5 Interior Design Trends to Try This Spring

Finally spring is in full swing, and what better time to spruce up the space a bit. I've always enjoyed learning about the newest trends, but I've never been one to follow them blindly. Usually when I learn of a new trend, I take a step back to see if it resonates with me, and if so, how I can make it my own. If I don't think it will work for me, I leave it alone. I've also  adamantly rejected trends, mostly because I get tired of seeing everyone do the same thing. This is one of the reasons I really appreciate trailblazers (Kelly Wearstler comes to mind) because they are not  inclined to follow what everyone is doing. I remember when Kelly Wearstler featured her home in Domino way back in 2007-08, and many people didn't understand it. Now fast forward years later, her unique blend of colors and homage to 70's glam seems to be everywhere. But of course, this post is not about Kelly Wearstler or the 70's. I'd like to share with you some trends that seem to be going strong, and are fairly easy to achieve for spring. Take a look: 1. Abstract Patterns/Bleeding Colors

 1. Pospsugar  2. Denydesigns duvet 3. Madebygirl 4. Arianna Belle pillow

Abstract patterns or as they are also known, blotting patterns, or bleeding colors, is a refreshing change from the very structured, graphic patterns we have been seeing the last couple years (Yes, I'm looking at you chevron). If you have a structured, symmertical graphic wallpaper or pattern in a room, the fluidity of an abstract pattern can add an extra dose of fun and excitement, perfect for an upbeat spring attitude.

2. Oversized Plants

 1. The Everygirl 2. Elle 3. Weekday Carnival

I'm no green thumb, but with all these oversized, luscious plants I've been seeing in home décor, I think that's about to change. Every home needs an organic element to enhance the space and make it feel alive (literally). And these oversized plants feel so glamorous and bohemian. I just love them.

3. Geometric Shapes

1. Vintage Revivals Sharpie Wallpaper 2.   Savvy Vintage Boutique 3.Vintage Revivals Plant Hanger 

Geometric shapes in fabrics and wallpaper have been going strong for some time. And while some geometric shapes seem to have grown tired, others feel new and fresh. I really enjoy unique geometric shapes in furniture and other household items (like that plant hanger. Love.) because we are so used to seeing the standard square, rectangular or circular shapes. I really fell in love with the side table above from Etsy, so much so that I bought it myself. But there are many more options out there.

4. Quirky Wall Art

1. Hus & Hem via Pink Lady 2. Lulu & Georgia 3.  Lula & Georgia

I always love quirky wall art, and even more so when it's mixed in with serious art. Because really, décor shouldn't be all serious business and no fun, right? These images can add a light, fun touch to your very sensible walls.

5. Blush & Navy

  1. Domino 2. Baz Bagels via My Instagram 3. Skona Hem

I love the combination of blush and navy. Most people use black as their go-to dark color, and while I love black as much as the next person, I love that extra "something" that navy brings. It's tailored, rich, and unexpected.

So what trends have you noticed this spring? Would you incorporate any of the trends mentioned above? ♥

Wardrobe Consulting: What's Psychology Got To Do With It?

Hi There! Hope you've been doing well despite all the social unrest we've been experiencing lately. I'm currently in the beginning stages of developing my creative consulting company, Truly, LLC, and I'm so excited to be offering wardrobe consulting services (the other services, interior consulting and styling/decorating services will come along later). It certainly hasn't been easy, but thankfully, this blog and company has pushed me to focus on the positives and just keep moving forward. Many people don't know what wardrobe consulting is, and may think it's simply a styling service. And while wardrobe consulting does include styling, it goes a little deeper. It's a relatively new field that blends psychology and the fashion world. Psychologist, Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner, has done a great job of bringing wardrobe consulting to the forefront with her book You are What You Wear. In fact, her book has inspired me to write my own on the subject one day (hopefully sooner rather than later).  Today I thought I'd take the time to share what wardrobe consulting entails, and how it can be beneficial to those of you who may be struggling with your wardrobe or how to dress in a way that resonates with the image you want to convey to the world.

Wardrobe consulting is based upon fashion psychology which is the application of psychological principles to understanding why we wear what we wear and the effect is has on us and others. Wardrobe behaviors include the act of buying clothes, storing clothes, and creating outfits, all of which are significant indicators of our emotional life. And our past experiences, current distress, and future goals can all be reflected in our patterns of dress. So paying attention to the messages we send through our clothing is integral to achieving consistency between our external image and internal image (such as self-perception and self-esteem).

