I have a gallery wall that my mom liked looking at when she came over. She would point out the pictures she liked. Now that she’s been gone for a year now, I also sit in my living room and look at the pictures and remember my mom.
"kids are hit and miss"🤣 i came for the happy home tips (received) and left with happy, mood-altering laughter. (and i have children.) Nick is extraordinary!
0:35 - "Unless you want to create something off-putting so that people don't visit you" - I would LOVE if you made a video on how to do that, it would be so funny! 😄
I have kids and I endorse Nick’s advice - kids stuff is in kids rooms. They can bring things out to play, but they pack it away before moving on to the next thing/meal. Works well. Home is organised. I’m not stressed. They have lovely rooms and they are learning to keep their space tidy. Win.
I have a preschooler and a toddler. Although they don't follow it with 100% accuracy, they're pretty good about returning toys to their shelves. I try to create a simple, ordered space for kids toys so they know how to return the items and keep the room tidy. My preschooler will even comment about a room being messy or clean. It's totally possible to maintain a clean home with littles!
My mom was like that with me, if I left a single pen in the living room she'd call me to clear it away. Honestly made me feel like an unwelcome guest in my own home though, like I just wasnt allowed to exist in shared spaces :/
I think it's good advice and very much about tone - grown ups are also not allowed to leave stuff in shared spaces, something I'm finally not having to remind my partner of on a daily basis! Kids will often just leave stuff because they don't think about it, they have busy minds and bodies, so I remind them before they walk away to take their book/toy/shoes/whatever with them. Eventually they'll get the habit themselves and they won't end up leaving stuff all over the place (like some adults who shall remain nameless used to do 😜) life's better when you know where your keys are
We dropped off our dog and all our plants with the in laws while we were managing a move. After getting our things settled, it struck me how sad and cold our place was without the greenery and our sweet doggo. Sustaining them is definitely work but they give it back tenfold ❤️
100% When my dog passed, my home felt so cold. Her little light warmed every room. There's a German expression, "Life without a dog is a mistake." They are worth every effort and (imo) should be spoiled. :)
@@hr3134 It is only right that we regard our dogs as family . Not sure who said it , but I've always liked the quote : " They need us , but not as much as we need them " . 🐾🐾💙
I got rid of so much clutter and crap after my divorce. It took me years to go through the stuff. So happy to have turned that page. My house 23 years post divorce is smaller, lighter and no cluttered. I love coming home now. I donated so much and made me feel so good when every item left the house on to a better place and to someone who wanted / needed from my previous life.
I started to declutter a few years before the divorce so I didn’t have to concentrate on it when I had to put energy into the divorce. Glad you’ve got out of that chapter. Thank you for giving me hope (nearly divorced a year) and love having decorated some rooms and painted a lot of furniture to give it a new life too. ❤ That lighter feeling is priceless!
Nick I'm sure you'd be proud, when I found out I was pregnant I invested in redecorating my sterile bedroom instead of a nursery room because I knew I would be spending most of my time there with the baby. Totally worth it!
Congratulations! Good move! You won’t actually spend that much time in the nursery. Babies don’t appreciate it either. Wait until they’re older and decorate their bedroom with them.
In honor of spooky month, you should totally make a video about how to make your home uninviting and creepy, but be really specific and weird about it. Like, WEIRD about it.
I have a studio with about 90% IKEA furniture but I love it. Love the colours, the cats and the 99% closed storage hahaha. Every 5-6 months I get an itch and move my furniture around, cheapest way to make it look like new.
The bedroom tip can be summarised in "decorate for yourself, not just guests", and that really speaks to me. "No one else sees it" makes it even more worth of attention. It's yours only, make it enjoyable
We love the clock because you've turned it into a piece of art. It doesn't work, it decorates that space beautifully, it just IS. It's somehow comforting to see it.
Kids don’t need so much stuff! It’s clinically proven. They get overwhelmed by it too! I’m a parent and I approve your message 😊 Get rid of most of your stuff and you’ll be happier!
How is that clinically proven? I'm trying to picture the experiments, like putting kids in a room filled almost to the ceiling with stuff (got to let the kids breathe--we know from other experiments THAT is essential), and then slowly removing items one at a time until they begin to perish? Or is this with brain scans trying to determine damage or healing with pre-selected items?
@@653j521 like when they are in the room with thousands toys they keep calling mama i am bored, but if you remove the majority of the toys and leave only few things - they suddenly start playing. And their imagination is amazing
For anyone that might be interested; that picture of a "steer" is a Highland cow, they originated in Scotland and are rust colored, I love the way they look.
The kid with the clutter comments- lol! When my kid was a toddler, I used to set a 5 or 10 minute timer and we “speed cleaned” which meant -as fast as you can, throw all the toys in a basket, for as long as the timer went, and when the timer went off, we were done. Feels like a game, works like a charm! 😂
I have an English bulldog. She is legitimately decor in my home lol. I have a large ottoman as my coffee table and I used to have a beautiful throw and a tray perfectly decorated on it until she decided it was her throne so since she is the most perfect pup in the world she is now my coffee table decor 😂
I put a lovely rectangle willow basket on my coffee table. I was intending to put magazines in it. My cats have decided that it is a perfect place to nap when the parents are watching TV. They will throw things out of their basket if someone tries to put something there.
Haha I love that. My dogs are a huge consideration in home decor. They really appreciate the beautiful blankets and throw pillows I buy, so I realize it’s better for me to not spend too much on them. My pups can be destructive by accident when they get the zoomies and have ripped up bedding, so I also don’t splurge too much on bedding. 😅
We applied a couple of these tips to our kitchen. It's not very large and it was always cluttered with appliances and supplies, with little space to work. Not a happy work environment. - Added an extra kitchen cabinet for extra storage. They don't make this kitchen anymore so I got something more or less similar. I had to resize the cabinet to fit, so I also made it a little less deep; it sits 2cm recessed from the cabinet next to it, which makes it stand out far less. - There was a ton of stuff we didn't really use, all of it has been banished. This freed up enough space to move all appliances and accessories from the workspace to the storage underneath. - We replaced a somewhat bland piece of art with two bright and colourful pop-art pictures of our cats :) - Replaced the nasty old 90s halogen lights with LED strips under the cabinets. Also replaced the recessed ceiling spots with versions that swivel, so we could aim them at the wall art. Total expense: maybe €300 and a day's work. And it completely transformed the space. More importantly, the place is a pleasure to work in now.
Funny story, in my entrance hallway in one of the houses we lived in, we hung pictures of all the dead relatives from way back. We got so many compliments on that hallway. It was really cool looking, and we referred to it as the deal relatives gallery, and people would compliment it and then we would all laugh about it being the Dead relatives gallery.
I have a lot of deceased family pictures that are well framed and line my stairwell. I enjoy them. Still have a few in larger frames to hang somewhere.
I inherited a mid century modern lamp and table. I say “inherited” but what I really did was rescue them from being donated to a thrift store during the death cleaning of my grandparents’ home. Because my aunts are savages. Anyway, they made me nostalgic in all the best “this was my happy place as a child” ways so I decorated my living room around them. And then I found it made me feel happy and peaceful to be in that room. So I carried the style throughout my home. All this is to say, don’t overlook using a family hand me down in your interior for both decorating inspiration and self restoration.
My home decor style is chaotic maximalism 😁. I like to paint. I'm not good at it, but it's fun. I have my goofy looking art on the walls and they make me laugh everytime I look at them. When I stop laughing I paint something else and switch them out. Are they tacky? Oh gosh, yes! But they are definitely one of a kind. Lol
Love one of a kind! How wonderful and quirky your home must be! I’m a quilter so my home is full of quilts and home made cushions, I use fabric as my medium, and can frequently change them according to season, mood etc.
