Emily Henderson's Blog, page 185

The 15 Reveals You Might Have Missed But NEED To See (Consider This A Mid Week Pick-Me-Up:))

About a year ago to the day, we did a similar post where we showed you the awesome house tours and room makeovers we had been pinning and collectively drooling over. It was initially prompted because the holiday content on the interwebs was already a lot and sometimes you just need to see a mantel without garland and stockings on it in December, right? So we thought why not do it again but with all new reveals (duh) and twice the amount (because it’s fun).

So grab a coffee or a glass of velvety red wine (that’s what I would like right now (it’s 5 pm, not 9 am I promise) and take some time out of your hopefully not too busy day to look at some serious eye candy. It almost always helps me feel good so I hope it helps you a little too. Let’s jump in!

design by jane, hannah and david fewson | styled by louella boitel-gill | photo by jessie prince | via the design files

As soon as I saw this tour I immediately felt at ease. It’s warm, neutral, layered, worn-in, and clearly loved as the family who lives here designed and renovated it together. Not only is the story of this family’s journey in finding this home really cool but the home is “filled with mostly second hand pieces they’ve inherited, thrifted, reupholstered, or bought off Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace.” For those who don’t know, Gumtree is basically an Australian Craigslist.

design by jane, hannah and david fewson | styled by louella boitel-gill | photo by jessie prince | via the design files

Even most of the wood was salvaged like in this beautiful kitchen. The home feels like a soft breeze to look at so I highly recommend checking out the rest of the photos. Fun Fact: They have an Airbnb on the property too with another on the way! Whenever we can travel again boy this would be a beautiful place to go.

design by sanders & king and pleysier perkins | photo by sharyn cairns | via est living

To be honest, I’m not 100% on barn doors. They can be great but it has to be the right house. Now, this isn’t exactly a house but instead a converted stable/”family-friendly zone” which means it nearly requires a barn door and they nailed it with this one. How easily I’m persuaded:) I LOVE the soft grayish-green color Sanders & King used that so beautiful works with the rug and coffee table. It’s just so freaking chic and modern, yet soft and cozy.

design by sanders & king and pleysier perkins | photo by sharyn cairns | via est living

And I will never not love a statement stove. Can you handle that electric blue beauty? It’s the perfect unexpected pop to this otherwise very neutral kitchen. I think we can all say that this is one of the most (if not THE most) luxuriously converted stable we’ve ever seen.

design and photo by dabito

Now let’s talk about the king of color… Dabito. You may remember his insanely good bright yellow dining room from a few years ago. Well now he and his partner are bi-coastal (New Orleans and LA) and this is their new NOLA home! Like he said in his post, he made sure to properly mix both vintage and new so that the space didn’t feel too eclectic or too modern (and without soul).

design and photo by dabito

The good news for all of us is that he worked with Crate and Barrel so a bunch of what you see you can buy! But the real question is where can I find that vintage white wicker floor lamp?? Oh, I would like to note that the rug style he used is very similar to one in a reveal later in the post… 2021 trend??

design by studio giancarlo valle | photo by stephen kent johnson

This design by Studio Giancarlo Valle is riiiiight up my alley. That green sofa is holding my heart tight. If you remember this NY loft they designed, then this wavy look is not new to you. But I have to say that I’m not over it yet. I think it’s chic and weird which I love together. Also, the extra thick shelves look so cool!

design by giancarlo valle | photo by stephen kent johnson

This is clearly a very minimalist design but with the boldness of the architecture and colors/tones used it still looks so interesting to me. Thoughts?

design by beth diana smith | photo by mike van tassell

Beth Diana Smith was one of ORC’s feature designers this past season and she really knocked it out of the park by redesigning practically her entire first floor. What I think I love most is how approachable yet elevated this kitchen is. Like how she used textured subway tiles, placed them horizontally all the way up to the ceiling, and installed those semi-thick white open shelves. But then kept her cabinets (lowers) and appliances the same and switching out the hardware. So good.

design by beth diana smith | photo by mike van tassell

Then you go over to the living room and it’s so colorful and bold and full of so much personality. If you look at the befores you will be shocked by the transformation. She did such a truly beautiful job.

design by beata heuman | photo by simon brown

It’s probably no surprise that Beata Heuman is on this list because she is an EHD favorite. I don’t think we’ve seen a space she’s designed and not fallen head over heels. This space is no exception. The pattern and color play in this house is off the charts so please enjoy.

design by beata heuman | photo by simon brown

Also I 100% need that wicker urn. I think I’m seeing a wicker pattern…

design by mikel welch

Mickel Welch has such an effortlessly calm and chic style and this room he designed is just that. I am very into this wall color. It’s both light and yet still the perfect amount of “moody” which works so great in a bedroom. I also really love the leaning art moment on the headboard.

design by mikel welch

From this angle, you can see the whole view of the room and how much texture he put into this space. And yet, it’s still so soothing (that’s what we like to call color palette magic:))

design by sarah shinners | photo by dylan james | via the design files

I was just introduced to Sarah via The Design Files I think maybe two weeks ago? Anyway, I’m now a big fan. She works for the incredibly talented Simone Haag as her Design Manager and after seeing her rental I am not in the least bit surprised.

design by sarah shinners | photo by dylan james | via the design files

The space is incredibly eclectic but she makes sure to include these bold modern moments that really make the space stand out. Also, you can just tell that every piece has a story which is really why I think the space is so wonderful.

I also want to call out her bedroom wall color choice. It’s such a pretty warm tan that I think we will definitely be seeing more of in 2021. I also hope we see a lot more of that lamp/nightstand because it’s amazing. Here are even more photos!

design by stacey-ann blake | photo by lea hartman | via domino

Want to laugh? In my head, I considered my old apartment colorful. I wouldn’t say it was bold but I was proud of the amount of color I added….I’ll wait…I know it’s hysterical. I clearly need to reevaluate what “a colorful home” means because y’all THIS is a colorful home. What I love most about it is the clear joy that is emanating from these rooms! Stacey-Ann Blake has made a masterpiece with design choices.

design by stacey-ann blake | photo by lea hartman | via domino

What is additionally awesome about these spaces is that their brightness is softened by the fact that they are so well balanced, which makes them welcoming instead of overwhelming. Also, Stacey-Ann is a mother of three and I can only imagine how fun and inspiring it must be growing up around so many colors.

design by arent & pyke | photo by anson smart

This is Arent & Pyke’s newest project! I have been personally waiting on this for so long. Remember this home or this home? They truly create magic.

