# by Stacie Leigh

> Designing Your Sanctuary: Curated Style and Serene Living


## Posts

- [3 Flowery Wallpaper Ideas for a Colorful, Cheerful Home](/flowery-wallpaper-ideas/): Photo by I Do Nothing But Love on UnsplashFlowery wallpaper ideas can bring color and personality into your home without requiring a full renovation. From dreamy watercolor flowers in a bedroom to cheerful botanical patterns in a powder room or small bathroom, floral wallpaper can transform a plain wall into the room’s defining feature. The key is choosing a pattern that suits the scale and mood of the room. A playful chinoiserie print can make a powder room feel special, a pastel watercolor floral can soften a bedroom, and a colorful wildflower design can bring life to a compact bathroom. Here ... Read more
- [5 Funky Wallpaper Ideas for a Colorful, Personality-Filled Home](/funky-wallpaper-ideas/): Photo by Collov Home Design on Unsplash Wallpaper is one of the fastest ways to give a room personality. A playful floral, a punchy geometric print or an unexpected color combination can turn a plain wall into the feature that makes the whole space feel intentional. The secret is not filling every surface with pattern. Funky wallpaper often looks best when it has a little room to breathe. Pair it with simple furniture, repeat two or three colors from the print elsewhere in the room and let the wall be the star. These five funky wallpaper ideas include two different living-room ... Read more
- [Cozy Window Reading Nook Ideas for Cottagecore Slow Living](/window-reading-nook-ideas/): Photo by Tina Witherspoon on Unsplash There is something about a window reading nook that slows the whole day down. The light comes in soft, the outside world feels a little further away, and suddenly a corner of your home becomes the spot you actually want to sit in. If you are drawn to cottagecore and slow living, a window reading nook is one of the easiest ways to bring that feeling into a real, lived-in space. A reading nook has to look soft and inviting, but it also has to actually be comfortable to sit in for an hour with ... Read more
- [Cottagecore Wallpaper Ideas for Every Room in Your Home](/cottagecore-wallpaper-ideas/): If there is one thing that transforms a room from plain to completely cottagecore faster than anything else, it is wallpaper. Not paint, not furniture, not even plants. A single wall of the right botanical print and the whole room shifts. The problem is finding cottagecore wallpaper ideas that actually look the part without committing to a permanent installation. Most renters cannot touch their walls, and even homeowners want the flexibility to change things up without stripping paste for hours. That is where peel and stick removable wallpaper changes everything. No paste, no damage, no landlord conversations. Just peel, stick, and ... Read more
- [The Cottagecore Color Palette for Your Whole Home (2026 Guide)](/cottagecore-color-palette/): Getting the cottagecore aesthetic right has very little to do with how much you spend and almost everything to do with color. Pick the wrong palette and even the most beautiful rattan chair and vintage ceramics will feel off. Get it right and the whole room clicks into place without much effort at all. I’ve been designing around color for most of my career – first as a furniture designer, now as someone who thinks about interiors every single day. And the question I get asked more than anything else is: what colors actually make a home feel cottagecore? The answer ... Read more
- [Cozy Reading Chair Ideas for a Cottagecore Living Room](/cozy-reading-chair-ideas/): Every cottagecore living room needs one thing more than anything else – and these cozy reading chair ideas will show you exactly how to get it right. Not a matching accent chair that came with the sofa. A chair with personality. Something that looks like it belongs in a quiet corner with a cup of tea and a good book. The right cozy reading chair does something no other piece of furniture can. It gives you a reason to slow down. And in a world where every room is starting to look like a hotel lobby, that matters. As a former ... Read more
- [Late Spring in a Scottish Aberdeen Garden](/late-spring-in-a-scottish-garden/): By late May the garden no longer feels tentative. Late spring in a Scottish garden, the snowdrops are gone, the crocuses have folded back into the soil, and the camellias that carried March are beginning to fade. In their place comes something fuller, denser, almost sudden. Rhododendrons explode into colour against granite walls, bluebells spill through the grass beneath trees, and every corner of the garden feels greener than it did a week before. This is the point in the Scottish season where spring stops whispering and starts announcing itself. My sister Lori has been sending me new photographs almost daily ... Read more