I totally agree about warm lighting being more inviting and comfortable. However, in my craft room, I find colder lighting is really helpful for making sure things are color accurate and doing small detail work. It's really hard to find a lighting setup that doesn't look industrial though.
This! I will paint in whatever room I happen to be in and most of my overhead lighting is pure white 😂 my son hates it, but if you paint in warm lighting your colors are off, if you use cool light it looks good under any lighting. I do have table lamps that have a warmer light. 🤣 but I forget to use them.
Smart bulbs! You can switch the colour temperature of your lighting depending on what you need. If you're anti devices like Google home or alexa you can still control the lights via an app on your phone without any smart assistants listening in. I have a mobility disability so do use Alexa, smart bulbs and plugs. I have routines set up for lights to turn on and off at certain times, the colour temperature and brightness to change etc favourite ones are for my bathroom. I live in an apartment so my bathroom has zero natural light. I have a motion sensor in the bathroom so the lights automatically turn on (live in the UK so rules re electric sockets etc are super strict, I have 1 shaver socket thats it). Between 8am and an hour before sunset the pot lights are set to 3500k and 100% brightness, an hour before sunset it changes to 2700k and 50% brightness, after 11pm till 8am its 2700k and 5% brightness. The lights turn out after 10mins no motion detected. Can override using the echo device in the hallway just outside the bathroom or using the app on my phone if something outside my usual routine happens.
Go Nick! Here’s the Maya A. quote you referred to: “ “Words are things. You must be careful, careful about calling people out of their names, using racial pejoratives and sexual pejoratives and all that ignorance. Don’t do that. Some day we’ll be able to measure the power of words. I think they are things. They get on the walls. They get in your wallpaper. They get in your rugs, in your upholstery, and your clothes, and finally in to you.” ― Maya Angelou
I just love your videos so much. You're the only interior designer I listen to because not only do you give great advice but you do it with humor and lightness. It's so funny and refreshing and I love that you mix in personal stories and that you aren't ever actually mean. I *love* the funny catty bits and that your personality just shines through. I also really appreciate how natural you are on screen. It's very comfortable and the pacing is great. Basically, I think you're amazing. Thanks for always putting a smile on my face and giving us all great information for our homes.
I just bought vintage salt and pepper shakers for roughly 70$ and I thank you for making me feel better about that. 😂 They look so nice and make me so happy on my table that I feel like it’s worth it.
I bought an Aphrodite statue on facebook marketplace last year, a month before moving to my own apartment. I rented a tiny bedroom in a shared flat, and at the time it felt like a stupid purchase that cluttered up my room and added more work for the move. Now she lives in the bathroom and brings me joy every time I brush my teeth 😂 Sometimes the frivolous, unnecessary purchases end up being the most beloved.
Color temperature for lights--it can't be overstated. This applies to outside lights as well--half the houses in my neighborhood look like gas stations with that glaring white light. So cold and depressing
Historically I’ve always decorated my bedroom before any other room… til I moved in this house and for a hundred reasons I won’t get into here, I JUST finally got around to decorating it last month… 6 YEARS after purchase! Man does it ever feel wonderful now!
EDIT to include book title: I recently read a Swedish book, called Designfulness by Isabelle Sjövall, about how design impacts our neurology. I learned that we respond positively to sitting in circles; to the color green, plants and even plant and floral shapes; to fire; and to books. Also, the volume of the room impacts our neurology too -- it can be easier to think creatively or innovatively in larger spaces, and easier to focus in confined, cozy spaces. It can be a bit obvious but worth thinking that there is some "brain science" behind how spaces affect us.
Our Italian Greyhounds were pets who became part of the decor when they would strike an elegant pose, like an Art Deco sculpture. A well designed and maintained aquarium with colorful fish can also add life and beauty to a room.
I am totally on board with your parenting tips. My kids are grown, but when they were younger and we shared a space, I still wanted some tidy serenity at the end of the day. Crumbs, toys, socks, etc... had to be picked up. They grew up to be autonomous, wonderful men. Our lives are filled with chaos and stressors and home needs to be an oasis of comfort, warmth and security. This is why design is way more important than most folks realize: our environment has a huge impact on our well-being. Thanks for the great advice, the wit and the wisdom. You are a gem!
Our children are grown ,married and have children. We had a small three bedroom home that was organized and the children enjoyed but they learned to be neat, put away and appreciate and take care of their things and ours. One thing we all only ate in the kitchen or dining area. No one ever thought about eating all over the house. They grew up well adjusted and now have children. My daughter’s house is always a mess and her children have food in every room of the house and never carry anything back to the kitchen. She lets them and then complains. I never make a comment. Our son could do anything that needed doing in a home and make a substantial income. He was very neat. He married a slob and their daughter is a slob and their home is disgusting. He still does the cleaning, the yard and provides the income. Will be interesting to see the outcome of the grandchildren married with children. You can keep a pretty, neat and tidy home with children and pets but everyone must do their part.
Our children are grown ,married and have children. We had a small three bedroom home that was organized and the children enjoyed but they learned to be neat, put away and appreciate and take care of their things and ours. One thing we all only ate in the kitchen or dining area. No one ever thought about eating all over the house. They grew up well adjusted and now have children. My daughter’s house is always a mess and her children have food in every room of the house and never carry anything back to the kitchen. She lets them and then complains. I never make a comment. Our son could do anything that needed doing in a home and make a substantial income. He was very neat. He married a slob and their daughter is a slob and their home is disgusting. He still does the cleaning, the yard and provides the income. Will be interesting to see the outcome of the grandchildren married with children. You can keep a pretty, neat and tidy home with children and pets but everyone must do their part.
Our children are grown ,married and have children. We had a small three bedroom home that was organized and the children enjoyed but they learned to be neat, put away and appreciate and take care of their things and ours. One thing we all only ate in the kitchen or dining area. No one ever thought about eating all over the house. They grew up well adjusted and now have children. My daughter’s house is always a mess and her children have food in every room of the house and never carry anything back to the kitchen. She lets them and then complains. I never make a comment. Our son could do anything that needed doing in a home and make a substantial income. He was very neat. He married a slob and their daughter is a slob and their home is disgusting. He still does the cleaning, the yard and provides the income. Will be interesting to see the outcome of the grandchildren married with children. You can keep a pretty, neat and tidy home with children and pets but everyone must do their part.
I live with two "collectors" - my husband and our grown daughter. My home is so depressing that I avoid certain rooms. Anyway, I have a small room that is my space, and our bedroom. I have concentrated on making those two rooms my happy spaces. Also, I'm working on an outdoor space - a little enchanting space where they can't mess up anything. Nick, I'm glad you haven't put a battery in your clock. It just wouldn't be right.
I don't have kids, and my husband isn't too messy, but I still kind of want to go back to my single lady apartment that was relaxing and pretty. Clean, organized, and smelled nice.
My toddler adds so much stress into my life but also a lot of fond memories from watching him grow so much in less than two years. I look forward to when he can have his toys in his space. Until then, I’ll learn to appreciate the clutter because it means he’s here.
Yup. My mom instructed me to never complain about the mess and noise in my home. I should instead be grateful that I had healthy happy kids who COULD run around and make messes and noise. I was grateful and happy and it went by way faster than I ever could have imagined.
My ex-boyfriend gave me a fantastic abstract painting that he made himself. Objectively, I loved it, but it also brought back unpleasant memories. What a relief to finally donate it to Goodwill.
Yes. Decorate the bedroom! I also have a basement laundry room that is not special, but I painted the walls, cleaned and tidied the corner, hung art, added a plant and some essential oil spray. If I have to be there, I don't want to hate it. I find your living room to be almost stark, at least compared to my taste. Can you talk us through your style? Dim lighting is also restful. Maya Angelou. Plant gays. Kids and pets as decor. So much to take home.
