I learn so much about a person by seeing what kind of books they have. No books are a scary concept.

I’m a history professor. Last time I moved I counted the books in my personal library- 400. They represent my intellectual efforts for the last 20 years. I admit, hard as I try, they don’t make for the best visual on my bookshelves. But they are here to stay, regardless

Not everyone has extra space to tuck their toaster/mixer/coffeemaker/airfryer away when used every dang day. It’s not decorating. It’s called living. I never forget my house is for living, not for photographing to be in a magazine.

At my house bookshelves are for books and items that are meaningful to me.. In my living room, the books are the ones related to the life I actually lead there, no matter what their size. And I can't wrap my mind around buying a book just because it looks good on a coffee table or a book shelf. (Tom Ford anyone?) Nor would I banish a book I actually read. In my view decorating and living one's life should be integrated.

My response is an eye roll, with a sarcastic "whatever!". I am a maximalist. I am also a gardener, an artist, a grandmother of 8, and a COLLECTOR OF THINGS! I try to combine function and form. I love nature, water, woods, rocks, and plants. I grow all of my own herbs, which are hanging in small bundles to dry in my kitchen/dining area. All of these things tell a story about my life, the places I've been, and the things that help me live a wholesome, simple life. My house is not picture perfect, hardly ever. But it's cozy and interesting, welcoming, and reflects my personality, which is also not picture perfect. I don't just sit there, looking at my stuff, I use that "stuff " daily.

The Tom Ford book is so over done...I can't stand seeing it anymore.

What is the fear of living in your home? When people are coming to my home I pick up. But if I leave the remote on my table it does not bother me. I don’t have have a large kitchen so appliances must be on my counter. If I am reading a book or a magazine its ok to leave it on the table. I also leave the yarn out so I finish my project. I live in my home not in a magazine. Bless you for making this content, but please add some content about living in a home. Thank you

I appreciate your style and decorating advice. I understand and agree with the concept of reducing visual clutter; however, I think there are many ways to decorate. Your home should be a reflection of your personal aesthetic and interest. Some people might prioritize allowing their children to display awards/trophies so they can be proud of their personal accomplishment over aesthetics and decorating. I think their should be a balance. I mean we don’t live in a magazine.

I hate the book advice. Like if you don’t read and books are only decor, fine, but I am not going to buy a bookshelf and then find another storage system to hide smaller books away because they aren’t aesthetic. I am not a minimalist, but that is too far a departure from function to me.

With all due respect… How people want to decorate their homes is a matter of personal preference. Now… with that said… if someone is more interested in impressing people online by following the ever revolving trends then that’s their prerogative. I’ve lived in cringe mode for the past few years with all of the “Modern FarmHouse” aesthetic flooding the videosphere. It’s been like Stepford decorating 101. The best advice I’ve ever heard was from Bunny Williams… “Surround yourself with objects that you love and that bring you joy” “Break the rules and never let anyone tell you you can’t do it your way.”

Valentina asked us to comment, so i will. This is my take on MY house. I don't like mess,but I'm definitely a maximalist. I'm extremely sentimental and adore being able to view my families objects and some are a hundred years old. I also find that friends are interested in them. I also love old books,no matter how small or worn they are. I generaly display these in little baskets and they look sooo cute. I cook EVERY day and it is one of my great passions ,so i definitely display my kitchen aids. Herbs can look attractive if cleverly displayed but as i have so very many most are in a draw. Valentina is a modern lady but personally her objects say nothing to me. They have no soul and no story behind them. Anyone can buy those and many will have the exact same object in their homes. Families with children cannot possibly follow her advice so just forget about it all ,enjoy your little ones whilst they are small ( they grow up so quickly)and attack the house when they are older😂. She does have some good points though,but always remember this. It's YOUR home and YOU must love it and as it isn't open to a paying public you and your family must find it cosy and welcoming. At the end of the day that's all that counts.

