Leonardo da Vinci said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” He may not have been talking about home décor, but it certainly applies. Decorating your home, no matter the room, can be a hit-and-miss game. You try mixing patterns to create a more dynamic space, but perhaps it turned out too complex or eclectic for your taste. Trends come and go. What is trendy today may look outdated and odd a few years down the road. But while these trends are temporary, you can reach true sophistication and style when you focus on simplicity.
Home décor simplicity can stand the test of time. It can create a space that is the Audrey Hepburn of rooms: stylishly simple and classic. It comes down to that well-known saying, “Less is more.” Perhaps there is more wisdom in those words than we generally give it credit for. Home décor style is closely linked to fashion. You’ll see similar trends and interests circulate through someone’s wardrobe and then their home. So it only makes sense to look at the most famous fashion icons for inspiration, the fashion icons who left a legacy of style and simplicity.
The Fashion Greats
Coco Chanel famously said, “Before you leave the house, take a look in the mirror, and take one thing off.” The same goes for your home. Instead of cluttering your home with trends and accessories, take a step back and remove an item. Then reevaluate the room and the style you’re conveying. Don’t be afraid to keep things simple.
When Audrey Hepburn was asked how other women could achieve her idolized look, she simply said, “My look is attainable. Women can look like Audrey Hepburn by flipping out their hair, buying the large sunglasses, and the little sleeveless dresses.” With just a few adjustments, any woman could have an Audrey-inspired look. If Audrey were still with us, perhaps she would have offered the same type of advice for your home décor: a few minor changes and simplicity. Simplicity brought an understated elegance and sophistication to Audrey, and it can do the same for your home.
A Starting Point
So how do you now take these long-lasting ideas of simplicity and incorporate them into your home vision? To follow Audrey’s line of thought, start with just a few simple changes:
Window Coverings – Choosing the right blinds or shades for your windows may not seem like a noticeable change. It may be subtle, but it can pull an entire look together. The window blinds you choose should have the right feel. So, if you want a clean rustic feel, consider faux wood shutters to add lightness to a room. For a deeper elegance, try a real wood blind with a dark stain, which would be a great contrast with light-colored décor.
Color Palette – Attaining simplicity doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate color into your décor. It does mean, however, that you should be aware of how that color affects the feel of the room. Color is great, but a little black dress never goes out of style, and both Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn embodied that idea. The trick is finding a color palette that is your home’s little black dress.
From there, you can find new ways to add simplicity and sophistication into your home, whether that’s by making a few small adjustments, like Audrey Hepburn, or taking one thing away, like Coco Chanel.
