There is a moment when I’m shopping that I know something has to come home with me. My eyes go wide. There are butterflies in my stomach. I grin up at my husband. And into the cart it goes! More often than not, what I want to take home with me is something you could only describe as… whimsical. There is just something so special about home decor that makes you smile or feels really one-of-a-kind.
Whimsy is great because it can help us tap into a more playful, childlike version of ourselves. It also can be inspiring and beautiful, and just like great art, whimsy doesn’t have to exist for a specific purpose. It just is! So, whether you’re adding a cheerful flower-shaped basket, a scalloped throw pillow, or a wooden goose found tucked away among the bright and beautiful plants at Anna’s, let’s explore how you can take some time to cultivate whimsy in your own home.
Play and Use Your Senses
Decorating my home is really similar to my general approach to art-making, which involves a blend of intention and intuition. I ground myself in the goal of what I want the outcome to be, and from there, I play. When it comes to decor, this usually means rearranging objects around until something feels right and paying attention to the cues my body is giving me, as I described above with my shopping process. One of my biggest indicators that something is aesthetically working (whether this is as an artist or a photographer or decorating just for fun) is my own sense of delight and excitement. When something feels really visually pleasing, I will even get a full-body shiver. Tap into your own senses and see what you’re drawn to!
Ground Yourself With A Goal
If you don’t know yet what you like visually, this is where goal setting and being intentional can be really helpful. For example, I love giving and receiving handwritten cards. So in my home, I knew it was important to me to have a place to display them. I thought this woven flower-shaped bowl was just the right thing for that! Displaying handwritten notes and photographs around my home in this way gives me a chance to swap things out as desired and to be connected to the gratitude I feel towards my loved ones. Whimsy doesn’t always call for purpose beyond beauty, but I think good style often includes thoughtful function.
What You Value Influences Design
I absolutely love collecting. And what’s more whimsical than a beautiful collection of something unexpected? If you were to walk through my home, you would find little collections of beach glass, acorns, a basket of bookmarks for all the reading we do, and art perched along the windowsills. I value thoughtfulness and authenticity, so this influences what I bring home and how I shop. I tend to shop at stores I feel aligned with (often local artists and shops), and I thrift a lot. I also only display books I would actually have read or will read later, and I try my best to only buy things that I can see myself loving for a very long time because I believe deeply in sustainability. Sustainability is another great reason to learn to be in tune with your personal style and what it is that you genuinely like!
Honour What You Like
When it comes to whimsical style, it definitely doesn’t have to be a formula you follow that someone else gave you. For example, my own decorating style is influenced by wanting to feel inspired (of course), but I also really want to feel a sense of calm in my body when I’m at home. This translates to being more drawn to decorating with small bursts of colourful, whimsical pieces that live alongside more traditional or neutral objects. Whimsy means something different to everyone; explore what it means to you and how you can authentically express that. You definitely deserve a home that supports whatever it is you want to feel and aligns with who you are.
Photography by: Rachel Soulliere
Art Featured: Lydia Joy Palmer, Leslie Allen Art