I can not be comfortable without my books. When I want to look something up, find the cookbook with that recipe, sink into a comfortable chair with a book on philosophy or a good thriller, I do not want to search through a rental storage container, basement boxes or other. A house with no books is an empty place. Your pictures of books with the spines turned to the back in bookcases are a ridiculous decorator affectation. How can you find a book if you can't read the spines? Decorators must not be readers. Who else would do such a foolish thing. It seems your spaces are for impressing others and not for living in. Books are as necessary as the dog bed you have to find room for or the cat box, the toys we all live with (kids and adults) and the coffee pot we leave on the counter that is not a shiny espresso machine, but the standard drip unit most of us use daily.

I don’t always agree with everything that you say, but I don’t always share that either. Because I understand what you’re saying can be valid. Maybe not for me, but valid for others. I don’t have children I don’t have trophies, but you talk about getting rid of “clutter“. And therefore, hiding the trophies in something, that’s lovely, and they are unseen. And that brings calm to your life. I disagree strongly. I think that if a child has won a trophy and you hide it, that does something that’s not good for their mind. I think it’s encouraging for them to see it. I don’t think you need to keep it in the living room. However, displaying it in the child’s bedroom or even if there’s more than one, even if they run marathons all the time and they have a hook that has all of their marathon numbers on it. I think that that’s encouraging to them and let them know that you’re proud of them to allow them to hang it on the wall. And I’m not “coming for you” lol I’m just respectfully disagreeing.

Rule #1 depends on the style of kitchen. You can have small appliances, visible tea towels, and visible cookware in a busy, humble, vintage, “working” kitchen.

NOBODY looks at a remote as a decorating item. However, the box idea is AMAZING!!

Decorating is like art. It’s subjections. While I love her ideas and home is lovely but there are things I would never do as well. Do what you love!!!

Your home is a reflection of your personal style, what is important to you and it's also a reflection of your state of mind. You can choose to live like Valentina and have an absolutely gorgeous home (even on a budget) or you can live completely opposite. No one is judging. Personally I stand behind all of her decorating principles and let me tell you, it is absolutely a joy to wake up in the morning, look around and be absolutely in love with my environment. There's no stress, no clutter, no chaos in my home but it is warm, welcoming and peaceful. The beautiful thing about life is that you get to choose how you want to live and decorate. It's sad Valentina feels anxiety for sharing her decorating principles with us out of fear of backlash. If you don't like what she has to say then her message isn't for you, just move on. No need to be rude, and no she isn't being rude like some other commenter stated. She's telling you the secrets of having an amazing home. Who doesn't want that??

I don’t have trophies, but for those who do, and treasure them, what good would they be hidden in a storage box somewhere? I think they would be just fine in a den or bedroom where you can see and enjoy them privately.

You can't live in a museum. We're humans, we use remotes and make coffee and leave books out, it's natural and it makes your house homey and looks like someone actually lives there

I love having my books out! We have a library - a full floor to ceiling wall of books and everyone in our home loves it!! Each of my kids have books in their rooms too! I also have a small stack of magazines in our interests that sit out in the living room so that my family has something they might be inclined to look at close by. I don’t decorate with chores - that’s for sure!! I love coming home into a clean environment!

One day I folded my last load of laundry but didn't feel like carrying it upstairs so I put the folded clothes back in the dryer. When my husband came home I showed him that the dryer now has a "fold" cycle! We kept it up the whole week that our grandson was here it was a hoot ' "Grandma's folding dryer!"

If you have a lot of books, there's no way to "tuck them away." Personally, I find books in a home to be comforting but also indicative of what the person values.

I occasionally leave a catalog or magazine out for display if it has a cover that is beautiful and it goes with my decor or the season. I have several seed catalogs out right now because, I am in my gardening season and the catalogs keep me inspired and motivated!

I love dried, framed flowers. To each their own😊😊

I'd like to add animal trophies. They are creepy!