So while this home isn’t 100% my personal style, there are so many details I am oogling over. First up are that dresser and table lamp. I love the vintage (or vintage-inspired) base paired with the modern and contrasting shade. It looks amazing and I want to somehow get something similar for my new apartment. I also loooove that dresser. The bentwood handle detail is so so special and unique.

design by arent & pyke | photo by anson smart

But what really made my heart skip a beat was that curtain trim detail. Can you tell I also love a modern wave? I think it makes such a cool statement and I might try to figure out how to implement it into my apartment design too. Arent, Pyke & Bunge??

design by ysg studio | styled by felicity ng | photo by prue ruscoe

First off this home is really making a case for purple which is a big feat in my opinion. Second, this space is all about textured permanent materials and let’s just say it works. Everything from the brick floors to the limewash (?) walls to the multi-material island. This very modern space feels warm and makes your eyes bounce around because YSG Studio created such a flawless design.

design by ysg studio | styled by felicity ng | photo by prue ruscoe

While I know not everyone would be ready to move into this type of home, it’s undeniable that it’s incredibly special. Make sure to check out the other rooms!

design and photo by ajai guyot

Ok, so I know Ajai is one of our beloved contributors but our contributors also don’t post all of their projects on our site because well, they have sites of their own! But I wanted to make sure that everyone got to see her beautiful living room reveal in her new apartment.

design and photo by ajai guyot

It looks like what I would imagine a soft cloud to look like. So delicate, cozy and pretty. I love how she expertly achieved what she describes as “coastal Parisian.”

design by kex design build | photo by jacqueline marque | via apartment therapy

Another beautiful reveal in New Orleans! KV Harper, founder of Kex Design Build designed this awesome rustic, luxe home that is spilling over with character and soul. I just love the contrast of those beautiful fireplaces and the jewel-toned velvet seating.

design by kex design build | photo by jacqueline marque | via apartment therapy

Then in the kitchen, I can’t stop starring at that dark green tiled backsplash and black cabinet combo. It’s so rich and bold but then balanced/softened by the salvaged wood shelves, white walls, and warm wood countertop. I think it’s just so pretty.

design by frederick tang architecture | photo by gieves anderson | via remodelista

What is my favorite thing about this kitchen/house by Frederick Tang Architecture? It’s those midcentury modern sliding cabinets. Their slender profile looks so good. Plus I truly can’t believe how into dark wood kitchens I’ve become. They just make me happy now.

design by frederick tang architecture | photo by gieves anderson | via remodelista

Now the rest of the house definitely has midcentury modern nods throughout but veers off in some of the other rooms. You have to check out the very colorful and playful bathroom:)

design by  home studios | photo by brian ferry | via dezeen

I wanted to end on this extremely cool yet serene reveal. This one you might have seen in a couple of publications but it’s too special to not include. I can’t get over all of the curves, arches, and different uses of tan/brown.

design by  home studios | photo by brian ferry | via dezeen

To be honest, this feels very much of the 2020 moment, like an upgraded ’80s vibe. But the lack of potential timelessness doesn’t take away from the special and unique details like the wood and copper bar framing the shower glass. I could seriously look at that photo for a very long time. Go see the rest of the space here.

Phew! We made it to the end. So any favorites? What are your top details (details are my favorite)? Are there any home tours or reveals that I didn’t include that you’ve fallen hard for recently? Let’s chat!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credit: Design and Photo by Dabito

The post The 15 Reveals You Might Have Missed But NEED To See (Consider This A Mid Week Pick-Me-Up:)) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Our First Family Christmas Card And A Sweet Gift For The Kids

I’m a sentimental lady, as you know, and love to hoard memories in any form (ornaments, scrapbooks, endless photo albums). In this house, we don’t have a ton of family photos mostly because I’m trying to keep more negative space on walls here to keep my brain more sane (I think it’s working). But after this year, living here and creating far less memories but feeling VERY close to each other, we could use some commemoration to celebrate, er commemorate 2020, especially for the kids. So when Minted reached out about their Heart Snapshot Mix® print I decided to take all the best moments that the kids had this year and make a fun 2020 framed scrapbook, in the shape of this heart (it was super easy and fast to create btw).

At first, they were like ‘mama, art isn’t really a present’ which tracks for 5 and 7-year-olds around Christmas time. But then sure enough, once they saw that it was full of fun pictures of them with the pups, making snowmen, on an easter egg hunt, etc., they LOVED it.

I chose “The Classic” style and made it by going to Minted’s site and simply dragged and dropped the photos into place (you can do a whole folder if you want, too, if you are already organized). You have lots of options:

Filters – Blush, Black and White, Blue and Rainbow
Background Colors – 12 different options
Sizes – From 8×8 up to 44×44 (so lots of options)
Frame Options – 17 different styles
Plus a ton of other ways to customize. It’s actually really cool.

I went with the 16×16 (but actually wished I had gone bigger, it’s so cute) and the light wood frame to work with the house, but pop off the wall enough. (HOT TIP: White frames on white walls generally just get lost – I know from experience).

I knew that the kids would love the classic color photos the best and it works in their room. It just has a lot of energy and life to it. I didn’t really do any photoshopping of the photos beforehand (mostly because I don’t know how to), but throughout the year I usually ‘favorite’ the ones I love in my phone and brighten them a little.

I styled it out in my office on this credenza but it’s going to go in the kid’s room above their dresser (the light was too dark to shoot in there). It’s VERY sweet and yes would make a great gift to family or just yourself to document any of the good moments of this year. O and there is also a style where you can add little captions that point to certain photos for even more memory hoarding capabilities which is also really sweet:)

Now onto our first Christmas card …

I’ve never done a family Christmas card, mostly because I’m not organized enough to collect addresses. Besides, I always felt like because I publicly update the world very consistently on our whereabouts with a lot of family photos throughout the year, why add this work during the busiest time of year for my job? But this year I’m tempted to publish even our own PO box address because I’m desperate to receive sweet photos or cards in the mail, like from anyone. So when Minted reached out about a partnership at first I was like, ‘well I don’t really do Christmas cards’ but then my 2020 emotional survival brain kicked in and I was like, ‘WELL YOU DO NOW’.

I perused all their great options but when I realized that they had an ornament option… I think you all know how I reacted. The reason I chose this was because I thought they would also make cute gift tags. Plus we could keep them as ornaments for our tree. I still didn’t have my addresses when I placed the order (and had a deadline to shoot) so I have to actually handwrite the addresses, BUT for those of you who have yours on a spreadsheet, it’s SO EASY. In fact, they stay in your account (I’m sure you all know this, but being a Christmas card novice I didn’t). So year after year you can just choose your photo/style and the addresses are automatically printed. Genius.

Again, you have a ton of options on envelope color, address style, fonts, and there are a lot of other ‘ornament cards‘ to choose from if you like this idea.

I actually love having them and so do the kids. I suppose having more touchpoint moments of joy for them is what we are focusing on. Of course, the kids haven’t felt this year as hard as most parents since they are so young. I really recommend checking out all of the ornament card options (there are a ton!) and remember that you can customize in a million ways, including what it says.

