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

by Myquillyn Smith

Popular blogger and author of Cozy Minimalist Home Myquillyn Smith (The Nester) helps readers find beauty in imperfection and freedom to take risks to create the home--and life--they've always wanted. This beautiful four-color book is full of photos and creative, easy ideas for arranging, decorating, and cultivating a welcoming home. Myquillyn Smith is all about embracing reality--especially when it comes to decorating a home bursting with boys, pets, and all the unpredictable messes of life. In The Nesting Place , Myquillyn shares the secrets of decorating for real people--and it has nothing to do with creating a flawless look to wow your guests. It has everything to do with embracing the natural imperfection and chaos of daily living. Drawing on her years of experience creating beauty in her 13 different homes, Myquillyn will show you how to think differently about the true purpose of your home and simply and creatively tailor it to reflect you and your unique style--without breaking the bank or stressing over comparisons. Full of easy tips, simple steps, and practical advice, The Nesting Place will give you the courage to take risks with your home and transform it into a place that's inviting and warm for family and friends. There is beauty in the lived-in and loved-on and just-about-used-up, Myquillyn says, and welcoming that imperfection wholeheartedly just might be the most freeing thing you'll ever do.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Design, Interior Design, Christian, Lifestyle, Personal Development

208 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2014

About the author

MYQUILLYN SMITH, also known as “The Nester,” is the New York Times and Wall Street
Journal bestselling author of Welcome Home and Cozy Minimalist Home.

For the past 17 years, she’s been encouraging women to embrace their space—imperfections and all—and make it their own. Her previous homes have been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Ladies’ Home Journal, and Cottages & Bungalows. She recently purchased and redecorated a 1905 Queen Anne Victorian home in Morganton, North Carolina, the inspiration for her new book House Rules.

She’s never met a home she didn’t love. Find her online at TheNester.com and on Instagram @TheNester.

Reviews

[reading is my hustle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've said here before that we live in an old farmhouse. It was built in 1898. The last couple of years have been rough. A down to the studs kitchen remodel (still going!), a new furnace, we lost five, old (ancient really) trees and just finished grading the yard, this summer we replaced our front porch. Read: CHA-ching, CHA-ching, CHA-ching. What I was once excited about I am now ambivalent about most days. I just want to relax!

Thank goodness this book came across the counter at the library. It is a wicked beacon of positivity. I am quite sure it is the only decorating book I have ever read cover to cover. Filled with pretty pictures and reassuring words- embrace the chaos of daily living! Imperfection is a natural state! Why fight it?! And don't compare! LOVED.

[Kaiya · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really thought I was the target demographic for this book - a renter with a chaotic life who'd still like her living space to look nice and feel homey. It appears, however, that I was incorrect. This book was basically just one big pep talk on being okay with "scary" and unconventional decorating decisions like (horror of horrors) using a lot of nails to mount wall decorations. While I do have many anxieties in life, I can't say that fear of hanging things up is one of them. Judging by the popularity of this book, I appear to be in the minority on that one, but as someone looking for concrete tips and projects beyond "hey, you can buy cheap used things and paint them/cover them in new fabric!", this book proved pretty useless.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

While even the best books have one or two things that I don't completely agree with, and this book was no exception; overall, I really enjoyed it. I've struggled with my house for years and years. I've lived in the same house for nearly eight years; the same one my husband purchased as a bachelor. There are have always been a lot of conflicting emotions for me regrading this place I live in. While I always it considered it my house, I've never considered it my home. There are so many things I love to hate about it. But after reading Smith's book, I realized I was being selfish and ungrateful for the things God has provided for me. Even the house I love to hate can have imperfections I can embrace - down to the constant pet hair from the dogs, the dust from an unfinished backyard and the unstylish decorating from my husband's unmarried days. I have a house with the a pretty good layout, perfect square footage, high vaulted ceilings, and the really quirky corner wet bar in our family room. I'm now on a kick to get painting and embrace what I truly find beautiful in my home.

