The Gift of Home

November 15, 2021
“Anyone can love the space they live in,” writes Rooms for Rent blogger Doucette (The Gift of Gathering) in her quaint guide to interiors. Doucette arms readers with the tools to revamp decor they’ve grown bored with and to love their spaces, “imperfections and all,” starting with an introduction to design basics and a tutorial on finding a “look,” or the feelings one wants a home to evoke. Her advice is organized by room: in the living room, she gives tips for achieving dimension and warmth with textiles (“area rugs, window treatments, and throw pillows are great places to start”), while in the kitchen, there are tricks for improving lighting (under-cabinet lights offer a nice glow). In the bathroom, meanwhile, matching accessories can add a personal touch, and kids’ rooms should have furniture that will “work for them as they grow.” Doucette’s advice comes with a tint of religion (“God put the desire for home into each one of us”), and along the way, she offers plenty of guidance for keeping a home family-friendly; there are lots of DIY projects, too, such as a family gallery wall, a farmhouse dining table, and a driftwood coat rack. This is a solid, no-fuss starting point for readers looking to shape up their decor.