My Definition of ‘Effortless Charm’
Maybe this is a term you’ve heard before or maybe it’s completely foreign to you. It’s something that came to me while I was admiring content, pictures, and videos of design that really resonates with me. As maximalism is becoming more trendy, I think people are realizing they like a lot of stuff. Or at least more than a minimal amount.
While overconsumption may be a hot button topic right now, I think there is a way to have the best of both worlds. I feel you can have all the comforts you desire and still be considerate of the environment. We talked about how to shop second hand in my last post so read that one if you’re looking for tips.
I bring up maximalism because I noticed the spaces I was drawn to were full of THINGS. More importantly, things that told a story. In my opinion, a space with effortless charm is seasoned with items that have a story to tell, have history, and take little to no effort to pull off. It’s charming and it doesn’t even have to try!
Let’s Start in the Kitchen
So I think the key to a no-fuss home is to have things that serve a function and don’t just look cute. Sure it’s nice to have fun, decor-only pieces. However, the less functional it is, the more effort it appears you put into “staging” a space. In your kitchen you want it to look like you actually eat. There’s nothing wrong with some fruits or vegetables out on the counter maybe arranged in a way that is practical and decorative. If you’re a wine drinker, don’t be afraid to use your beautifully packaged wine bottles in a decorative way. Because these are things you actually consume, it really works to drive the “I didn’t go out of my way” look home.
That fridge you’re constantly wiping fingerprints off of- use those souvenir magnets you’ve tucked away to give your space some personality. Put your kids’ art on the fridge, Polaroids, postcards or your favorite recipes. Make it yours and not the big stainless steel box in everybody else’s house.
I know people have strong opinions about open shelving. They can be a nuisance, but only if you make it a point to be super orderly, neat, and posed. If you have open shelving or kitchen cabinets with see through glass windows, use that opportunity to show off your mismatched dish ware.
Moving to the Living and Dining
First thing that comes to my mind is gallery walls. I couldn’t tell you why that’s the first one lol, but so be it. And if you’re getting ready for me to go on a tangent about why I hate gallery walls, don’t hold your breath. I actually enjoy a good, well thought out, gallery wall. I doubt I would ever have one and that’s for one particular reason. They take a bit of planning, time, and you guessed it -effort! Because of that, I would not recommend them for this specific vibe we’re going for. Instead try stacking and leaning art up against each other. Either on a table, counter, or just directly on the floor. I assume what you’re picturing right now is nothing short of chaos, but stay with me. Try searching leaning art on Pinterest or you can go to my Pinterest and check out my board called Effortless Charm to really get the full picture. Not having to break out the measuring tape, leveler, hammer, nails or whatever else- lends itself to a more relaxed look. I’ll also add that in the case of children or pets, this may not be the safest option. So of course keep that in mind.
Speaking of children – hang their artwork! There’s no better story to be told than that of a mini human with no impulse control. Kids’ art can be wacky, sure. But they tend to not overthink which is perfect in this instance. Aaaand there’s the added touch of sentimentality.
To all my book readers – SHOW THEM OFF. Books are beautiful as they quite literally tell stories, have character, you see where I’m going with this? Hint hint. Lots of shelves and the small at home library just scream academia. And serve as a great place for your guests to explore or discover. Candles are another functional and beautiful decor piece. They smell amazing and have great ambiance when lit. And you can always find unscented ones for those of you who may be sensitive to strong smells. Easy, simple, nothing to it.
Also, stop hiding that TV. You’re not fooling anyone. We know you watch TV, like come on. Designers may say TVs are ugly, but something I’ve noticed is that they only stick out and are “ugly” in a super staged, un-lived in space. If your place has effortless charm, that TV is just fine and can be a decorative piece depending on the style.
Structured couches are nice in their comfort and sleekness, but couches with a little more slouch can have a more effortless look. Of course not tooooo much. We’re not going for, old and run down, just relaxed and laid back. Your place should look seasoned and expressive.
Bedrooms Anyone?
Can we talk about excessive pillow usage? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen influencers with 500 pillows laying across their bed. I mean I don’t know about you but I won’t be down stacking and building a pillow fort twice a day just to make my bed or get in my bed. That’s anything but effortless. In this case, I lean more towards minimalism so to speak. Less is definitely more when it comes to pillows. I personally only have three pillows on my bed. Two standards and one lumbar body pillow. It’s perfect for the most frictionless bed making experience for all parties involved. With minimal bedding, you can experiment with color and pattern that won’t overwhelm the eye. As far as comforters or duvets, I recommend going up in size in accordance with your bed size. So full beds size up to a queen comforter, queen beds size up to king, and so on. The way the oversized bedding just falls off the bed gives such a luxurious and relaxed look. Lean into asymmetrical design. Everything doesn’t have to match perfectly. In fact, it has more character if it doesn’t. It gives a space visual interest and personality. It’s unpredictable and fun.
Use that empty chair in your bedroom that you never sit in as a place to put clothes. You probably do that anyway but with the look we’re going for, having pieces of clothing there instead of a throw can make for a personalized impression. I’ll add that the clothing you put there shouldn’t be tattered and battered lol. Choose some decent looking garments and/or pick out your clothes for the next day with your shoes underneath the chair.
We’ve Graduated to Bathrooms
In the bathroom don’t shy away from using your skincare or perfume as decor. Most of it has appealing packaging and it has a personal touch. They’re a group of things you composed for yourself and it’s custom to you and your needs. Don’t feel the need to hide it especially if you have the counter space to accommodate said items. Lean a piece of art above the toilet. Get some towels with some color or some pattern to do most of the talking in your bathroom, if your bathroom is more on the neutral/simplistic side. Towels can be a work of art too. You can use a towel as a bath mat that you drape over the bathtub to dry when not in use. If your shower requires a shower curtain, use that opportunity to find something interesting. And if you want to keep it simple but unconventional, you can get a colored transparent shower curtain. You could even use a vintage coffee mug to hold your toothbrush and toothpaste. No need to try too hard or to appear like you tried too hard.
My Final Tips
If this is just the framework you’ve been looking for, but maybe couldn’t quite describe it, remember that you should strive for lived-in vs. posed. You don’t want your space to feel and look untouched. It should feel organic and not generic. Stop with decorative beads and chain links. Use thumb tacks and painters tape to put artwork up. If you have a traditional home with lots of molding, trim work, and detailed finishes, use that to your advantage. You could simply bring your personality to the space and allow the architecture to do most of the design work. Use a picture that’s comically small for the wall it’s on. Buy second hand. This approach to design can be elevated and not juvenile, I promise. It can be chic, I promise. You want your place to be styled without looking styled. It should be a collection of items that express your life, your hobbies, your essentials, a collection of you. Combine maximalism elements that make sense with minimalistic styling that allows for great functionality. Find the harmony between the two to convey sophistication and fun. Your place doesn’t have to be eclectic chaos. We’re going for refined eclecticism if that makes sense. A few YouTubers that I think are great at this approach are Paige Wassel, benjiplant, and Caroline Winkler. Check them out if you’re looking for more inspiration and check out my Pinterest as well. Okay signing off. BYYYYYEEEEEE.