Here's a rundown of what you can expect during wardrobe consultation.

The consultation usually consists of 5-8 sessions, the first being an "intake assessment." The consultant, that's me, asks a series of questions to get a sense of your past, present, and future experience with dress. I look for whether the experiences have been good, bad, or somewhere in between to better understand the major issues contributing to your issues with dress. Next, I do the "examination." That's where I examine your wardrobe  to assess for patterns (patterns in style, shopping behaviors, storage, and assembling outfits) and the psychological reasons for them.

Once the assessment and examination are completed, we move in to the "formulation" stage where I engage you in goal-setting by helping you identify goals (e.g., vocational, educational, and relationship goals) and the ideal wardrobe to match those goals. And any changes made to the wardrobe are used to facilitate deeper-level, internal changes. So if you're feeling stuck in your professional or personal life, I work with you to create a wardrobe that promotes a feeling of being unstuck or progress in those areas. You'll be encouraged to dress for the life you want to achieve, rather than the life you've had.

Next, we works towards making changes by implementing an action plan designed to achieve set goals and improve your wardrobe. Finally, we process the changes made, and figure out what future changes need to be made to sustain the changes and achieve future goals.

That's a simplified explanation of the the wardrobe consulting process, but hopefully you have a good working understanding of it. The actual wardrobe consulting experience is designed to be full and impactful, and any changes made in the wardrobe can be used as an impetus to make change in other areas. So for example, if you're having difficulty with change, the skills you've learned while making changes to your wardrobe can also be applied to other areas, professionally or personally.

What are your thoughts on wardrobe consulting? Does it sound like something you, a friend, or family member could benefit from? If you have any further questions about it or would like me to conduct a wardrobe consulting workshop for your company or organization, feel free to comment or contact me via email. ♥

Sarah's House Project: Boys' Bedroom Reveal

Finally. The boys bedroom is finished. Well at least for now anyway. I like to think that a room is never really finished, it just evolves, you know. All in all, I absolutely loved decorating my boys' room. Yes, the process was trying, especially during times when I was waiting for an item only to find that it wasn't the right fit or what I wanted, or when I tried  to buy something only to find that the item was sold out. But I try not to get too upset about those things  because it always works out in the end. And if I never knew it before, I certainly know now that interior decorating is my passion, and (I'm pleased to say) a service I'll be offering under my new creative consulting company, Truly, LLC (read about it here). So without further ado, let me take you through the design process.You may recall from my mood board (here) that the guiding theme for the project was:

• Traditional
• Modern
• Pop culture
• Global Style

Or also known as Traditional Modern Meets Pop Culture With A Dash of Global Style. It's essentially a conglomeration of what appeals to me and the boys. Of course, the boys are into superheros and legos, and me, I like a traditional boy's room that infuses modern touches with a sense of multiculturalism. But to be sure that the room felt like their own, I made sure to display familiar items, ones they made themselves, like the wooden bracelets or their drawings. When they get tired of the drawings, they can always switch them out so the artwork continues to feel fresh. They also wanted to make the ceiling light look more like the  death star and insisted (along with their dad) on coloring it free hand with a  black marker. It's not something I would have done, but hey, it's not always want we want when we live with other people, right? So needless to say I made some concessions in the room. But all in all, we're all happy with it, and that's what truly matters. I chose the zebra rug early in the design plan. If you saw my inspiration rooms (here), you may know that I was initially looking for a zebra print headboard. But I had a really difficult time making it happen so I opted for the rug instead. And I really like the way it glams up the room a little. The  duvet came later in the design and adds a nice pop of color. I initially chose a cream patterned duvet that had an ethnic vibe to it, but since it was sold out I looked for other options. I really like this one because it's kid friendly, and the modern triangle can also be interpreted as ethnic, a perfect fit for theme of the room. These multicolored ethnic and pom-pom pillows tie in much of the colors in the room. Whenever I'm looking for a color scheme I usually like to find all the colors in a piece of fabric, or pillow so that it gives a sense of cohesiveness, and doesn't feel like just a hodge-podge of colors that don't speak to each other. I didn't want to keep the lotions and powder in the original packaging. I wanted to present them in a more original way that feels consistent with the design of the room. So I used bottles with chalkboard tape to label the items for a fun touch. Of course I had to include all their friends, ha. This basket houses their laundry, and I put a piece of fabric over it as a make shift cover. Books are big in our house.  My eldest loves to read, and books can make most any space feel cozy. So there you have it. Hopefully you've been inspired with ideas for your own space. If so, I'd love to hear about it. Below are links or resources for some of the major items in the room:

