The Nesting Place: It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect to Be Beautiful

All of her books are great, but this one is lovely and practical. Keep it on my coffee table and read it over and over.

I knew before I read this book that is would be great. I have followed Myquillyn's blog since 2008. From the first click she had me. I related to her on so many levels. Needless to say, I was excited when I found out she was writing a book. All those wonderful decorating thoughts in one place, so many pictures that tell their own stories. So much of her heart between the pages. I read this book through and now I want to read it again slowly, to savor all the nuggets of wisdom. It is not necessarily that she says anything so profoundly new, that hasn't been said by others, but she says it in such a way that you want to embrace her philosophy of decorating. She makes a believer out of you. She gives you freedom from all the rules. And, isn't that what we all want. Freedom to make our homes reflect who we are. Our styles, colors, mementos and imperfections on display in our home, not hidden behind the fear of can't. So many times while reading I found myself nodding in agreement, realizing that this home decorator gets me. She has lived my story, she knows my triumphs and my fails. She knows my history, she knows what I want for my home. And she says go for it! And if you're not quite sure where to start. She helps you with that too. But make no mistake, this is more than just advice, or how to. This book gives you wings to soar and the motivation to believe that you too can have a home that says just what you want it to say. I would highly recommend this book for yourself, for your family, for your friends. It has beautiful glossy pages with color pics and it is a good read. Myquillyn graciously weaves her personal story throughout the decorating imperfections, limitations and mistreatments to show you not just a beautifully imperfect home, but a beautifully imperfect life well lived. Teresa

I ordered this book after happening upon Myquillyn Smith's (the author's) blog. I read quite a few of her posts and knew her general style which is a mix of a loving Christian wife & mother and a believer in quirky, shabby-chic style of decor. She's a thrifter with a few One King's Lane pieces thrown in. Her style includes lots of DIYing and a little hoarding. Christianity plays a pretty important role in her life because it helps explain a lot of her frustrations away (He has a plan...). She believes limitations, especially those that a renter faces, such as not being able to change tiles or repaint a fireplace all actually help us turn our rentals into unique places as long as we look at them positively and get creative! In a way, her blog thenester.com is a great preview for this book, so if you're on the fence, just pop over and take a look and decide for yourself. Overall, she tells us to stop obsessing over the pretty houses in the magazine because her own house was in magazines and it often doesn't look like the pictures they snapped. I enjoyed her snapping us back to reality by showing us her office cleaned up for the shoot and her office after. If you are very bothered by seeing faith used in a book (He takes care of us, He has a plan etc) then this book might seem preachy, and in a way, since it does play a large part in her life and general contentment, it is definitely present. I wouldn't say overly so, but you might have to skip over a few bits here and there. If you approach this book for decorating advice, you will be disappointed. This book is not about what colors go in a room (a lot of her rooms are intensely neutral), or what object d'art looks good on a coffee table, or even how to spray paint. This book is about how to look at decorating (as something fun and enjoyable), how to love your home (by lowering your own standards of perfection and seeing that it's a place where life happens), and some parts about her own experiences renting and experimenting with low-budget decorating. I purchased this book at $10, new, and it gave me several interesting hours of reading as well as a fun hour of photographing, so I don't regret it. In all honesty, a lot of what she says here is on her blog, very little is new material. Many of the photos repeat and she tends to change things around (as we all do in our home) and take pictures of the changes, so it feels as if you keep looking at the same photos. I like her style, I love her bedroom and I like some of her ideas which I have started incorporating into my own home, so I'm fairly happy with the book. This is an excerpt from the book: " In 2004, Dove launched a Campaign for Real Beauty to help broaden the definition of beautiful among women... After a crew attends to her makeup, hair, and lighting, the model is photographed and she looks great. But wait, it's time for the touch-ups, we watch on the screen as her lips are digitally filled out, her neck is stretched and elongated... and her shoulders are manipulated and slimmed... I didn't know whether to be happy that even models are heavily photoshopped or mad that even models are heavily photoshopped..." If this excerpt made you laugh, nod you head vigorously or happy that someone gets it, then this book might very well be worth $10-15 for you. If you didn't understand it at all or were ambivalent, then maybe not.

