Happy Thursday, BDH. Mod R here, requesting Horde assistance.
I am moving house.
The new place is lovely, and I am very happy and grateful to have housing, but it has also been touched by the Fairy of Modern Rental Design (much less cooler than the Fish Fairy) and leeched of colour. Stark white walls, bright fluorescent lighting, black fittings, grey floors. Add windows that do not get direct sun and the usual English grey natural light, and you get the picture.
Very much a First World Mod problem, I am the first to admit. But the more I get to know myself and my ADHD, the more I realise how much my environment overstimulates me and makes me evil.
I haven’t decorated a home in more than a decade, and I ended up really hating what I did then, which was to work with the monochrome instead of against it. When I got rid of the bigger, greyer pieces, it was like my whole nervous system breathed a sigh of relief from tension I didn’t even know I was holding.
I do not want to get to that situation again.
Now I’m leaving all of that furniture behind and starting anew, with two limitations:
- I can only work with furniture, textiles, lighting, rugs, art, and renter-friendly tricks. The walls, floors, kitchen fittings, and permanent fixtures must remain as they are.
- More importantly, I have no measurable aesthetic sense. As in, I can appreciate it when I see it, but I have no idea how to get things that harmoniously “go” together.
My style is…pretty much everything they dig up at Pompeii? I’m not sure what to call that particular flavour of Mediterranean, but if I could live on an Ancient Rome set design, I would. Creams, terracotta, olive greens, pops of gold and sea blues.
My mission is to lighten and warm up the place by combining the two realities. “What if a spreadsheet became a home?” meets “You wake up on a sunny afternoon in Apulia. It’s 78 AD, and the olive harvest is plentiful.”
So I come to you, wise Horde.
Where do you look for inspiration and shop for home things? I’m in the UK, but please do not let geography stop you. The comment section has never respected borders before, and I see no reason for it to start now.
Is it Pinterest accounts? Design books by…? Instagram people? Specific blogs? YouTube channels? Secret witch covens that meet inside an ancient turtle and discuss where to buy good curtains?
Please advise, because I am currently losing a staring contest with a grey floor.
Go to arts and crafts fairs and thrift shops. Look at things until you see something that takes your breath away. Buy it, even if expensive. This will be the start of your decorating. Then pull colors from this item into your new furniture and rugs.
You might not even need to buy it. I saw a painting that my father bought back in the 80s, and fortunately was frequently available to look at. I now have a gold sofa, green and brown chairs, and a rug that pulls the colors together. Then after my parents passed, the painting has pride of place in my living room, and I love it every day.
Congratulations on the new home. I like the cabinet pic. The knobs look like eyes! Good luck brightening things up.
Olive trees have a lot of grey to them, so going with some larger olive green pieces, say a sofa and chair could be a great beginning, I would look for a living area rug that’s Main color (or colour which ever one prefers) is clay and has all the other Med colors in it. If you are allowed to hang Art, You might even hang something like that above the sofa. To relieve the black and grey in the kitchen area you might consider getting some stoneware pitchers in teal blues and terracotta to set on the counter, even just one that you can put flowers in once a week is cheerful.
bedroom, get a bright cheery comforter to start. doesn’t need to be expensive, just a pop of color to get away from the grey and a shower curtain if needed same thing, those two items should not be your forever things, they should be keep me from killing myself with the evil grey things so I can stop and think a bit. I repainted a condo I was living in once because the grey walls had me so depressed it was dangerous to my well being. Totally get the anti grey thing. some say it looks clean, I say ‘yeah like a morgue.’
Go 2nd hand, and Ikea has beautiful rag rugs for that pop of colour. Buy a small carpet 2nd hand, and hang it on the wall. Get a cheap framed print, and splash colour over it. Cushions are your friend. Fill a bowl with sea food plushies (lobster. crab, fish, seaweed ) and go wild. Lots of plants on display shelving, all different sorts. Have fun xx
I am late to this party and I haven’t read all the comments because my boss frowns upon play at work but my advice as a librarian — go the the library and get home decor books. Find a style that feels good to you then try to locate things that copy that vibe.
Even in my own home I tend to go with light, blank walls and make the space mine through color. I have colorful furniture and lots of art. Pillows and blankets are helpful. Warmer colorful furniture can add a lot. Grey and white are banned.
I got an amazing custom couch from a California company called What a Room — I have no idea if they ship internationally. It can be good to invest in a statement piece and then find less expensive or thrifted items to make up the difference.
I’m blathering now. I shall stop.
American fashion historian Nicole Rudolph has been doing a months-long series on trends in home decorating as she fixes up and decorates her new house. She references sources that do beautiful color well, including the 60s and 70s, and she explains a lot of the why’s you see in current home decorating. Maybe it’s because I’m a history nerd, but I find that I can better figure out what I like when I can sort the jumble of choices into a kind of historical order and intention. The videos are also fun. She’s over on YouTube.
Get wood furniture. Coffeetable. Small side tables. Plant stands. Shelves. Picture frames.
I would go with warmer wood towns like oak or teak to balance the black. Nothing too light.
That alone should already add a lot of warmth into the room.
If you don’t have animals, splurge on a wool carpet for the living-room.
Plants, lots and lots of plants. There are self-watering options for us ADHD people who tend to forget to water plants. Or go with easy-to-care for plants like peace lilys, agalomena (the come in a wide variety of shapes and colors) and pothos (trailing plants). Maybe on monstera (can get really big) or a monstera monkey-mask (another trailing plant). You should be able to find all of those in stores that sell plants in the UK.
I can’t believe no one has made the obvious joke: these gray walls will not kill me!
My design is based around a statement piece. I pick one piece and design the room around it.
In my bedroom, it’s a handmade quilt. That gave me a bunch of beautiful colors to choose from for art and rugs.
For the kitchen, it is a ceramic painting from Italy. From there, I hung a bunch of decorative plates in the same colors.
Adding light wood pieces- like a breakfast bar or shelves- can warm up a grey and white room.
Organizing your collections by color or theme can tame clutter into a more visually appealing display. Think the difference between a junk shop, where everything is jumbled and can be overwhelming, and an antique shop where things are organized by era, purpose, color and type. Much more welcoming!
Good luck with it.
