We’re living in interesting times amid the coronavirus pandemic. Around the world, there is heartbreak, confusion, and greed. It’s enough to make you want to run back to bed and never leave. While that’s fine for an afternoon, we eventually have to get up, put some lipstick on, and stand tall. It’s okay if we don’t have all the answers, but it’s not okay to allow negative feelings to prevail!
I believe that we have unique abilities to make others feel welcome, whether our talents lie in decorating, baking, or listening. When we give our gifts thoughtfully, we can turn the energy of the world around.
One of my gifts that I love sharing with you is gracious living — how to entertain, travel, decorate, organize and give with elegance and thoughtfulness. My mother instilled those values in me from a young age. She truly lived these values and “led by example.”
Because of her, I saw what it meant to appreciate the joys in life that come from growing strong friendships, participating in community giving, and celebrating family traditions — things that money can’t (and never will) buy or be wiped out by a virus!
While I’m not doing much entertaining or traveling at the moment, I am carefully considering how I share my gifts of decorating, organizing, and giving. I understand these gifts allow others to feel connected, inspired, and entertained (and, by extension, lead a life of hope and purpose).
So today, I wanted to share a few of my favorite gracious living posts with you. These are all centered around interior design — maybe I’ll do a roundup of color posts and organization posts soon. After all, we have to keep ourselves busy at home!
I hope they inspire you to cultivate warmth and joy, no matter how far apart (or close together!) you are with your loved ones.
My Favorite Interior Design Ideas to Refresh your Home (Without Shopping or Leaving your House!)
There are as many different design styles and tastes as there are interior designers. Here at Hadley Court, I share ways to create timeless, elegant designs that are also comfortable and livable. You’ll see that reflected in these posts!
11 Simple Spring Home Updates
I’m sure you’re going stir-crazy at home right now, but there is a silver lining. Refreshing your space without having to make a trip to the store! One of my favorite “tricks” is moving things around to give the impression of a redesign. It breathes new life into your home and makes things feel exciting and new. This blog post will show you 11 simple ways to update your home for spring.
Grandmillennial Style: Three Ways to Get the Look
Grandmillennial style has been sweeping through interior design blogs and magazines. This is not a frumpy, cluttered look. Instead, it takes traditional inspiration and updates it with a chic, fresh edge. The grandmillennial motto is, “Always fresh, never stuffy.” This new interior design look is simple to recreate and I’ve shown you how to do so here in three different ways.
Entryway: Tips for a Lasting First Impression
If taking on an interior design project seems daunting, start with the entryway. It’s the perfect “stay-at-home” design project for a few reasons. First, it’s a smaller project so you can finish it quickly. Second, you can complete it by using items you already have at home. For example, you likely have enough paint to give this space a fresh coat. Third, combine this with the 11 spring home update tips to give your home a breath of fresh air.
Even if you can’t entertain, you can still update your entryway now for when you can welcome friends and family later!
Phillip Flicks/Kinfolk
How to Mix Metals in Your Home
If I could, I’d use gold in every interior design project I touch. Just call me Queen Midas! It’s such a classic metal and brings a timeless feel to any design! I believe that learning how to mix metals the right way will make your home feel chic and elegant (as opposed to feeling slapped together with “good enough” fixtures). This is my ultimate guide to mixing metals like a pro.
Domino
Home Office Ideas to Encourage Productivity
With so many of you working from home right now, having a dedicated home office space is a must! It’s such a relief to be able to close the doors to my home office at the end of the day and have a separation between “work” and “home” time. Even if you don’t change out of your pajamas to get to work each day, these office space design ideas will help you to have a productive day.
(And here’s a peek inside my home office!)
Yes, we are living in uncertain times, though now is not the moment to become anxious, depressed, and shuttered in. I believe that grace and joy are the antidote to that uncertainty. Surround yourself with things that inspire you, that make you feel hopeful, and that fortify your joy for life. As always, thank you for reading! I hope I can uplift and inspire you to live graciously.