Today’s Growth A-Z post is about “Nesting” or, more accurately, how to “feather your nest.”  That is, we’re talking about decorating.

There is one ebook in the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle about decorating, Home in Progress.  This is the LAST DAY of the bundle sale, so if you want it, to grab it before you miss it.  In fact, go ahead and go now so you don’t forget; I’ll wait.

Are you back?  Good!

When it comes to decorating, everyone’s style is different.  This makes it a bit tricky to recommend much by way of resources.  Most resources that aren’t giant tomes focus on one specific style, and it might not be yours!  There are a few exceptions, though.  (Home in Progress, mentioned above, seems to be one of them, although I haven’t had a chance to do more than skim it yet.)

Use it Well

The book you see below, Use What You Have Decorating, is a little old/dated, but I like it.  It talks less about what you have in your decor and more about how it’s placed in your decor.  That means regardless of your style, how nice your furniture is, etc., you can use these principles to arrange it in a pleasing way.

Use What You Have Decorating: Transform Your Home in One Hour with 10 Simple Design Principles

Do it Backward

The other resource I have to recommend is a blog post I wrote a while back about decorating on a budget.  The premise of the post is to consider your decorating needs in reverse.  Rather than thinking of what items you need and then looking for them in the right colors or materials, think of what colors and materials you need/want and then look for items you can make look like that.

Just Do It

If you’re like me, you struggle with the idea of investing time or money in making things look nice, because it feels unimportant; the function is what matters.  Do it anyway.  Beauty is an important part of our lives as image-bearers of God, and when we lack it, we feel that lack whether we realize it or not.

It’s true that function should not be (as a rule) set aside for form.  And your aesthetics don’t have to be fussy and they don’t have to be much.  But try to do a little something to work toward the beautiful even if you don’t think you need it.  (It doesn’t have to be everything, either, especially if money is tight.)

This might be as simple as choosing a pretty photo storage box for a given set of items instead of using an ugly shoebox, or covering the shoebox with something lovely like some gift wrap you like.  In fact, this is what I’m challenging myself to do.  I don’t like having a bunch of fussy things around to collect dust, and I have children with a tendency to break or ruin anything I get to look nice, so pretty for the sake of pretty seems like a waste to me (for our home at this time).  But there’s no reason the things I need can’t also look nice, so I’m trying to make an effort to choose versions of needs that also appeal to me aesthetically, rather than always the bare-minimum (often ugly) thing that will get the job done.

Your Turn

Do you have a favorite decorating resource or tip?  Share it in the comments!