Mod R, they have great wall murals or wallpapers that are like peel-n-stick that you can use in an apt. that can peel write off. Maybe find a lovely Mediterranean tile print and put it on the front & sides of the island for some warmth and a great pop of color. You may also be able to find a nice high end peel-n-stick tile to use for the backsplash. Wall prints, and window treatments can also warm up a space. Pillows w/ some terracotta/Mediterranean prints on a warm colored sofa can make the space feel really different. Add some life potraying colors w/ plants & if watering is not your thing get some succulents.
I’ve gotten my inspiration fr. binging many programs on HGTV, don’t know if you have that in the UK. I also, look at magazines from Architecture Digest, and furniture store catalogs.
Pinterest “Italian Decor” or “Tuscan Decor” is a good vibe. There used to be a magazine on the racks at Waterstones called Tuscan Design which was a whole thing. Believe it or not, TK Maxx (as it’s called in the UK) is awesome for a more minimalistic Roman Villa design vibe, with those requested pops of sea blue, aquamarine and Tuscan red. Coir rugs, textured cream curtains, matchstick blinds, sofas and chairs in creams and tans/neutrals, then pop the color with warm woods, pillows and throws. You got this!
Lucky you – a neutral background is a great advantage when you have a good sense of what you want. My best advice, if you don’t know exactly how that looks, is to take pictures of your space and ask AI to style it with your specific taste. Then ask it to refine. A good place to start would be exactly what you shared above: “You wake up on a sunny afternoon in Apulia. It’s 78 AD, and the olive harvest is plentiful.”
I live in San Francisco where we have fog, so I can relate to grey daylight. I have an LED floor lamp I love; it does a great job of simulating sunlight, and takes up very little floor space. Here’s the Amazon listing for it: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brightech-Torchiere-Super-Bright-Floor/dp/B06VSX13DF.
Removable Wallpaper
When I redecorated I got a lot of information about color from Maria Killam, online. And I also hate all the black and gray.
They have lots of secondhand shops in the UK. Get some nice rugs in warming colors. Stalk the secondhand shops. Buy a good couch and add your favorite pillows and throws. I got a lot of secondhand silver and china in the UK. Have fun shopping!
Fellow ADHd-er here! I recently had a similar experience. I ended up using a tweaked version of my garden design consultation questions. Here’s a shortened version:
What is the room used for, and where are you going to be facing most often in that room? Whatever the answer is, that’s the focal point of the room.
Pick a colour palette (or two) online
Pick 3 descriptors: Mediterranean, cozy, modern
Google image search those descriptors + the room: Mediterranean, cozy, modern
living room
Hard part. Pick three, and only three, pictures you like.
What do the pictures have in common? Is the furniture big and cushy, are the carpets circular, are the picture frames light or dark, etc. When you find all the common traits, overlay your colour palette.
Canva is helpful because you can upload an image of the room and snippets of furniture you find online
I get distracted by pretty things and decision paralysis when I shop, so I ended up printing out the photos, writing notes, and referencing them so I didn’t randomly buy a shiny thing.
Dark kitchens in rentals are hard because there’s only so much you can add to soften it. ovens mits, tea towels, spice rack, toaster, dish cloth, photos/art on the back splash, stools for the island. Flowers!
Hope this was helpful! Good luck!
So I recently used Chat GPT to recommend some colours for soft furnishings and that I was UK based and it came back with recs from Dunelm etc so pretty decent. I gave it my room colours and that it was north facing and the vibe I wanted.
You can get peel and stick wallpaper – worth checking out – also for the kitchen cabinets too.
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/lifestyle/interiors/g34023469/removable-wallpaper/
Congratulations on your move! It’s exciting but also stressful. I’m in the throes of a move myself, also to gray floors and light gray walls. Kitchen is lovely.
Lost most of my stuff in the Fl hurricanes, and have been living in a tiny mobile home with most salvaged stuff in storage. I’ve been thrifting floor lamps and table lamps for warmer lighting. I love plants in the home (out of feline reach). I have the benefit of a dear friend who has amazing design skills as well. I plan to add more natural fibers and textures as well to fight all the gray. Enjoy
Fellow ADHd-er here! I recently had a similar experience. I ended up using a tweaked version of my garden design consultation questions. Here’s a shortened version:
What is the room used for, and where are you going to be facing most often in that room? Whatever the answer is, that’s the focal point of the room.
Pick a colour palette (or two) online
Pick 3 descriptors: Mediterranean, cozy, modern
Google image search those descriptors + the room: Mediterranean, cozy, modern
living room
Hard part. Pick three, and only three, pictures you like.
What do the pictures have in common? Is the furniture big and cushy, are the carpets circular, are the picture frames light or dark, etc. When you find all the common traits, overlay your colour palette.
Canva is helpful because you can upload an image of the room and snippets of furniture you find online
I get distracted by pretty things and decision paralysis when I shop, so I ended up printing out the photos, writing notes, and referencing them so I didn’t randomly buy a shiny thing.
Dark kitchens in rentals are hard because there’s only so much you can add to soften it. ovens mits, tea towels, spice rack, toaster, dish cloth, photos/art on the back splash, stools for the island. Flowers!
Hope this was helpful! Good luck!
Hi Mod R, congratulations on your new place. I also have ADHD, get overwhelmed by my environment, am decoratively challenged and live where it’s often grey. I’d say pick colors, fabrics, lights, art, plants etc that give you the feelings you want from your space. Calm, relaxing, good feelings, safety and, refreshing for example. Start small and try some things out first to see how you react to them. You know returnable things you can test out first before you commit. Good luck.
Find a stick and peel wallpaper you like. It won’t damage paint or walls. Use it on an accent wall or your bedroom to create an oasis.
To warm things up use large color pieces to balance all the grey. Playful colors like teal? Sage green is soothing but might be too greyish to give you relief . I would try a lot of bright artwork on the walls with your favored Pompeii colors in creams and rust. If you can find patterned pillows with grey mixed with colors you like it will bring things together without being too jarring. Maybe some great photos of Roman ruins with blue sky and the columns outlined against it with grass growing up? You could try some of the peel and stick wallpaper for a backsplash too. If you hate it after a while or are moving it just peels off.
I’m going to be moving into my first apt in 30 years so dread not being able to update the wall color. My bedroom in my old house had a raspberry accent wall and pictures of roses. LOL
Suggest you find a picture you like and use that as a focal point. A really big one that can take up a wall. Then grab colors from the picture to either pop colors from it or contrast to the colors in the picture. Maybe find something by googling all the things you like and see what pops from AI. (pompeii mediterranean style pictures click on images).
