Decorating for Tranquility: The Project has Begun

Decorating for Tranquility: The Project has Begun

Decorating for Tranquility: The Project has Begun

Phillip and I recently found out that we will be staying in Sacramento for the next long while. After moving 4 times (across state lines) in 10 years, it is nice to know we will be staying put.

Since we always felt like we may need to pack up and move, we haven’t really settled into our home. Pictures are still in boxes, shelves are empty, nothing feels complete. With this latest news, I’ve gone into full nesting mode. Literally the day we knew we’d be here, I gazed around at the walls and began visioning what our home could become.

I used to call my decorating style “modern cabin.” It was something I aimed for when we lived in Portland, OR. I define it as a cozy space using natural materials that is clean and uncluttered. While that is still the general feeling I’m going for, Phillip and I decided to get a bit more regional and specific. We live along the Sacramento delta with lots of farms and rivers and we’d like the pictures and materials in our home to reflect that. Maybe my style is now modern river? How does that sound? What does that even mean?

Sacramento River Delta

The Sacramento River Delta photo credit: Eric Leslie via photopin cc

I spent a good portion of last weekend browsing around trying to figure out how to turn our home into a modern-river-styled home. I began collecting a few things, but made the small mistake of being indecisive and ended up going to the same stores twice (or three times – Target) until I was overly hungry and cranky. Once home, and fed, I picked up a few more things online and one of the gorgeous items arrived today from Pottery Barn. It’s their Westley Throw in heathered brown:

Wesley Throw Pottery BarnWesley Throw Pottery Barn

I had a finagled idea about covering large canvases with fabric to decorate a wall in our family room, but that project is not going so well. I’ve also been browsing the site Eazy Wallz. They create temporary wall paper with gorgeous photography to make a real statement. I love them, but I’m afraid to commit. It’s still floating in the back of my mind.

Take a peak at my Pinterest page under “For the Home” to see what else is floating in my mind.

Bit by bit things will come together. I’ll post photos as I move room by room. I am purposefully planning to be very selective about what I purchase. There have been too many times in the past that I buy things I don’t really love. I am committed to create a space filled with favorites. Things that make me comfortable, content, relaxed, warm and happy.

This project has reminded me of how much our living space impacts our stress level and inner tranquility. I think part of my nesting is in preparation for the upcoming transplant and wanting to have a comforting space to recover in.

How would you define modern river style?