Nick, I am loving mid-week content! I just ate lunch at work and this added to the break! You on the Nanny show would be brilliant! Your advice and humor are a splendid combination!
As an artist, let me give my heartfelt thanks to you for encouraging people to get meaningful decor for their homes! Quite a few people purchase my art as gifts, and it makes me so happy to think of someone having a great story or memory whenever they see my art. In an age of soulless mass production, that mutual support means so much.
Hey Nick, plant person here. Get a ZZ plant. They're super easy to care for and rather tidy looking, which I feel suits your aesthetic. Alternatively a Sansevieria ticks the same boxes. And of course, thanks for all the home decor teachings, my apartment wouldn't have looked and felt so nice without them.
I only have cacti, succulents and sansevieria (thanks for the tip with the ZZ plant!), because I don't have the patience for anything more. I water them every three months (I kid you not!), never changed the soil, no new planter, nothing. Medium light in my place, so they stand directly in front of the windows. That's it. Not that they look perfect! But they survive and look okay 😅
Cacti are surprisingly easy, they *want* you to just neglect them. I water mine literally twice per YEAR. I sometimes get problems with scale bugs on Sansevieria and/or rot if there’s too much humidity in the air.
I babysit a cat once in awhile and when he’s here I post pictures of him on Facebook ( he is so adorably cute). It’s amazing the number of times people will mention how well he goes with my home, fits the colour scheme 😂 and he does .
Screw warm lighting. All I could find for a while were [too] warm bulbs and florescent-looking LED lights. Finally found cool bulbs at LOWE'S. Thank God! Brightness and sanity have returned to my home and I can actually see what I am trying to read. I have enough jewel tones and warm wood in my home to take care of the warmth. I NEED REAL LIGHT. Learned the difference from watching your channel and went on the hunt for the right bulbs. Now my home is more cheerful and less depressing.
My whole house is really Zen. My bedroom is huge and I have a table and chairs, it's where I do my art or my writing. I have taken out all of my light bulbs from the ceiling fixtures, and have lamps absolutely everywhere, I live in coastal Australia so loads of natural light and colour coming through vintage silk saris that I made into curtains, it looks like gems coming through the picture window. For the lady who asked about the Saris, I found dozens on eBay, free shipping from India, I just bought 20 ...broke again!!
I've always wondered, where do you plug in all the lamps when you have lots of them? Because I would love to have a bunch of lamps but there just aren't that many outlets.
@@Chikina You can get battery operated ones that don't rely on an outlet. Some of them you touch to light up and also dim and some have remotes. They are super useful and can be switched around in your space. 😇
@@Chikina i had two extra double outlets put in the loungeroom, mostly because it was annoying trying to hide the extension leads, and two extra doubles put in the dining room same reason. The 2 spare rooms I felt had enough as did my bathrooms * which needs good lighting * and laundry room... if that's not a viable solution buy 4 point power boards with an extension lead attached and then just shove it all out of sight, 😂😂 that's what I did before I got the new outlets put in.
One thing that makes a home look happier is if you have a clock that isn’t running you should set it at either 10:10 or 2:10 so that the hands of the client emulate a smile. I picked up that tip as a watch salesman. Luv ya Nick
*Mood and Memories* . I'm not one to display a lot of family photos, however, I really appreciate the printed photo albums I receive from my eldest daughter every Christmas. A year in review, and they are great on the coffee or a side table. The "cozy" factor is high on my list of non-negotiables. Comfy seating, interesting textiles and mood lighting are a must. I swap textiles and vignettes via the seasons, but the neutral base remains. I'm 57, and it's taken me 10 years to curate my home in a way that feels authentically "me". And that's okay, because my home is my happy place.
Having kids made me make the master bedroom a priority, because I wanted a beautiful peaceful retreat. And they were good about helping to clean up their stuff and keeping things neat. They’re grown and in their own homes now, and I miss them. But honestly, I love everything about my house now. Lots of natural light, warm colors, memories all around me, including art and household items I’ve brought back from travels. And two big goofy hound dogs who add chaos, but I love them.
The only space that’s mine is my room so I started to invest in making it a happy space. New furniture, new linen, new lighting. I even went thrifting and found some great artwork for dirt cheap. The vibe in my room is soo peaceful and it gives me joy. I’m soo obsessed with you’re channel. It’s inspired me. I am trying to encourage my mum to get rid of all the stuff that’s linked to ex husbands. She’s got a lot of stuff that she doesn’t use and clutters the space.
From toddlers to moving out, the rule was clean up your crap before dinner, put it back in your bedroom --->😮 Calm and relaxed for dinner and the evening. Yep, mean Mom, with rules.
The only mean part is calling their stuff crap 😂 honestly this sounds great. Problem is I don't do this for myself, let alone expecting it of my 2 and 3 year old. Not saying you're wrong at all, it's a good system. Just wish I, the 32 Yr old could adhere to it myself too ✌️
"If you like your family....Your kids may have made you something ugly and you can now frame that and put it because it means something to you." I'm dying 🤣🤣🤣
Nick, after having watched dozens of you tubers trying to make decorating/design videos I have to say I love your style. You say what you mean and mean what you say. I am tired of these people that are always just producing glorified infomercials. Your opinion is spot on. You have good taste and you are not afraid to share your knowledge. You cannot make everyone happy but most honest people with appreciate your style.
While it is impossible to acknowledge those with truly more difficult circumstances especially the drs and nurses during the pandemic, the effect people had from isolation (and for those in basement apts lack of light) on mental health was a significant suffering too.
Please do a video about the crucial importance of SCENT and auditory enhancement to a space, meaning ambient background music ( a restaurant without is DREADFUL!!! In German restaurants all you hear is the grating scrape-scrape-scrape-scrape of the plates after a meal is finished. ) or water/clock/motion-sensor birds singing in the guest bathroom. This is another aspect we all could use help with. These elements are just as important as lighting I dare say.
Our bedroom was the first room in our new home that I decorated. It's Art Deco & Art Nouveau. I had a gorgeous canopy style iron bed custom made of vines and leaves, glorious to me! Then added some wood antique pieces of furniture and covered a bench at the end of the bed with fabric that echoed the vines & leaves. A few more modern pieces in a seating area have rounded it out with a few different lighting (all warm led) areas. I'm in love with our bedroom now and it's definitely my happy place. #LifeIsGood 🎉 I do love a good waffle maker only cause my sweetheart loves waffles so I make the a couple times a week. Yes, he's a very lucky man 😂 Kids? I have one grown son and all the rest are ok on a case by case basis!
Buying home decor in your travels is such a good tip. I don’t travel much but went to Paris in 2006 and bought some enamel Kitchen canisters for flour, tea etc. They’ve moved house so many times with me and are still beautiful.
Love, love, love that non-working clock. I have one also, a wall clock that my son bought for me as a special gift with his first real paycheck. It stopped working a long time ago at 3:32, no just because of a dead battery but because of a mechanical malfunction. I've left it like that ever since as I love that clock and don't even want to take it anywhere for repairs. I would miss it even for a few days. People who visit are often confused by it, and some even become visibly uncomfortable, which I find to be amusing. Of course I explain why it's like that if anyone asks, but I love it because it's a gift I treasure. Glad to see someone else with a nonworking clock who doesn't make a big deal about it. Your unconventional commentary always makes me laugh.
Fixing my room - what a luxurious self-care move! It took until kids moving out and retirement to fix the bedroom! I could move out all the bills and laptop, extra pillows, storage bins and all the "stuff". Soooo calming! 😌
Nick, I have always loved your channel but I have to say I LOVE YOU even more after this post !!!! Anyone that loves animals is my person, also mentioning animal rescue…a man after my heart! You’re a wonderful soul Nick! My dog is my world and if I could adopt more I definitely would. ❤😊🥰🐾
I have 3 (almost 4) kids who have plenty of toys but they generally stay upstairs in their bedrooms/playroom. For things that migrate downstairs I have a bin they have to go in at the end of the day. When the bin gets full we bring it back up and organize everything. It’s been a good balance for us and keeps our living space pretty darn tidy & easy to clean.