PS. I love roses and that was my inspiration which came from a comforter set I found in a catalog.
Even if you stay with the white walls, black fittings, and grey floor, your favourite colours would absolutely work. I can picture a cheerful & beautiful space with pops of colour throughout from the suggestions of rugs, plants, and lamps, and colourful appliances if you are so inclined. The grey floor might work to your advantage, since Pompeii old stone floors? Sea blue rug, maybe?
Good luck, so excited for you!
Hello, Mod R!
I totally sympathize with this dilemma. My recommendation is to:
1) Identify a color palette that gives you maximum cozy vibes. Pinterest, furniture stock photos, and etc. are all great for inspiration.
2) Start from the ground (literally the floor) and work your way up. Look for rugs that fit your chosen color palette. Then explore furniture that compliments. Then, decor for counters/surfaces before moving to the walls.
3) Strategically place mirrors (discount stores are perfect for fun pieces!) to help maximize the lighting in your rooms.
This has been my strategy the last few moves, and it’s made things a bit less overwhelming!
So I had a similar problem when I moved into my new house, which has light grey walls, and white cabinets and doors with black handles for accent. The good news is, any color will go with this!. I bought a blue sofa, added some area rugs with various colors, and hung a lot of pictures on the walls, all colorful. Now, I own this house, and don’t know how your landlord feels about wall hangings, but if he’s OK with that, you can brighten things up considerably with colorful art. Doesn’t have to be expensive – posters that you like work too.
Another thing that helps is to add lamps with warm lightbulbs, to counteract the harsh fluorescent lighting. Pretty lamps can add a nice note to a room when lit. The Mediterranean colors are pretty – reds, golds, green etc. and none of them will clash with the grey, since it’s a very neutral color. Since you’re buying furniture, I suggest lighter woods, which again adds some brightness. So, to summarize – add accent pieces in colors you love, lamps with warmer bulbs to counter the fluorescent, and go for lighter color wood in the furnishings.
As a note, I am not a professional decorator (far from it!) so other members of the Horde may have better ideas. This is just what I did. Hope it’s helpful!
I got a bunch of woven rag rugs at the Goodwill, ran them through the wash, and put them here and there. Also nice if your floors are some material that’s not so pleasant on the feet. They can be a real tripping hazard. Fun if you have a cat. They’ll haul ass down the hall, stop on a rug, and surf into the bathroom on it.
Only other thought is replacing (temporarily) a light fixture is a doable project for most people. One place I lived I put up a nice antique ceiling fixture that I found at a junk shop. Put the old hideous chrome monstrosity back the day I moved out.
You can get all kinds of peel and stick decals for walls which are great for renting.
https://www.amazon.com/Decorative-Waterproof-Wall-Sticker-Background-Decoration/dp/B0D9RRNCG5/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2KA8V2WWA4O1L&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Y27cJLUyEskWgXF6jaYd7ujs7OSSg5WA0B9Jj9z-oWbM7ki82M22QwZCHQtxW4AIA2P3Wk1HoYHiv4Xlyx5axYs0VzckZgI4awZnHakF_qCFqSFejBsiMx77qmQZFQlezbk_9r99oiM0gf54XrhHkPtkm_HREH45Vxopxf-wYo-iEcXgKl7M3y9WpEmeGrvmSuxz2hsSmLWziF7MvfzrFn4VVxXy75Qq_Tgt4laM96_fxXK3OKXwS_y5MItzrAfpjopuqM8izs3_tsyBzwmMp_8a8zpqiDPcfnd7osooG5o.6HRT9dUwZidzwP2XRQGf4Li_NlqJpxe30tUGKhliliY&dib_tag=se&keywords=wall%2Bdecal%2Broman&qid=1779468919&sprefix=wall%2Bdecal%2Broman%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-9&th=1
also: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=olive+grove+wall+art&crid=1WKIO7VANDZDX&sprefix=olive+grove+%2Caps%2C168&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-expert-pd-ops-ranker_1_12
and https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pompeii+wall+art&crid=29E6Z9P9J0IB&sprefix=pompeii%2Caps%2C191&ref=nb_sb_ss_saint-en-refocus-candidate_1_7
Good Luck!
YouTube for renter friendly DIYs + Pinterest + sometimes Houzz.
There are SO many renter friendly tricks these days to completely change your surroundings. Vinyl wraps for everything from floor to counters to cabinets. Lamps to change your lighting (never use the overhead if you can avoid it), tension rods to add sheer curtains to your disappointing windows and at least give a little Parisian texture to the monochrome modern. Things like that.
I am a big fan of dye. You can buy flat sheets and sometimes curtains and rugs at thrift stores. Sheets will dye easily in a washing machine or large buckets in the yard. Sheets make good curtains with minimal sewing or even safety pins, also furniture covers, bringing desired colors and softness into a room. A plus is the ease of washing, keeping dust and stains off your couch, ect.
Cheers!
Removable Wallpaper UK – Custom Peel and Stick Wall Murals https://share.google/SN6kiuTbYJ5IPfQml
I’m not in Great Britain but I found this shop online. They have temporary wallpaper for renters. It looks pricey but if you like the idea you may be able to find a less expensive alternative.
I like to go to places like World Market and Target ( I live in the USA) and look at colorful pillows and throws to toss on chairs and sofas. You can see if the colors look good together in your cart before you buy. And if you get tired of them after a few months you can send them to a thrift shop and start over.
Come to think of it – you could shop at the thrift shop the first time, too
I love to decorate and organize. I love watching Feng Shui videos from Dear Modern (Cliff Tan). He is super helpful and how to set up your furninture. Since you are ADHD, i recommend you take an organization quiz from clutterbug. She has 4 different organization types, and 2 are for ADHD folks. (She is ADHD). She teaches you to setup zones for your home and then how to organize for your type – this will help you figure out the right storage to add to your place. Basically -designate how you want to use the different parts of your house and zone them. Examples, sanctuary bedroom. Living space that may also need to function as an office or workout space etc, or maybe for frequent entertainment. Then select the furniture/storage you need for each space to make the zones for you. Once you know what you are looking for, then it’s easier to find items in your style. example – you might need a couple of arm chairs or a chaise lounge, a sofa, side tables, table lamps, coffee table, desk, and rug for your living room/office zone. – Now you know the pieces you need. Watch Dear Modern for the layout, then measure for that space. Now start looking to see what furniture fits in that area. Makes it easier when you know what you can fit and sets limits on what you need for your basic furniture. You have your measurements and now you can pick stuff in your style. Get your base furniture selected. I suggest a pinterest board or google slides to see what looks together. Then you can accessorize to your heart’s content. Also love waching GarretLeChic for inspiration.
