Slow Decorating: How We Make Our House a Home

We were away last weekend celebrating the arrival of our new granddaughter with friends and family. We had a great time! Such a special season. Although I have been very sad to leave people we love, I always enjoy getting back into my daily rhythms and routine. Plus I couldn’t wait to set up the old wicker cart we brought with us!

The first thing I did when we got home was run outside and check on my peonies! I brought some flowers for a bouquet. It’s good to have flowers to cut again. I missed all the flower searching I was able to do in our last garden! A cutting garden is high on my list of priorities for this house. Fortunately, deer don’t seem to bother the peonies in our area, so I expect to plant more of them.

This is the old wicker cart my mother used to give me! She had had this wagon in her homes for years, but never had a place for it at Tiny Cottage. I’m so excited to have him here! I’m not sure yet what to put it on. I like to use it for plants if possible. My mom always put plants and books on it. My dogs eat plants, unfortunately this makes it a bit difficult. 🙂 I can’t wait to design the cart and this corner.

My mom asked me a few months ago if I wanted a camper here and my answer was yes! I didn’t even know she still had it.

This is not a large room so I wanted to get the furniture and accessories to suit our particular taste. Enough to be interesting as well as comfortable, but not so much that we feel crowded. It takes time to figure that out (and I’ll probably always switch things up).

Every layer we find or bring in makes this house feel like our home – it’s starting to tell our stories! This is the way I always like to decorate. Slow, layered, collected and meaningful.

In a world where the goal of decorating seems to be to make instant, quick, and trendy changes, I enjoy this slow, deliberate process even more.

Once the cart was brought in I had a few things to move and was inspired to rearrange it a bit. Let the blowing begin! I grabbed a couple of seashell trays that I bought to use in the summer (I got them from HomeGoods) and made a quick little “centerpiece” with one for the dining table. Use what you have! I was going to go out and cut some hydrangeas but decided to wait until I took some pictures outside this week. The sun’s supposed to be out!

Then I wondered if the round table between the two living room chairs was a little crowded or uncomfortable in some way. I had planned to buy new chairs, but I put that on hold once I found my Facebook Marketplace bed. Once I moved the table, I loved the openness. Instead of big round tables, I’ll be using smaller ones for drinks, etc. We like to keep the doors open in the summer for the dogs and when we have people over, so it feels more open that way!

I didn’t know what to do with the table, so I put the sides aside and put it behind the couch temporarily. Now I think I like it there! I was going to buy something similar anyway, but maybe this will do the trick, at least for now! We could use an extra dining table anyway when the family is here, so this will be handy and easy to move around.

I wasn’t sure what to do with the basket that was on top of the wicker cart, so I put it on top of the other basket that arrived here a few weeks ago! Happy accident, I love it.

I don’t like the black hole of the heater when it’s not in use, and since I can’t put anything in it (the entrance is behind glass) it makes it look like summer to me!

I’m excited to have the newest vintage pieces on either side of the fireplace. Now we have a sink with a marble top on one side, and a wicker cart on the other. It’s a put together look and tells more of a story which I love.

I shared about the old sink in this post.

Then when I stepped back and looked toward the kitchen I had the idea to make a very simple swap. I took down two plates that were on the wall and replaced them with my own blue and white plates. The blue and white looked more summery to me! I love him!

Related Post: How I Hang Plates, Plates, and Bowls on the Wall

That’s all I’ve done so far, but now I’m looking forward to getting out in the sun! I want to show you our progress there soon!

Are you a slow decorator? Come sit with us! We’ll be opening our HomeBody community just this week so we can start the new season together on Monday! Learn more and register here.

This summer we’re learning how to care for ourselves and our homes through simple, slow, delicious seasonal rhythms.

I had more photos from this day so I’m putting them below followed by a list of room resources!

Blue ribbon ruffle pillow

Bamboo shades (You can see my post with details about these shades here with close up photos)

Similar tufted ottomans

Pleated lampshade (see my post with more pleated lampshades here)

Wicker storage box

Jute and Cotton Rug – Click here for details (mine is beige) and read my FAQ post here with a photo of the rug nearby

Blue and white planter pot

Leather Sofa – No longer sold but here is the chair version

Blue battery operated taper candles

Plaid chair – with brown gingham cushion

Blue and green battery taper candles

Rattan kitchen serving cart

Scalloped lampshade in the kitchen

Patterned Dining Room Rug (Ocean/Gold)

Rattan Dining Chairs – Similar chairs were from here but out of stock

Blue striped covers (downy blue fabric)

Parsons dining chairs

Jute Wrapped Chandelier with Shades (Lots of Shade Options)

Banquet Chair Fabric – This blanket is double sided

Living room paint color: Benjamin Moore Beach Glass

Paint Color: Classic Light Buff Sherwin Williams

Find more resources from my home and other decor I love in my store!