“Kids, eh… yours are probably good.” 😂 Thank you, Nick. Mine are great, but they’re all home on Fall Break and they’re making my home a mess. I needed the reminder that while my home currently looks like a tornado hit the toy bins, it’s also filled with love. The good news is, the mess is almost entirely contained to their rooms and the upstairs family room, they know not to bring their toys down into my space. I need my bedroom plus at least one whole floor of the house 😂
About the lockdown, it really really made the difference living in a place I liked with some green. Not the biggest backyard, but some plants and windows to see them. It made it tolerable and reduced friction within family members.
If you're someone looking for art to put in your home, my best advice is to go to festivals and craft shows! There are always going to really interesting and unique small (often local) artists vending at the shows and looking to sell their art. It's a great place to look for something that might really speak to you and stands out from the crowds of generic schlop
Lighting is really important, not just for setting a mood, but for actually seeing clothes, colors, specks of dirt, etc. And for those of us who are challenged in the dark winter months, a bright light can help keep depressing thoughts at bay. A lot of what I have is on dimmers and its all warm light. I feel much better in winter, now.
9:54 Tha's a wee Highland coo! Seriously, I love your honesty and humour, and I I'm particularly inspired by this because I've been away for 6 weeks, just came in my house and ... I have too much stuff. It's almost pretty but it's cluttered and crammed and I don't have people over. So thank you for the quick shake that I needed and the inspiration that will help me keep moving forward! ❤ 💙
A coworker made this suggestion that I loved and adopted: a great keepsake to bring home from traveling are magnets. They're small, inexpensive, and you have a lovely reminder of your travels every time you go to the fridge. Also, lots of pictures of the sights and you having fun, especially put into photo albums you can come back to any time you want.
True with the bedroom. As someone who came out late in life, after kids and marriage, I got my own bedroom and essentially an individual living room. I just went teenaged male in the living room and was very unsatisfied. The smaller room, now a beautiful and tasteful bedroom done up in dark academia.. it almost cured my insomnia instantly. When I get anxious or depressed with the heavy crap in my life, I do in there where I have a little reading nook. It's a complete mood changer everytime I so much as sit and look at my gallery wall. Start with the bedroom, get the energy and inspiration for the rest. Nods.
Agreed about the bedroom. For a long time mine was pretty basic. Became a catch all from time to time. Redid it last spring with thought, and idea's from different channels like this. Makes me extremely happy. No more catchall (until the holidays) Uplighting a faux tree casts interesting shadows as far as accent lighting. Dim lighting from two or three sources around a room is relaxing 😊
I've heard from Feng Shui channels that good quality, realistic looking fake plants are just as good as real ones for bringing good energy into your home, Nick! I am a recovering black thumb and have a mix of fake plants (mostly in areas which lack enough sunshine) and hard to kill plants that I can ignore for months on end. It's working out a treat!
On the plants: I have several fake trees and ivy in some dark corners that my aunt always compliments me on. I havent the heart to tell her. Fakes are very good these days, don't be afraid to try them out.
Lighting is what I have been investing in for the last few months and it's amazing the difference it makes to every single room, in terms of coziness and a finished look.
...I always considered my Bedroom as important as " the Public Spaces " of my Domicle ,because it IS important to not have that Room be " forgotten about ", .. it will become depressing to even sleep in that Room. I'm glad you had this as part of the Video. I have ... let me count...😁...7 Lamps in my Lounge ( Living Room). Lol. Various levels and areas of lighting are so important.
I have traveled, and even lived, in China for some time. I always brought a piece of art back with me. I love my pictures and the memories of my travels. Also, I have a basket that I brought home from St. Thomas when I was jut 16. It has been a bread basket, a fruit holder, and now is just a decorative piece. Fun memories of fun times!
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
I have a gallery wall that my mom liked looking at when she came over. She would point out the pictures she liked. Now that she’s been gone for a year now, I also sit in my living room and look at the pictures and remember my mom.
❤
❤
That’s so precious ❤
So sad but beautiful 😢
actually teared up. that's beautiful
"kids are hit and miss"🤣 i came for the happy home tips (received) and left with happy, mood-altering laughter. (and i have children.) Nick is extraordinary!
It was my favorite part 😂
Hitting your kids is abhorrent sir, are you not more aware?
Literally wouldn’t have had them if not expected 30 years ago. That said. I love mine. But…. They are hit or miss. Little leaches. 😂😂😂😂
“You’re here as witnesses, this is my will…”
He is not wrong about other people’s kids. 😂
You are so much more than a design channel. You are a treasure you make us laugh you make us smile. And that’s needed in these days.
Exactly! His videos make me smile 🥰
Agree so much!
Agree 🥰
❤
Yes. Nick is better than PROZAC!!!
0:35 - "Unless you want to create something off-putting so that people don't visit you" - I would LOVE if you made a video on how to do that, it would be so funny! 😄
His jabbering is enough to drive someone to drink!! 😮
I'm already in the nearest bar parking lot...
Might be a funny april fools day video idea!
Me too! Please Nick. It would be hilarious.
Dolls in the bedroom....?
🤣🤣🤣
I have kids and I endorse Nick’s advice - kids stuff is in kids rooms. They can bring things out to play, but they pack it away before moving on to the next thing/meal. Works well. Home is organised. I’m not stressed. They have lovely rooms and they are learning to keep their space tidy. Win.
Same here with a 5yo. And he cleans/put his toys away every night before going to bed.
I have a preschooler and a toddler. Although they don't follow it with 100% accuracy, they're pretty good about returning toys to their shelves. I try to create a simple, ordered space for kids toys so they know how to return the items and keep the room tidy. My preschooler will even comment about a room being messy or clean. It's totally possible to maintain a clean home with littles!
My mom was like that with me, if I left a single pen in the living room she'd call me to clear it away. Honestly made me feel like an unwelcome guest in my own home though, like I just wasnt allowed to exist in shared spaces :/
I think it's good advice and very much about tone - grown ups are also not allowed to leave stuff in shared spaces, something I'm finally not having to remind my partner of on a daily basis! Kids will often just leave stuff because they don't think about it, they have busy minds and bodies, so I remind them before they walk away to take their book/toy/shoes/whatever with them. Eventually they'll get the habit themselves and they won't end up leaving stuff all over the place (like some adults who shall remain nameless used to do 😜) life's better when you know where your keys are
I love seeing the world through their eyes. Everything is new. And their hobbies
We dropped off our dog and all our plants with the in laws while we were managing a move. After getting our things settled, it struck me how sad and cold our place was without the greenery and our sweet doggo. Sustaining them is definitely work but they give it back tenfold ❤️
100% When my dog passed, my home felt so cold. Her little light warmed every room. There's a German expression, "Life without a dog is a mistake." They are worth every effort and (imo) should be spoiled. :)
@@hr3134 I'm currently on the sofa with my cat 🐈❤ he is old and I spend a fortune on vet bills, but totally worth it ❤❤❤❤.
@@hr3134 It is only right that we regard our dogs as family . Not sure who said it , but I've always liked the quote : " They need us , but not as much as we need them " . 🐾🐾💙
"Maybe I should water them. I hear that works" 🤣 stupendous
I personally find children much easier to remember to water than plants, but more than one of them makes any room feel very small and cluttered.
I got rid of so much clutter and crap after my divorce. It took me years to go through the stuff. So happy to have turned that page. My house 23 years post divorce is smaller, lighter and no cluttered. I love coming home now. I donated so much and made me feel so good when every item left the house on to a better place and to someone who wanted / needed from my previous life.