For the first time in the 9 years I've lived in my house, I walk in and go, "Yes! I love this! I live here.", and it's largely due to you and your channel. Your use of black and attention to detail really caught my eye when I first decided to remodel, and I've created a personal style that I LOVE. And, every day is like a little adventure in my home, finding new favorite "moments" and just in awe of the space I've created. Thanks for all the advice and cute ideas!

Sorry Valentina I don’t agree about the books, especially old ones or leather bound ones. Library rooms look fabulous!

For years, I have used 2 or 3 long shelves in the pantry for all my appliances. I like that they are all together, not spread out all over the kitchen in different cabinets, high and low. Open the door and get out what cha need, even multiple appliances to get the job done. Then clean up and they all go back into the panrty ☺️ Same here- only my upscale coffee machine is out 24/ 7. Have an area next to it with a beautiful small plate as a spoon rest for my coffee spoon, cream and sugar bowl. That entire coffee area IS part of the decor. I collect small plates to put undar plants, feed the cats, jewelry etc... Shallow bowls as well for keys, change, glasses and remotes. They are pretty and more interesting than a basket. Wooded are nice as well. I do use baskets but don't what them everywhere. Change these ALL out and move them around all the time. (Use the bleander and the toaster daily but prefer them put away) Decanters all glass, ceramic and nice so while they are out they look cohesive with the look. It's a calmer look/ feel and if ya get busy and they stay out... its still great looking.

I love the line “ you don’t want your chores in your face” that is so true. Thanks Valentina.

I love a beautiful home but my home isn't a show home. It's a representation of who we are as people and a family. I want to see our memories and the things we have done together displayed so our home tells a story. So if we take a family trip to the mountains there will be pictures,souvenirs,books about where we visited. I couldn't live in a home that feels like a mueseum. Kudos to those who love it but it's not for me.

I think our homes should be a reflection of who we are. If you have certain things you love or things you’ve done in your life that you are proud of, it gives you an opportunity to showcase those things in a way so you can converse with people visiting your home. Valentina is a decorator and so her home is going to reflect that. I am a decorator wanna be so of course I’m going to appreciate the advice she gives in order to reflect who I aspire to be. I don’t like clutter and intentional things left out, I.e., cereal boxes, laundry, magazines, etc. People do have to live in their homes and functionality can be more important than a perfectly tidy home. I’ve seen a lot of interiors and most people live with clutter, but I’ll bet they have cluttered minds as well. Removing the clutter and chaos provides an opportunity to free your mind. I think the main thing is to clean out, clear out and just have a home that reflects you and who you want to be! PS. I put a hinged ottoman with storage in my closet that doubles for dirty laundry and a seat for putting on shoes.

Why is it "better" that your home looks like no one actually lives in it?

Agree with everything expect the dried/dead flowers. Some of them are quite lovely, but it does land better in the dead (pun intended) of winter in Michigan than other seasons. When no flowers are growing outside it can be strange to see a live/faux floral inside. And their is beauty in the end of a cycle or death, as well.

I I love browsing through magazines. They make me happy. They look great in my bathroom next to the potty 😂.

Ordinary items left out become decor whether you want them to or not will be a game changer. Thank you, Valentina!

While i get the concept of uaing larger books rather than smaller books, many of us are avid readers who view books as a necessity not decor. Never been in a position where I was shopping for a book and they gave me the option of buying the small version or the giant coffee table version - not typical aside from paperback or hardback. Buying books based solely on their size and how aesthetic the cover is rather than the topic and your level of interest, is like wearing a band tshirt for a band you dont listen to (thinking back to younger days)....its silly.