Also, i’ve lived in rentals most of my life. For walls – artwork. if you are not allowed to have hanging nails, use command strips. Also, i use fabric to create really cool effects – made my bedroom look like the inside of a tent. Plus there is removable wallpaper for apartments now, but that can be a bit of pain. for your style, i would pick your furniture and rugs – have some cool ornate artwork for the walls and drapy curtains and fabric. also, you can use high book shelves and tall plant stands, placing hang plants on them to create the feeling of a mediterrean garden. if you have a cat, that problem won’t work well.
I don’t have place to point you in but one thing I do each new apartment is use my own light fixtures or covers – the existing ones are easy to store and I love how immediately different fixtures change everything. I love using what I call Chinese balls – those white, typically, round with wire to form tissue fabric balls with a hole on the top and bottom. they are easy to affix over the light bulb. and the other thing is change the exiting bulbs to softer light or blue light. Good luck.
Tricks for rentals that won’t keep you up nights when you move out repainting everything.
Lighting. Check the warmth of your light bulbs. In a stark monochrome environment, changing the lighting to something warmer instead of daylight will help, especially in the evenings. If you need bright light during the day, I’d suggest getting lightbulbs you can program and change the warmth on such as Phillips Hue or Eufy Home. Best part- you can program these to change on set schedules and take them with you.
Alexandra Gater is a YouTuber that I would recommend checking out. You may not jive with her style, but her tips and tricks can be adjusted to the finishes you want. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alexandra+gater
My sister once had a room that had awful 1970’s quilt themed wallpaper wall that could not be removed when she moved in. Her trick was to get two full size flat sheets and (Thumbtacks? small nails?) and cover that wall by stretching the sheets flat over the wallpaper and tacking as appropriate at the top, bottom and sides.
It worked wonderfully, looked really good, and when she changed her aesthetic she simply changed the sheets.
I’m a big fan of curtains and throws to set color moods and when life is not crazy I rotate them through the seasons, cool blues when it’s hot, and warm tones in the winter.
I like IKEA’s wood furniture, I have a set of their ladder back chairs we spray painted wild colors, and their pillow department is wonderful for colors. We also have several chairs that are surviving 5 kids, 3 dogs, and other extended family. They have some nifty colors too.
Amazon has these amazing curtains.
https://a.co/d/0cEtWvMK
We have burnt orange which is fabulous, peacock blue, and a forest green which are all fabulous saturated colors and they’re terrifically warming and light blocking to boot!
Aside from that, we tend to do thrifting/ second-hand stores for bits and bobs, I have a fantastic set of matching marble top tables we found in three different places, sets of bookshelves and a desk from a demolition reclamation store that needed a bit of refinishing but are amazing.
My suggestion is to find the paint section of a DIY store and pick up the little color strips or booklets in the colors you like and bring them home and look at them. They will look different in your space, and give you a better ideas of what colors you really love. (I had a friend who took her favorite outfit and went to the store, picked out the matching colors and brought them home, it turned out fabulous!)
Best of luck, and don’t be afraid to “w*it” a little while and decide how your space will work before you get stuff! It will save you a mint in the end!
If the floors are bothering you, find a carpet or rug you like in the colors you like. Immediate warmth and your favorite colors.
Agree wholeheartedly! Ruggable is an Aussie site that ships all over the world. They have beautiful colour and period themed rugs – a plethora of rugs in fact.
Please forgive the lecture!
0) climate control if you (landlord) can actually do anything about it
1) light: i.e. windows and lamps and mirrors (assuming that your primary sense is sight). How you store things may also fit into this category as you try to interfere or not with sight lines.
2) fellow living things like pets and plants (terracotta pots!) and people (guests?),
3) roosts: invest in a mattress and linens, a good chair that fits *your body*,
4) think about the the things that you most often interact with in your home like knobs and faucets and cutlery and toilet seats and then upgrade those things when you find something that is a joy to see/touch/hear.
Any of these things can be ordered or redone in your color scheme of choice.
When we built our house, we started w/ comfortable furniture where we’d spend the most time. (SIT/Lounge/Lay on it before you buy!) Found the perfectly-comfortable couch, then chairs. Then, we went to a paint store and pulled all the “collections” of colors they had, eliminated anything that was too bland, too monochrome, too (whatever). Of the remaining collections, found one that worked w/ the colors of the comfy couch & chairs we purchased — then kept that color collection to help find things (art, shades, throws, dishes, dust-catchers, etc) to insure that what we bought harmonized w/something on the collection.
We also looked for whimsical (used/recycled) items … odd signs, odd creatures, things that made us smile, or laugh, and found space for them in the rooms.
Not sure what your countertop appliances/cookware/bakeware situation is, but those are great ways to put some color in a kitchen. There are temporary back splash options too https://www.bobvila.com/articles/removable-backsplashes/, though this is a US site so I don’t know what the UK has available. 3M also has removable wall hangers that can be used for art and can hold some decently heavy items.
Spoonflower has peel and stick wallpaper that you can do in any design. I have also used it on kitchen cabinet fronts.
My suggestion is find a piece of fabric, a throw pillow, a piece of art, a tapestry, or a rug that you love. You need to LOVE this. Then use that object as your starting off point. The master who created this object has already put together colors, style, tones, and scale that appeal to you.
The other thing I suggest is to you remember that every room needs C. R. A. P. – Color, rugs, art, plants. If you remember when you are picking your furnishings, it can help.
And if I was living in the UK and furnishing a home from scratch, I would definitely hit the British Museum store and all the shops around it.
The UK has a robust trade in vintage, used, and antique goods. Do you have a stylish/artistic friend who would thrill to the challenge of Weekend mornings at flea markets in return for you buying the coffees/teas and brunch?