This is a lovely book. The pictures ( not a huge number of them for a decorating book) will inspire you! As will the DIY ideas. But it is the thoughtful text which makes this book worth 5 stars. It is really about The Psychology of making a home. And even if you are not the committed Christian Myquillyn is, you will love this book. Her approach to design is not just creative, it will make you laugh while touching your heart with the wisdom of her home-making philosophy! ( It really does not hurt a bit that she has a charming sense of humor!). Relax, she says, even the most challenging dwelling place deserves to be loved and looked at with empathy and gratitude. I think every woman who yearns to create a warm shelter for her own heart and body, and for family and friends, will find a moving message in the pages of this treasure of a book. It's like a sweet visit with a friend who knows that money is not the most important component of a beautiful home, and who simultaneously confesses with laughter that being creative is sometimes an adventure into unpredictable results tinged with embarrassment often drifting into being funny as well. I cannot imagine any woman, no matter how modern, glossy and trendy she may appear, who would not benefit from reading this love letter to women and the roofs over their heads. PS: As my husband of over 50 years will attest, I'm not really much into the belief that " The husband is the head of the home as Christ is the head of the church," which some reviewers here are turned off by when they feel it is implied by the author's words. Her psychology of our relationships to our homes really has little to do with that. Just overlook the theology you don't agree with and open your mind to her very valid idea that our homes reflect OUR OWN ATTITUDES toward them and our daily lives, and in the end ATTITUDE, not " decorating, " is what determines the way we live.

Like the book title's tagline, this book doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. Just as there are on most décor blogs,there are some funny juxtapositions in this book, like announcing "the world's least expensive" $175 laundry room makeover - which includes well appointed shelves that sit above a high-end, expensive, washer/dryer set. However as a Nesting Place devotee, I pre-ordered this book, eagerly waited for its arrival, and squealed with delight throughout. Blogger, author, and creative decorating guru, Myquillyn Smith has a gift for writing, communicating, encouraging women, AND (usually) making home decor accessible and achievable for everyone. Her blog, and now book, have helped me to give up on the perfection (which was keeping me from doing anything at all), see my home as a loving refuge for my family, and being okay with things being adequate. Although her book is on home décor, it's writings are really an approach to living - accepting limitations, small tweaks that make a difference, living with possibility, delighting in beautiful inspiration, and honoring our own choices (my "inner anchorman" can get pretty self-critical). We live on reasonable budget, but our money tends to go to our children's endeavors rather than our house, but with The Nester's encouragement, I've purchased things second hand, recognized a decor trend at an affordable price for us, and learned to add touches, like Home Depot plants, to make things prettier. Unafraid of telling her truth, my favorite chapters in this book are when she shows "real life" vs. "magazine life" shots of her home and family. Personally, I have a long way to go with our home, but with The Nester's voice in my head, I'm more comfortable with the fact that there will never be a there "there" anyway. Case in point, when The Nester wrote this book she proclaimed the virtues of renting, which I'm sure she still believes, but now she has moved on to her family's next home with multiple properties, and I'm convinced this new nesting place will only win her new readers as she and her extended family share that restoration journey. Get this book, and follow her blog,and Myquillyn Smith, whether you're a renter or owner, will help instill beautiful imperfection into YOUR home.

I am or was the perfection (ha) mother, home maker and wife for 59 years. I love the Lord, and my husband, children and six grandchildren. I'm a wreck. Unmade bed heaven forebid. My mom always said what if in an accident, got sick and some brought you home what would they think. Maybe I was sick. That didn't get laughs. I (ok don't laugh) vacuumed 3 times a day, car cleaned every week and garage every month. It was exhausting but hey it looked great. My daughter is very much like you and is happy. It took the death of my son that God made look at everything differently and I am better. Keep writing your book we all need to its ok not have perfection and it wasn't perfect anyway. Learned a lot reading this terrific book. Thanks

I don't really know why I bought this book. Ordinarily, I wouldn't have, but I did, and then I read it straight through over two days. If you knew me, you'd know I don't really have too much time available for frivolous things like reading, even though I love books, but I homeschool eight kids, run a small farm, and have a newborn to boot, so making time to read this was big. Very big. Shortly after finishing, I ran out to the hardware store and bought primer and paint. And then I painted two thrifted side tables I've had in my living room for a very long time. I always wanted to paint them, but I was scared I'd do it wrong. Mess 'em up. I mean, they were nice wood as they were, right? But I painted them, these tables, and they are most definitely not perfect, but they are so much better than they were before! I finally hung some pictures on the living room walls, too. Next up: painting the master bedroom and executing my plan to make that basement window, which is the only source of natural light in our room, look somewhat attractive. I've only lived here five years. It's about time, right? I was not previously acquainted with the author's blog, but I like her book "voice" better than her blog "voice". I like the way the book is organized, I like the cheerful tone, and I appreciate the inspiration and motivation. Her style is not my style, but I enjoyed the photography as much as the text. And I'll probably read it again, which almost never happens.

