The first blog I ever read? Nesting Place. Scratch that—THE Nesting Place. I stumbled on her post about her Christmas mantle (years ago), and I. was. hooked. The rest, as they say, is history. I think Nester excels in the unexpected, so it’s perfect that she’s here to talk about ways to quirk up your space. Enjoy!
One of the main goals for my home is to be a place of connection. And over the years I’ve found that the best environment to invite connection is one that isn’t too stuffy–figuratively and literally. So in my home, I’ve been purposeful in adding in some playful quirk just to announce that we don’t take ourselves too seriously, to help people feel comfortable, and to add a bit of joy and interest. I think Quirk is an overlooked quality that any home, no matter the style can benefit from.
Three ways to Quirk up your space:
1. Display normal things in an abnormal way.
2. Use the unexpected to create the expected and traditional:
{1. sunburst mirror made from poster board, 2. plastic spoon laurel wreath 4. sailfish to take the attention away from the TV 3. 5. & 6. book page wreaths and garland}
3. Display something just because it’s fun and it speaks to you–even if it has no purpose other than bringing you joy:
What’s the quirkiest thing in your home?
We have a framed 8×10 photo of a camel in our play room. I forget that it’s abnormal until friends with kids come over and comment. But my husband’s sister (the hip, young, single aunt) went to Morocco and rode a camel, and took an awesome close up photo of his face with his gnarly teeth and everything. And framed it for my kids. We love it!
i love quirk! i’d like to think the quirkiest thing in my home is me. 😉 other than that, i think maybe the faux bois wall in my daughters room. or maybe the little door in y son’s room we have named “the yoda door”.
Wow, a faux baux wall–such a great idea!!!
bois. that’s what I get for watching Ellen as I type.
One of the most-commented-on things in my home is the two skeleton keys I have hanging on the wall among the pictures. I’ve never thought of that as quirky, but I guess it is! As is the antique brass door knocker that I have hanging on another wall.
I came across an old red chippy door possibly to a chicken coop (it’s smaller than a normal door) and it looks great turned sideways and hung above my sofa. It gets topped with fresh greens at Christmas time.
LOVE this. My home is filled with a ton of quirkiness and bright colors. I would have to say my favorite items are some posters hung in my newly decorated master bedroom. They say “That’s What She Said” and “That’s What He Said”. They’re in frames and my hubby and I leave notes to each other on them. CLassy, heh?
Ha! There is a weird cut out, cubby like thing in our wall next to our front door. We didn’t know what to put in that space, so my husband and I threw a framed photo of us from almost 10 years ago in there. My 4-year old asked ” Mommy who are those people in that photo?” Hilarious. It’s odd, because its the first thing you see when you walk into my home. The picture makes my home look like a dorm room– but hey! lol!
I don’t really have anything quirky in my house… I just hung an old Coco-Cola crate and put shells in it..is that quirky?!
But I just wanted to say that Nesting Place was one of my first blogs too!
Kim
http://www.mylifeincolorblog.com
An ashtray set made out of deer hooves.
love.
I love the nester and her blog. It was one of the first blogs I stumbled upon also before I even knew what a blog was. Such cool ideas and they look good! 🙂 My latest quirky thing is the couch I sawzalled in half in order to make it smaller . I think it’s a keeper 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I totally agree with you. I feel you have to have the unexpected … be it a color on the wall…combination of unexpected fabrics… or an odd accessory. I can’t say I have anything way out there. I do have bedside tables made from bases of unusual large bricks I found at scrap yard. I do use a lot of oversized accessories which I also feel adds to the unexpected…size can be so interesting in a room.