I started to declutter a few years before the divorce so I didn’t have to concentrate on it when I had to put energy into the divorce. Glad you’ve got out of that chapter. Thank you for giving me hope (nearly divorced a year) and love having decorated some rooms and painted a lot of furniture to give it a new life too. ❤ That lighter feeling is priceless!
SAME! YES!!! 😀
Getting rid of a bad husband is the best tip for a nice home 😉
Nick I'm sure you'd be proud, when I found out I was pregnant I invested in redecorating my sterile bedroom instead of a nursery room because I knew I would be spending most of my time there with the baby. Totally worth it!
Good move!
❤
Congratulations! Good move! You won’t actually spend that much time in the nursery. Babies don’t appreciate it either. Wait until they’re older and decorate their bedroom with them.
Obviously not that sterile 😉
@@MrNicholasAaron bahahaha!
In honor of spooky month, you should totally make a video about how to make your home uninviting and creepy, but be really specific and weird about it. Like, WEIRD about it.
Yessssss
oh yes, Nick can do WEIRD
His april fools videos are so absurd, he could definitely do weird
A collab with Dear Modern, but using what not to do.
Like, a doorbell that growls?
Mom of four here. You're comments about kids are dead on! I was rocking with laughter. Keep up the sass, Nick. We love you for it.😂
I have a studio with about 90% IKEA furniture but I love it. Love the colours, the cats and the 99% closed storage hahaha. Every 5-6 months I get an itch and move my furniture around, cheapest way to make it look like new.
So true. A good way to deep clean as well
I do that at holidays. It's a seasonal thing.
Same! Though cat in singular
I love this so much, same with (art) studio, cats and moving stuff for no apparent reasons 😭🫶
You're Ikea-hacking! Good for you. Ikea rocks.
The bedroom tip can be summarised in "decorate for yourself, not just guests", and that really speaks to me. "No one else sees it" makes it even more worth of attention. It's yours only, make it enjoyable
"You keep clicking, I keep making." 😅Love it! Thank you!
I did not read this before I posted, honest!
We love the clock because you've turned it into a piece of art. It doesn't work, it decorates that space beautifully, it just IS. It's somehow comforting to see it.
And it's the correct time twice a day 🙂
I love how Nick throws *the* most casual shade. The deadpan delivery of his snark is just perfection. 😂
Kids don’t need so much stuff! It’s clinically proven. They get overwhelmed by it too! I’m a parent and I approve your message 😊
Get rid of most of your stuff and you’ll be happier!
A ball, a cardboard box, a stick. Kids really don’t need much more. Make them use their imaginations!
How is that clinically proven? I'm trying to picture the experiments, like putting kids in a room filled almost to the ceiling with stuff (got to let the kids breathe--we know from other experiments THAT is essential), and then slowly removing items one at a time until they begin to perish? Or is this with brain scans trying to determine damage or healing with pre-selected items?
I love the montessori method of seasonally rotating toys in drums
@@653j521 like when they are in the room with thousands toys they keep calling mama i am bored, but if you remove the majority of the toys and leave only few things - they suddenly start playing. And their imagination is amazing
@@653j521 good question!
posted a link to another video but I’m guessing that wasn’t allowed. Do a little research if you’re truly interested.
For anyone that might be interested; that picture of a "steer" is a Highland cow, they originated in Scotland and are rust colored, I love the way they look.
Mass production. 😢
@@HeidisHereAndThere That's true. More specifically, I love the way the cows look, not necessarily the picture. 😁
Well, yes, but properly pronounced “heelund coo”!
@@RagingCanuck 👍🏻
Nick, be sure to remove the batteries from the clock so they don't corrode and ruin the clock mechanism. I love that it's always 12:18 at your house.
12:18 is Nick hour
Again another comment. Does it have meaning, sorry I haven't watched all his vids.... His birthday?
Holy heck... I said 12:20 at first, then 12:18.....
The kid with the clutter comments- lol! When my kid was a toddler, I used to set a 5 or 10 minute timer and we “speed cleaned” which meant -as fast as you can, throw all the toys in a basket, for as long as the timer went, and when the timer went off, we were done. Feels like a game, works like a charm! 😂
At what age did you start this, I have a 1yr old as of Friday. He takes it as a personal offense when I put his toys in the cubbies😂😂
Immediately goes and pulls them out
"An uncluttered home is an uncluttered mind" sounds like a fortune cookie qoute 😂😂😂
its true!
Your clutter may be another’s happy place, depending on the clutter.
"I'm not giving medical advice!". Lol! Good to clarify this is not psychiatry related 😅
I have an English bulldog. She is legitimately decor in my home lol. I have a large ottoman as my coffee table and I used to have a beautiful throw and a tray perfectly decorated on it until she decided it was her throne so since she is the most perfect pup in the world she is now my coffee table decor 😂
I put a lovely rectangle willow basket on my coffee table. I was intending to put magazines in it. My cats have decided that it is a perfect place to nap when the parents are watching TV. They will throw things out of their basket if someone tries to put something there.
Haha I love that. My dogs are a huge consideration in home decor. They really appreciate the beautiful blankets and throw pillows I buy, so I realize it’s better for me to not spend too much on them. My pups can be destructive by accident when they get the zoomies and have ripped up bedding, so I also don’t splurge too much on bedding. 😅
Cute!!!!!
I’m a mental health therapist, and I approve of this message. 😉 Great video.
NICK! I love you! You are the thought bubble that should pop up over everyone’s head. I just die of laughter watching you. “Kids are a hit or a miss.”
He's a comedian in 2024. And it actually works. It's not PC offensive. 😂 It works with everyone.
It's a thing we can all agree on!
We applied a couple of these tips to our kitchen. It's not very large and it was always cluttered with appliances and supplies, with little space to work. Not a happy work environment.
- Added an extra kitchen cabinet for extra storage. They don't make this kitchen anymore so I got something more or less similar. I had to resize the cabinet to fit, so I also made it a little less deep; it sits 2cm recessed from the cabinet next to it, which makes it stand out far less.
- There was a ton of stuff we didn't really use, all of it has been banished. This freed up enough space to move all appliances and accessories from the workspace to the storage underneath.
- We replaced a somewhat bland piece of art with two bright and colourful pop-art pictures of our cats :)
- Replaced the nasty old 90s halogen lights with LED strips under the cabinets. Also replaced the recessed ceiling spots with versions that swivel, so we could aim them at the wall art.
Total expense: maybe €300 and a day's work. And it completely transformed the space. More importantly, the place is a pleasure to work in now.
"kids are hit and miss" I died. I cannot overstate how much I needed that laugh. It's been a rough day. Thanks Nick!
Funny story, in my entrance hallway in one of the houses we lived in, we hung pictures of all the dead relatives from way back. We got so many compliments on that hallway. It was really cool looking, and we referred to it as the deal relatives gallery, and people would compliment it and then we would all laugh about it being the Dead relatives gallery.
I have a lot of deceased family pictures that are well framed and line my stairwell. I enjoy them. Still have a few in larger frames to hang somewhere.
It’s true! Your clock is timeless design! ⏰
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣❣
and still functional twice a day!
Hope the batteries are out though... it wouldn't do to have them leak!
All my light switches in my home have dimmers. The previous owner did a whole house renovation and added that feature. I really appreciate it.
I inherited a mid century modern lamp and table. I say “inherited” but what I really did was rescue them from being donated to a thrift store during the death cleaning of my grandparents’ home. Because my aunts are savages. Anyway, they made me nostalgic in all the best “this was my happy place as a child” ways so I decorated my living room around them. And then I found it made me feel happy and peaceful to be in that room. So I carried the style throughout my home.
All this is to say, don’t overlook using a family hand me down in your interior for both decorating inspiration and self restoration.
I just bought a house today. Now these videos hit different.
