8 things you should NEVER DECORATE WITH

I never decorate with these and here's why you shouldn't either...

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0:00 Introduction
1:16 Magazine.
6:10 Laundry
8:51 Remotes
10:25 Trophies & memorabilia
13:27 Small Books
15:12 Packaged goods
16:57 Dead flowers

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[Huddie]

I’m a history professor. Last time I moved I counted the books in my personal library- 400. They represent my intellectual efforts for the last 20 years. I admit, hard as I try, they don’t make for the best visual on my bookshelves. But they are here to stay, regardless

[penelopewarren]

At my house bookshelves are for books and items that are meaningful to me.. In my living room, the books are the ones related to the life I actually lead there, no matter what their size. And I can't wrap my mind around buying a book just because it looks good on a coffee table or a book shelf. (Tom Ford anyone?) Nor would I banish a book I actually read. In my view decorating and living one's life should be integrated.

[monongahelacats]

I learn so much about a person by seeing what kind of books they have. No books are a scary concept.

[JessieBanana]

I hate the book advice. Like if you don’t read and books are only decor, fine, but I am not going to buy a bookshelf and then find another storage system to hide smaller books away because they aren’t aesthetic. I am not a minimalist, but that is too far a departure from function to me.

[gigisaks]

Not everyone has extra space to tuck their away when used every dang day. It’s not decorating. It’s called living. I never forget my house is for living, not for photographing to be in a magazine.

[kateowens]

I can not be comfortable without my books. When I want to look something up, find the cookbook with that recipe, sink into a comfortable chair with a book on philosophy or a good thriller, I do not want to search through a rental storage container, basement boxes or other. A house with no books is an empty place. Your pictures of books with the spines turned to the back in bookcases are a ridiculous decorator affectation. How can you find a book if you can't read the spines? Decorators must not be readers. Who else would do such a foolish thing. It seems your spaces are for impressing others and not for living in. Books are as necessary as the dog bed you have to find room for or the cat box, the toys we all live with (kids and adults) and the coffee pot we leave on the counter that is not a shiny espresso machine, but the standard drip unit most of us use daily.

[alesiav.]

I appreciate your style and decorating advice. I understand and agree with the concept of reducing visual clutter; however, I think there are many ways to decorate. Your home should be a reflection of your personal aesthetic and interest. Some people might prioritize allowing their children to display awards/trophies so they can be proud of their personal accomplishment over aesthetics and decorating. I think their should be a balance. I mean we don’t live in a magazine.

[kellyevans]

I don’t always agree with everything that you say, but I don’t always share that either. Because I understand what you’re saying can be valid. Maybe not for me, but valid for others. I don’t have children I don’t have trophies, but you talk about getting rid of “clutter“. And therefore, hiding the trophies in something, that’s lovely, and they are unseen. And that brings calm to your life. I disagree strongly. I think that if a child has won a trophy and you hide it, that does something that’s not good for their mind. I think it’s encouraging for them to see it. I don’t think you need to keep it in the living room. However, displaying it in the child’s bedroom or even if there’s more than one, even if they run marathons all the time and they have a hook that has all of their marathon numbers on it. I think that that’s encouraging to them and let them know that you’re proud of them to allow them to hang it on the wall. And I’m not “coming for you” lol I’m just respectfully disagreeing.

[hereforit]

Rule #1 depends on the style of kitchen. You can have small appliances, visible tea towels, and visible cookware in a busy, humble, vintage, “working” kitchen.

[Lifes_Frosting]

Your home is a reflection of your personal style, what is important to you and it's also a reflection of your state of mind. You can choose to live like Valentina and have an absolutely gorgeous home (even on a budget) or you can live completely opposite. No one is judging. Personally I stand behind all of her decorating principles and let me tell you, it is absolutely a joy to wake up in the morning, look around and be absolutely in love with my environment. There's no stress, no clutter, no chaos in my home but it is warm, welcoming and peaceful. The beautiful thing about life is that you get to choose how you want to live and decorate. It's sad Valentina feels anxiety for sharing her decorating principles with us out of fear of backlash. If you don't like what she has to say then her message isn't for you, just move on. No need to be rude, and no she isn't being rude like some other commenter stated. She's telling you the secrets of having an amazing home. Who doesn't want that??

