What do you think?
Rate this book
Welcome Home: A Cozy Minimalist Guide to Decorating and Hosting All Year Round
Decorating your home for each season doesn't have to be stressful, overwhelming, or expensive—just ask The Nester! In Welcome Home , New York Times bestselling author Myquillyn Smith guides you through a minimalist process of creating and enjoying a seasonally decorated home with more style and less stuff. No matter what the world says, embracing the seasons doesn't require endless bins of factory-made decor or loads of time. In fact, your home can be festive, stylish, and cozy with minimal effort and a limited budget. With engaging how-tos and inspiring photos, Welcome Home will help you create a home that's fresh, meaningful, beautiful, and (bonus!) always ready for guests. Myquillyn guides you step by step through purposeful design decisions to cultivate a space where loved ones gather, meaningful connections are celebrated, and lasting memories are made. Myquillyn's realistic and down-to-earth design tips will teach you how Welcome Home will help you rise above the trends, discover your unique style, and usher in each season with more style and even less stuff.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2020
587 people are currently reading
2429 people want to read
About the author
Myquillyn Smith
5 books244 followersMYQUILLYN 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
January 15, 2021
I never quite know what to do with Myquillyn Smith. I hate her decor, but I love her thoughts. Her decorating is generic “modern farmhouse” with way too much stark white. Her Cozy Minimalist (tm) branding drives me up the wall. She layers rugs which I absolutely hate, it looks dirty to me (two dust and dirt trappers??), and unsafe slip-hazard floors is just a thing that always makes me nervous.
And yet! Her thoughts about how we should use our homes, about how we need to forget about “entertaining” in our homes, which is a consumerist invention, and focus on good old fashioned hospitality; about how perfectionism keeps us from doing that, is so kind and unique in these sorts of blogs and books. She is one of the very few home design thinkers that actually presents good clean coherent thoughts about Christianity and how that works in her home design. Her design always come back to her faith, and she shows you how. Shoot I’m an atheist and I love that, it’s the reason I checked out this book, which tells you everything.
In short, Myquillyn Smith is out here selling the only wholesome and healthy domestic fantasy books. Get them if that’s your bag, and especially if you like the most popular home design aesthetic and aren’t living in a 1960s time warp house like me.
And yet! Her thoughts about how we should use our homes, about how we need to forget about “entertaining” in our homes, which is a consumerist invention, and focus on good old fashioned hospitality; about how perfectionism keeps us from doing that, is so kind and unique in these sorts of blogs and books. She is one of the very few home design thinkers that actually presents good clean coherent thoughts about Christianity and how that works in her home design. Her design always come back to her faith, and she shows you how. Shoot I’m an atheist and I love that, it’s the reason I checked out this book, which tells you everything.
In short, Myquillyn Smith is out here selling the only wholesome and healthy domestic fantasy books. Get them if that’s your bag, and especially if you like the most popular home design aesthetic and aren’t living in a 1960s time warp house like me.
July 13, 2023
The photography and ideas in this book are stunning.
I am such a clutter bug, and I attach memories to items, which leads to constantly owning too much stuff all of the time.
It is great to see the tips and examples of releasing items and showing the natural beauty. Granted, it's more about having quality pieces in our home as opposed to quality.
I would love to have been able to see the process of how she would adapt someone like me into a more minimalized decorating scheme and how you would better find the items at different price points.
Overall, it was enjoyable to go through this one. 4 Stars.
I am such a clutter bug, and I attach memories to items, which leads to constantly owning too much stuff all of the time.
It is great to see the tips and examples of releasing items and showing the natural beauty. Granted, it's more about having quality pieces in our home as opposed to quality.
I would love to have been able to see the process of how she would adapt someone like me into a more minimalized decorating scheme and how you would better find the items at different price points.
Overall, it was enjoyable to go through this one. 4 Stars.
September 21, 2020
Really I can’t decide between a four and five star review. This book has added significant value to a year without much joy in it. Myquilyn again gives insight into how to use what you have to celebrate your year and mark its passing. Beautiful pictures and loads of insight. Normally I would not recommend buying “home decor” books, but this one is more than that and I’m glad I spent the money to own it.
March 17, 2021
I read the fall and winter sections. Good ideas about using the five senses to recognize each season and being a creator not a consumer. It definitely made me re-think my Hobby Lobby decor that says “grateful” or “merry” and my seasonal decor tubs! It made me think outside of just visual decor and strive to incorporate smell, sounds, taste, and touch.
However I just don’t think I resonate with the author’s style. I actually didn’t really care for most of the photos of her home decor. It felt too plain and simple to me, not special. There really was very little variation between seasons, and white and pale green pillows do not say “winter” to me. I also don’t live on a farm or in the woods, so going outside to cut branches, find stones and feathers, or bring in natural items just didn’t jive with me.