The remote box sounds great but also a lot of bother over nothing

I think there is a difference between dead flowers and dried flowers. Dead ones that were once alive are just disgusting (sometimes they even have a rotten smell!), but dried ones are often treated in such a way that they look nice in fall and winter bouquets. My Mom used to collect milkweed pods and teasel from the surrounding countryside and spray them gold or silver and use them at Christmas along with some greens from our hemlock tree, holly bush, or from the lower branches of our live Christmas tree. Faux flowers can be pretty but you have to wash them to rid them of dust because nothing looks worse than a dusty bouquet. I keep some small books in our back bedroom. But books on my interests such as Russian culture and general history are on the den shelves. These often have archival and color photos that I do not want to get on kindle because the whole point of these books are the glorious photos. And I also have many books on my kindle so that keeps me from being overwhelmed with paperbacks. We keep our stand mixer and sugar and flour containers on the kitchen counter because we use them often. We do keep other things stowed and I always wash dishes in the evening and dry them and put them away. I do not need or use a dish drainer because I think they are unsightly. Same with laundry. I wash, dry and fold on the same day. Only one or two items need ironing and I wait til I have several to get out the ironing board. Piles of laundry in the LR just lowers one's mood. I also don't have a lot of knick knacks, just a few family photos, and things from my grandparents and mother. And remember, from age 21-55 you buy and collect stuff but eventually all that stuff has to be given to kids, sold or donated. SO many people in our subdivision have two car garages full of BOXES of stuff. OMG. I don't see how they stand it. I periodically go through stuff and donate. Eventually we will have to downsize and I am already trying to figure out how to get rid of stuff. Sometimes we become slaves to our belongings. No hoarding for me.

We are building our forever home, and we love clean, clutter free counters. We've made the pantry rather large as to have our appliances hidden yet still easily accessible. I also drink coffee all day, so it's a perfect solution for us.

If your not self centered and are proud of your children there is nothing wrong with displaying there trophies. After all it is there home also. Perhaps not display for always but for a time I don’t find anything wrong with that.

Large books can be found at your local thrift shops. And when you tire of them, return them and find other books.

I don't think anyone is using laundry or cereal as decor. lol People just get busy and don't put it away.

I really dont like coming home to a messy house. I want to relax after a hectic day and I don't want to see a mess....so to keep it neat, just put your stuff away right after you are done. Clean up after you are done, it really does help. Less stress later.

I'm doing dark academia. Dried roses for me are a must.

To be honest, I prefer dried hydreanges over faux flowers. I did not find flowers that does not look articial. So I'd rather have these. But hydragenas are the only flowers that look ok when dried

Love the idea of a remote box. Dried flowers are a mood though. So beautiful. I also love dried chilis, garlic, herbs, eucalyptus.

I appreciate that she doesn’t want to offend, yet she’s so passionate about helping others love and feel good in their space.

Re: Decanting - I think labeling all the decanters would not be attractive. So, I vote to put it all in the cupboard or be OK with being human and some have some packaging showing. Seeing a box of fruit loops brings me joy!☺️

It’s perfectly okay to do this kind of video and to be comfortable saying it. In the end people can do what they want

Omgosh, I collect small hard back fiction books pre-1940's. They are wonderful treasures and I do use them as decor and they look wonderful. A chacun ses goûts!

I think it's funny when you start out with "A little below the belt." lol! I like your designs because you make everything look sophisticated ; having, revealing or proceeding from a great deal of worldly experience and knowledge of fashion and culture, this is why we are all here , we can see your heart&soul in your work and thank you for making a difference in peoples lives Valentina! We don't always have to agree or disagree, that's the beauty of Design.

I like dried flowers. They have an earthy feeling. I will take them over plastic greenery. I would think dried flowers are better for the environment than plastic.

Most of us aren’t “decorating” with the remote, laundry, or general mess. We just have other people than ourselves in the home and they don’t value cleanliness and aesthetics as much as we do.

First time seeing you Valentina, I totally agree on the appliances being put away and laundry but at the same time, I actually live in my home, not a magazine or a staged home, so I just don’t get this kind of decorating for everyday life. While I can appreciate that some people do live this way, I do think it wouldn’t be wrong to assume most people don’t .. your home is beautiful but not realistic in most homes.

I miss seeing Louie-where is he? He needs to fill the room with life! Bring him back to the scene!

