Hi! This is Laura from Lolalina, and I am visiting today because Carol asked me to share a bit about the importance of surrounding ourselves with beauty in our homes.

This is something that is very important to me, so it was interesting to sit down and think about why it matters, and how we can bring beauty into our lives. I have a few ideas to share, and then I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic in the comments section…

I see home as a sanctuary. Our little place of peace in the world, where we can be ourselves, let our guards down, and nourish our bodies and souls.

I really don’t see the point in having (or even striving to have) a “perfect” showcase home filled with only designer goods – to me, that would not feel at all comfortable or worthwhile.

Instead, I strive to create a home that I find beautiful and comfortable. A place that speaks to my personal aesthetic sense. And I do think it is important to spend some time, and a bit of money, to help this happen. A clean, well-organized home (which goes hand-in-hand with a beautiful home, as far as I’m concerned) can help you find things more quickly, easing your daily routines and reducing stress; and waking up and coming home to a little spot of beauty can add so much brightness to the everyday.

I admit that sometimes I get a little fed up with the over-stimulation out there in design magazines and blogs, and the general consumer pressure to buybuybuy. But I do my best to really filter what I am consuming, and only to let in the books, magazines, and blogs that truly inspire and energize me.

I’ve found it really helps to notice when I am reading something, or looking at a blog, how it makes me feel – and then make a conscious decision not to pick up that mag or read that blog again if it leaves me feeling stressed out or lacking in anyway. And on the flip side, it’s nice to always keep a little stack of materials in your home (magazines, books, zines, links to blogs) that you can count on to refresh you and create a feeling of abundance and inspiration.

“Beauty is whatever gives joy.” ~ Edna St. Vincent Millay

So how can we create beauty in our homes?

Personally, I like to start small. It feels much less overwhelming to begin with just one thing and create a little corner of beauty – for instance, clearing everything off your bedside table, cleaning it, and then arranging a small vase of flowers, lamp, a new journal, and perhaps a scented candle or a small piece of art.

Whether you decide to arrange a shelf of books by color, bring in cut flowers or branches from the garden, light a row of candles on your mantel, or try your hand at a new craft project, these little things add up over time to make a huge impact on our experience of our homes. It’s about tapping into your creativity and beginning to look at your corner of the world with new eyes.

*And here are the credits for the images:

“Picture 1”: Yvestown, http://www.flickr.com/photos/yvestown/2384582491/

“Picture 2” is a photo collage:

top row – Selina Lake, http://www.selinalake.co.uk/index.html
bottom left – Lobster and Swan, http://www.flickr.com/photos/lobsterandswan/3884346165/
bottom right – Yvestown, http://www.flickr.com/photos/yvestown/4143101879/

Thanks again, let me know if you have any questions!
-Laura