• Zebra rug- Overstock
• Robot duvet cover- Target
• multicolored ethnic pillows- PillowMe Home
• Pom-Pom shams- Urban Outfitters
• Tall white dresser- Ikea via Houzz (no longer available on Ikea site)
• Vintage superhero pictures- CultClassix
• Pendant lamp- Ikea
• Star Wars curtains- Boneful Fabric Boutique
• Dresser with blue trim -DIY
• Red action figure lamp- DIY
• Twin beds- Ebay

Newsworthy: The New Bohemians by Justina Blakeney

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I love bohemian style. I think it's because I enjoy all different styles: the clean lines of modern décor, the cool classics of midcentury furniture, a little Hollywood glamour, and a good dose of romantic furnishings, the kind that feels proper, but not too precious. And bohemian décor has all that and more. So when I heard that Justina Blakeney was coming out with a new book on bohemian style, I pre-ordered it right away. Justina Blakeney has built an awesome career around her bohemian sensibilities. In the book she makes reference to her multicultural background and love of travel, all which have informed her free-spirited sense of style. The book is packed full of beautiful bohemian homes categorized into six different types of bohemian looks including modern, folksy, romantic, earthy, nomadic, and maximal. And she invites us not to just look at pretty things, but encourages us to put our inspiration into action with an "Adapt an Idea" section for each home. It's a great way to hone your creativity, and you might even come up with some ideas of your own in the process. Justina also  sprinkles DIY treats throughout the book, an ode to her craftiness and belief in building a home that represents you. According to design psychology, needs for shelter are basic, but not sufficient for a self-actualized home, one that offers pleasure and beauty.  This book reinforces my desire to create a home that's beautiful and pleasurable to me. One I love to spend time in. Here are a few of my favorite looks from the book: Just the other day I posted about my affinity for tassels and pom-poms (see here), and one look at this chandelier certainly shows you why. It's such a show stopper, and EXUDES major bohemian glamour. I love it. Plants, plants, plants. I love how cozy and settled they make a home feel. It's hard to be tense and anxious when you've got bits of nature spread throughout your home. I like how it's presented here with midcentury modern furnishings. It feels so seasoned woman to me. The unabashed combo of colors and patterns here are so fun. Such a mix always seems to work in bohemian styled homes. The styling is not mechanical (like trying to remember what goes with what), rather it's more about being attuned to what colors or patterns "speak" to each other, and creating a vignette based upon that, even if the colors or patterns do not work together in theory. This room feels very glamorous to me, kind of like the owner spends her days at home with her dogs writing music while barefoot and wearing a long flowy dress with a myriad of bangles on her arm. Can you see it? What can I say about this turquoise, Navajo wallpaper. It goes to show you that multicultural style doesn't have to feel moody and woodsy, it can be bright and pretty too.  I've always wanted a dressing area that was bursting at the seams with beautiful clothing and accessories. This little dressing room makes me want to just dig in and see what treasures I can find. I really like big luscious plants like this, and the brass table lamp and mural gives such an East village vibe. I bet the person who lives here is down to earth, and all around cool--wouldn't you agree? This bedroom oozes with confidence and creativity. It's so bright with thoughtful details like the painting in place of a headboard, and pretty clothes displayed for all to see. I like the use of non-traditional window coverings, And that light! It has so much dramatic flair. So what do you think of bohemian style? Do you see yourself incorporating any ideas from these homes into your space? If you'd like to see more of the book, you can get it here.

Communicating with Color: Magenta

Hey all! Hope you've had a good week and were able to bounce back from all the challenges you've had to face. I've decided to bring back my column, Communicating with Color since color has so much psychological significance. After all, we interpret the world through color, and it certainly impacts our mood. You can see my previous Communicating with Color posts here and here. I hadn't thought much about magenta until I was trying to decide on the right color to reupholster my new vintage office chair (see it on my Instagram here). To give you some perspective, my office space is in the family room, and it's painted white with white wood floors (kind of like a studio). I plan to bring in pops of color, and an eclectic mix of furniture to create a modern, glamorous bohemian vibe.