Onto of that, personalized gifts feel extra good this year and there are a ton of options. We are eyeing custom puzzles (huge this year), Calendars (always has a purpose), and gift wrap which I think could be fun with family photos on it. Here are some of the customizable options I really like:

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Side note, we have bought art and fabric from Minted A LOT over the years and they support and promote a lot of designers and artists, which I LOVE. Head over and see all their personalized special holiday gift options. And thanks for supporting the brands that support EHD.

*Photos by Veronica Crawford

The post Our First Family Christmas Card And A Sweet Gift For The Kids appeared first on Emily Henderson.

What Happens When You Design Your Living Room and Then MOVE?? You Make It Work… Albie’s New Living Room Round One!

Fun Fact: over the summer I decided to give our 2 bedroom condo a long overdue living room refresh with my friends over at Apt2B (hey Arlyn!). I’d danced around dealing with our living room for way too long — all because I didn’t like the paint. I know…I know… #renterwoes. This was the one area of our apartment we weren’t allowed to paint, so rather than take my own advice and design for where I was, I did close to nothing… just some light styling. 

A few months ago — long before the house we just bought was on my radar — I talked all about how I had a change of heart to ultimately design around the paint colors. You can read that original design plan here. But this wasn’t about the paint as much it was about the apartment. After fumbling a few of our first purchases when we moved to Washington, I began to rethink my shopping strategy — if I was decorating for the first time — and knew that all of my major shopping decisions needed to be for the present and the future. 

I went into the living room design plan with this is mind: whatever we get now has to work for our next home…little did I know how immediate that next home would be! 

Here was the initial design plan for the condo:

first of many design mood boards before finalizing the living room design

I wanted pieces that were well made, possessed a timeless aesthetic, and had overall staying power. I didn’t want anything that we could possibly be sick of and/or destroy in less than 5 years. So to make sure this happened, I partnered with one of my fav e-tailers to bring my design ideas to life, finalize the details, and proceeded to wait. 

2020 Wouldn’t Be 2020 With Delays And Pivots… Am I Right!?

The order was finalized 08-20-20 — yep, 4 whole months ago! — and I was warned about production and delivery delays, especially for the sofa, so I’d mentally prepared to get my pieces in November. Then September came…then October…then we moved! I like to joke that I had enough time to buy a whole house waiting for COVID-induced delays, but it’s not exactly untrue. I was able to easily update my shipping address — about as easy as it was to shop for the living room in the first place — and when it was time to schedule delivery, everything was already set. 

If I’d known we were going to move, naturally I would have visualized the pieces I’d already chosen — and confirmed —  in our new home. While the catalyst for the refresh was to work with our apartment’s paint colors, it wasn’t the only deciding factor. 

Condo Living Room Design Round 2:

the nearly final design mood board for the living room pre-move

Choosing the sofa upholstery was about the fabric type & silhouette, as much as it was about the color. Knowing we wanted velvet, narrowed down our pool of choices — choices that I wanted to work with any paint color, in any space. The sofa fabric — Cloud Velvet — is one that I knew will work in nearly any space, almost like a neutral… just a little bit more fun. I wanted fun… not just functional, ya know!? 

I wanted a design that was “parent-friendly” — see what I did there? — honoring both of our preferred aesthetics, but that could also withstand our sometimes messy lifestyle. The performance velvet option was a no-brainer — I actually wrote all about why velvet is an upholstery all-star a few months back so you should go read that — but choosing the color, when Apt2B offers so many, wasn’t easy. So, why Cloud? It’s not too light, not too dark. After weeks of it hanging on the living room wall of the apartment, it was my Goldilocks color; and it even stood up to my coffee, water, wine, and juice spill tests. I knew if it could work there, it could work in any space. Plus we wanted something that wasn’t a traditional neutral so a win all the way around. 

So all that being said, in an effort to make our pre-move purchases work, here is how the living room in our new home turned out:

Sofa | Magazine Holder | Coffee Table | Black Tray | Wall Mirror

The peripheral pieces were chosen for their utilitarian purposes, as well as for their beauty — the accent seating featuring an upholstered cushion and metal & wood frame would make for the perfect quiet corner, the leather & metal magazine holder perfect for firewood logs in the winter and maybe actual magazines the rest of the year.

Accent Chair | Pillow | Ottoman | Sheepskin | Tiebacks

Then the storage cocktail table with the beautiful wood top would house bedding for the sofa bed (did I mention the sofa is actually a sleeper…because it is).

Then a bench & mirror combination together would create a faux entryway situation since we didn’t (and still don’t) have a foyer. 

Sofa | Bench | Sheepskin | Basket

What Does Everything Add Up To? 

It adds up to a design that translates to any space… any home… like it did for me. 

Once I confirmed the move — and we had legit bought the house — I had very few tweaks to make to the designs… all except now going for a larger size rug (woot woot!) from Lulu & Georgia for the perfect rug on rug…on carpet throuple (don’t worry…we’ll be talking about that later in another post!).

Coffee Table | Faux Cow Hide | Black and White Striped Rug

But Albie…that’s a lot of layering.

Yeah…I can hear some of you wondering why I would do one rug — much less two — on carpet. First things first…I  believe in the power of layering. It allows you to play with color, pattern, and texture in a way that can tell a visually compelling story. As someone who subscribes to hygge inspired design, I am always looking for ways to incorporate coziness & warmth into my home, but in a way that is chic, not overdone. Knowing that the carpet would eventually be gone, I refused to let it dictate any of my decisions. But even if we didn’t have plans to rip it up, rugs define & ground spaces. I would never just put furniture in a room without the clear delineation that is provided by a rug. Why the second rug? 

Another important word: contrast. 

The contrasting black and white provides a subtle drama, and the juxtaposition of the irregular shade hide rug on the “straight” lines of the tasseled rug is a visual treat. Separately, these rugs are awesome but together… it’s like a hygge burrito for your feet. To be fair, if I used the larger rug on the reverse side — yep, it’s reversible! — the entire vibe would be different & I’d likely rethink layering in the hide rug; but the combination also positions the sofa to really stand out as the only “colorful” piece in the space without competing with the wood tones threaded throughout the design details.

Keep in mind, I chose these pieces while living in our condo…for our condo. I used Apt2B’s AR feature to confirm the sofa could & would fit the way I anticipated and the rest of the pieces all fell into place, just the way I wanted!

Now that we’ve settled in, after a long wait, everything arrived and The Hygge Ranch — the name I’ve dubbed the house thanks to help from Sherry (Young House Love) — now has its first fully furnished room. 

Is it complete? More like complete-ish. There are some more finishing touches I plan to implement over time, not to mention some more substantial changes like removing the carpet, dealing with the popcorn ceiling, updating the window treatments, adding lighting, and painting…of course!

Being able to prioritize and discern the pace of the living room is rejecting “project pressure” at it’s finest, especially since we had very ambitious plans to paint and have the carpet ripped out prior to moving in. Talk about a design deferred, but also a blessing in disguise. Seeing the space now, from what the owner’s had, to being unfurnished for nearly a month, to what I was able to pull off in 24 hours — legit, we photographed the day after delivery — makes me appreciate these humble beginnings even more. It gives me a pure lens to see the space through and I look forward to the eventual evolution of the design in the space. But more than anything, if I did nothing else here, we actually really love it as it stands and my hygge-loving heart is pleased. 