[jacktv]

One day I folded my last load of laundry but didn't feel like carrying it upstairs so I put the folded clothes back in the dryer. When my husband came home I showed him that the dryer now has a "fold" cycle! We kept it up the whole week that our grandson was here it was a hoot ' "Grandma's folding dryer!"

[debraweiss]

I don’t have trophies, but for those who do, and treasure them, what good would they be hidden in a storage box somewhere? I think they would be just fine in a den or bedroom where you can see and enjoy them privately.

[patiheller]

What is the fear of living in your home? When people are coming to my home I pick up. But if I leave the remote on my table it does not bother me. I don’t have have a large kitchen so appliances must be on my counter. If I am reading a book or a magazine its ok to leave it on the table. I also leave the yarn out so I finish my project. I live in my home not in a magazine. Bless you for making this content, but please add some content about living in a home. Thank you

[jessicabroyles]

For the first time in the 9 years I've lived in my house, I walk in and go, "Yes! I love this! I live here.", and it's largely due to you and your channel. Your use of black and attention to detail really caught my eye when I first decided to remodel, and I've created a personal style that I LOVE. And, every day is like a little adventure in my home, finding new favorite "moments" and just in awe of the space I've created. Thanks for all the advice and cute ideas!

[cindydeas]

I occasionally leave a catalog or magazine out for display if it has a cover that is beautiful and it goes with my decor or the season. I have several seed catalogs out right now because, I am in my gardening season and the catalogs keep me inspired and motivated!

[angelaberni]

Valentina asked us to comment, so i will. This is my take on MY house. I don't like mess, but I'm definitely a maximalist. I'm extremely sentimental and adore being able to view my families objects and some are a hundred years old. I also find that friends are interested in them. I also love old books, no matter how small or worn they are. I generaly display these in little baskets and they look sooo cute. I cook EVERY day and it is one of my great passions, so i definitely display my kitchen aids. Herbs can look attractive if cleverly displayed but as i have so very many most are in a draw. Valentina is a modern lady but personally her objects say nothing to me. They have no soul and no story behind them. Anyone can buy those and many will have the exact same object in their homes. Families with children cannot possibly follow her advice so just forget about it all, enjoy your little ones whilst they are small ( they grow up so quickly)and attack the house when they are older😂. She does have some good points though, but always remember this. It's YOUR home and YOU must love it and as it isn't open to a paying public you and your family must find it cosy and welcoming. At the end of the day that's all that counts.

[stacyrosa]

My response is an eye roll, with a sarcastic "whatever!". I am a maximalist. I am also a gardener, an artist, a grandmother of 8, and a COLLECTOR OF THINGS! I try to combine function and form. I love nature, water, woods, rocks, and plants. I grow all of my own herbs, which are hanging in small bundles to dry in my kitchen/dining area. All of these things tell a story about my life, the places I've been, and the things that help me live a wholesome, simple life. My house is not picture perfect, hardly ever. But it's cozy and interesting, welcoming, and reflects my personality, which is also not picture perfect. I don't just sit there, looking at my stuff, I use that "stuff " daily.

[roseebud]

You can't live in a museum. We're humans, we use remotes and make coffee and leave books out, it's natural and it makes your house homey and looks like someone actually lives there

[Fitzwillyfl]

With all due respect… How people want to decorate their homes is a matter of personal preference.
Now… with that said… if someone is more interested in impressing people online by following the ever revolving trends then that’s their prerogative.
I’ve lived in cringe mode for the past few years with all of the “Modern FarmHouse” aesthetic flooding the videosphere. It’s been like Stepford decorating 101.
The best advice I’ve ever heard was from Bunny Williams…
“Surround yourself with objects that you love and that bring you joy”
“Break the rules and never let anyone tell you you can’t do it your way.”

[lucysnowe]

If you have a lot of books, there's no way to "tuck them away." Personally, I find books in a home to be comforting but also indicative of what the person values.