vision :: "don’t buy" words
Thursday, July 7, 2011 by {darlene}

Have you read this post I wrote about defining your style by selecting your own set of style words?

If not, you may find it helpful if you struggle at all in the area of identifying what you love.  
The post inspires you to find a collection of your own personal style words…. which is ever so useful, and also, ever so fun!

I share my own personal style words there as well. I find mine to be a huge guiding help for all sorts of purchases, and I really encourage you to jot down a list of your own personal style words.

To the point! In that post, I neglected to share the fact that I also have a “don’t buy” word.

The “don’t buy” word is important, because it will be your best friend while you are shopping for your home. And it will help you nail down what will have “staying power” in your home.

An example??  My “don’t buy” style word just happens to be: “cute.”

Here is why:

1.  I tend to like cute things, {I mean, who doesn’t like cute things?}.

2.  And, I also tend to pick cute things up in the store, thinking that I must take them home with me {I mean, who doesn’t want to take home cute things?}.

The problem is: that while I may LIKE cute things, I don’t truly LOVE them. And they also don’t help me toward my goal of a home that embodies:

  • Sophisticated
  • Simplicity
  • Glamour
  • Elegant
  • Order
  • Breathes
  • Comfort

So, when I am perusing a web boutique, or if I am hoping to score at HomeGoods, I pose the question: Is it cute, darlene?

… if I can easily describe an item as “cute,” but not at all “sophisticated, simple, glamorous, elegant, etc.,” I put it back, knowing that it ultimately will not have “staying power” in my home.

Now don’t be swayed by my “don’t buy” word!

“Cute” may very well be on your primary list of style words. It is all about what YOU love… not what everyone else tells you to love.

this child’s bedroom is too cute for me, even for a child’s room… but maybe it is a dream for you!:

 

Can you think of any “don’t buy” words that would help you keep your personal style goals in check?

**Remember**

Pick a word that often leads to lots of  dangerous and accidental purchases… or a word that describes things you tend to buy and LATER regret! That word will prove to be the biggest help to you while shopping.**

I would love to know your “don’t buy” word!

Labeled: defining your style, lessons in design, vision

12 Comments

  • allenaim photography and design
    July 7, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    RED! …and I'm ALWAYS a sucker for the Grannie Chic stuff, but it NEVER works out right at home…so no grannie chic for me :)

    Reply

  • The word that does it for me is whimsical. If anything is considered a "touch of whimsy", I don't want it!! :)

    Reply

  • I wish you you'd written this post 2 weeks ago. I was disappointed in myself when I literally came home with something "cute"…& then wondered what I was thinking! It's not returnable – bought at a Flea Market. So I'm going to have to copy you & use Cute as one of my words. I think another one might be – Duplicate. Do I reeaaaallly need another candle holder or decor item even if the price is right? I need to be better about that – if it's similar to something I already own. Great advice.

    Reply

  • What a great post! That really helps me because some of my “don’t buy” words are formal, elegant (smile). Elegant for me brings to mind formality. I think my house is suffering from lack of definition! I want to think about this more. :-)

    Reply

    • dixie. first of all, I just love that your “don’t buy” word is on my “Do buy” word list!!! It just goes to show you how important it is to really identify what you love and what brings you joy. We are all so different, and our homes should bring out the best in us. GREAT comment!

  • The word patchwork is mine.

    Reply

  • stuffy
    traditional
    boring
    typical
    gaudy
    vanilla

    I don’t know if these are specific enough…need to keep thinking. :)

    Reply

  • Gotcha! Unfortunately, I think I’m guilty of /getting into trouble with pieces in all of those categories…because I’m such a sucker for a good deal. A sample internal dialogue might go like this:

    “Will this traditional wood chest of drawers hold all of my son’s pajamas? It will! and it is only $100! I should get it – I can make it work.I’ll paint it and get new hardware.”

    The “I can make it work” is where I go wrong. LOL. Some pieces are just not workable – no matter what treatment you give them. And I’m excited to have these helpful posts to refer to as I’m trying to define my *style*!

    Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • “good deal” and “I can make it work.” Sounds like perfect “don’t buy words.” They don’t need to fit in a box… they just need to work at getting your hand off of your wallet when it comes to buying things that will not fit into the category of LOVE! Best of luck, Janna. Keep me posted!

  • Trendy is my word. I pretty much hate everything in Lonny Mag, but if I find something featured there at a decent price, I’m SO tempted to buy it even though it’s completely not my style. I sort of go, “Oh, all the cool kids love this, so I must love it, too, or else I’m a loser.”

    Reply

  • Nice. When I say “oh, that’s nice” I usually buy and shouldn’t. There is just so much really nice stuff out there! I want it all but it just won’t fit in my house.

    Anyway, my buy word is really a sound more or less. When I make that sudden inhale when I see something – that’s when I should buy.

    Well, this has been an enlightening exercise for sure.

    Reply

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