Tricks involve – using removable wallpaper for a feature wall – a lot of bang for your buck, but it does take attention to detail to make it right. You can also hang quilts or fabric on the walls – you can make a quilt hanger with a flat piece of board longer than the width of the quilt/fabric with a second piece of molding screwed on top – sandwiching the fabric between. Two hooks or eyes can give you something to hang it with. Alternately, if you can find some long curtains, you can cover an entire wall with curtains – Amazon even carries cheap curtains, but sometimes you can find terrific used ones at a charity shop.
Soft goods/blankets, throws, pillows, rugs can give great pops of texture and color for relatively short money. If you are thinking Mediterranean, how about flotaki rugs (sp?)? Fluffy off white gives Greek vibes (so Roman adjacent).
Finding some larger terracotta pots to use as end tables or as focal points would also bring in the Roman aesthetic. Find some tiles to decorate the kitchen backsplash (just rest them or hang them).
There are tons of spots that sell art and prints and there are so many classically-inspired pieces that choosing a few should be easy (I live near Boston, but love Sulis – a UK-based reseller of art and they have framed works).
Get some blue/green/terracotta linens for your tables or to hang on your bureaus for more interest.
I just had to say thank you for this “Secret witch covens that meet inside an ancient turtle and discuss where to buy good curtains?” because that mental image is delightful! As a grey home dweller myself, I feel your pain.
Hi. 1) start with art or a focal piece in the room and furnish around those colors. 2) figure out your undertones – all colors have them and you don’t want them to clash. 3) don’t mix clean and dirty colors. And if those recommendations resonate you are probably familiar with Maria Killiam.
Good luck with the existing finishes! I have two “monochrome” neutral rooms in my historic home and they are both warm and inviting. One is black furniture and the other is tan with a pink undertone.
I also have no design sense – our decorating style being whatever we hang up, if we even get around to doing that. I have tons of art and decorations to hang but – squirrel! That said, this never crossed my mind, but a friend told me she puts her room dimensions and pictures of her furniture, art etc., into ChatGPT and it gives her design ideas. Mind blown! She did mention having less luck with Gemini as it randomly added a badger (!) into her daughter’s room design.
I rent, and my walls are Institution White. My curtains, though, …. One set is red and the other is peach. My loveseat is red; everything else is either wooden or white. And I have a fair amount of accumulated artwork, including pictures my mother did when I was a kid, a moderately large collection of frogs, three of which are hanging on my walls, some South Asian temple rubbings that an old friend of the family gave my mother when I was twelve and that eventually wended their way to me. And a couple of very nice fans, hanging on the wall where I can reach them easily in high summer.
This site has ideas based on terracotta pieces and some have classic influences, while some are more laid-back styles.
It sounds like you enjoy visuals though, so check it out: https://www.dabblinganddecorating.com/terracotta-decor/
Hi Mod R, I share your genetic inability to understand how to achieve a personal feng shui , tho I have learned a few things.
1. Many artists and photographers sell prints and canvas-prints of their work through art websites. I’m on vacation now but can update you once I find the one I bought from- no idea if it’s only US or international but I’m sure UK has plenty! So if you have seen pieces you’ve liked, google the artist’s name to see if they sell art that way. I love the canvas reprints I’ve bought and you can get them in various sizes and thickness of base frame, which affects cost and shipping. They may offer professional framing too but that’s pricey, of course.
2. The above artist websites also sell their work printed on throw pillows or possibly towels, scarves etc.
3. In addition to Tuscan colors, consider sunset colors – various shades of peach are so beautiful and very warmly calming. I painted the inside of my house a pale peach and am thrilled with it. Also, hints of rose, lavender, light blue and turquoise along with th the light olive and Tuscan yellow are very beautiful.
4. Look in thrift shops and second hand stores etc for what you like; it’s less $$ and if you decide after a while you don’t care for it, just resell it on and get other stuff. You aren’t married to anything.
5. Various wood tones in the mid-range are appealing and soothing to me; you may feel the same and used markets have better deals for nice pieces.
Good luck and have fun with it! Think of it as an ongoing, enjoyable project and not a “rush and finish” task.
One last thing – peel and stick mirror tiles can be used to light up dark corners or hallways, also peel and stick lightbulbs for closets without lights.
You might think I’m a little bit insane, but… Take inspiration from the early 20th Century ancient Egypt craze that followed and erupted with the discovery of Tut’s place? There should be many more images of that style available. Sculpting and painting lotus headed half pillars from foam to place against the walls, painting or dying fabrics to adorn very simple furnishings or stamping plain cream colored sheets that are placed on very simple timber frames and leaned against plain walls, potted palms, and so many more options.
I agree with prior posts for mirrors strategically placed to add light and I buy seasonal table runners cheap (TJ Max, Ross in the US, online, $15-20) and hang them over open doors to create color that can be changed at will – sort of like the hanging tapestry idea as some of these are gorgeous embroidery. I have about 8 of them and it’s fun to change them up when the seasons change without spending a lot.
Ah, my ADHD sister in chaos. ALL OF THE COLOR AND ALL OF MY FAVORITE THINGS. WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!!!
I find (controlled, hah) decorating inspiration watching Alexandra Gator on youtube. She does a lot of rental and small apartments or one room at a time. Her and her team’s ideas for decorating rentals with strict guidelines are clever. I wouldn’t do all of them but I like her creativity.
I also like her mixed up gallery walls, no order, no intensive color coordination, just a practice run on the floor, take a pic and put things on the wall. For some reason I thought things had to be more orderly or something.
I also have been super inspired by conversations with others, especially “Think outside the box”. For instance, one person said she doesn’t use her living room for entertainment and prefers lounging in her free time so she moved her bed in there.
I realized spaces allotted to certain purposes in the past don’t have to be used that way now.
My dining room is now an extension of my studio which previously was a library/music room. The Piano That Couldn’t Be Given Away is now in the entry, some of the library shelves are in the front room and some of the shelves are holding art/craft/sewing supplies. I would probably fill my house with creative supplies if I were living alone. Sorry Hunny, you will need to sleep in the shed, I need your mancave.
Have fun! Remember you can change things around or toss things if they aren’t working for you!
Imagine a place that you like, and look at it with half-closed eyes, so you see only the colors. Then use that as your template.