I love Japanese and Korean KZfaqrs… they display appliances… it makes the kitchen more utilitarian instead of a room… more functional But I love both looks ❤

Completely agree! Try it before you attack it because now when people walk into my apartment their jaws drop. It looks so high end. If that isn’t the look you’re going for don’t listen. If that’s what you want to achieve listen to every word Valentina says. It works. She’s changed the way I shop and decorate

I prefer less visual clutter and just stuff. I however can’t get behind decanting everything.. if it’s out like soap yes but cereal and stuff in cabinets I’m just not wasting my time. If it’s something like spaghetti that once open it’s torn plastic then yes decant. It just adds so much time to a chore I hate. It definitely is nice to look at but I’ll just put things up.

Love you Val and I agree with most everything you recommend but since my kitchen is white with tangerine, lime and turquoise accents, I could never put my tangerine Kitchen Aid mixer away. It's one of my favorite things in our entire house. ❤

I love books too...always have. My large hard cover books are on display with the covers off. I keep the latest copy of my favorite magazine, "Life Beautiful" on display for my guests to flip through. Whenever staying overnight at someones house I always appreciate current issues of their magazines to read while relaxing.

I’m with you Valentina when it comes to dead flowers. They do look sad and washed out to me.

I agree with all points bar the small books. I have always been a reader and both my husband and I love books, so we do have them displayed in beautiful bookshelves. I have broken them up with other decor items to keep it interesting. Love your videos Valentina❤

I agree with you in many ways. However, you can display memorabilia in attractive ways. In addition to this, please keep in mind that less is more. Clutter is not attractive. I have to say, though, I'm not a fan of books being used as risers for decor items. There are other rises that you can use. You shouldn't have to move objects to read a book.

Decorate however you want. It’s your house, your convenience, your choice. Who cares what anybody else thinks.

I agree with appliances tucked away. It only takes seconds to get it out. We have time for that!😊

I agree with everything, except the flowers. I’d rather have dried flowers (even I’m trying to avoid flowers, that are dead 😃), than to have faux flowers. But I agree, some branch is amazing choice 😊

I would love to see you do a thrifting , antiquing episode!!!! I am trying to only buy used and would love to see how you would shop for second hand items!!!!! please consider this 🙂

I take it this one has been brutal for some. I hope you’ll make a video on stylish bookshelves that actually contain books😅. While you do not have your smaller books on display (And btw, I totally get it. All of my paperbacks are in closed cabinets), I simply love seeing the beautiful sets of hardbacks I’ve collected over the years. They are like art to me and I’m so very happy just looking at them. So, what advice would you give to a book lover about displaying their collection of books in a beautiful way? PLEASE Valentina, I know you can save book lovers from that overplayed rainbow bookshelf trend. Consider this a challenge 😊. Love your work and expertise. ❤️

Some of us have no choice when it comes to having appliances out on the counter. I am curious to know how you'd go about working with the realities of a tiny english kitchen, as apose to the warehouse kitchens you guys seem to have in the US. My kitchen is so small, there is no island, one counter, and my washing machine is in my kitchen too. my sink pretty much takes up one wall, my fridge is on the other, I have a cooker and hob. 2 useable under the counter cupboards and no overhead cupboards. I have eliminated all the uneccessary appliances i can, such as a standing mixer (i use a little hand held mixer) my bread maker (i make bread by hand) a liquidizer, smoothy maker, (i use a stick blender), toaster (i use the grill setting on the oven) most of those smaller things i can fit under the counter, along with plates, bowls, glasses, mugs etc etc, but kettle, crock pot, Microwave, I have to have out. How do you make those look pretty? curious to know. thank you.