At first I thought I would reupholster the chair in white leather, which is pretty and what all the kids are doing these days. But with my white walls and floor, I felt like I needed something more. Strong warm colors like red and orange didn't appeal to me because they're not flexible enough to blend easily with other colors I might bring into the room. And cool colors, like blues and greens didn't appeal to me either. I think it may be because I have a turquoise blue sofa in there already. But I had this one magenta pillow with a funky hodge-podge of warm and cool colors on the front like orange, violet, and if you stare at it long enough, pink. It's the kind of pillow that makes it easy to bring in an unexpected mix of colors.  That's when I decided that magenta would be a great choice for my chair. It's versatile without sacrificing drama and excitement.

After doing a little research, I learned that magenta is a relatively new color created in the 19th century as a result of the Industrial Chemistry Revolution. Like other warm colors, it creates high arousal, stimulation, warmth, and excitement. But surprisingly, magenta isn't really a color at all. Meaning it has no wavelengths and doesn't exist in the spectrum of colors. Rather, we psychologically perceive magenta to make up for the gap between red and violet which are at both ends of the light spectrum. Maybe that's why magenta is so flexible and linked with creativity. They say magenta personalities are entrepreneurs and inventors, free-spirited and non-conformists. And that's exactly what I want to communicate in my office space where I make all my dreams come to life. Here are some magenta pieces you can use to infuse your space with energy and passion. Some of the pieces are no longer available, but I figured I'd include them for inspiration.

What do you think of magenta? Do you use it in your home?

 Fern Living metallic wallpaper via Domino || magenta pouf via Lulu & Georgia|| magenta Peacock chair from the The Family Love Tree via From Moon to Moon||Burberry trench coat|| magenta sofa via One Kings Lane|| green patterned pillow via Lulu & Georgia|| blue Jil Sander clutch via Farfetch|| magenta pumps via Banana Republic

Having A Moment With...Tassels, Pom-Poms, & Party Decor

Tassels and pom-poms have been around since forever. I remember my mom had pom-pom shower curtains for a while when I was growing up, right next to the monogrammed guest towels. It all felt so proper. According to design psychology, tassels and pom-poms are salient for me because they evoke a strong, positive memory from my childhood. I tend to like them in interiors more than I do on clothes, but every once in a while it catches my eye when I see tassels or pom-poms on clothing or accessories, like the pom-pom shorts that are so popular. If I remember correctly, I was really into pom-poms a couple of years ago, but my excitement faded, until now. It all started when I bought some cabana black and white striped curtains (see them here) for my family room. The cabana stripes are glamorous and classic (which I like), but I'm also going for a bohemian look, and I felt adding pom-poms to the curtains might give me just the right amount of detail to make it feel more eclectic. I then considered hanging a colorful metallic tassel garland over my curtain instead. While it would typically be used for a party, I love the idea of adding a festive vibe to my everyday décor. It kind of makes me feel like I'm having a party all the time, yay! Then I thought it might be cool to hang up gold confetti piñatas on both side of my curtain rods instead of the tassel garland to give the feeling of two very large tassels. Basically, I was on a roll. That's when it hit me that tassels, pom-poms, and party décor are my thing right now, even thought I'm still working out the details.

Tassels and pom-poms

In the meantime, while I'm deciding on how to style my curtains, I  bought a Moroccan trellis rug with tassels for my family room. I actually wasn't searching for a rug with tassels, but when I saw it, the extra detail appealed to the bohemian/lady-like vintage vibe I'm drawn to. Let's hope it works, ha. What do you think about the tassel, pom-pom, party décor trend?

Diamond gold piñatas via Confetti System||Bananas garland via Royalbuffet|| Tassel garland via Everylane Designs|| Mariana tassel curtain via Anthropologie|| Pom Tassel curtains via Anthropologie|| Moroccan trellis rug via Going Rugs|| Pom-Pom bedspread via BerberLooms|| Macramé planter via Retodecor|| Foil gold star confetti piñata via Party City|| Pom-pom pillow shams via Urban Outfitters|| Pom-pom shorts via Merricksart|| Tissue paper pom-poms via EvanPlus||Alphabet balloons via EvanPlus