Now he's not judging THEM, he's judging YOU
Congrats! 🎉
Congratulations!! 🎉
My home decor style is chaotic maximalism 😁.
I like to paint. I'm not good at it, but it's fun. I have my goofy looking art on the walls and they make me laugh everytime I look at them. When I stop laughing I paint something else and switch them out. Are they tacky? Oh gosh, yes! But they are definitely one of a kind. Lol
Love one of a kind! How wonderful and quirky your home must be! I’m a quilter so my home is full of quilts and home made cushions, I use fabric as my medium, and can frequently change them according to season, mood etc.
This made me smile! I’ve just started to paint, and everything I do right now is goofy, so I think I’ll be stealing this idea.
I totally agree about warm lighting being more inviting and comfortable. However, in my craft room, I find colder lighting is really helpful for making sure things are color accurate and doing small detail work. It's really hard to find a lighting setup that doesn't look industrial though.
This! I will paint in whatever room I happen to be in and most of my overhead lighting is pure white 😂 my son hates it, but if you paint in warm lighting your colors are off, if you use cool light it looks good under any lighting.
I do have table lamps that have a warmer light. 🤣 but I forget to use them.
Smart bulbs! You can switch the colour temperature of your lighting depending on what you need. If you're anti devices like Google home or alexa you can still control the lights via an app on your phone without any smart assistants listening in.
I have a mobility disability so do use Alexa, smart bulbs and plugs. I have routines set up for lights to turn on and off at certain times, the colour temperature and brightness to change etc favourite ones are for my bathroom. I live in an apartment so my bathroom has zero natural light. I have a motion sensor in the bathroom so the lights automatically turn on (live in the UK so rules re electric sockets etc are super strict, I have 1 shaver socket thats it). Between 8am and an hour before sunset the pot lights are set to 3500k and 100% brightness, an hour before sunset it changes to 2700k and 50% brightness, after 11pm till 8am its 2700k and 5% brightness. The lights turn out after 10mins no motion detected. Can override using the echo device in the hallway just outside the bathroom or using the app on my phone if something outside my usual routine happens.
Go Nick! Here’s the Maya A. quote you referred to: “
“Words are things. You must be careful, careful about calling people out of their names, using racial pejoratives and sexual pejoratives and all that ignorance. Don’t do that. Some day we’ll be able to measure the power of words. I think they are things. They get on the walls. They get in your wallpaper. They get in your rugs, in your upholstery, and your clothes, and finally in to you.”
― Maya Angelou
Thank you!
That is lovely and powerful.
I never tire of listening to to your wit
I just love your videos so much. You're the only interior designer I listen to because not only do you give great advice but you do it with humor and lightness. It's so funny and refreshing and I love that you mix in personal stories and that you aren't ever actually mean. I *love* the funny catty bits and that your personality just shines through. I also really appreciate how natural you are on screen. It's very comfortable and the pacing is great. Basically, I think you're amazing. Thanks for always putting a smile on my face and giving us all great information for our homes.
I just bought vintage salt and pepper shakers for roughly 70$ and I thank you for making me feel better about that. 😂 They look so nice and make me so happy on my table that I feel like it’s worth it.
I bought an Aphrodite statue on facebook marketplace last year, a month before moving to my own apartment. I rented a tiny bedroom in a shared flat, and at the time it felt like a stupid purchase that cluttered up my room and added more work for the move. Now she lives in the bathroom and brings me joy every time I brush my teeth 😂
Sometimes the frivolous, unnecessary purchases end up being the most beloved.
Color temperature for lights--it can't be overstated. This applies to outside lights as well--half the houses in my neighborhood look like gas stations with that glaring white light. So cold and depressing
Not only did you make some really good points, you are SO entertaining! I just laugh so much when I watch your videos.
Historically I’ve always decorated my bedroom before any other room… til I moved in this house and for a hundred reasons I won’t get into here, I JUST finally got around to decorating it last month… 6 YEARS after purchase! Man does it ever feel wonderful now!
I really enjoy watching your channel! Your blunt sarcasm lifts my spirits and cracks me up. Thank you for saying out loud what no doubt most want to.
EDIT to include book title: I recently read a Swedish book, called Designfulness by Isabelle Sjövall, about how design impacts our neurology. I learned that we respond positively to sitting in circles; to the color green, plants and even plant and floral shapes; to fire; and to books. Also, the volume of the room impacts our neurology too -- it can be easier to think creatively or innovatively in larger spaces, and easier to focus in confined, cozy spaces. It can be a bit obvious but worth thinking that there is some "brain science" behind how spaces affect us.
May i know the title of that book please.. thank you
That sounds interesting. Do you remember the author or title?
I would love the name of the book too! 🙂
Thanks! I ordered it now. 😅
Our Italian Greyhounds were pets who became part of the decor when they would strike an elegant pose, like an Art Deco sculpture. A well designed and maintained aquarium with colorful fish can also add life and beauty to a room.
I am totally on board with your parenting tips. My kids are grown, but when they were younger and we shared a space, I still wanted some tidy serenity at the end of the day. Crumbs, toys, socks, etc... had to be picked up. They grew up to be autonomous, wonderful men. Our lives are filled with chaos and stressors and home needs to be an oasis of comfort, warmth and security. This is why design is way more important than most folks realize: our environment has a huge impact on our well-being. Thanks for the great advice, the wit and the wisdom. You are a gem!
Our children are grown ,married and have children. We had a small three bedroom home that was organized and the children enjoyed but they learned to be neat, put away and appreciate and take care of their things and ours. One thing we all only ate in the kitchen or dining area. No one ever thought about eating all over the house. They grew up well adjusted and now have children. My daughter’s house is always a mess and her children have food in every room of the house and never carry anything back to the kitchen. She lets them and then complains. I never make a comment. Our son could do anything that needed doing in a home and make a substantial income. He was very neat. He married a slob and their daughter is a slob and their home is disgusting. He still does the cleaning, the yard and provides the income. Will be interesting to see the outcome of the grandchildren married with children. You can keep a pretty, neat and tidy home with children and pets but everyone must do their part.
Our children are grown ,married and have children. We had a small three bedroom home that was organized and the children enjoyed but they learned to be neat, put away and appreciate and take care of their things and ours. One thing we all only ate in the kitchen or dining area. No one ever thought about eating all over the house. They grew up well adjusted and now have children. My daughter’s house is always a mess and her children have food in every room of the house and never carry anything back to the kitchen. She lets them and then complains. I never make a comment. Our son could do anything that needed doing in a home and make a substantial income. He was very neat. He married a slob and their daughter is a slob and their home is disgusting. He still does the cleaning, the yard and provides the income. Will be interesting to see the outcome of the grandchildren married with children. You can keep a pretty, neat and tidy home with children and pets but everyone must do their part.
Our children are grown ,married and have children. We had a small three bedroom home that was organized and the children enjoyed but they learned to be neat, put away and appreciate and take care of their things and ours. One thing we all only ate in the kitchen or dining area. No one ever thought about eating all over the house. They grew up well adjusted and now have children. My daughter’s house is always a mess and her children have food in every room of the house and never carry anything back to the kitchen. She lets them and then complains. I never make a comment. Our son could do anything that needed doing in a home and make a substantial income. He was very neat. He married a slob and their daughter is a slob and their home is disgusting. He still does the cleaning, the yard and provides the income. Will be interesting to see the outcome of the grandchildren married with children. You can keep a pretty, neat and tidy home with children and pets but everyone must do their part.
I live with two "collectors" - my husband and our grown daughter. My home is so depressing that I avoid certain rooms. Anyway, I have a small room that is my space, and our bedroom. I have concentrated on making those two rooms my happy spaces. Also, I'm working on an outdoor space - a little enchanting space where they can't mess up anything. Nick, I'm glad you haven't put a battery in your clock. It just wouldn't be right.