Some of my favorite bullet points from Smiths's book:
~Give up on perfection. (She talks about how perfection is really a pride issue)
~Start with real purpose. Decide how you want people to feel in the space. (Cozy family room? Yes! Fun and cheerful master? Double yes!)
~Embrace risk and remember that doing nothing is also a risk, maybe the biggest risk. (I'm going to spray paint my bed frame. Perfectly good wrought iron but not my color.)
~Fill your walls with meaningful beauty, such as a gallery full of memories.
~Buy a plant. If it dies, that's okay. Buy another kind of plant until you find one that lives. (I have an aloe and peace plant that are hard to kill. Monkey plants are also great).
~Consider a signature piece. (Like the awesome, colorful coverlet from Pottery Barn)
~Sprinkle a few opposites. (I love modern and 1950s vintage)
~Add a dash of quirk if your space is feeling too serious and if that makes you happy. (Hooray for the white moosehead, thank you white faux taxidermy, that will adorn by bedroom wall)
~Live in and enjoy your space. Don't fret when something breaks or gets scratched, because that is a sign of a life well lived. Yippie, you are doing it right! (Something I always struggle with. Now I can laugh about the cupcake sprinkles stuck inside the grooves of my coffee table)
~Welcome your friends into your home without apology. (I will no longer feel guilty about dust on the TV or papers all over my desk)

[Claire · Rating 1 out of 5]

Things you will get in this book:

- the feeling of reading a blog. (Which you may like but man do I chafe at reading a blog smooshed unskillfully into book form.)
- lots of pictures of the same space over and over with tiny tweaks
- loads of talk about God. So much that I think it should have been part of the title cause that was not my expectation in a home decor book.
- antlers everywhere - real and faux. Lots of relying on the same feature all over the place.
- talk about how to get your husband on board to decorate. Because obv only women care about their homes & they obv are only women with husbands who probably don't see any value in home decor. At some point she gives you tips for pushing them into your projects & lets you know that men are logical & so they won't understand making unnecessary changes. This is my #1 reason for the 1 star.

Just loads of weird assumptions in this book blog.

[Lorilin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know anything about Myquillyn Smith, a popular blogger at The Nester, before reading this book. She's a mom of three, married, and living in a house she rents. Apparently her family has moved something like 13 times in 15 years. They owned a couple of those homes, but mostly they rented. Through it all, she's finally come to the conclusion that you have to make your home your own right now, even if you don't own it and even if you don't have a lot of money. To improve her own space, she's a big fan of crafting, DIY projects, thrift shops, and cheaper home goods stores--or even just using whatever she already has to change things up (like rearranging furniture, for example).

I like Smith's emphasis on being content with what you have. And I think her "fixes on the cheap" appeal to younger couples just starting out. I will say, though, that when I began reading The Nesting Place, I thought it was going to be a pretty design book that was light on words and heavy on design inspiration. And though the book does showcase some motivating pictures, it actually focuses a lot more on Smith's personal story and her Advice on Life than anything else. That isn't a bad thing necessarily, but it did take some getting used to.

What was especially weird to me, though, was all the religious talk. I get that Smith is a Christian and that God is important to her and her family. That's totes fine with me. But sometimes her religious perspective would take genuinely good advice and make it, well, awkward. For example, Smith, when talking about the dangers of perfection, quotes Sandy Coughlin: "Perfection comes from a place of great need--usually the need to avoid criticism and gain praise and approval from others." Interesting. I kind of like that. But Smith's take away? Perfection is so self-centered! You need to be thinking of others! Hm, that's a weird way to reframe it, but okay.

Or later in the book she talks about not apologizing to guests or visitors for the disorder or unfinished-ness of your home. She encourages readers to accept their homes as they are, imperfections and all. Again, great advice. But then she adds, besides, "if you're married and your husband hears you apologizing for what he's provided, it could be hurtful." Um, what? Was I just transported to 1953? Yikes.

In short, this book was engaging and I enjoyed parts of it--but it wasn't at all what I was expecting. Honestly, if I had known it was more of a memoir--with all the religious stuff thrown in, too--I probably wouldn't have picked it up in the first place.

See more of my reviews at www.BugBugBooks.com.

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Do you want a lovely interior design book with gorgeous photos, antiquated gender roles, with a smattering of good Christian values thrown in? I've got the book for you!

