Design Mom Asks: Inspirational Quotes

By Gabrielle.

Inspiration often hits when we least expect it, and that’s always a welcome event. But what about more intentional motivation? Are there words or advice you’d like to keep close? I’m curious: If you could graffiti any quote or word across your living room wall — or maybe just have it hanging where you could see it daily as you needed it! — what would it say? Four new friends kindly agreed to scrawl their own ideas on the pages of Design Mom. Please enjoy their answers.

Jennifer Cooper of Classic Play:
I freely admit that I am a quote junkie. I collect them like people collect…well…whatever it is that people collect! If I could, I’d totally wallpaper my house in quotes. Those from Dorothy Parker always make me laugh, and I have a print of one of my favorites by Ralph Waldo Emerson at my desk: Be Honest, Be Silly, Be Kind.

But I think this quote from Kurt Vonnegut deserves a special space on my wall: “I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.'”

Christine Dinsmore of The Plumed Nest:
It was difficult to choose a favorite quote! There are many I remember throughout my days, but this one by Winston Churchill seems to be one that has been most dear to my heart lately: “Success is going from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”

It has taken me years to really understand the meaning behind this. In fact, it took the fear of living without trying to realize my dreams to finally outweigh my fears of attempting to reach for them. Of course, as I get older, I have come to see that if one never tries, one never knows what could have happened at all.

Emily Peck of Peck Life:
I’ve always struggled with using words or sayings in decorating to the point where I don’t feel like any one phrase or word sums up life enough to warrant being on the wall! It’s the same reason I don’t have any tattoos; there isn’t anything symbolic enough that deserves its very own tribute. To me, our life is this interwoven mix of a million words and thoughts all the time.

On the other hand, if I could have a giant mural on the wall of the forest with big tall trees, a little creek, and some birds, I totally would!

Ania of The New Diplomat’s Wife:
“Welcome.” Our living room is the heart of our home: it’s our family space, our play room, our sun room, our movie theater, our cocktail lounge, our party room, our overflow guest quarters, our own mini embassy. When people come over, nearly everything is centered there, and I would hope that our family and guests feel welcome right from the start to pull up a chair and linger.

—-

Thank you, Ladies! I’m inspired…but still looking for that perfect quote to grace our walls. I think Emily made a beautiful point when she said “Our life is this interwoven mix of a million words and thoughts all the time.” It’s hard to pick just one to stay for a while, isn’t it? Perhaps a chalkboard is the solution!

How about you, Friends? Have you pinned anything lately that could potentially live comfortably on your walls? I’d love to hear the words that most inspire you!

P.S. — You can catch all of our Design Mom Asks conversations right here. If you’d like to participate in the next one, drop me a note. I’d love to hear from you!