I don't have kids, and my husband isn't too messy, but I still kind of want to go back to my single lady apartment that was relaxing and pretty. Clean, organized, and smelled nice.
😂reminds me of carrie from sex and the city. I like my iwn space. @@dinaboop
Poor you. Look into therapy for hoarding. Nagging these people won't help, but specialist therapist can.
My toddler adds so much stress into my life but also a lot of fond memories from watching him grow so much in less than two years. I look forward to when he can have his toys in his space. Until then, I’ll learn to appreciate the clutter because it means he’s here.
Love that!!
Yup. My mom instructed me to never complain about the mess and noise in my home. I should instead be grateful that I had healthy happy kids who COULD run around and make messes and noise. I was grateful and happy and it went by way faster than I ever could have imagined.
@@missmayflower I will try to remind myself of this wisdom as well!
My ex-boyfriend gave me a fantastic abstract painting that he made himself. Objectively, I loved it, but it also brought back unpleasant memories. What a relief to finally donate it to Goodwill.
I couldn't stop laughing, especially from 7:30 - 9:30. I just LOVE your sense of humor and sarcasm, Nick 🤣🤣🤣
Only issue is if toys are in bedroom kids don't sleep well
Yes. Decorate the bedroom!
I also have a basement laundry room that is not special, but I painted the walls, cleaned and tidied the corner, hung art, added a plant and some essential oil spray. If I have to be there, I don't want to hate it.
I find your living room to be almost stark, at least compared to my taste. Can you talk us through your style?
Dim lighting is also restful.
Maya Angelou. Plant gays. Kids and pets as decor. So much to take home.
Nick, I am loving mid-week content! I just ate lunch at work and this added to the break! You on the Nanny show would be brilliant! Your advice and humor are a splendid combination!
As an artist, let me give my heartfelt thanks to you for encouraging people to get meaningful decor for their homes! Quite a few people purchase my art as gifts, and it makes me so happy to think of someone having a great story or memory whenever they see my art. In an age of soulless mass production, that mutual support means so much.
I love this because you bring joy to me and as your neighbor to the south you can imagine how VALUABLE that is right now.
Hey Nick, plant person here. Get a ZZ plant. They're super easy to care for and rather tidy looking, which I feel suits your aesthetic.
Alternatively a Sansevieria ticks the same boxes.
And of course, thanks for all the home decor teachings, my apartment wouldn't have looked and felt so nice without them.
I only have cacti, succulents and sansevieria (thanks for the tip with the ZZ plant!), because I don't have the patience for anything more.
I water them every three months (I kid you not!), never changed the soil, no new planter, nothing. Medium light in my place, so they stand directly in front of the windows.
That's it.
Not that they look perfect! But they survive and look okay 😅
Cacti are surprisingly easy, they *want* you to just neglect them. I water mine literally twice per YEAR. I sometimes get problems with scale bugs on Sansevieria and/or rot if there’s too much humidity in the air.
@@LouciferFlump Even less watering you say? Yay 😃
@@ToniPust 😉
My zz plant is suddenly turning brown at the tips. It's about 4 years old. I did start watering it now and again recently. Any advice?
I babysit a cat once in awhile and when he’s here I post pictures of him on Facebook ( he is so adorably cute). It’s amazing the number of times people will mention how well he goes with my home, fits the colour scheme 😂 and he does .
A “September clean” makes sense! Clean up before cozying down for fall and winter
Screw warm lighting. All I could find for a while were [too] warm bulbs and florescent-looking LED lights. Finally found cool bulbs at LOWE'S. Thank God! Brightness and sanity have returned to my home and I can actually see what I am trying to read. I have enough jewel tones and warm wood in my home to take care of the warmth. I NEED REAL LIGHT. Learned the difference from watching your channel and went on the hunt for the right bulbs. Now my home is more cheerful and less depressing.
Nick! Why am I tearing up for an interior design video?! Love your videos. Except, every time I watch one I find myself rearranging all my decor 😅
My whole house is really Zen. My bedroom is huge and I have a table and chairs, it's where I do my art or my writing. I have taken out all of my light bulbs from the ceiling fixtures, and have lamps absolutely everywhere, I live in coastal Australia so loads of natural light and colour coming through vintage silk saris that I made into curtains, it looks like gems coming through the picture window. For the lady who asked about the Saris, I found dozens on eBay, free shipping from India, I just bought 20 ...broke again!!
I've always wondered, where do you plug in all the lamps when you have lots of them? Because I would love to have a bunch of lamps but there just aren't that many outlets.
@@Chikina I use long power strips. Just don’t plug one power strip into another!
@@Chikina You can get battery operated ones that don't rely on an outlet. Some of them you touch to light up and also dim and some have remotes. They are super useful and can be switched around in your space. 😇
@@ChikinaI like lots of candles. I only put the overhead light on if I need to redecorate the room😂 Low light levels for me, please 🌚🖤🦇✨
@@Chikina i had two extra double outlets put in the loungeroom, mostly because it was annoying trying to hide the extension leads, and two extra doubles put in the dining room same reason. The 2 spare rooms I felt had enough as did my bathrooms * which needs good lighting * and laundry room... if that's not a viable solution buy 4 point power boards with an extension lead attached and then just shove it all out of sight, 😂😂 that's what I did before I got the new outlets put in.
One thing that makes a home look happier is if you have a clock that isn’t running you should set it at either 10:10 or 2:10 so that the hands of the client emulate a smile. I picked up that tip as a watch salesman.
Luv ya Nick
I am never disappointed when I watch your videos. I love your frankness and humour. Keep em coming! ❤
*Mood and Memories* . I'm not one to display a lot of family photos, however, I really appreciate the printed photo albums I receive from my eldest daughter every Christmas. A year in review, and they are great on the coffee or a side table. The "cozy" factor is high on my list of non-negotiables. Comfy seating, interesting textiles and mood lighting are a must. I swap textiles and vignettes via the seasons, but the neutral base remains. I'm 57, and it's taken me 10 years to curate my home in a way that feels authentically "me". And that's okay, because my home is my happy place.
Having kids made me make the master bedroom a priority, because I wanted a beautiful peaceful retreat. And they were good about helping to clean up their stuff and keeping things neat. They’re grown and in their own homes now, and I miss them. But honestly, I love everything about my house now. Lots of natural light, warm colors, memories all around me, including art and household items I’ve brought back from travels. And two big goofy hound dogs who add chaos, but I love them.
The only space that’s mine is my room so I started to invest in making it a happy space. New furniture, new linen, new lighting. I even went thrifting and found some great artwork for dirt cheap. The vibe in my room is soo peaceful and it gives me joy. I’m soo obsessed with you’re channel. It’s inspired me.
I am trying to encourage my mum to get rid of all the stuff that’s linked to ex husbands. She’s got a lot of stuff that she doesn’t use and clutters the space.
Outstanding. This one goes into Nick’s Greatest Hits. Who doesn’t want a happy house? And who better to help us get one? 🏆
From toddlers to moving out, the rule was clean up your crap before dinner, put it back in your bedroom --->😮 Calm and relaxed for dinner and the evening.
Yep, mean Mom, with rules.
From a teacher: the best moms (parents) are the ones with rules.
@@nathalie_desrosiersAmen! ( also a teacher)
That's not mean at all, that's healthy ❤
The only mean part is calling their stuff crap 😂 honestly this sounds great. Problem is I don't do this for myself, let alone expecting it of my 2 and 3 year old. Not saying you're wrong at all, it's a good system. Just wish I, the 32 Yr old could adhere to it myself too ✌️
"If you like your family....Your kids may have made you something ugly and you can now frame that and put it because it means something to you." I'm dying 🤣🤣🤣
Nick, after having watched dozens of you tubers trying to make decorating/design videos I have to say I love your style.