Honestly, it's not a horrible book. There aren't any brilliant ideas here, but I do like her emphasis on embracing imperfection and small budgets. Also, it's nice to see interior design tips aimed at renters who can't just change a house willy-nilly.

But when there is a whole section about how to get your husband (husband - not partner/spouse/boyfriend, etc) to come around to your idea? And one of the tips is to not accost him right after he's coming home from work and wait for him to have dinner first.......?

Is it 2015 or 1955, because I'm not sure.

[Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars Myquillyn Smith and her husband have lived in 14 homes in 18 years, so she’s had plenty of practice in figuring out how to make a house (or apartment) into a home. But what I found most inspiring about this book is that she’s not a perfectionist. In fact, she talks about not focusing on perfection, but making your home a place that welcomes and nurtures you and your family. She even shows a pair of photos of her own office, one staged for a magazine shoot, and one the way it normally looks: messy, used, and lived in.

And she really understands that fear of doing it “wrong” is what holds a lot of us back from doing anything at all to our homes. She encourages her readers to take risks, whether it’s to go ahead and paint that $8 yard-sale side table, or moving the sofa to another wall, or putting up a bunch of photos and/or art. I had to laugh when she says there are 83 nail holes in her gallery wall – 83 that aren’t currently in use and that she had to fill in, that is! I’m one of those people who is scared to put up the pictures, because what if I don’t get the arrangement right? In fact, I am so afraid of making bad choices when it comes to my house that I haven’t really done anything in years… and it shows. But the two rooms I actually designed about 10 or 12 years ago – my office and Robin’s bedroom – while both currently cluttered and full of too much stuff, are pretty and inviting when they’re cleaned up. So what am I afraid of?

Myquillyn’s style isn’t mine; she uses a lot more painted furniture than I want to, while I’m more into the beauty of the wood. But she embraces the personally meaningful and the whimsical in her style, and both of those are things I want to highlight as well: family treasures, things that have personal meaning or wonderful memories, and things that reflect my passions (reading, knitting, fantasy creatures.) Reading the book inspired me to bring up our oversize dragon cookie jar that has languished in the basement for the last 12 or 15 years. We don’t need to eat a lot of cookies, so instead I filled him with Luna bars (power bars.) He’s green and yellow – not the colors I would have chosen – but he’s also cute and whimsical and dragonish, and I love him.

The real test of a how-to book is in whether you actually follow through on the inspiration and ideas you get from it, and I can’t really report on that yet. It’s only been a week or so since I read it, after all. But I found some sections of the book and some of the quotes inspiring enough that I decided to buy my own copy so I can refer back to it whenever I get discouraged.

Wish me luck!

[Rachel Pfaff · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a glorified blog! I normally do not bother to review books, but I could not have more disappointed with this book. This book is simply one talented woman telling you the history of everywhere she has lived (with pictures of the outside of her past rental houses, and how she "creates" on a budget. There are truly not any strong DYI ideas and instructions to get someone started on their own home. I honestly believe the only reason people rate this book so highly is because of its beautiful pictures and that the IDEA of the book validates how each and every one of us feels- that our home does not have to be perfect. That is it, that is the gist of the entire book. I could have just followed her blog. The pictures are beautiful, but I should add that there are over a dozen pictures of the same wall in her house. Over 12 pictures of the same wall. All the other picture are staged areas in her house (using the same decor). This book fell completely short for any expectations. There are a lot of other great decorating books on the market.

[Colleen Oakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little decorating book, adorned with pictures that will make you drool for her decorating prowess, what made this coffee table book unique was the honesty of the author. Spilling her secrets of success and failure, it took the book from what could be just a decorating book into a moving and grace filled journey of home and heart.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book!! It was just packed full of wisdom and valuable insight! At first, I thought it was going to be a decorating "how-to" book, but it is so much more than that!!

The author does give an abundance of very practical tips on making your home cozier and more inviting. But she also puts a great deal of emphasis on the purpose of a home and how to be content with whatever home you have.

I think this is a must-read for any woman desiring to make her house a home (even if she thinks she's already mastered it!).