I almost always can tell if I will like a non-fiction book just by skimming the preview and reading the reviews. On this one, I should have paid more attention. I have to agree with another reviewer that I could see this as a lovely book to read on a nightstand in a guest room or somewhere you have to wait--when you don't need anything substantial but want inspirational images along with encouraging, friendly prose. On that note, the author certainly succeeded. In my mind, however, I was wanting this book to be a home-design-for-the-absolute-beginner-on-a-budget. And that is not what this is. When she says something along the lines of: Don't you hate wasting so much money trying all these different diy projects and they don't seem to turn out? I think: not really, because I've only ever done a handful of house projects. (Obviously I am not the target market here ...) What I was really hoping for was a breakdown of 1) what makes a house look good and homey, 2) different styles, 3) how to do this all on a budget, 4) different design challenges and ways to deal with them, 5) how to slowly decorate a home. The first third of the book is her back story (moving through 13 different homes, generally as a renter, and how she found her desire to decorate through that process.) The second third of the book is her "it's okay to not be perfect" manifesto. The last third has some design and shopping ideas, but all fit to her style. And there was nothing along the lines of "how to decorate a mantel", "how to balance a room" or "design fundamentals", though there are commentaries on things like: "use a rug", "add interesting lights", "be willing to take risks." ... In a lot of ways it felt like several interesting, but not necessarily applicable to me, articles I might run across on Pinterest. I can understand why so many have loved this book--if you love the author's style you may very well fit what you are looking for. Also if you are looking for an interesting guest room book or coffee table book or something light to read while traveling this might fit the bill perfectly. As a bit of a tangent, overall I really liked the author and her tone, but I could not believe this part: "After about two months of staring at that soul-sucking, dark paneling, I couldn't stand it any longer. I got busy priming and painting the paneling and the brick fireplace. Needless to say, at the end of our lease, the leasing company kept our $1,200 deposit. The house actually looked good when we left. I knew that if I'd asked to paint, they would have said no, and that if I just went ahead and painted, they would likely keep our deposit ... Looking back, it was worth the $1,200 to get to know myself better." My mouth literally hung open when I read this part! What!? You moved into someone else's home and, even though you knew they would not be okay with it, you painted over their wood paneling and BRICK FIREPLACE!?! ... While the author may have thought the home was more beautiful in the end, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And even though they are out of style now (and I don't love them myself), wood paneling and brick add value to a home. And by painting over them the owner can never, ever get their original wood and brick back. Ever. The $1,200 for the owner does nothing to salvage the destruction of their property. All in the name of "getting to know myself better." And then in the end they don't like the home and, after living there only a year, they move out anyhow!!! I was just so shocked by this passage. As a family who owns and rents a home, and as a family that has rented many homes ourself, I cannot imagine dishonoring someone else's home this way even if I did feel it was more beautiful ... (and we lived in a house with a Barbie pink kitchen once, so I do feel the pain, but nonetheless...)

J'aime ce discours de Myquillyn Smith, en substance "osons plus aujourd'hui et arrêtons de tirer des plans sur la comète". Il est possible de faire beaucoup avec ce que l'on a déjà, avec ce que l'on a aujourd'hui, il suffit simplement de se lancer. C'est valable pour la déco mais très facilement superposable dans beaucoup de domaine de notre vie. Super lecture !

Es un libro muy bonito. No tiene tantos tips de decoración pero sí habla mucho sobre el hogar y la familia.

sobre construir um lar e não uma casa modelo

Recently, I've ordered a lot of books on home design and renovation. This is the only one that I read back to back in two evenings. I simply couldn't put it down before finishing it. This book set me free from all false beliefs that we have to do this and don;t have to do that when decorate our homes. It's a book about the simple fact that as a owner of your home you have the right to choose what works for you. I got some very nice ideas which I will apply in my home very soon. But most of all I simply loved the author and her sense of humor. I wish I could meet her in real life. On the other hand, if you expect a book with lots of pictures of different homes or lots of designing ideas, this book is not for you. But I found this particular piece to be very practical for creating a home you want to live it. I am afraid of glossy interiors - I always wonder if someone really lives there. But this is not the case with this book. I would recommend the book to others.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I love to decorate but sometimes I feel that my mix matched styling pushes the limits..... what this book made me realize is that your home is 'YOUR' home and you can decorate however you like and you don't have to provide an explanation to anyone of why you do what you do. Just be who you are in your life and express that in your home. As we move into our new home next month I will be sure to keep all the tips in this in mind when filling our new space with things we love. Thank you for writing such a wonderful book!