i love the idea of a home as an infinite succession of layers. you start with a blank canvas – every room just a space defined by blank walls, the ceiling and the floor. then you start adding the most basic, functional elements – a couch, a table, chairs. then you might start decorating to make the space look more beautiful, more like a reflection of what you like. most of what you add will still be functional – a table cloth to protect the table top, curtains to keep the light out, a rug to warm your feet. and then finally comes the most interesting layer – the additions that you didn’t exactly plan, that don’t serve some kind of essential function.

when interior decorators talk about ‘adding texture’ to a room, i always roll my eyes a little bit. yeah, sure, if you choose a different fabric for the couch, curtains and pillows, you’ll technically be creating textural differences in the room. but when i think of texture, it’s a more soulful definition of the concept. it’s not a rational but emotional approach – being led by items that you love for some reason or other and then throwing them together hoping they will work. and you know what – it works because you’re the one who throws it all together. your interest in the objects is what ties them together. and that’s the kind of texture that i’m talking about.

it’s displaying your favorite books on top of a cabinet and then placing a framed photo or candle on top of the books. it’s being gifted a cute set of wooden birds, not really knowing what to do with them and then suddenly stumbling on a little space on a shelf that ends up being perfect for them. it’s adding one more pillow because you fell in love with it, not because your couch needed one or even that it really matches the color all that well. you can’t ‘decorate’ a space all at once. it’s a process that invites constant change – little details that are added or taken away, little pockets of meaning that didn’t exist before. it’s like writing a story chapter by chapter, not really knowing the ending.

you didn’t really ask for my philosophical thoughts on home decor but i shared them anyway – do what you will with them! in the meantime i’m happy as a clam with the latest random addition to our living room – the DOT PILLOW from HAY. the velvet is absolutely perfect, both the color and its softness. i know the trend is mixing and matching lots of colorful DESIGN PILLOWS with all kinds of different prints, but i really like keeping it simple, subtle and monochrome. there’s enough color seeping into the living room already – with the girls’ books and toys inevitably ending up all around.

speaking of the girls – i resisted the idea of getting a new television for a loooooong time, for the same reasons any design-loving person hates the tv in the living room. they’re just all so ugly – even if they’re a nice design an sich, the black hole they create messes up whatever carefully curated and balanced color scheme you have going on. but when the husband suggested getting this one (it’s the samsung frame) i was on board immediately. with the wooden frame and mounted all the way against the wall it looks just like, well, a frame. and there’s a handy function to display whatever photo you want. though the overall effect is still a bit too ‘light box’ for my taste, it’s a lot nicer to look at juliet and eloise at their most angelic, than at a big, black hole.

HAY STUDIO PILLOW gifted by my partner misterdesign.be • as usual – all opinions, stories and photos are my own