A few favorite quotes:

With enough money, anyone can create a pretty house. But it takes intention to create a home.

What if you already have everything you need to have the home you've always wanted?

Sometimes we are too busy criticizing what our home is lacking to appreciate what we already have.

You don't have to wait for the perfect conditions. Create your home now, wherever you are. You are everything you need.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I checked this book out from the library, thinking I'd be inspired to embrace creative design and be able to find ideas or techniques to create a comfortable family home. Although there were some pictures of the author's own home, which looked nice enough, the book was really more of an autobiography or self-realization essay that focused on her own shedding of materialism and seeking perfection than on any actual home decor ideas. My favorite part of the book was the Appendixes, one of which was a list of many home decorating and crafting blogs which will be a better resource and fount of inspiration than this book was. Although I totally agree that using your wealth of resources to help others instead of just your own material indulgences is a worthy and necessary behavior, I found the writing to be repetitive. It kind of felt like she was writing to get rid of the feelings of guilt associated with wanting more than only God's presence and the love of a good man and some kids. Caring about the environment you create for your family is a noble pursuit, especially if it inspires those who live or spend time there to carry that positive love energy out into the world to do good. Just buy the damned rug already and let's crack open the new Stephen King novel!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, really good perspective on homemaking and being welcoming! I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it wasn’t as mind blowing as I’d hoped. I think my brain exploded so much reading The Lazy Genius Way (which led me to this book), and my brain still hasn’t gotten back together enough that exploding is possible right now 🤣.

[Melody Warnick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Takeaway: There's a lot you can do to pretty up a rental house if you're willing to forego your security deposit.

[Go2therock · Rating 3 out of 5]

While watching a string of episodes on HGTV one particular Saturday, my husband turned to me and asked, "What's our style? I mean, is it Early American or Neo-classical or what?" We pondered awhile as we looked around us, at a bit of a loss for a definition.
The next day it hit me and I went to my dearly beloved, "We do have a sense of style," I assured him, "It's my Mom's."

Fortunately for us, my Mom's style was created through our years of living overseas courtesy of the US Navy, the gypsy spirit it breathed into life, and the giftedness she received by hand of her Creator to be an artist. Her example was carried further along in the lives of her children by the constant message of encouragement to try and fail, get up, and try again - as well as her relentless love for us.

All this to say, I have style thanks to my Mom.

The Nesting Place is for those who are looking for someone to coax them to take that step forward and risk making the necessary mistakes that happen along the way to making your abode your home. It's a sisterly voice that promises that some of those mistakes will actually turn out to be unique wonders just waiting for their author (you) to give birth to them. It's the call of a friend to come out and play, sing your song, do your dance, and find ways to express the special person God created you to be in the haven you're living in this side of heaven. And for those of us who've already found our sense of style... we're still welcome to walk around in the rooms of Myquillin's beautiful home and listen to her words of inspiration and cheer.

[Leya Delray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, People. THIS BOOK.

Where do I even start?? I have loved everything I have ever read by Myquillyn Smith, but so far, this is my favorite. I absolutely adore her writing style, which is a mixture of funny, inspiring, and practical. This book was no exception. I was first introduced to her work several years ago when I read her book "The Cozy Minimalist Home," but at the time I didn't yet have my own house to decorate.

Now I do, and although I did a lot of work at the beginning, and got certain rooms the way I wanted them, on others I sort of stalled out once I got to an "ok" point. Reading "The Nesting Place" completely re-invigorated me to dive back in, with a new perspective and new ideas. And I LOVED what she said about taking some time to just think about what things have always made you happy, ever since you were young, and incorporate those into your decor. When I did that, I suddenly realized why it was that I have (so far) still refused to take down the Christmas decorations, although it's well past time. I LOVE WHITE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! And I don't want to pack them away. Well, thanks to this book, I have now figured that out. So I can behave like a normal human being now and put away my Christmas decor, knowing that I have big plans to incorporate white fairy lights into my regular so I won't have to miss them all year.

Oh yeah, and her ideas for how to do things on shoestring budget with thrift store finds and lots of creativity are AWESOME. Ahem. Did I mention I love this book?