I live in Denmark by a bay with a forrest to the south. In that forrest, close to the beach is a white house with a black tiled roof. So: bluish gray water, creamy sand, natural wood, leafy greens, white and black. The result is creamy walls, lots of wooden furniture, white windows, plant green and warm yellow textiles, and a bit of black leather. Most pictures are botanical, and most ornaments are glass. And the books are varigated. 🙂
I’m not very talented at home design either. But, it’s amazing what treasures you can find second hand. People get tired of things and replace them, often donating them to Thrift stores. Thrifting is an excellent resource for home decor. Once you have an idea of colors or things in mind check out your local thrift shops. Especially things like throw pillows. Those are stupid expensive in stores.
It sounds like your vibe needs a ficus tree. I can’t keep them alive, but I am sure someone knows how to and could advise.
Good luck with the move and have fun with the redo!
I haven’t scrolled to all of the comments, so this may be a duplicate, but… IKEA and Costco. I think that they have both of these in the UK?
You have your color palate, so go see if anything (rugs, pillows, throw blankets, etc.) fits and, as another commenter said, try it at home, then bring it back if it doesn’t work.
I feel peaceful around blue (from sky blue to turquoise to navy), so I decorated in various shades of blue. I bought my sectional couch at Costco, and of course it was only available in grey. Fine, but I also bought vibrant blue ombre throw blankets and a large indoor/outdoor rug in shades of grey and blue to tie it together. The rug ties the various shades together. Bonus, it works really well to dampen the ambient sound.
At Ikea, I got curtains and throw pillow covers in shades of blue.
Good luck!
you find something you love ( for me usually antique or thrift store) and plan around that. another good place can be a museum store. then you look at your item and get a color wheel and look at the opposite or the three in a triangle so you know what will look good with your item. take pictures and keep looking till you find more items in those tones that speak to you. worth waiting for the right item.
OMG I have a decorating sister. I feel like I’m interior blind.
When people come into my house, I think they figure that I am simply very, very poor and can’t afford to do anything to my house. That goes doubly when they see the tablecloth I have covering my back sliding door.
The one thing I have going is house plants, and some very nice textiles; literally the pieces of fabric. I have found some very creative ways to use that fabric, but not nearly enough.
Weirdly and expensively the place I find some of my best ideas is from a magazine called World of Interiors that I think costs a $1000 thousand dollars per edition.
A family member asked me why I don’t have more photos of Family on the walls. It is because I have framed photos of Family down in the basement wrapped in towels in bins. They’re old.
For icing on the cake (or on the walls) the paint is an odd, very pale butter, yellow, but more towards beige. The landlord would not let me paint it.
I call my decor French eclectic.
Your new place sounds perfect.
Here is some information on the furniture of the time period recreated. I also found a lot of information on the exact furnishings that have been uncovered in Pompeii after the eruption. Not sure if that would help with finding pieces of what you want now. I did read where the use of lamps helped to create shadows and they liked gardens to be included which could look like having a lot of potted plants on trellises. https://europe.factsanddetails.com/article/entry-1138.html
and Key Furnishings & Decor
Couches and Beds (Lectus): Use wooden- or bronze-framed couches. Romans used beds for sleeping (lectus cubicularis) and dining (lectus tricliniaris). Top them with heavy wool or linen textiles and embroidered cushions.
Facts and Details
Tables (Mensa): Keep surfaces minimal. A small, three-legged bronze or carved wood table placed beside your couch or bed is period-accurate.
Lighting (Lucernae): Ambient light is essential. Use oil lamps made of terracotta or bronze rather than overhead lights. Keep them on shelves or small tables to emulate how Romans cast shadows against the walls.
Facts and Details
Seating (Sella or Cathedra): Avoid heavy, overstuffed armchairs. Instead, opt for simple wooden stools (sella) or a high-backed chair (cathedra) with a cushion.
Facts and Details
Storage: The Romans kept most items in wooden chests (arca) or tall, closed cabinets rather than open shelving.
Ancient Origins
Walls & Architecture
Vibrant Colors: Ditch the neutral, monochrome palettes. Pompeian style features striking, bold wall colors—especially “Pompeian Red” or deep black with elaborate scenes from Greek mythology.
Instagram
·Mara Ohanyan
Indoor/Outdoor Integration: Bring nature indoors. Roman design frequently connected living spaces to colonnaded courtyards or gardens. Add large potted plants, such as laurel or olive trees, to simulate a traditional atrium.
This is from AI.
My sister is going through renovation and she hired an interior designer. The way she works is that she asked my sister one colourful thing you want to have (non negotiable) and get a colour palette from that.
In my sisters case it was a tile she chose for the entrance, but it can be a painting or other.
You can probably take a picture and ask AI to give a colour palette and work from there.
go to op shops/second hand stores and start collecting everything colourful that sparks joy. pick three colours to be the main features, dark blue, rust oranges and mustard were my choices. colourful plates and bowls, plant pots, get cushions for the sofa, or get new cushion covers. I believe every sitting needs a cosey blanket, they’re great pops of colour. I just took a beaten up wooden frame bed and primed, and painted it a moody blue. You 100% can enrich your space just by being a magpie and listening to what sparks joy. the collective effect can be edited as you go. everything that enters you space must spark joy.
2 things. Rugs and lamps. And look 2nd hand to get pieces that are different. Car boot sale, marketplace. Side of road. Then do them up. With a lot of the older generations downsizing or passing away there is a crazy plethora of amazing items. I also help clean out deceased estates and currently have a shed full of 2nd hand stuff I will do up and sell. Also have adhd and feel like it’s treasure hunting at its finest. Good luck.
In my Mom’s house, one bedroom has all the walls painted a medium-light grey and towards the top of the walls, there is a 4″ white horizontal stripe, and that color is topped with about 18″ of yellow ocher. The yellow ocher stripe was then stenciled with a green and brown vine. Somehow it works well. I would include a picture of it, bit the comments box won’t let me.
Other colors that would go well with greys are the US Southwestern colors of turquoise, corals or terracotta, ocher both yellow and raw umber. Look at Navajo blanket designs for colors that they pair with greys.
The key is sometimes really simple things you love. Find a nice big rug you love for you living room and bedroom. Then pull colours from it for cushions, throws, artwork. Then pull the special memory pieces out and books! Voila! A home that you love. Key to furniture for me was to be or two pieces that I just adore and the rest were more about functionality- the more it has the better. Keep to neutrals in furniture for the most part but those few you just adore can be splashy!
Dear Mod R,
I am probably not the first person on here to comment this: I used a scrap book which I filled with cut outs from home decorating (read kitchen) magazines when getting ideas together for a new room where I was living in the noughties.