Question: When you’re shopping for your big furniture pieces, are you thinking long-game, investment pieces that will serve you in multiple homes or do you find yourself tending to your immediate needs & current space? No wrong answers, but as someone who has done it both ways, I am even more thankful for having thought ahead on this one.

*Design by Albie K. Buabeng
**Photos by Ellie Lillstrom

The post What Happens When You Design Your Living Room and Then MOVE?? You Make It Work… Albie’s New Living Room Round One! appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Sara & Mac’s Office/Guest Room Reveal – LOTS Of Function + Even More Color and Style

I’m back finally, and this time with the reveal of this long-awaited room – THE OFFICE . . . slash guest room. Plus, I’ve brought a special guest with me. The office user himself, my fiancé Macauley Johnson, who’s going to share a few of his thoughts on the room. I’m only mildly terrified of what he will say.

It is with great excitement that we present one of the first rooms where I feel that Mac and I actually found a middle ground in our design aesthetics (at least more successfully than before).

Navy Paint | Desk | Desk Lamp | Office Chair | Rug | Leather Ottoman | Sofa | Accent Table | Window Treatments | Painting by Koshin Finley | A24 Poster | Vintage Japanese Movie Posters | Custom Framing | Floating Art Shelves | Charcoal Candle

Quick editors note: Since Mac is going to be joining Sara for this post, his words will be bolded while Sara’s will remain unbolded.

OK, so. Where do we begin?

Probably the beautiful, inky blue paint that’s all over the walls. It’s “Goodnight Moon” by Clare Paint, and it was the perfect choice for this space.

Mustard Accent Pillow | BLM Poster Art | Bookcase | Gold Table Lamp

I like it because it immediately gives the room a “mood” while still feeling playful because of its saturated color. Clare Paint has a really curated selection of colors, and because of that you aren’t trying to choose between 4 different navy’s. They’ve got one navy, and it’s the PERFECT navy. But Mac, I know that you don’t traditionally like blue, so how did I convince you to go navy in the office?

After going dark in the TV room, I wasn’t so afraid of going dark. The biggest leap was going blue at all (call me crazy, but it’s a color I steer away from). We had been looking at some black or charcoal wall colors throughout the house, so this rich, dark navy started to scratch that itch. In the evenings it gets dark, but doesn’t feel overwhelming during the day. We also decided to keep the ceiling and door frames white to call back to the rest of the house and keep it from getting too intense. This room feels a little more classic, while the TV room goes more stylized.

Yea, the layout of the room is a little strange since there are three doors all crammed into one side of the space. Figuring out the painting of the trim in that area was a little tricky.

Crystal Knob | Brass Knob

We ended up going with stained wood doors for the main entry and closet, and painting the bathroom door white. And we fitted all the doors with beautiful antique style hardware from House Of Antique Hardware.

Having crystal knobs for all the main interior doors felt like a nice through-line, but the closet stood out because it didn’t seem to want the same treatment. I mentioned going with something all brass, but you found the knob that fit the bill. It has just the right amount of vintage detail while still taking a backseat to the glass knobs. I like the idea of finding little artistic details like this one in lesser-seen corners of the home.

The next big piece in this room is the sofa. And not only is it a sofa, it’s a convertible guest sleeping sofa.

Sofa | Accent Table | Vintage Japanese Posters | Custom Framing | Rug | Mustard Accent Pillow | Candle

We really wanted to have a space where guests could sleep privately, but our home isn’t big enough to dedicate an entire room to that guest, right? A sofa bed in the office seemed like the easy, no-brainer solution. Our is from BluDot, and it’s beautifully simple in its design – the backrest cushions pop off, and the top cushions fold out, away from the couch to create a flat sleeping platform. We’ve had guests sleep on it as is, and said it was great. But we’ve also now started rolling out this amazing inflatable camping mattress that I found at REI that just happens to fit the platform perfectly, and makes it just as comfortable as any bed I’ve slept on. Plus the mattress allows us to fit the bed with a sheet.

And the blackout linen roman shades from Decorview make this room perfect for any guests who like to sleep in a little. They’re the same ones that we have in the living room and dining room, which is a nice tie in between the spaces.

Ceiling Fixture

As you can see, the room isn’t HUGE, so we packed a lot of personality into each square foot. I wanted some brass in the room, and Mac wanted really good, bright overhead light for when he works in the evening. I think the ceiling fixture from Rejuvenation was the solution.

That, and I like how it classes the place up a bit, bringing in some metallic shine while still tying into the wood that I picked throughout. My style is usually not very refined (I have a lot of STUFF and that leads to clutter) so it’s nice to have key elements that both satisfy a functional need and add some style to the place.

I think we both agree that a good vintage rug brings a room together. We needed a very specific size for this strange, small room – one that stuck out far enough from under the couch, but not too far that it would run into the bookshelf or get caught under Mac’s office chair. Revival Rugs ended up having the exact rug we needed. Size-wise it fit perfectly, and the deep saturated colors it brings to the room play so beautifully off the deep wood and navy tones.

You have the eye for color and balance. And I’m usually in when the word “vintage” is involved. Turns out this was another great pick.

BLM Poster Art | Bookcase | Gold Table Lamp

Alright, up next is the bookshelf from Article, which was really a 100% Mac driven decision…

That means if it looks terrible, there’s only one person on the chopping block, but I am very pleased with it. First, it looks great – I have a thing going on in the room with right angles, metal, and deep wooded tones and this piece was all about that. The shelves felt like fun little areas to put pictures, figures, and other finds from along the way (STUFF). And it has a good amount of closed storage. That was especially something I was looking for: Hidden space to store the piles of things that don’t go so well on a shelf.

Mac, you also really wanted a plant for that corner, and to be honest I doubted you. I really thought we should center the bookshelf on the wall. I’ll concede though, you were right.

I did, hah. Part of that was me painting us into a corner (really, truly no pun intended) by focusing in on that shelf. The pros might say that it’s a bit big for the space, and it is. So when we had it closer to the window, you really felt the size of the piece against the stark, blue wall. I also wanted to bring some greenery into the room and I’ve never had a decent-sized plant, so we started a search. My only stipulation was that I couldn’t sit in the office looking at a fiddle-leaf fig after how many I see online regularly (Note: We have had one before and they look great, but I wanted something that felt different and more me). So we found this great little rubber tree at the Flower Mart downtown, and I hope to have it with us for a while.

Desk | Floating Art Shelves | Art by Kohshin Finley | Custom Framing | Desk Lamp | Office Chair

Here is where Mac works every day (he’s an Associate Creative Director at the motion graphics studio Scholar). I desperately wanted him to have a workspace that he actually enjoyed being in, and Mac really wanted a space that was functional for all his tech needs.