I pre-ordered the book and got the bonus videos and most of those felt like common sense. Will skim the rest of the book (it starts to become repetitive after the first chapter) and then sell it online.
However I just don’t think I resonate with the author’s style. I actually didn’t really care for most of the photos of her home decor. It felt too plain and simple to me, not special. There really was very little variation between seasons, and white and pale green pillows do not say “winter” to me. I also don’t live on a farm or in the woods, so going outside to cut branches, find stones and feathers, or bring in natural items just didn’t jive with me.
I pre-ordered the book and got the bonus videos and most of those felt like common sense. Will skim the rest of the book (it starts to become repetitive after the first chapter) and then sell it online.
December 29, 2020
I like how she broke things down into seasons and the way we can decorate for the season without buying and displaying a bunch of stuff. It was also cool to think about using our five senses when decorating and hosting.
September 18, 2020
I preordered this book, mostly for the preorder bonus. I read in in just two evenings. The photography is stunning and there is a lot of it. It felt like every other page of the 120 pages was photos of the author’s home. While I appreciate the beauty in her home, I wish she had featured a client or two whose decor varied from her own—we aren’t all in love with modern farmhouse style.
This book’s theme is definitely entertaining, and the author gives some wonderful information about keeping entertaining simple and special. She has spilt the book into seasons. In the beginning, with fall and winter, I found the information to be fresh, but by spring, I was skimming through because I found her repeating herself, with minor differences. For only 120 pages, with half pictures, skimming is disappointing. Granted, she hopes the reader will break out her book seasonally as it applies, so some refreshing in each chapter may indeed be helpful.
Overall, I found this book useful, I just wish it had more detailed content and less fluff.
This book’s theme is definitely entertaining, and the author gives some wonderful information about keeping entertaining simple and special. She has spilt the book into seasons. In the beginning, with fall and winter, I found the information to be fresh, but by spring, I was skimming through because I found her repeating herself, with minor differences. For only 120 pages, with half pictures, skimming is disappointing. Granted, she hopes the reader will break out her book seasonally as it applies, so some refreshing in each chapter may indeed be helpful.
Overall, I found this book useful, I just wish it had more detailed content and less fluff.
February 18, 2021
I liked some of her suggestions but this book felt like it took forever to read. It felt like she took a really long time to get to her point.
November 12, 2022
Such a good book with so many good thoughts centered around decorating our homes in order to host- and not simply to have perfect homes. Love what she says about hosting in imperfection and loving the guests. She offers many practical pointers based around the “trinity of hosting”— the mood, the food, and the people.
And can I just say that you will still appreciate parts of this book even if you don’t love Myquillyn’s decorating style (raising my hand here). Not sure why, but some of her decor like layered carpets and deer antlers galore and denim pillows and fingered vases drive me crazy. But each to his own.
One thing I’m still confused about and something that doesn’t feel very consistent to me. Myquillyn’s big push is for minimalism in decor, things that can transition into each season. She is constantly talking about not storing “teeny tiny Hobby Lobby decor stacked in a million totes” which I totally agree with. Yet on the flip side she is often talking about changing out pillow covers and bedding with the seasons; flannel sheets and chunky throws for winter, printed sheets for spring and white sheets and light throws for summer. We can even roll up rugs to create more space for summer. Pardon me for asking, but what is happening to these linens in the off season? So in the end, it seems that it’s more about what a person prefers to store than if we are storing things are not—and storing things that will either do a service or disservice towards making a cozy home.
And can I just say that you will still appreciate parts of this book even if you don’t love Myquillyn’s decorating style (raising my hand here). Not sure why, but some of her decor like layered carpets and deer antlers galore and denim pillows and fingered vases drive me crazy. But each to his own.
One thing I’m still confused about and something that doesn’t feel very consistent to me. Myquillyn’s big push is for minimalism in decor, things that can transition into each season. She is constantly talking about not storing “teeny tiny Hobby Lobby decor stacked in a million totes” which I totally agree with. Yet on the flip side she is often talking about changing out pillow covers and bedding with the seasons; flannel sheets and chunky throws for winter, printed sheets for spring and white sheets and light throws for summer. We can even roll up rugs to create more space for summer. Pardon me for asking, but what is happening to these linens in the off season? So in the end, it seems that it’s more about what a person prefers to store than if we are storing things are not—and storing things that will either do a service or disservice towards making a cozy home.
November 6, 2023
1-Don't buy a bunch of cheap plastic crap to decorate with, except for Halloween, then you should buy cheap plastic crap to decorate with.
2-If you have to spend so much time telling me you are a good Christian, I'm likely not going to believe you. Why are you even telling me this anyway? This is a book about decorating.