- [Funky Home Decor: How to Style Without the Clutter](/funky-home-decor/): Funky home decor can easily go wrong. What starts as playful can quickly feel cluttered or chaotic if the pieces don’t work together. The difference comes down to selection. Shop Funky Home Decor by Category: In this edit, I’m sharing a few standout pieces that add personality without overwhelming your space, along with simple ways to style them so everything still feels intentional. Why Funky Home Decor Works When It’s Done Right Funky decor ideas work because it breaks visual predictability. A single unexpected piece, bold shape, unusual material, or playful reference, can anchor a space and make everything else feel ... Read more
- [First Signs of Spring — In a Scottish Aberdeen Garden](/scottish-spring-garden-aberdeen/): Scotland doesn’t do gradual. Winter holds on longer than anywhere else, grey and heavy, and then one morning my sister steps outside and there are snowdrops. Dozens of them. White bells nodding against a weathered wooden fence, green shoots pushing through cold soil that looked dead a week ago. She sent me the photo before she’d had her morning coffee. No caption. Just the image. This is what early spring looks like in a scottish spring garden, not a gradual warming, but a series of small announcements. Snowdrops first. Then crocuses. Then the camellia on the corner that stops everyone in ... Read more
- [7 Elegant Vases Decor Ideas to Make Your Home Feel Collected and Calm](/vases-decor-trend/): There is something grounding about styling a home with handmade ceramics and sculptural vases. A thoughtfully placed vase can soften a shelf, bring warmth to a modern room, and make even simple branches or flowers feel intentional. In 2026, the shift toward slow interiors, layered textures, and collected spaces has made ceramic vases one of the easiest ways to create a home that feels calm and elevated without completely redesigning a room. Whether you love earthy pottery, blue and white ginger jars, or minimalist bud vases, these styling ideas will help you create a more curated and lived-in space. Why Vases ... Read more
- [3 Secrets on How to Restore Antique Wood Furniture Without Sanding: A Before and After Guide](/how-to-restore-antique-wood-furniture/): Knowing how to restore antique wood furniture without sanding, simply clean the surface and apply a high-quality finish restorer to blend out scratches. Learning how to restore antique wood furniture using the “brightening up” method allows you to achieve professional results while preserving the original patina. For stubborn hardware, using #0000 steel wool with a dedicated brass polish speeds up the process significantly. The “Brightening Up” Philosophy The task of restoring furniture from scratch can seem like a daunting task to many. Sometimes, we just need a simple solution for a piece that doesn’t warrant a full restore, but has faded, ... Read more
- [Dopamine Decor Ideas 2026: The Designer Edit for a Joyful, Effortless Home](/dopamine-decor-ideas-2026/): Dopamine decor ideas are often associated with bold colors and playful design, but they work best when applied with intention. Instead of filling a space with trends, the focus should be on choosing a few standout pieces that bring energy without overwhelming the room. What is Dopamine Decor? At its core, dopamine decor ideas focus on using color, texture, and familiar elements to create a space that feels more personal and uplifting. It’s not about filling a room with everything at once, but choosing pieces that bring energy without overwhelming the space. Layering Texture: The Living Room Edit To bring dopamine ... Read more
- [2026 Color Palette Reset: Why Blue is the Elegant Choice for Your Home](/2026-color-palette-reset/): The 2026 color palette reset marks a definitive shift from organic, earthy greens toward a timeless, structured blue that brings clarity and “New Heritage” elegance to your home. While green has dominated the biophilic movement for years, the upcoming trend focuses on sophisticated navies, powdery blues, and the classic charm of blue-and-white porcelain. At ByStacieLeigh, we see this shift as a return to “New Heritage” values. While green felt organic and earthy, blue feels timeless, structured, and undeniably elegant. I. The Shift: Why the 2026 Color Palette Reset Favors Blue Design is often a reaction to the world around us. After ... Read more
- [Hollywood Cottage Trend: 5 Ways to Master Lived-In Luxury in 2026](/hollywood-cottage-trend/): The Hollywood Cottage trend is a 2026 interior design movement that combines high-end formal luxury with the relaxed, lived-in comfort of a coastal retreat. It is the perfect embodiment of “New Heritage” design, a move away from stark minimalism toward homes that feel deeply “collected” rather than just “decorated.” This aesthetic is where formal, mahogany elements meet the breezy, relaxed textures of seagrass and linen, creating a space of true effortless elegance. I. What is the Hollywood Cottage Trend? Think of the Hollywood Cottage trend as “fanciness” applied to a cottage setting. It is the intersection of luxury and comfort. As ... Read more
