DECORATING: FRIVOLITY OR PHILOSOPHY?

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By Gabriele Campbell, A.S.P., C.I.D.                             www.campbellinteriordecorating.ca

Who knew decorating could be so thought provoking? I often share my ideas about the meaning of decorating with my clients and nothing is more rewarding than when they say “oh, I never thought of it that way before,” or “you’ve given us a lot to think about.”

Choice – wonderful choices – and they’re not just about what looks good aesthetically, but take those choices one step further and do what feels good, and what is in-line with your values (especially if you consider yourself a humanitarian or environmentally responsible).

Take hardwood flooring for instance. There is an abundant source of , suppliers, species, stains and grains, but if you look beyond the visual beauty, what do you know about how and where it was harvested?

A philosophical approach to decorating is vital to the decision making process as it directs you in your budget, product, maintenance and lifestyle choices. And while some think it is a frivolous activity that is just meant to keep us buying products we only think we need, still others believe the home and its contents are an expression of the people within it. My practical, environmentally friendly side agrees with the former and yet my creative, appreciator of all things beautiful side agrees with the latter.

Designer Robert Couturier once said, “A house should not look too decorated: instead, it should look collected.” An accurate description of the time and attention a decorating project should take. To decorate can take a weekend; to collect can take a life-time.

I have always lived by the philosophy that if I am going to spend money on something and put it in my house I better love it. In loving it, I know it expresses a personality characteristic or serves a purpose I can value.

Filling every corner of the house can be an overwhelming desire once the decorating process begins. I have met with many clients who believe that a house is only fully decorated when there is something in every corner. Juan Montoya, another famous Designer, said “People tend to feel that every corner of a room needs a piece of furniture. But empty space can create the feeling of more space.” This strategy is essential when Staging a property for sale because a seller’s worst enemy is clutter.

I also follow a very strict belief that in every home there are public spaces and there are private spaces. Have you ever noticed that some homes have family pictures on display by the front door? To me this is a huge decorating no-no. Strangers coming to your door do not have to know how many children are in your family, or what their age or gender is, and they definitely do not have to know what they look like. It’s a security issue, and giving out that kind of private information to anyone at the door simply is not wise.

Although I am expounding on philosophy, I need to address a major misconception I encounter repeatedly, and that is that many believe decorating and design is an exact science. “Decorating is strictly an organic process, wherein one thing builds upon another. The first and last decisions are absolutely critical,” is a quote from Harry Schnaper, a top British interior designer.

Decorating is a layered process where the final result materializes only after the layers are all in place, and never coincides with the vision or preconceived ideas precisely. Decorating is an exploration of style and taste, testing your values and engaging more than just your eyes but your mind as well. Decorating must have flexible outcomes so be ready for surprises and embrace them as part of the journey!