Nowadays, home decorating magazines (paper style) are expensive, and many of them do have online subscriptions, or a certain amount of free content.
I know some people also keep a large pin up board or magnetic board to use as a ‘vision journal’ for their decorating dreams.
Seeing how magazine designers style interiors gave me a lot of inspo – hope you have fun!
Hugs,
Rachel-Anne
Sounds like you’re not allowed to paint the walls, but what about peel-and-stick wallpaper? It peels back off like a sticker, so it’s often recommended for renters.
Plants will bring life and warmth into a cool / grey space, and you can have fun with pots to bring extra colour or texture in. If you’re not (yet) confident keeping house plants happy and healthy, ask for advice at your local garden centre for plants that are easy to care for, and build your collection over time. Don’t be afraid of bigger / taller plants in pots if you have room for them! And if you want a bit of extra help caring for your new babies, there are a bunch of good apps that will tell you exactly how often to water / fertilise / etc. I used Planta for a year or so, but these days I freestyle – it taught me the basics and my plant babies have never been happier.
Start with the art you want on the walls then find furnishings/rugs/decor in the same/complementary colour palette that fits with the art pieces. That way your not trying to source art to fit furniture, and it gives you somewhere fun to start. once you have a colour palette for each room, it will be so much easier.
To the eye it will look nice and cohesive because everything will sync. With a monochrome backdrop it is the opportunity to go super bright and bold for your art work colors, as it will make the colours pop even more
I play a fun game. I wonder what I actually like, so I go to stores and just start looking at all kinds of different things. Literally clothes, to nick nacks. When I get a hit of what I actually like (which is the hard part for me). Then I keep looking, and looking. I but it! It all ends up making me happy. I think it goes together, but I don’t care because it actually reflects me.
All the best, yummy, magical luck to you, our dear, dear Mod R
so I’ve recently decided lemon scented candles, soaps, scent pugs, etc… is my thing. the lemon shaped candle inspired me to make yellow my highlight color with my pale green ears and gray floors/furniture. Bright yellow, not gold yellow. I’ve added a yellow tablecloth cloth to my dining table, yellow fleece blankets on the chairs and put up a white lattice room divider with yellow decor on it to block off my exercise room from the family room. Yellow checked pillow covers and a lemon blanket on the green loveseat. It has all cheered me up immensely!
I got a lot of it on Amazon, but the original candles were from Kirklands.
Congratulations on the house move (survive and get paid vibes :))
1. Dunelm is awesome, even better if you stalk things you like and get them on sale. Their stuff is reasonable and actually nice, and delivery is free after £50
2. Ikea bulbs – they have a brand new range that does adjustable colour, temperature, Smart Control etc and much cheaper than the big brand with the same/ way better functionality
3. Plants – either of the above or local garden centre. I kill mine regularly but £10 to replace 2 plants every 6 months is not bad at all
This is easy and something that I do myself: for a splash of color in the kitchen you can prop a colorful tray against the backsplash.
Here is an example of a colorful one from Ikea: https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/havsbraxen-tray-patterned-multicolour-10618370/
I actually have two that are the same size and I switch which one is in front depending on the time of year or my mood. One has cozy coffee mugs and the other has colorful birds which I use in the spring.
Read the book Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee and check out her website The Aesthetics of Joy. Good luck!
look at wallpaper the peel off non sticky kind for walls. maybe the kitchen cabinets can be painted? I love the Sherwin Williams paint collections for inspiration on paint groupings and room ideas.
try a cheaper “washable” rug from Amazon or anywhere near you to cover floors. they are thin and foldable and easy to move. also cheaper so if you hate it –
As someone on the spectrum… take the redecorating slow. Keep everything bare bones when you move in, except for a couple of things. One set of shelves with books or trinkets. One planter or grow garden for green and light.
Prioritize your computer setup first, make that your comfort area.
Once you’re happy with how your computer is set up, focus on ONE thing to change, like refrigerator magnets or some flowers in the bathroom. Change one thing a week to see if you like it.
One small change at a time dramatically reduces the stress of moving into a new place.
They make giant, rental-wall-friendly stickers that can instantly transform a space! I searched for “giant wall sticker grove” and this was the top result:
https://wallism.com/us/product/aNGVl8LKYkd7
Live your best olive tree life!
Hello, would love to see before and after shots
thanks
you can pin art (latest Hoard offering) on the cupboards to brighten the kitchen, nice turkey rug on the floor, pick one main colour then a pattern you like.
If you are semi handy and want some BIG but cheap art, look into framing a fabric shower curtain.
https://www.blesserhouse.com/diy-large-scale-wall-art-from-a-shower-curtain/
The great thing about grey is that it really makes colors pop. Especially oranges and pinks. If I were you I would look for a rug or blanket or painting that I really love to look at and then find a few accessories that use a color from that inspiration piece. You could look at magazines, also, and take a photo of rooms that you love and try to style your place similarly. My furniture is a mishmash of styles, so I sometimes will try decorative things out and consider them until I decide if I like it or not. If not, then I try the piece in a different spot, moving things around until I really like it. Some decorative items can also be painted a different color. I get things cheap at yard sales and thrift shops usually. Good luck!
Ok this won’t help, but… my mother. She is an amazing interior designer. Sorry Mod R, I’m not help. But my biggest recommendation: find what makes you happy.
Ugh, the grey scourge! When I was house-hunting (six years ago now) it seemed that every house had been “updated” with prison grey and very cold finishes. I feel your pain! For a beachy-bohemian vibe, I would recommend you check out the Florida-based company, Natural Life, for inspiration. They are positive and colorful, but there are also items with a more subdued yet still fun and natural aesthetic. The home goods on offer include curtains, sofa covers, bedding, and décor pieces that are renter-friendly as well.
So. There’s a YouTube channel called Never Too Small I love. As for big impact for less cash and tying a room together? Go on Google arts and culture, hit “explore” and choose explore by colour in visual art, with the colour you love wearing on your body most. Next, scroll. Heart the stuff you like. Now you have a mood board. Then, order a massive art shower curtain of an artwork you found. (Like I have Van Gogh’s flowers in my bathroom). Pin up on a wall for a while. Every single thing you buy for that room has to have just a little bit of a colour from the painting on it. Eventually you can put parts of the shower curtain over canvases or just use foamcore to make a massive “painting” that stays up. To break up the kitchen top cupboards, take the doors off one and making it into a plants and cute stuff spot for your prettier items. I’m in a rental and this, plus a few peel and stick tiles and rugs in the same tones as the big art piece get the neutral to fade away.
pinterest! going down a rabbit hole leads you more to what you like. have fun with the search terms, you’ll have a blast!
also, once you find designer names or styles you like, you can plug them into search engones and click images and shopping selectors.
i also lime to search wallpaper companies’ website are super fun! I like Bradbury & Bradbury myself.
also, look at magazines and style books from the library.
have fun!