- [Starting Over at 50: A 30-Day Wellbeing Reset for Effortless Elegance](/wellbeing-reset-starting-over-at-50/): The 30-Day Identity Rebuild is a gentle wellbeing reset designed specifically for women starting over at 50 who want to reclaim their energy and focus. By aligning your physical health with an intentional home environment, you can shift from feeling scattered to living with a sense of effortless elegance. If you are starting over at 50, you don’t need a high-intensity “boot camp.” You need a gentle, intentional reset that respects your season of life. Based on health guidelines from Cedars-Sinai and the CDC, we have curated this 30-day journey to help you reclaim your energy and focus. Always speak with ... Read more
- [The Return of Dark Wood Stains: Why English Oak is the Best 2026 Investment](/dark-wood-stains-trend/): Dark wood stains are making a significant comeback in 2026 as homeowners move away from the “all-white” minimalist look toward interiors with more soul and depth. While light oaks dominated for years, the shift toward dark wood stains like English Oak provides a grounded, “New Heritage” feel that anchors a room and feels like a lifetime investment. For those of us in a new chapter of life, choosing furniture with dark wood stains is an act of stabilization. It’s about moving away from “disposable” light-colored veneers and embracing the weight and history of a collected home. I. Practical Tips for Styling ... Read more
- [Antique Silver Home Decor: The "New Heritage" Trend for 2026](/antique-silver-home-decor/): If you are looking to refresh your home for 2026, it’s time to look past the cold industrial shine of chrome and polished nickel. There is a significant shift happening toward antique silver home decor, a movement that favors materials with weight, history, and what designers call a New Heritage soul. This trend is particularly meaningful for anyone entering a new chapter. It’s about choosing pieces that feel collected rather than just decorated. Antique silver home decor is the ultimate choice for effortless elegance because its beauty lies in its patina and the unique story it tells. How To Mix Antique ... Read more
- [Rug Size for Room Calculator: The Professional Guide to Effortless Placement](/rug-size-for-room-calculator/): To calculate the best rug size for your room, subtract 36 inches (3 feet) from both the length and width of the space. This follows the professional “Time-Saver Standard” for major trafficways, ensuring a classic 18-inch border of flooring that frames your room with effortless elegance. Choosing the wrong rug size is the most common design mistake in home styling. Too small, and the room feels disjointed; too large, and you swallow the architectural beauty of your flooring. Whether you are styling a cozy 10×12 living room or a grand primary suite, this rug size for room calculator, built on professional ... Read more
- [What Scotland Actually Looks Like - My Sister's POV](/scotland-highlands-aesthetic-home-decor/): Our grandmother was a Sutherland. It’s a surname that comes directly from the land, the far north of Scotland, where the Highlands push all the way to the coast and the mountains stand alone in the middle of open moorland. My sister Lori moved to Aberdeen three years ago. She didn’t plan to become the family photographer of our ancestral landscape. But Scotland has a way of making that happen. Her photos started filling my camera roll, Highland cows at dusk, stone ruins beside still lochs, yellow gorse rolling across moorland. I started decorating around them. This post is what I ... Read more
- [Cozy Cottagecore Living Room Ideas (On a Budget)](/cozy-cottagecore-living-room-ideas/): If you search “cozy cottagecore living room ideas” on Pinterest, you’ll mostly find 200-year-old English farmhouses with exposed beams and flagstone floors. And if you’re renting a modern apartment or living in a builder-grade house, that can feel completely out of reach. But here’s what most of those Pinterest boards won’t tell you: cottagecore isn’t about the architecture. It’s about the feeling. Warmth, layers, things that look collected rather than ordered from a catalog. You can create that anywhere. As a former furniture designer, I’ve learned that the most beautiful rooms aren’t built around expensive renovations. They’re built around intentional choices ... Read more

## Pages

- [Past Home Decor Favorites | By Stacie Leigh](/home-decor-favorites/): Browse past home decor favorites, including pieces I’ve used, styled, or would genuinely buy again. From everyday essentials to statement decor, these are items that hold up visually and practically over time. Updated regularly as I rotate new pieces into my Current Obsessions.
