Nikki Wilkes

I think (speaking personally) that for many people, the home is like an exoskeleton on their life. It's where you live and love, make up, break up, relax, stress out, laugh and cry...and when you look at it like that, your house is more privy to your personal life than your best friend or partner is. If what clothes you wear define who you are and what people think of you when you go out, then your interiors say just as much about you when others come in to visit. So, in answer to your question, decorating your home is akin to wearing a pair of earrings, or a watch...or a new shirt or impulse-buy dress...it's how you project yourself to others and you want to make the best possible impression. But that's just my thoughts!

I like to spend money on my home because I like my surroundings reflect me as a person; in the same way that my friends reflect my personality. But I tend not to spend more than I need to on my home - comfort is more important than style.

Your thesis sounds interesting. I'm just getting started on home design and blogs from people like you are why I'm using the site - to change the way I think and decorate my home. I used to lack imagination when I looked at my walls, but I'm beginning to realise its just about having confidence to do stuff, and express your personality in the decisions you make in your home. It's the classic situation when you're showing someone round your flat - like anything you wear or buy, you want to have pride in it. And that's home to me - a place you feel comfortable, but also a place that says who you are, and a place you're proud of.

Home is where you can truly be yourself -- sprawled out on the sofa, in ratty-but-comfy clothes, eating ice, cream straight out of the tub, your hair unwashed -- perhaps I have revealed too much! Alternatively, home is where you entertain and impress and wow people with your impeccable-and-eclectic taste, your carefully chosen souveneirs, and your extravagant but oh-so-soft cashmere sofa throw -- again, not an exact replica of my life! But seriously, I think (as we all do) that home is an extension of both our best selves and our worst selves. Home is a place you can be proud of and use to show who you are to outsiders, and it's also a place that accepts you when you don't want to let anyone in. For me, it's an environment I want to be comfortable in no matter who's with me or how I'm feeling -- and all of the trinkets and furniture I choose to surround myself with reflects that desire...

My home is my castle...and it's the only place on earth where I'm truly king. It's my dominion. And my retreat. And it's odd to think - or, at least, I think it's odd - that this piece of property is the only place on earth in which you exercise total control.

Interesting topic! I guess to feel truly at home you have to give the room a personal touch, something that relates to you, is an expression of yourself. A bit like clothes, they both have to fit regarding their size as well as their style. Everyone who has ever lived in a pre-furnished room will know that: first thing you usually do in a case like that is put some of your own pictures on the wall. Engaging in home decoration is both a creative and practical way of self-expression. That makes it a great hobby, maybe a balance to a dull or "restricted" (regarding self-expression and creativity) day job and to the 'outside world' with its roles and rules. Actually, there's one more aspect: Just as with clothes, a nice home can make a big impression on others. When hosting a get-together at your place, people will maybe pay you compliments on your style - which ultimately is compliment to your personality when you use decoration as a means of self-expression (and not just copy styles).

Your blog is very interesting,and for me something I can look forward too.For now I seem to have 3homes. Living in London I rent,however due to ridiculous landlord rules we are not aloud to put nothing on the walls,hang pictures,use blue tack etc,so the room is quite bland although I have my personal bits strewn across the floor in some organised fashion.When I'm in London this is home.However not for long as imagine 2 months down the line I will move again.I also have a home in Nottingham -where I studied and lived with my brother.As he has no clue of design we did this up together,and seems to be still an on going thing of over 2 years.As I have left,all motivation to continue decorating has diminished. Then there is 'home home',where I spent most of my growing up years from 10-18.My room has now been turned into the guest room,but recently decorated to the style of the house! For me this is perhaps still home,filled with familarity-I just look forward to having my own home one day

Hazel, I think you have hit the nail on the head in as much as 'home is where the heart is' and whether it actually matters what decoration we opt for or not is quite debatable. I suppose I am interested to get down to the nitty gritty of how we see our homes these days and how looking at other people's homes in magazines makes us feel - as you say, this is something you aspire to as is owning your own home. Thank you so much for your comments!

Hi Nikki,
Your last comment really made me think.It is interesting to see how we do look at other peoples home and interiors, it seems very much related to the whole contraversy and media spin surrounding the fashion industry and how we look at the beautiful glossy pics, clothes. For me those feelings of perfection/imperfection are very relative to the interiors I see whether in a magazine, TV programme, friends house. As said previously, and relevant to me the home is an extension of ones self, and can be a very personal space.

Home making is the art of the individual. The bricks and mortar canvas is the cover. The reality is the life within the room sets.

your home is your castle, and you should live in a way that makes you happy and secure. Your home should be an extension of you rather than what you are told is "right". nothing more lovely then going into a home and the owner can tell you all about the art, the furniture and all the stories that come with them - that is great! Design is personal , no right or wrong.

I think your thesis sounds fascinating. For me a home is a place of inspiration, a birth place of ideas and creativity, a way to make us stand out of the crowd. So many of our buildings are the same, as ar our shopping centres.
Each of us change at a different pace and have different experiences.I think our fascination with design and our interior space is an attempt just to be ourselves, which sometimes comes as a surprise.