I'm completely with you on decanting, but I would say, make sure you chose a container bigger than what you are going to be refilling it with, as the last thing you need is 2lbs of sugar in a nice container and half a pound in a packet next to it because it doesn't fit!😂

My kitchen cabinets are sea glass green, the backsplash is white, my kitchen aide mixer is the only appliance that’s out and it’s my favorite shade of pale yellow- it literally makes me happy. I do dry all of my roses, lavender, and eucalyptus when I get them fresh, so I have that hanging from spots or tucked away. But that’s part of my spiritual practice and, again, makes me happy. I don’t invite many people over to begin with but when I do I often hear how my home is “peaceful”, “zen”, and “storybook chic” so whatever I’m doing makes me happy and puts people at ease. So it’s a win in my (story)book.

Can’t remember when I last bought a magazine but when I was finished I threw it away, why would i decorate with it? Same with books. So every time you change the channel you have to put the remote back in a box or in a drawer? I hate clutter and have nothing unnecessary in my property - everything has to earn it’s keep - but even I keep the remote out. Not to decorate but bc I use it - a lot.

Definitely inspired by the idea of hiding the remotes in my bedroom and the living room in a beautiful box. I will be on the hunt for that! 💜 I am guilty of having dried flowers in my home especially the ones in a bowl with essential oils aka potpourri. I’ve learned the dried flower look is only temporary as it does after a while get more dried and decayed and that’s when I will throw them out.

Yes ❤ look forward to seeing your videos. HOV . Raining today. Sitting on my porch with my beverage.

I agree with all of V's advice! Dried flowers are such a 90s trend, good riddance. I also think a kitchen should be clutter-free (appliances stored) so that you clear the runway to start a cooking or baking task. Please keep these vids coming, thank you!

I wouldn’t say that people decorate with the trophies but they want to show off what their children accomplished I don’t seem thing wrong with that really.

Everyone is different, but I definitely agree on clutter and being conscious of what you decorate with. A home should reflect who you are, but it can still be neat. I remember a friend remodeling her whole kitchen, brought it into the current century, then she put about five boxes of cereal on top of the refrigerator. She was just so used to having them there that she missed them when she put them in the pantry. My sister has a formal living room with a fireplace, she decorated it like a library with bookcases that she keeps very organized, and it’s so cozy in there, especially on a cold rainy day. I love seeing how people decorate, and enjoy different styles, and there is definitely a difference between storage and display.

I would have to have staff to be able to decant everything, just no time for that! 😂 My biggest issue is that I'm a minimalist and my husband is most certainly not 🙈, all I ever seem to do is clear things up!! x

We are avid readers in our home....we would be lost without our fantastic book shelves that are filled with literature and books galore. One of us has always got a head in a book in our snug. That is why I guess my kids have such an extensive vocabulary....

Funny... The images w "small books" are actually quite beautiful

I am a big fan of the decorative remote box. Not only does it look nice but everyone always knows where to find it rather than having it loose ending up all over or sat on. The only difference is that ours has a hinged top so it isn’t as fussy and cumbersome to use as a fully detached top.

I totally agree about the dried flowers and that greenery makes a huge positive impact.

I agree w most .i do almost everything however i like small books , i use them in decor and I love " artfully curated" dried/ aka as dead blooms! 😅!!

I use decorative boxes for my remotes, candle lighters etc. I've noticed the ones that work in my space can be a bit expensive so I DIY. Thanks for sharing Valentina!

Thank you for giving solutions. Many of us KNOW what the issues are but we can’t figure out how to fix them.

Awesome! My favourite greenery on Pinterest are the lighter green leafy stems. I find them more calming. Never been into dried flowers. Love the therapy and would love a video on changing up the house after divorce to make it your own focusing on a new mind set. For me your videos are about creating boundaries about what I will and won’t accept in my home both aesthetically and living my best life. Thank you for that as you have totally changed how I want to live a life I enjoy ❤.