- [Modern Home Decor Essentials: The Professional Interior Checklist](/modern-home-decor-essentials/): Modern home decor essentials are the foundational pieces, like symmetry-anchoring vases, organic botanicals, and functional wellness tools, that balance a room’s energy. By selecting items that serve both an aesthetic and a ritual purpose, you can create a professional interior finish that feels curated rather than cluttered. The Designer Edit: Statement Vases Decor The foundations of a Slow Interior. These vessels are selected for their ‘Symmetry Anchor’, the ability to draw the eye and provide a sense of calm. The Styling Set: Organic Textures 1. FloraDream Pampas Grass & Eucalyptus BouquetThe Pro Tip: This is my top recommendation for a “High-End ... Read more
- [Thank You](/thank-you/): Your Living Room Layout Planner has been sent to your inbox. You can also download it directly using the button below.
- [The Living Room Layout Planner](/room-layout-planner/): Where should I send your planner?
- [Contact](/contact/): Let’s connect. Whether you have a specific question about a product in The Designer Edit, require guidance on achieving a specific look, or are interested in partnership opportunities, we would love to hear from you. We generally reply to all inquiries within 48 business hours. General Inquiries & Partnerships Please use the form below to send us a direct message. Privacy & Data Requests If you have questions regarding your personal data rights (GDPR/CCPA requests), please contact us directly via email. Email: contact@bystacieleigh.com
- [Disclaimer](/disclaimer/): Effective Date: [6/29/2025] The information provided on this website, bystacieleigh.com, is for general informational and inspirational purposes only. While I strive to share accurate and up-to-date content, I make no guarantees of completeness, reliability, or accuracy. 1. Not Professional Advice The content on this site is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. This includes but is not limited to: Always consult with a qualified professional before making any personal, health-related, financial, or legal decisions. 2. Affiliate Links & Product Mentions Some content may include affiliate links. I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, which helps support the site. ... Read more
- [Terms of Service](/terms-of-service/): Effective Date: [6/29/2025] Welcome to bystacieleigh.com. By using this website, you agree to the following terms and conditions. Please read them carefully. 1. Use of This Website All content on this site is provided for informational and inspirational purposes only. By accessing this site, you agree not to reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, or exploit any part of it without written permission. 2. Intellectual Property All original content, including images, text, branding, and design, belongs to the site owner unless otherwise noted. AI-generated imagery and curated product displays are intended for inspiration and representation only. 3. Affiliate Disclosure Some links on this ... Read more
- [Work With Me](/work-with-me/): Let’s create something beautiful together.
- [Affiliate Disclosure Page](/affiliate-disclosure-page/): Affiliate Disclosure 🌿 Affiliate Disclosure This website contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. I only promote products I personally use or believe align with my brand and values. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These commissions help support the time, energy, and tools required to maintain this site and bring you curated content. Your support is genuinely appreciated. If you have questions about any product featured or mentioned, feel free to reach out via the contact page.
- [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy/): Privacy Policy Last updated: [10/20/2025] Who We Are Our website address is: https://bystacieleigh.com. This site is managed and edited by Stacie Leigh, content creator and owner. Comments When visitors leave comments on the site, we collect the data shown in the comments form, as well as the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help detect spam. An anonymized string created from your email address (a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to check if you’re using it. The Gravatar privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy. After your comment is approved, your profile picture becomes visible to ... Read more
- [About Stacie Leigh](/about/): Growing up in Trinidad, there was a day at school when we wore kilts. Sutherland tartan, moss green, teal, deep red. Our grandmother’s clan. We didn’t think much of it then. Years later my sister Lori moved to Aberdeen. She started sending me photographs, Highland cows at dusk, stone ruins beside still lochs, the first snowdrops of February pushing through her garden soil. I started decorating around them. That’s how this site started. But the story behind it goes back further. I spent years working with antiques in Trinidad, restoring pieces, learning what lasts, understanding why certain joints hold while others ... Read more
- [Blog](/blog/)
- [Home](/): By Stacie Leigh Interiors. Travel. The things worth buying. Explore the Blog → As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Hi, I’m Stacie. This is where I write about the homes, trips, and finds that actually make life feel better, good design, good travel, and the occasional splurge worth saving up for. Learn More About Me → Current Obsessions Bold, playful, and full of personality, these are the home decor pieces I’m loving this month. Designed to add color, character, and something unexpected to your space. Home Decor Ideas & More Browse By Category Everything here moves at the ... Read more

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