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ספר כזה יפה :) וגם לקחתי ממנו כמה רעיונות מועילים אפילו בהנתן ההבדלים הגדולים בין בתים בארץ לארהב

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful photographs and practical tips on finding contentment in your home and using what you have to embrace the good and bad of each house you live in

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

My takeways: Don't wait for your dream house or a big budget to create a home you love. View imperfections as opportunities for creativity. Take risks and experiment. DIY things and buy secondhand, but also figure out what is important enough to you to spend more money on. Don't forget the purpose of your home—it's not to look magazine-worthy at all times, but rather to be a welcoming, joyful space for you, your family, and those you extend hospitality to.

[Kasey Dorman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not the book for me. Her writing style is too much tacky Pintrest meetings kindergarden art project. I was hoping to more hone my décor style and maybe I have....just by deciding the style of sticking plates on a wall with paper garland isn't my style of calling a house a home. Either way, its a hard pass for me. Could serve as a pretty coffee table book..just don't give people enough time to read too much of it. :)

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her message that your house does not need to look like a picture in a magazine. Lived in is more obtainable and can still be quite beautiful. She has been featured in magazines but her family is most important, she appreciates what she has and I just love this book!

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the authors ideas on new design in your home with what you already have. There were also so many great ideas on refurbishing used furniture and creating out of the box decorations that are affordable. I now want to frequent thrift shops and garage sale every weekend

[Eddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

No, you do not need Jesus to help you move that coffee table.

[Kimberly Patton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is the one to turn to for all things decorating and design with a healthy mindset first. We just moved to a new town and I needed this book to help me have a good perspective on our new house.
I really liked how she set herself up at the beginning by highlighting her struggles and specific challenges with each house she has lived in. That helped me remember that there is probably no perfect house and you have to roll with some things in each house that were not there in another living situation.
She had good decorating tips but I was less interested those because it’s not really my thing. I just enjoyed reading through it and looking at the pictures like it was a fun, wholesome magazine.
Her last chapter and the personal reflections were so heartwarming and I just really needed to read it. Thankful for people like this in the world ❤️
Page 25- I like her gallery wall and the sign with all of the places they’ve lived
Page 37- book art, pages from books, books stacked with decor on top. Use my pretty favorite books around the house to bring joy and good memories
68- descriptive words about what you want your home to be: I chose real, cozy, safe, family oriented, fun and joyful
83- more pages cut out and used as a art. Book page garland
Also—- her life giving advice to PUT HOLES IN THE WALLS gave me so much relief. I am going to put many many new holes in the walls at this new house because I want to and she said I can. Yay.

[Savannah Van Loon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Myquillyn Smith. I have read all of her books, own two of them, and regularly refer to her ideas and my notes from her books when making design decisions. Her material kind of repeats, and this book is a little outdated in the style sense… but I love her philosophies on decorating. She has taught me *the most* about home design.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nesting Place was much richer than I was expecting. The philosophy of use what's already at hand, diy, and practice gratitude has been said many times before. Yet. This time the truths and happiness shines through. Pretty ,quirky, upbeat photos help round out the text .I wish that there had been lots more photos.there certainly was lots of ideas and advice. Truly, this slightly oversized book was a pleasure to hold and spend time mulling over .

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that she didn't say go buy new everything or 85 billion drawers to organize all your things. Her styled photos weren't my style, but I think that was part of her point. Looking forward to her most recent book after this reading.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. This book has already helped me get started on making our house a home. Will come back to reference this in the future.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, easy, light read. As someone that gets trapped in indecision because I want to get it "right", this book was a reminder that there is freedom to be found when we throw out the so-called rules and find joy in the beautifully imperfect.

[Jas Heaps · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the design pep talk I needed. Here's to making nail holes and painting walls!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Looking forward to reading her other books!

Edit: on reflection, this is more like 2.5 stars rounded up for me. While she had some good things to say (and everyone's style can and should be different), her style is so chaotic and radically different from my own, that I found the pictures of her home distracting. I also disagree with some of her perspectives. I'm reading her Cozy Minimalist book right now and am already seeing that her evolved approach is much more palatable and practical.