Spring has sprung here in Colorado and it has me thinking about the bright elements helping our home feel relaxed, comfortable, and beautiful. My favorite items are what I call ‘fun’ctional meaning they are fun, attractive, and useful. I love decorating with this type of interactive art. Because we have kids, toys represent a good portion of our artwork. Before we had children, our adult gear often served as a type of art. No matter your age or family dynamic, ‘fun’ctional art has the ability to brighten energy. In the most basic terms, I am taking about decorating with toys. So, what are the keys to embracing this somewhat unconventional type of interior design???
I want to start by revisiting a few concepts, which can help all homes feel better. First, clutter bogs a space down. Most people agree that cheap plastic toys, stacks of random papers or artwork, and other junky items diminish style. It is important to filter your stuff, keeping only the high-quality useful items that bring you joy.cFavorite or frequently used things can be highlighted by displaying them in prominent locations. Finally, spaces can be freshened by cleaning and sometimes re-locating things. I like to consider each family member as I create special spots for them to enjoy.
My mindset favors practicality, which is a big reason I love ‘fun’ctional art. Certain items are necessary for each family member’s care on a daily basis. Hopefully the necessities look decent, so they can be displayed in a stylish way.Things like clothing, jewelry, workout gear, kitchen supplies, toiletries, and bedding can all be organized to look classy. In both our daughter’s rooms I took the doors off the closet to make it safer for them to access their adorable clothing. I have my jewelry hung on pegs above my make-shift vanity station. Our workout gear has a home in the open space of our basement family room. Certain kitchen supplies and toiletries remain out on the counter in an orderly fashion. And all of our beds get made daily as we embrace a fresh start. All of these practical elements work together to form the style of our home.
Some designers recommend limiting toys to one or two areas, but I find this both boring and problematic. I have seen many an exclusive toy room completely overrun with junk, because all the toys just get tossed in without consideration. This type of space is not enjoyable for anyone. I find it much more fun to have a few high-quality toys in nearly every room of the house. The exception I make is the master bedroom. I enjoy having an adult master bedroom without any children’s gear. Most toy problems are solved by limiting toys to favorites and categorizing everything. Use it or lose it is a real thing in our house. I also eliminate all toys I wouldn’t want on display. This does not mean I display everything, but I would feel good about decorating with any of our toys. I am also a huge supporter of cleaning up each toy category before moving on with something new.
‘Fun’ctional art is dual purpose. Comfort features like pillows and blankets soften the look of a space while providing coziness. Plants are one of the absolute best ways to decorate as they freshen the air while adding beauty. Lighting, especially twinkle lights (my personal obsession), adds a warm glow to a room and obviously increases visibility. Toys add color and activity. When given the choice, I will always select multipurpose things for my home as they feel the best in our environment.
I think using ‘fun’ctional art in home decorating allows everyone to relax a little more. ‘Fun’ctional art is the puzzle left on the table. It is the bike or snowboard or skis resting on the living room wall. It is the good-looking dish drying rack or the educational kid’s placemats. It is the stack of books you are reading, or the blankets draped over the couch. Even the rainbow-colored gymnastics mats and wooden blocks are ‘Fun’ctional art. For both kids and adults beautiful useful objects make the best decorations!
Love Always,
Meg
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