How to get the Perfect Masculine & Feminine Decor Mix

Finding a balance between masculine and feminine decor can sometimes be hard for couples.  I have some easy tips and things to keep in mind in order to achieve the perfect balance.

First let's figure out the difference between the two:

Feminine

1. Soft Material: Plush fabrics, linen upholstered furniture, furry rugs//pillows
2. Curvy or detailed furniture
3. Metallic: Gold, rose gold, silver
4. Light or pastel colors
5. Small print patterns
6. Layered Decor (Lots of accents, multiple blankets and pillows on bed, rugs)

Masculine:

1. Hard materials: Leather, wood, brick
2. Straight line furniture
3. Dark Colors
4. Large or solid print fabrics
5. Metallic: Chrome
6. Simple (one layer) decor

There is a pretty big contrast between the two general styles. Most shared man/woman spaces I have seen usually tends to heavily lend towards one end of the spectrum. This is especially true in the bedroom.

Now that we know the basics between the two styles, here is the trick to keep in mind:

Choose three basics from each side to achieve the perfect balance

Here's a visual of what I mean:

This is the approach I use when decorating my home, but I must admit, our bedroom is leaning heavily on the masculine side. Don't worry, there is a makeover coming soon for that space. Also, you don't have to pick 3 and 3; it could be 2 and 2 too...and you may even come up with your own mix too.

The main thing to keep in mind is to mix up the basics.

Another thing that is associated with feminine decor are flowers, plants, and framed family photos. You can pepper those into any mix that you choose.

I tend to lean more towards Mix 1. Here's some shots of my house from my Instagram:

Dining Room

Feminine: Upholstered chairs w/ small patterns and gold accents, plant
Masculine: Dark color, solid color chairs, straight line furniture

Living Room

Feminine: Layered Rugs, Small pattern on vase, soft throw blanker
Masculine: Dark colors, straight line furniture, large print on rug

Don't forget to pin the handy cheat sheet here on this post and tell me if you are living in a man/woman space, which mix do you lean more towards?

5 Life Lessons From My Mom

It's crazy you never know how much you need your mom until you become a mom yourself. Or maybe this was just the case for me. Becoming a mother 8 years ago opened my eyes up to just how much my mom did for me growing up. My mother was a single parent who was always there and available to me, she made parenting look easy. Looking back now, I still don't know how she did it. But she did! and she did it well! 

My mother has taught me so many things. Aside for that, I have learn so many things by just watching and observing her. The lessons I have learned can be applied to everyone and today I wanted to share a few of them:

Independence is Golden

My mom taught me how to be a go-getter, not only in her words but through her actions. Having independence is so important in life. At the end of the day we are responsible for our own life's journey. Independence is a huge part of life and being able to stand on your own two feet without help is invaluable. 

Kindness Rules
My mom has the biggest heart. She is known for her kind and loving spirit. I have always strived to have her same spirit. I have seen where others are willing to go above and beyond for my mom just off the strength of who she is. How amazing is that!

Help Out, Even When it's Inconvenient
It's easy to help others when it doesn't put much of a strain on ourselves. However, what about helping someone when it's not convenient? My mom is the queen of this...I mean super self-less! The help that she offers just means so much more because of this. She even takes it a step further by helping without expecting anything in return. She is the truest example of this.

 It's Not What You Say, it's How You Say It
How many times have you had to tell someone something that they may not be receptive to? I'm sure you can think back on a time of an uncomfortable conversation that you have had to have with a friend or family member. Knowing how to deliver these talks is my mom's specialty. She has always taught me to use the 'Love Sandwich' .... what's that you may ask...well, it's giving good news, followed by bad news, wrapped up with good news. Trust me it works. I love that my mom is sensitive enough to other's feelings that she puts effort into how she delivers news.

Once you Commit, Dedicate Yourself
You don't have to commit to do everything, but if you do commit to something, give it your all. My mom has taught and shown my that giving a 110% is a requirement. I have watched her sign up, pitch in and lend a hand all my life. She always done it with full effort and a smile on her face.

Now can you tell how awesome my mom is?? ...and today I will honor her with a few small gifts and her favorite meal. This table set up is for her and my mother in law.

Share with me, what are some life lessons you have learned from your mom?

Style Crush: W - Atlanta Buckhead

I'm back with another round of Style Crush and today I'm feature W Hotel in Buckhead (Atlanta, GA).

Over the weekend I spent time with one of my sisters for her birthday. It is our birthday tradition to get a room for our birthday and have a girl's night. We have been doing this for a few years now. It's a way for us to relive our college dorm room days. Sometimes we go out and sometimes we just sit around and talk to catch up.

I couldn't help but grab a couple snaps of the room we stayed in. I was super inspired by the decor and it gave me some ideas on some style challenges I have been facing.

One challenge I have been having is rugs,specifically, the best rugs to use with sectionals. I love the use of this round rug with the sectional.

I love how this rugs breaks up the boxy feel of the sectional. I will be on the lookout now for the perfect large round rug to fit my sectional. I think it's a great way to add a little interest.. I'm wondering why didn't I think of this in the first place.

One thing I'm switching around is my house if the use of gallery walls. I love a good gallery wall, but I think larger pieces are more my style. I love the use of this large print over the couch.

I'm not particularly in love with the print, but I do love the gold foil. Now let's talk about this gorgeous door.

I am in love with this door. I guess you would call it a modern barn door. Barn doors are all over the web now-a-days. I never thought it was quite for me until I saw this modern version. I love the frost glass with the white overlay. One problem we have is privacy on our back deck. I would love to update my sliding door with this treatment. It will still allow light in while giving privacy.

 Lastly, I have been considering converting my home office into a guest bedroom. I love how they added this workspace to the bedroom. This would be the perfect solution for me.

All in all, I loved the design of this suite. Lighting was an issue so I wasn't able to capture the best pictures or the ones that I wanted.

So what do you think of this space?  What design challenges do you find solutions in the places you visit?