Blomfield - Keeping House: creating spaces for sanctuary and celebration

For Mum

Thank you for making every house we lived in across the globe feel like a home.

Love Em xx

[ CONTENTS ]

We form our thoughts and feelings about the word home from our childhoods and carry those emotions with us into the rst home we set up ourselves in early adulthood. Creating a home gives us a sense of belonging, connection and inclusion. Its natural to want to have a place in the world and a physical and psychological connection to a space.

Whether youre setting up your first house from scratch or moving into a home with others, there are often so many questions to consider. Whats my style? I dont have a lot of money what should I spend it on? How many cushions is too many? What do I need in my kitchen? How can I be prepared for when family pop over unannounced, or when I have friends over for a dinner party?

This book answers those questions its your guidebook to creating the life you want in the space that you have, no matter where or what that may be. Perhaps you are navigating the world of home decorating for the first time and youre not sure where to start. You may be moving out of your parents home and into your first place, or perhaps after years of renting youve bought your first house with a significant other and together youre traversing the tricky terrain of combining your possessions. Maybe you are living alone or moving in with a few friends, or perhaps youre renting out the spare room on Airbnb to help cover the mortgage. Whatever the situation, theres no reason why we cant all create a comfortable and inviting space to feel at home in.

What are you waiting for?

Our homes are more than just a roof over our heads and a place to store our stuff we all deserve to find the pleasure and enjoyment that comes with decorating our sacred spaces and then sharing them with others. Yet so many of us seem to put it off.

Do you hear yourself coming up with any of these excuses?

+ But Im just renting.

+ But Im living in my parents house.

+ But this old hand-me-down furniture isnt that bad, is it?

+ But Im so busy at the moment Ill get around to decorating next week, or next month, or maybe next year

+ But Im waiting until I meet the right person then well create a home together.

+ But I dont intend on being here for long.

+ But it will probably cost too much to decorate or entertain the way I want to.

+ But I cant have people over for dinner I dont have anywhere for them to sit

+ But Ive got no taste.

+ But I dont really know where to start.

Yes, some of these are very valid reasons not to go out and spend a fortune on new furniture, especially if you intend on moving soon. But there is one very obvious theme here that needs to be challenged: Im waiting for

So, dear reader, what are you waiting for? Ditch the one day mentality and start living in the present.

I challenge you to start thinking in a different way.

+ You can make simple changes to your existing space to make it feel more you, no matter what your home situation is.

+ It doesnt have to cost the earth.

+ Absolutely everyone can decorate a great room and throw a great party.

If you can alter your approach, youll realise this is your shot to start creating and working towards your one day. Life is constantly evolving and changing for everyone, but living in the moment allows you to be more engaged in your life. Youll be more invested in turning your house into a home and having your friends and family over to enjoy it with you, and youll find youre happier in your home because of the effort youve put into it. You dont need to wait until you are in your forever home to create your own haven, and you dont need to wait until everything is perfectly in place before you invite people over. You can achieve a meaningful home regardless of the situation you find yourself in.

Its normal to feel overwhelmed.

More often than not, the reason we dont start a project is because we dont know where to start. Its a pretty intimidating task when you think about it: fitting out an entire space to be a true reflection of your style and taste, showing off your decorating skills, and selecting practical pieces that will serve you and the other occupants of the home well. We all want to create a welcoming space for guests yet at the same time we worry theyll pass judgement on our decorating choices, or the food and drinks we serve. In the search for perfection we end up in a complete state of overwhelm, analysing every single detail but not actually making any decisions. Its a vicious cycle!

It doesnt help that the perfectly styled images of Pinterest and Instagram can often lead to feelings of inadequacy. Comparing your reality with these images isnt beneficial. Yes, they are great for inspiration, but dont get caught up in trying to re-create the entire look or youll lose sight of the goal: to create a home or host a gathering that is a reflection of you. Often these images are carefully crafted just for the camera; they dont actually make very practical places to live. This is partly why this book is illustrated it takes the pressure off replicating exact looks and forces you to use your own creativity. We all have it; we just need to tap into it.

You may experience a range of emotions throughout the decorating or entertaining process, from pure frustration and despair through to utter joy and happiness when you get it right. Stick with the journey. This book will hopefully help keep you sane and get you to the final destination: ultimate home love!

Dont lose sight of the goal: to create a home or host a gathering that is a reection of you.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

I have divided this book into two parts. Part I, Sanctuary, covers all the essentials for setting up and decorating your home. We jump right into how your home is the truest reflection of you, your travels and what inspires you, and how to collate those ideas in your space. Part II, Celebration, explores the art of creating a space to share with the people we love.

Each part opens with some basics to help you get your head around the fundamentals of decorating and entertaining. Then, throughout the following chapters, Ill cover concepts like finishing touches, or when to save and when to splurge. And along the way youll get my little tips on how to bring everything together.

These days, whenever weve got a question or query, we tend to turn to our trusty pal Google for the answer. Id like to challenge this and kick it old-school. I am an avid reader and a visual learner so I tend to turn to books, rather than digital formats, for advice when it comes to decorating and entertaining. Let this be your well-worn, handy how-to manual to guide you through all manner of domestic chaos and decorating dilemmas, from how many knives you need to set the table for a formal occasion, what thread count your sheets need to be, and how to personalise your new rental and still get your bond back, to things you can do to boost your confidence when entertaining, and how to throw an epic grown-up dinner party (without upsetting the neighbours).