I like to have a lot of desk space because I usually work with a two-monitor setup. One of those monitors is a large tablet that can be drawn on and I end up moving it around a lot, so having some depth to the desk was also a must. Beyond that, I was looking for something mostly wood and sturdy because having heavy monitors on a wobbly desk is a big no and I’d like this piece to last a long time.

We found a few options that fit the criteria, but what won me over was this built-in cord tray in the Madera Oak desk from Article. The entire desk is extremely sturdy and it has the panel on the back that I can get in and out of to organize the ridiculous amount of cords I have. I had a power strip mounted under our previous desk, but now I have that power strip and all the cords neatly hidden away, which means no mess under the desk. We also opted for the wider option of the desk in case we ever both needed a desk at the same time. Which is great for leaning heads on each other’s shoulders, if you’re into that.

I really am

Sara & Mac’s Office/Guest Room Reveal – LOTS Of Function Even More Color and Style

I’m back finally, and this time with the reveal of this long-awaited room – THE OFFICE . . . slash guest room. Plus, I’ve brought a special guest with me. The office user himself, my fiancé Macauley Johnson, who’s going to share a few of his thoughts on the room. I’m only mildly terrified of what he will say.

It is with great excitement that we present one of the first rooms where I feel that Mac and I actually found a middle ground in our design aesthetics (at least more successfully than before).

Navy Paint | Desk | Desk Lamp | Office Chair | Rug | Leather Ottoman | Sofa | Accent Table | Window Treatments | Painting by Koshin Finley | A24 Poster | Vintage Japanese Movie Posters | Custom Framing | Floating Art Shelves | Charcoal Candle

Quick editors note: Since Mac is going to be joining Sara for this post, his words will be bolded while Sara’s will remain unbolded.

OK, so. Where do we begin?

Probably the beautiful, inky blue paint that’s all over the walls. It’s “Goodnight Moon” by Clare Paint, and it was the perfect choice for this space.

Mustard Accent Pillow | BLM Poster Art | Bookcase | Gold Table Lamp

I like it because it immediately gives the room a “mood” while still feeling playful because of its saturated color. Clare Paint has a really curated selection of colors, and because of that you aren’t trying to choose between 4 different navy’s. They’ve got one navy, and it’s the PERFECT navy. But Mac, I know that you don’t traditionally like blue, so how did I convince you to go navy in the office?

After going dark in the TV room, I wasn’t so afraid of going dark. The biggest leap was going blue at all (call me crazy, but it’s a color I steer away from). We had been looking at some black or charcoal wall colors throughout the house, so this rich, dark navy started to scratch that itch. In the evenings it gets dark, but doesn’t feel overwhelming during the day. We also decided to keep the ceiling and door frames white to call back to the rest of the house and keep it from getting too intense. This room feels a little more classic, while the TV room goes more stylized.

Yea, the layout of the room is a little strange since there are three doors all crammed into one side of the space. Figuring out the painting of the trim in that area was a little tricky.

Crystal Knob | Brass Knob

We ended up going with stained wood doors for the main entry and closet, and painting the bathroom door white. And we fitted all the doors with beautiful antique style hardware from House Of Antique Hardware.

Having crystal knobs for all the main interior doors felt like a nice through-line, but the closet stood out because it didn’t seem to want the same treatment. I mentioned going with something all brass, but you found the knob that fit the bill. It has just the right amount of vintage detail while still taking a backseat to the glass knobs. I like the idea of finding little artistic details like this one in lesser-seen corners of the home.

The next big piece in this room is the sofa. And not only is it a sofa, it’s a convertible guest sleeping sofa.

Sofa | Accent Table | Vintage Japanese Posters | Custom Framing | Rug | Mustard Accent Pillow | Candle

We really wanted to have a space where guests could sleep privately, but our home isn’t big enough to dedicate an entire room to that guest, right? A sofa bed in the office seemed like the easy, no-brainer solution. Our is from BluDot, and it’s beautifully simple in its design – the backrest cushions pop off, and the top cushions fold out, away from the couch to create a flat sleeping platform. We’ve had guests sleep on it as is, and said it was great. But we’ve also now started rolling out this amazing inflatable camping mattress that I found at REI that just happens to fit the platform perfectly, and makes it just as comfortable as any bed I’ve slept on. Plus the mattress allows us to fit the bed with a sheet.

And the blackout linen roman shades from Decorview make this room perfect for any guests who like to sleep in a little. They’re the same ones that we have in the living room and dining room, which is a nice tie in between the spaces.

Ceiling Fixture

As you can see, the room isn’t HUGE, so we packed a lot of personality into each square foot. I wanted some brass in the room, and Mac wanted really good, bright overhead light for when he works in the evening. I think the ceiling fixture from Rejuvenation was the solution.

That, and I like how it classes the place up a bit, bringing in some metallic shine while still tying into the wood that I picked throughout. My style is usually not very refined (I have a lot of STUFF and that leads to clutter) so it’s nice to have key elements that both satisfy a functional need and add some style to the place.

I think we both agree that a good vintage rug brings a room together. We needed a very specific size for this strange, small room – one that stuck out far enough from under the couch, but not too far that it would run into the bookshelf or get caught under Mac’s office chair. Revival Rugs ended up having the exact rug we needed. Size-wise it fit perfectly, and the deep saturated colors it brings to the room play so beautifully off the deep wood and navy tones.

You have the eye for color and balance. And I’m usually in when the word “vintage” is involved. Turns out this was another great pick.

BLM Poster Art | Bookcase | Gold Table Lamp

Alright, up next is the bookshelf from Article, which was really a 100% Mac driven decision…

That means if it looks terrible, there’s only one person on the chopping block, but I am very pleased with it. First, it looks great – I have a thing going on in the room with right angles, metal, and deep wooded tones and this piece was all about that. The shelves felt like fun little areas to put pictures, figures, and other finds from along the way (STUFF). And it has a good amount of closed storage. That was especially something I was looking for: Hidden space to store the piles of things that don’t go so well on a shelf.

Mac, you also really wanted a plant for that corner, and to be honest I doubted you. I really thought we should center the bookshelf on the wall. I’ll concede though, you were right.

I did, hah. Part of that was me painting us into a corner (really, truly no pun intended) by focusing in on that shelf. The pros might say that it’s a bit big for the space, and it is. So when we had it closer to the window, you really felt the size of the piece against the stark, blue wall. I also wanted to bring some greenery into the room and I’ve never had a decent-sized plant, so we started a search. My only stipulation was that I couldn’t sit in the office looking at a fiddle-leaf fig after how many I see online regularly (Note: We have had one before and they look great, but I wanted something that felt different and more me). So we found this great little rubber tree at the Flower Mart downtown, and I hope to have it with us for a while.