You say what you mean and mean what you say. I am tired of these people that are always just producing glorified infomercials. Your opinion is spot on. You have good taste and you are not afraid to share your knowledge. You cannot make everyone happy but most honest people with appreciate your style.
While it is impossible to acknowledge those with truly more difficult circumstances especially the drs and nurses during the pandemic, the effect people had from isolation (and for those in basement apts lack of light) on mental health was a significant suffering too.
Please do a video about the crucial importance of SCENT and auditory enhancement to a space, meaning ambient background music ( a restaurant without is DREADFUL!!! In German restaurants all you hear is the grating scrape-scrape-scrape-scrape of the plates after a meal is finished. ) or water/clock/motion-sensor birds singing in the guest bathroom. This is another aspect we all could use help with. These elements are just as important as lighting I dare say.
100% agree!!!
Our bedroom was the first room in our new home that I decorated. It's Art Deco & Art Nouveau. I had a gorgeous canopy style iron bed custom made of vines and leaves, glorious to me! Then added some wood antique pieces of furniture and covered a bench at the end of the bed with fabric that echoed the vines & leaves. A few more modern pieces in a seating area have rounded it out with a few different lighting (all warm led) areas. I'm in love with our bedroom now and it's definitely my happy place. #LifeIsGood 🎉
I do love a good waffle maker only cause my sweetheart loves waffles so I make the a couple times a week. Yes, he's a very lucky man 😂
Kids? I have one grown son and all the rest are ok on a case by case basis!
Buying home decor in your travels is such a good tip. I don’t travel much but went to Paris in 2006 and bought some enamel Kitchen canisters for flour, tea etc. They’ve moved house so many times with me and are still beautiful.
The stopped clock is also smart in case you have made the video over a space of time, or even days. A working clock would be diverting otherwise.
Love, love, love that non-working clock. I have one also, a wall clock that my son bought for me as a special gift with his first real paycheck. It stopped working a long time ago at 3:32, no just because of a dead battery but because of a mechanical malfunction. I've left it like that ever since as I love that clock and don't even want to take it anywhere for repairs. I would miss it even for a few days. People who visit are often confused by it, and some even become visibly uncomfortable, which I find to be amusing. Of course I explain why it's like that if anyone asks, but I love it because it's a gift I treasure. Glad to see someone else with a nonworking clock who doesn't make a big deal about it. Your unconventional commentary always makes me laugh.
Fixing my room - what a luxurious self-care move! It took until kids moving out and retirement to fix the bedroom! I could move out all the bills and laptop, extra pillows, storage bins and all the "stuff". Soooo calming! 😌
Nick, I have always loved your channel but I have to say I LOVE YOU even more after this post !!!! Anyone that loves animals is my person, also mentioning animal rescue…a man after my heart! You’re a wonderful soul Nick! My dog is my world and if I could adopt more I definitely would. ❤😊🥰🐾
I am NOT sick of you talking about lighting!
I have 3 (almost 4) kids who have plenty of toys but they generally stay upstairs in their bedrooms/playroom. For things that migrate downstairs I have a bin they have to go in at the end of the day. When the bin gets full we bring it back up and organize everything. It’s been a good balance for us and keeps our living space pretty darn tidy & easy to clean.
“Kids, eh… yours are probably good.” 😂 Thank you, Nick. Mine are great, but they’re all home on Fall Break and they’re making my home a mess. I needed the reminder that while my home currently looks like a tornado hit the toy bins, it’s also filled with love. The good news is, the mess is almost entirely contained to their rooms and the upstairs family room, they know not to bring their toys down into my space. I need my bedroom plus at least one whole floor of the house 😂
About the lockdown, it really really made the difference living in a place I liked with some green. Not the biggest backyard, but some plants and windows to see them. It made it tolerable and reduced friction within family members.
If you're someone looking for art to put in your home, my best advice is to go to festivals and craft shows! There are always going to really interesting and unique small (often local) artists vending at the shows and looking to sell their art. It's a great place to look for something that might really speak to you and stands out from the crowds of generic schlop
Lighting is really important, not just for setting a mood, but for actually seeing clothes, colors, specks of dirt, etc. And for those of us who are challenged in the dark winter months, a bright light can help keep depressing thoughts at bay. A lot of what I have is on dimmers and its all warm light. I feel much better in winter, now.
A dog lover who buys waffle makers by accident - could Nick Lewis be any more adorable?❤
I laugh out loud in EVERY Nick video. Came for the design contest, stayed for your personality.
9:54 Tha's a wee Highland coo!
Seriously, I love your honesty and humour, and I I'm particularly inspired by this because I've been away for 6 weeks, just came in my house and ... I have too much stuff.
It's almost pretty but it's cluttered and crammed and I don't have people over.
So thank you for the quick shake that I needed and the inspiration that will help me keep moving forward! ❤
💙
A coworker made this suggestion that I loved and adopted: a great keepsake to bring home from traveling are magnets. They're small, inexpensive, and you have a lovely reminder of your travels every time you go to the fridge. Also, lots of pictures of the sights and you having fun, especially put into photo albums you can come back to any time you want.
Loved this video. So spot on for everything: bedroom, lighting, pets, kids, decluttering, etc. You made me smile!
True with the bedroom. As someone who came out late in life, after kids and marriage, I got my own bedroom and essentially an individual living room. I just went teenaged male in the living room and was very unsatisfied. The smaller room, now a beautiful and tasteful bedroom done up in dark academia.. it almost cured my insomnia instantly. When I get anxious or depressed with the heavy crap in my life, I do in there where I have a little reading nook. It's a complete mood changer everytime I so much as sit and look at my gallery wall. Start with the bedroom, get the energy and inspiration for the rest. Nods.
The Llama/Alpacas on your TV screen.........chefs kiss😅
Agreed about the bedroom. For a long time mine was pretty basic. Became a catch all from time to time. Redid it last spring with thought, and idea's from different channels like this. Makes me extremely happy. No more catchall (until the holidays)
Uplighting a faux tree casts interesting shadows as far as accent lighting. Dim lighting from two or three sources around a room is relaxing 😊
You’re exactly right about the clock!
I've heard from Feng Shui channels that good quality, realistic looking fake plants are just as good as real ones for bringing good energy into your home, Nick!
I am a recovering black thumb and have a mix of fake plants (mostly in areas which lack enough sunshine) and hard to kill plants that I can ignore for months on end. It's working out a treat!
Even pictures of greenery work!
You're an absolute joy to listen to and watch! Thank you for your videos and your time.
I spent the pandemic decluttering and it’s the best thing I ever did!
On the plants: I have several fake trees and ivy in some dark corners that my aunt always compliments me on. I havent the heart to tell her. Fakes are very good these days, don't be afraid to try them out.
Lighting is what I have been investing in for the last few months and it's amazing the difference it makes to every single room, in terms of coziness and a finished look.
Also, I have 3 boys and the secret is avoiding white. 😊 Also, absolutely no toys in the living room! Keep your crap in your own space!
...I always considered my Bedroom as important as " the Public Spaces " of my Domicle ,because it IS important to not have that Room be " forgotten about ", .. it will become depressing to even sleep in that Room. I'm glad you had this as part of the Video.
I have ... let me count...😁...7 Lamps in my Lounge ( Living Room). Lol. Various levels and areas of lighting are so important.
Yes!!! I love your house.
I have traveled, and even lived, in China for some time. I always brought a piece of art back with me. I love my pictures and the memories of my travels. Also, I have a basket that I brought home from St. Thomas when I was jut 16. It has been a bread basket, a fruit holder, and now is just a decorative piece. Fun memories of fun times!
My house was depressing because I was treated like furniture! Not anymore. Now I can decorate and love it. ❤
As someone whose lived in small, dingy bedrooms for many years, YESSS. Care about your bedroom and it will serve you well ❤