering, or home staging and relocation services or wish to learn more about her decorating workshops and quilt trunk shows, please contact her via her website www.sec-interior.com or phone 617.921.6033.
Secretary of the Interior: Decorating Blog 