Desk | Floating Art Shelves | Art by Kohshin Finley | Custom Framing | Desk Lamp | Office Chair

Here is where Mac works every day (he’s an Associate Creative Director at the motion graphics studio Scholar). I desperately wanted him to have a workspace that he actually enjoyed being in, and Mac really wanted a space that was functional for all his tech needs.

I like to have a lot of desk space because I usually work with a two-monitor setup. One of those monitors is a large tablet that can be drawn on and I end up moving it around a lot, so having some depth to the desk was also a must. Beyond that, I was looking for something mostly wood and sturdy because having heavy monitors on a wobbly desk is a big no and I’d like this piece to last a long time.

We found a few options that fit the criteria, but what won me over was this built-in cord tray in the Madera Oak desk from Article. The entire desk is extremely sturdy and it has the panel on the back that I can get in and out of to organize the ridiculous amount of cords I have. I had a power strip mounted under our previous desk, but now I have that power strip and all the cords neatly hidden away, which means no mess under the desk. We also opted for the wider option of the desk in case we ever both needed a desk at the same time. Which is great for leaning heads on each other’s shoulders, if you’re into that.

I really am

The Link Up: Emily’s Family-Friendly Holiday Movie, Arlyn’s $8 Wifi Plug She LOVES, And The Coziest Heated Blanket On The Market

Hi folks! Welcome back to the link up, December edition. Yes it’s already December and yes that is a disorienting fact but that won’t stop us from bringing you our latest and greatest obsessions. Let’s jump in.

This week’s home tour, via Rue Mag, is a perfect example of mixing wood tones, textiles, and art to achieve a minimal and elevated design but that’s not the only exciting thing about the space. It is one of three bungalows in Montauk, NY that is available to rent through Airbnb and the twist is everything inside is for sale (!!). Talk about the perfect safe vacation experience.

From Emily: Suzanne has tried out 4 different heated blankets and swears this one is the best because one side is fleece and the other side is faux fur.

Also from Emily: JINGLE JANGLE is this year’s family-friendly holiday movie. Fun music, AMAZING costumes, great acting, art direction, and of course a heartwarming story with a super talented diverse cast and crew.

From Ryann: My new best friend is Joanna Spicer, a beauty vlogger that is so funny and real and gives REALLY amazing product recommendations. I actually think we could be real-life best friends so Joanna, if you are reading this, LET’S BE REAL-LIFE BEST FRIENDS. I’ve discovered so many new brands via her youtube including Sleeper, Donni, The Lobby, Loops Beauty, and so many more and I literally trust everything she says is worth buying. Plus she has a very cool 80s/Art Deco style and her new studio/office reveal is very good.

From Malcolm: The power of representation is real! My sister read the book Brown Boy Brown Boy What Can You Be? by Ameshia Arthur to my three-year-old nephew, and his reaction to the character in the book was “he looks like me!”. Cue emotions. This seems like such a nuanced product to recommend, but there really is something powerful to be said about seeing ourselves positively represented in an array of careers and occupations. To this day, my sisters and I reminisce about books that we read as children, and how they impacted the trajectory of our lives (most of which certainly did not have central Black characters), so it warms my heart that my nephew feels seen and capable of anything. The sky’s the limit!

From Jess: 2020 is trying to make sure I NEVER forgot it. How you may ask? Well, this past Tuesday night I decided that I really needed to food prep some healthy food because there was no way that my current diet was helping my overall mental health. So as I was chopping up some kale, my knife slipped and stabbed me good in the wrist. Ok, it was technically my fault but really 2020?! Luckily I still had (and still have) total hand function and I really didn’t want to go to the ER. Those bills didn’t seem worth it. I won’t go on a rant about our healthcare system but like wouldn’t it have been swell if I could have just gone to the ER without fear of near bankruptcy… for a mere flesh wound? Just saying. Ok back to my story. So after a hysterical (not the funny kind) call to my father, I realized that all I had were small bandaids from “the adhesive on the protective packaging no longer holds together” years ago. So I used a random nonstick pad, masking tape, and an elastic bandage to hold me over till morning. I guess this is more of a cautionary tale to tell you to make sure that you have either a real first aid kit like this one or bandaids of multiple sizes (including large ones). O and hydrogen peroxide and maybe an antibiotic cream

What We (And You All) Bought During The Biggest Sale Weekend Of The Year

Last weekend was the biggest online sales weekend of probably ALL TIME considering so many of us were stuck inside. And we just think it’s genuinely interesting to find out what the heck everyone was buying (and based on this post and this post, so do you:)). So…welcome to today’s post of “what we all bought and what you bought too during Black Friday/Cyber Monday!!” Now let’s dig right in and start with Em…

EMILY

Candle Making Kit | Leggings | Educational STEM Game | Kid’s Parka

This last weekend I bought A BUNCH of my kids’ Christmas presents (I feel SO on top of it this year) and this holiday candle making kit was one of them. Honestly, we might break into this early because you all know how much I love Christmas crafts and I might be more excited for this than my own kids.

I bought these leggings for me and matching ones for Birdie because it’s cold up here and it’s getting even colder. I can never have enough fleece leggings and for $20 for mine and $10 for Birdie, these are a great buy for the price.

I’m so excited for my kids to play this educational STEM game. Any game that’s fun AND educational is a big win in my book (homeschooling is HARD), and this is one I think Charlie will get very excited about. You can configure this game in a bunch of different ways to make a light turn on or a fan move…(watch the video to see what I mean). I call it engineering class

If You Haven’t Bought Your Family (Or Yourself) Matching Holiday Pajamas Yet, Now’s Your Chance

I think we can all agree there is something sickeningly cute about families all squished together, smiling ear to ear, donning matching holiday sleepwear (ahem, like the photo above). It’s a little cheesy in the best way and an easy tradition for anyone to adopt. Sure, you might have to force your loved ones into them but that’s what the holidays are all about!! Forceful presents and embarrassing photos. Right?

Truthfully, I wasn’t really on board for the matching pj’s thing until a month or so ago. This year, it’s been harder than usual to “get into the spirit” and I admittedly am not a big “Christmas spirit” person in the first place (shame shame I know). But a few weeks ago I felt I needed a little something extra to look forward to and really wanted to create a new tradition with my fiancé and our sweet dog Gus. Lo and behold that little something came in the form of ordering us matching plaid pajamas. I felt so happy clicking purchase and imagining the awkward Christmas photo I will no doubt force us to take. My memory of the year 2020 will for sure be tainted but at least it will also be the start of this cute and slightly embarrassing holiday tradition.