You nailed it with all the great advices I do the same box and put away it gives anxiety when I see clutter but when you put everything away in beautiful items it makes the space so calming. Great video like always. ❤️🌻

Magazines like National Geographic are wonderful stacks! very educational if you have avid readers, including children as frequent houseguests. Love their bright yellow spine every season, but Christmas. linda from NE

Oh man, I just found my dad's old certificates and award (he's an army officer) and I didn't think twice to put them on my wall. But my dad passed away three years ago so that's probably just me being sentimental

absolutely love watching your videos. My 9 year old daughter loves watching you and now she is a designer and we all want her opinion lol thank you for all the tips and awesome ideas... God bless!

I live in 1000 sq feet of living space. There’s very little closet and cabinet space. So what do I do??? I don’t have the storage space to put small appliances and such away. This was depressing and now I feel like a tasteless peasant. 😢

I totally agree to what she is saying. A cluttered home is a cluttered mind. I also love decanting my food instead of looking at the packaging. Everyone lives differently so you should choose what makes you happy.😊

Agree with most of your suggestions! I stopped decorating with small books a long time ago and my shelves feel and look so much better. Ahh, magazines! When visiting my family ( Mom and sister) I noticed all the stacks of outdated magazines and the stuffiness it created. I immediately stopped “saving” mags and it has made a huge difference in my home.

I rolled my eyes and thought “come on, nobody *decorates* with laundry” and then later realised that I’ve been doing exactly that 😅 Using radiators to dry small items, the corner of doors to air dry towels or bedding, hanging clothes from the architrave between the living and dining room… Oops. All clear now so thank you in particular for that one!

I was not a big fan of dried flowers, but was afraid to talk it loud. Now will say it loud 🤣🤣

The average person is not going to live in a home where everything is perfect, nor do they want to. A house is the life of the people who live in it. It is full of things that make waking up in a place to relax and be you. It should be filled with things you do, and I love appliances in the kitchen it is a thing I do because I use them all the time. I am not going to drag out daily all the things I use. Also, I have a small house. Ralph Lauren is a classic who taste in golfs you and invites you to come in. His homes tell a story of fun times, relaxing. You actually feel rich looking at his design. I like it when people are more important than sterile cold environment, I do not want to live or invite people into a decorated high-end hotel. Then I am an old woman, but I am a country girl. I like magazines, especially books, and I want people to feel they can come in and put their feet up. My children were more important than things. So are people. Taste is subjective. Peace!

Unpopular opinion: Life over Likes, but then again I'm a maximalist, an artist and a lover of color, memories, history and living. I'm glad people can find joy in her aesthetic, it's comforting to some people, and anxiety inducing to others. But at they end of the day, you do you...because of you, not fear that someone is going to shame your style on KZfaq. There's a million different styles, pick someone else's or pick your own, just don't put other people down for their choices...(sees remote sitting on the table...good lord hostess, are you an animal???!!!!😂)

You’re my mini me, V I totally agree with EVERYTHING you said, continue with the amazing content, we love ya!!!🥰

Some of us have too many books of all sizes to store them away, out of sight, or confine them to just one room. (Even after a post-home-schooling purge!) In cases like that, embracing the books as the ''unavoidable'' element in the room makes sense to me: Go more modern perhaps. Clean lines and a simple room allow the books to be the Element to draw your attention. This can be as elevated as you like or as simple as Ikea. Glass doors can simplify dusting. Half doors covering the lower part of the bookcase helps keep it clean looking. How you style the books expresses your personality (adding a neutral Coordinating paper dust jacket with a title in a font that resonates with your style, adding plants or little lamps inside the bookcases for evening illumination, turning them backwards… Which to me is stupid if you want a functional Library…Using old classic books instead of garish modern paperbacks, etc.) it’s not a look that will give most people a positive impression of your “decor“ unless they are book people, lol, but a lot of people enjoy getting a glimpse of who you are through your home. Looking at the books you choose to keep on your shelves is part of that....And they have the potential added value of getting to gossip about your terrible ''book'' decor on the way home... or your wonderful “book“ decor, depending on who they are. You get to have the home you love, and you get to entertain people who come to visit you… Sometimes long after they have left. Win-Win!

I have a round vase of dried lavender and it's very pretty and fragrant 💜