If the white walls are bothering you, you might look into removable wallpaper: https://wallblush.com/products/druids-whisper?_pos=18&_sid=df2491a7d&_ss=r
mrkate on YouTube! that woman is capable of bringing color to the greyest of rooms! must watch for your type of situation. she works with all sorts of budgets and all sorts of rental friendly workarounds. just totally great
I find it difficult to think this abstract, so I often go to places like IKEA or John Lewis where they have small areas which are set up with a room theme. This way I can ‘see’ it all together, and it’s easier for me to work from there.
New apartments often feel too echoey and smell unfamiliar,
So getting your favourite coffee or baking or if you like aromatic oils – they make it feel more a home
I’d say, get the cushions, you can change the covers later – but the sound absorption and softening makes a huge difference.
Your brain starts thinking ok, I’m comfortable now, let me start making a nest.
I didn’t read many comments, so this may have been said. But
Find a piece you LOVE and build the room from that.
Example, I had to put a rug into my living room, and I found the perfect rug in greys and blues with some hints of golden yellow. So I went with a grey/blue/gold color scheme for the room. I wrapped lampshades with blue threads. I potted plants into grey/blue pots, and I had a couple of golden candle holders. Fairly simple.
Another example. I had some fabric I wanted to make curtains from. It had a purple/blue/yellow color scheme in a triangular pattern. I took a sample of the fabric to a paint store and spent hours matching the fabric colors to paint for the walls. Then I used the triangular pattern and echoed it in other aspects. A triangular shaped light fixture, mirrors cut into triangles, etc.
So. Is there a picture you adore that MUST be in your space? Do you get giddy over a specific lamp that NEEDS to belong? Pull colors from it. Echo the shapes.
Once I have a starting point I like to Google things like ‘bedroom with blue, purple, yellow paint scheme’
or ‘triangular light fixtures’
And have fun!
I am in a rental with grey walls and floor. Fortunately I like street art and Bansky artwork on Amazon did the trick. The basic white and black with splashes of color made the place Rock. Of course Bansky is a far cry from Mediterranean but the idea was to add bold color that stood out but blended in.
My area rug definitely could fit in Mediterranean with its design in beiges, blues, red and hints of grey throughout. Found it at a discount store no longer in business . Walk through the stores, surf the web for items that speak to your heart and will pull everything in to standout.
Hello! Fellow renter here!
Not sure if my experience helps, but I’ll post my two cents here.
When me and my fiance moved in together and picked furniture, we knew what we didn’t want – black and white.
We found a big piece that we liked, our couch, and picked colours that wouldn’t clash and wouldn’t look dirty when we would forget to dust the apartment – grey fabric and light to middle wood colour. We used the same colour palette throughout our living and dining rooms. then , I wanted decorations. There’s a site where I live, that sells copies of paintings. I decided Klimt’s Kiss. Thus, was decided the spash of the room. Whenever splashes of colour are joining these rooms, it’ll be slightly gold or “yellowy-mustardy”. Because trust me, I can’t decorate to save my life!
Decorative pillow cases with photos of people or places that make you feel good printed on them might work. I also like mugs with loved ones’ photos taken at the happy moment printed on them- makes me feel better. Might work for you too.
Just brain storing…
Hi Mod R, I am an interior designer based in Italy and do virtual consultations. I would be super happy to help you personalise your new flat. You have brought me so much joy through the years I am happy to give back.
Hi!
When I do renovations and redecorations, I find the website Houzz really helpful. You can look up your space sizes and see what other people, including designers, have done. You can dupe their look, or use it as inspiration good luck!
Block shop has amazing scarves and rugs that bring color in but are geometric and stay in line with the modern feel. It is expensive, but beautiful works of art.
So, my family has a very limited budget when it comes to things that are not necessary for living, so my design esthetic is basic neutrals with an accent color I can change out at my whim, while texture creates warmth and coziness. I also focus on texture and not patterns. Too much pattern stresses me out.
My current bedroom, for instance, is warm beige, gray, and sage green, while my accent color rotates. For a couple if years it was a dark pumpkin orange and currently it’s lavender. All I changed was a few pillow shams and the colors in the artwork.
A warm, textured rug on yor gray floors. Woven or macrame art or lampshades. Fur, nubby knitted, or velvety throws and pillows, etc.
As for stores, I’m afraid I thrift almost everything, so I’m not a lot of help there.
I wish you the best with this new adventure!
It’s Ren Faire season, and you can often get cool mosaic lamps and other warm, ancient-feeling knickknacks there. Ruggable has washable rugs in many kinds of patterns.
“Mediterranean” is a good search tool. May I also suggest searching “Byzantine” for a beautiful, jeweled, enameled aesthetic?
Hopeless Romantics magazine/catalogue has some beautiful things. But thrift stores and antique stores are my favorite places.
I like Julie Jones Designs and her thoughts on interior planning based on space and human size requirements. She also mentions color to unify a space and it sounds like you have a good color palette to start with.
Alexandra gator is amazing with temporary fixes for renters. So fun to watch an educational.
https://youtu.be/s-UTsG3eazY?si=UVx4szA_ovMdzSTk
Hopefully this link will work. I’m not too text savvy.
Apartment Therapy!
and walking through the stores accessible to me to see what’s available
A hint for rugs, 100% wool rugs are actually cheaper than the washable ones are naturally fire resistant and easy to spot clean use fans to dry thoroughly.
Beautiful fabric can be used as wallpaper. You can put it up with liquid starch. It is easy to remove and you can just wash away the starch with water. It works best on paint that isn’t flat. This also works on Glass really easy to remove.
Alexandra Gater has a channel that specializes in small apartments. The thing is she showcases landlord friendly stuff. Things that aren’t permanent but cover up bad landlord decisions lol. I haven’t watched her for awhile, so I don’t know if she’s changed.