I realize many of you are already on the annual matching holiday pajama train so you’ve likely had yours locked down for months or even years. Ahh, to be prepared. But for anyone on the fence or a little late to the game like me, there is still hope! A lot of big retailers are selling out fast but luckily I discovered some that are still available plus so many Etsy shops that make the cutest most whimsical pajamas, perfect for procrastinators. There’s no time to waste so here goes:

1. Christmas Pyjamas | 2. Family Christmas Pyjamas | 3. Family Christmas Pyjamas | 4. Family Matching Christmas Pajamas Sets | 5. Holiday Plaid Matching Family Pajamas | 6. Christmas, Holiday Couple Pajamas | 7. Moose Print Family Christmas | 8. Personalized Christmas Pajamas | 9. Red and Green Stripe Kids Christmas Pajamas

#3 and #5 are from Hanna Andersson which is an EHD favorite. Emily and her family have worn their pajamas in previous years and they are great quality and have so many adorable patterns and styles. But the best discovery I’ve made is that Etsy is killing the game when it comes to Holiday PJ’s. There are so many good ones and the best part is you can support a small business and shame your family into taking photos in them.

If your family members are less than willing to participate or if you would rather rock yours alone, the individual matching PJ’s sets are just as adorable and fun to pull out during the holidays. Also, how fun would it to order yourself and some friends matching ones and set up a zoom call with wine and holiday movies?? (Okay, maybe not the MOST fun, but the most fun we can have in 2020??). There are so many adorable ones and I personally want every single one.

1. Cozy Henley Sleep Jumpsuit | 2. Heathcliffe Plaid Sherpa Collar PJ Set | 3. Dreamy Henley Pajama Set in String Lights | 4. Scotch Plaid Flannel Pajamas | 5. Dreamy Henley Pajama Set in Candy Cane Stripe | 6. 2 Piece Nightwear Layer Thermal Underwear Set | 7. Vintage Pajama Set in Stewart Tartan | 8. Women’s Winter Trees Cotton Sleep Set | 9. Flannel Pj Set

For a warm yet lightweight fleece option, #2 is so cute, has a classic Christmas plaid pattern, and a cozy sherpa trim. #3, #5, and #8 are cotton henley sets from J Crew that look so comfy and #4 is cozy flannel and could easily be unisex or worn oversized for extra comfort. GIVE ME THEM ALL.

Now I must know, are you as excited about pajamas as I am?? Have you been on this train forever? Where do YOU get your family holiday PJ’s and should we have ones for every holiday?? Tell me everything. xx

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Our Scandinavian (And Easy, Mess-Free) Holiday Living Room Reveal + How I Finally Figured Out My Biggest Styling Problem… And Solved It

The post If You Haven’t Bought Your Family (Or Yourself) Matching Holiday Pajamas Yet, Now’s Your Chance appeared first on Emily Henderson.

5 Easy Ways To Create A Holiday “Mood” If You Are Tired And Struggling To Get Into The Spirit This Year

It seems like there are two holiday camps out there this year – those of you/us that are doing way more, way earlier to give us something to look forward to, daily bursts of joy, reasons to divert attention, etc. As you can probably tell I’m obsessed with Christmas every year (since having kids) so this year is no exception. But I also know that there are those of you/us who are TIRED and it just seems like more work to deck the halls (and it certainly can be). And for what? Especially if you don’t have young kids or are living by yourself, it seems pointless to put it all up just to take it all down because you are likely not going to have people over anyway to enjoy it. So I came up with some ideas to help – super easy and affordable – but have ‘high impact’ in the ambiance of our home, which I’m hoping can help shift the mood, too.

ADD CURTAIN LIGHTING – MY NEW HACK



photo by veronica crawford

I know you know how important lighting is, but this year I added even MORE twinkle lights and it feels magical. Sure, we have a tree with lights (get pre-lit if you are going faux) and faux candles (kids) but the dining room and entry felt dead. So I hung these icicle curtain lights that are SO affordable, with some basic command strips and it absolutely created a festive winter mood instantly. DO THIS. We shot this literally in the middle of the day and I didn’t want Veronica to have to stay later, so it’s hard to see here, but even in the day, they give a twinkle. But at night? Forget about it. It’s so good.

photo by veronica crawford

We did it on our dining windows, the entry window, and the upper railing, but you could also hang them in a hallway or kitchen windows (just make sure to check the length of icicle lights you’re ordering). We had our pod neighbors over for dinner and sat in the dining room and they just said over and over ‘this feels magical’. I prefer ‘warm white’ versus ‘cool’ FYI and go ‘fairy’ versus normal for a less ‘exterior’ look. Here are some that seem great and are well-reviewed.

1. Curtain String Fairy Lights (Remote and USB Connector) | 2. Curtain String Copper Fairy Lights, (Remote, USB Connector) | 3. Curtain String Lights (Standard Plug) | 4. Curtain String Lights (Remote, Standard Plug)

Make Your House Smell Like Christmas



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how sara created her first traditional but youthful christmas (with all target)

I’ll admit that I used to be anti- “Christmas smelling candles” and preferred the smell of the real pine over a ‘pine smelling candle’. But I was young and naive, and pre-covid. When I went to Sara’s to shoot her holiday house a couple of weeks ago I walked in (mask firmly in place) and was blasted (in a good way) with holiday happiness in the form of scents. It smelled SO GOOD and felt immediately like it was Christmas. She has this one (cinnamon joy) and Forest Balsam. Now if you have fresh pine greenery you might get enough smell, but I don’t (yet), so I’m leaning into Christmas smelling candles with no shame.

1. Frasier Fir Ceramic Medium Candle | 2. Ribbed Pillar Cinnamon Joy Candle | 3. Feu de Bois/Wood Fire Candle | 4. Ribbed Pillar Balsam Forest Candle | 5. Baltic Amber Glass Jar Candle | 6. Smoky Cinnamon Special

Lean Into Big Bursts Of Red – My Red Ribbon Hack



photo by veronica crawford

As you know when I originally styled the living room (November 1st) I didn’t opt for a ton of red in there, and it was more muted. But now that I’m feeling more into it, I want RED. I’m done spending money on accessories so I just bought a wide roll of red satin ribbon (wired is easier) and I’m hanging the wreaths by said ribbon or adding bows to the green wreaths I already have hung.

photo by veronica crawford

I don’t know why I’ve never done this before, but it makes a MASSIVE instant jolt of Christmas cheer and it’s so easy.

1. 2″ Satin Wired Ribbon

Music And Movies



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: emily’s “messy” but full of memories christmas family room

Well, this is obvious but I just can’t encourage it enough and go classic. I’d like to give you permission to put on Christmas music during the day like us and yes we watch a different Christmas movie almost every night with the kids – NO SHAME IN MY HOLIDAY TV GAME. That’s right, almost every night it’s ‘Christmas family movie night’. Now they are old enough to watch many live-action films so we have opened this huge door to movies we all enjoy – classics and new. If you have kids and you haven’t seen Klaus yet it’s great, and Jingle Jangle just came out and we loved it.

For Christmas music, I’ll admit I love it all, except that annoying song where they count down and sing ‘partridge in a pear tree’ over and over. We listen to a lot of classics – Bing Crosby as well as pop – Wham and Mariah Carey. I just downloaded the new Dolly Parton album which is awesome. Put it on during the day – it really can help.

