Inspiration as a Tool not a Template
I get a lot of messages asking where we find inspiration online and where our design ideas come from so I started thinking about our goals when it comes to our home reno. From the beginning, I wanted to make our home ours--not just a replica of something someone else has done. And we definitely don't have the budget to just start from scratch with our furniture and accessories. Instead, we've gathered images we love and dissect them down to what speaks to us in them or just browse online for the pieces we need and let the ones we're drawn to lead the way in the design. But I get it--it’s easy to be enticed to copy a room found online piece by piece. Usually a full source list or tags can get us the info needed to perfectly replicate a design (assuming nothing is thrifted, handmade or vintage). The temptation comes naturally because we see something we’re drawn to and it could instantly all be ours. Or maybe we feel defeated that it will never be ours. That we shouldn’t even try to replicate it because our resources couldn’t make the same design feasible. Both are understandable but we might be cheating ourselves out of a personal, thoughtful design either way. Inspiration from an online source is a great place to start no matter what camp you relate to. Here are some tips I've discovered while trying to avoid the pitfalls of a great photo and making design truly personal.
The ________ I’ve been looking for!
There’s a piece you thought only existed in your dreams and you have the means to buy it right now? BUY. IT. RIGHT. NOW. Do it. Before it’s gone or you no longer remember where you saw it. If it perfectly meets a need in your household and someone online says it lives up to the hype, why not take their endorsement and go for it? It’s when every element in the photo are instantly in your cart that things shift over into the copying arena.
Find the Essence
What is it that draws you in? A genius color palette? A unique style combo? The overall vibe of the image? Figure it out. It might be a combination of things. Discover what really speaks to you about the inspiration and think through why you value it. Find other images, fabric samples, color swatches, etc. that have the same quality to it. Now you have a lot of inspiration to pull from.
Image on the left: inspiration from Decor Pad
Image on the right: the credenza in our dining room
Ask the Hard Questions
A dreamy photo’s job is to make us wish we could live there, wear that, be that. Pictures are meant to be pretty and aspirational. Dig deeper and acknowledge what parts of it would or wouldn’t work for your current lifestyle and stage of life. Taking a step back and finding the flaws it would create in your every day life (white sofas with big, hairy dogs or a lucite table when you hate to dust) can make it easier to point out what would need to change for you.
Love The One You’re With
Think through the items you already own that are similar to what you’ve been attracted to. Maybe you love the olive green upholstered headboard but yours is charcoal and a little different style. Figure out if you can achieve a similar look with the items you already have with new upholstery, paint or styling. Unless your style has changed drastically since you purchased your belongings, chances are you can imagine some older things in a new way.
We love beautiful images. Hopefully you can tell. Sharing hard work and thoughtful design is easiest with a camera and some pretty lighting. We also love personal style and making sure no matter what we’re pulling together feel authentic to our clients or ourselves. Aspirational images can be approachable if we use them as a tool and not a template. What’s been inspiring you?