SPECIAL FOOD AND DRINK



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how to have a great holiday cocktail party in a tiny apartment (all the hacks you need to know)

I like to make a big hot punch with cinnamon, oranges, cloves, and apple cider. It makes the house smell good and just felt special and festive. This can be with bourbon or rum, or just virgin. I think just letting yourself lean into the ‘party’ aspect of it earlier even if you are alone is fun.

Jess struggled finding her normal joy decorating alone over the weekend (but forced herself to) so she pulled together a post/personal essay about celebrating alone as well as giving a couple of tips for us all on what we can do for our loved ones (or coworkers) who are struggling right now and feeling lonely.

photo by veronica crawford

I hope these tips helped and if you are someone who struggled or is struggling to get “in the spirit” this year let us know anything you’ve done to help in the comments. I know that Oscar and Buttercup are confused and jealous why there are sheepskins everywhere. It’s hard to explain and yet they are loving it. 2020 IS WEIRD AND DEPRESSING AND ENLIGHTENING ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Thank you for being here. Truly. Thank you.

Opening Image Credit: Styled by Emily Henderson |Photo by Veronica Crawford

The post 5 Easy Ways To Create A Holiday “Mood” If You Are Tired And Struggling To Get Into The Spirit This Year appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Let’s Talk About Living Alone During The Holidays This Year – Jess Feels You

Here we are, month 10 of the year none of us saw coming and right now it’s supposed to be the most joyful time of the year. If only.

It’s funny, I really thought that decorating for the holidays in my new apartment would really kick things up a notch in the happiness department. So far only mildly. I want to state that I know I am beyond lucky in almost every way right now. Yet despite my nearly daily effort in knowing and reminding myself of this, I still can’t shake this sense of sadness and loneliness. I guess it would be pretty miraculous/suspicious if I felt consistently elated during a horrendous pandemic that’s keeping us 6ft apart from our loved ones at nearly all times. But the inner war that’s in my head of allowing myself to be sad vs. only allowing myself to be grateful is just well, that’s a therapy session for another day. 

I wasn’t planning to write a semi-depressing post about living alone during the holidays but in our Monday editorial meeting the topic came up and Emily thought I should write about the ways I’m trying to lift my mood right now. To be honest, I’m still working on it. Everything I normally do during the holidays like buying a tree, setting out all of my little decorations, watching bad holiday movies, etc. has felt more robotic than joyful. 

remember friends with faces??

It’s real shit that there is so much shame around admitting that you are lonely (even in a pandemic but especially during the holidays). So, for those of you who are living alone or aren’t but still feel it, I am here to say that you are not alone in your loneliness. Living by yourself without the freedom to hug your friends is lonely. Watching the country act like there still isn’t a pandemic happening while you follow the rules is LONELY. Decorating for a season that is normally filled with people and love in close proximity is f*ing lonely. And maybe that’s ok for this year. I mean I can’t help but to have hope for the future and knowing that while we will be forever changed, we will get to a place where gatherings, dates, and going to restaurants with friends won’t be drenched in fear and anxiety. 

Ok back to the holidays at hand. As someone who celebrates Christmas, that’s what I’ll be referencing but hopefully, some of what I’m talking about will still resonate with those who don’t too:) 

The first dumb thing I did was buy a huge 8ft tree. It was the quarantine Christmas equivalent to a midlife crisis when a dude buys a “sexy” sports car to feel young. I’m sure women do this too. My initial thought was, “Hey, I have a beautiful rounded window so I’m going to use it!” But subconsciously the idea was “the bigger the tree, the more Christmas joy I’ll feel and I’ll forget we’re still in quarantine.” Well, I successfully got the tree up the stairs but in the process of trying to put the tree in the stand, the netting got caught in my chandelier and my scissors were close… but on the floor. It was the balancing act of my life and while I was able to cut the tree loose and kept the chandelier unharmed, I could not FOR THE LIFE OF ME get the tree 100% straight. As I write this, I’m looking at my 78 degree angled tree and it’s basically shouting at me that I’m alone. It’s both kind of funny and a bummer. I might have a masked friend come and help but also I don’t think I really care enough. It’s 2020. Whatever. 78 degrees is good enough, right? 

HOT TIP: Get a tree you can easily handle by yourself. I guess that’s common sense. However, annoyingly we learn yet again that big things do not fill big emotional holes (keep your mind out of the gutter, it’s the holidays!). 

because the only thing more depressing than this color palette is hanging only one stocking haha

Next was my color palette. Here is a pic of my unintended “goth Christmas” fireplace. In my old apartment, with its light woods and white walls, this same decor was happy with a hint of moody. Here though, it’s moody, dark, and kinda depressing against my brown fireplace (also this was just the first decorating swing so don’t judge). After I set it all up, I took a step back and asked myself why I didn’t feel happier. I think partly it was the all the dark colors and lack of contrast? Now I don’t think I want to spend a ton of money changing the color palette but if you are decorating alone definitely consider your colors and how the make you feel this year. I normally love a moody design but Christmas 2020 is apparently not the year for it.

HOT TIP: Choose a holiday color palette that brings you joy! If it’s red and green, great. If it’s orange, pink, and purple that’s great too. One of my best friends and her roommate love Harry Styles and their decor theme this year is “A Very Harry Christmas.” We are all just trying to make it through amirite??? But also I can’t wait to see those pics:)

The one thing I really want to be proactive about this month is group zooms. Again not ideal because in-person hangs are always better but the sense of community that existed at the beginning of quarantine was really helpful for me mentally. But then when we were allowed to go outside (thank god), understandably those dissipated and the one-on-one face times were the norm. And while I love those dearly, the feeling of gatherings is what I think I miss most. But I can’t expect my friends and family to read my mind so I need to plan them… or at least one. Maybe it’s some kind of simultaneous cookie baking (then eating) zoom. Or maybe it could be an “everyone makes an ornament with what they have in their house” contest. Maybe it’s a “cheap wine” wine tasting event where everyone gets the same three bottles under $10. I don’t know but I think whatever it is, I really think it will help. I just need to actually do it and not just be an idea person. Intentions are nothing without action, right? I think that actually is the motto of 2020.

So there you go, I hope that even acknowledging how I’ve been feeling helps those who are lonely too, feel less alone. I do think it’s an important reminder that our family and friends cannot read our minds and that we have to reach out (but also maybe reach out to your friends who live alone?). It’s SO hard when everyone is going through their own version of hell and you don’t want to be a burden. BUT the more we safely connect, the better we all are. 

Have the happiest holiday you can but also don’t put pressure on yourself. You are doing great. Also, wear a mask.

Love you, mean it and you are most definitely not alone

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Jess’ Bold Berry-Infused, Cozy Modern Holiday Apartment

The post Let’s Talk About Living Alone During The Holidays This Year – Jess Feels You appeared first on Emily Henderson.