3-No room for adjusting the ideas to fit your strengths. For example, she is very didactic about you shall only make 2 things from scratch if hosting. Period. It doesn't matter if cooking is your thing and you want to make 3, but not decorate an extra space. You are only allowed to make 2 things.
The whole book is creepy and controlling. Like an abuser has dictated these rules and you must abide by them or else. Honestly, this book is really off-putting. I can just imagine the author speaking with one of those fake "sweet" voices.
2-If you have to spend so much time telling me you are a good Christian, I'm likely not going to believe you. Why are you even telling me this anyway? This is a book about decorating.
3-No room for adjusting the ideas to fit your strengths. For example, she is very didactic about you shall only make 2 things from scratch if hosting. Period. It doesn't matter if cooking is your thing and you want to make 3, but not decorate an extra space. You are only allowed to make 2 things.
The whole book is creepy and controlling. Like an abuser has dictated these rules and you must abide by them or else. Honestly, this book is really off-putting. I can just imagine the author speaking with one of those fake "sweet" voices.
February 6, 2021
To be a book about decorating and hosting, there are a lot less photos than you'd think. This book is FAR too wordy and uninteresting.
December 27, 2020
Myquillyn is practical with chic taste. And she’s smart! She has decor rules but she knows when to break them.
Follow her on IG - she’s made live stories, walking through her decision-making as she shops at World Market, At Home, antique stores, and more. THIS is the guidance that indecisive, aesthetic-seeking people like me never knew we needed. What a gift!
Follow her on IG - she’s made live stories, walking through her decision-making as she shops at World Market, At Home, antique stores, and more. THIS is the guidance that indecisive, aesthetic-seeking people like me never knew we needed. What a gift!
Read
March 14, 2021me as soon as i finished this book:
“dave, here’s my dream for summer outside hosting”
-pinteresting all the summer drink bar options-
rearranging our house in my head (tbh did that as i read the book)
planning all of my thrift store trips
running to ikea for spring pillow covers and a great throw
it’s FINE!!!
“dave, here’s my dream for summer outside hosting”
-pinteresting all the summer drink bar options-
rearranging our house in my head (tbh did that as i read the book)
planning all of my thrift store trips
running to ikea for spring pillow covers and a great throw
it’s FINE!!!
November 22, 2020
I debated between 4 and 5 stars but the beauty of the book made me decide to round up. I pursued the entire book when it arrived because the pictures and layout were so easy to enjoy. Since then I have gone back to re-read each section as each season has arrived. The content was probably my favorite of all of Myquillyn's books because it provided a good balance of encouragement and real life application. Focus is more about the process than a how to book.
October 21, 2020
I’m a huge fan of The Nester (also known as Myquillyn Smith) and thoroughly enjoyed her previous books: The Nesting Place and Cozy Minimalist Home. In her brand-new offering, she shows us how “letting our homes reflect the seasons as they come” is the most beautiful and natural way to decorate and enjoy our homes. Divided into spring, summer, fall, and winter, each section includes decorating tips as well as suggestions for hosting celebrations in that particular season. Filled with conversational-style narrative and gorgeous photos from her own fixer-upper home, this is a book to keep handy all year round!
March 13, 2021
Meh, I was disappointed with this book to be honest. It's not that I don't like her ideas, I do, they just seem a bit obvious and I was hoping for something new (and without having to have pillow covers for all of the seasons!). I found the introduction repetitive and most of the suggestions regarding decor throughout the book to be obvious ones that I already do. I realize that reading a book about hospitality a year into a pandemic maybe isn't setting it up for the best review since I can hardly fathom what it would be like to entertain again, but I was really here for the decor ideas.
November 30, 2021
It is great advice- I wish I'd had a heads up about the religious content, but the advice amd ideas are solid.
May 11, 2021
I'm not a natural decorator or hostess, but I found some helpful insights here that helped it not feel so overwhelming. I like the idea of functional seasonal changes, using things you have, using live plants and fresh flowers, using all the senses, creating a seasonal playlist, and keeping it simple. I love the reminder to focus on inviting people in, making connections, and being present. I also love that the seasonal chapter titles are words of hymns--"For the Beauty of the Earth"!
Here are some quotes I liked:
"Enjoy looking forward to the change from season to season, and... add some different seasonal touches to your home (p. 13)."
"Recognizing each season and letting our homes reflect the seasons as they come is a way to cultivate life-giving homes that feel connected to the world (p. 14)."
"What we really crave and hope to provide in our homes is hospitality. Hospitality feels welcoming, warm, simple, and as is. It's about mutual receiving. Hosts receive guests into their homes, guests receive care, and both receive connection. Hospitality is grace with throw pillows (p. 16)."
"Come as you are, and I'll meet you as I am (p. 16)."
"We won't invite anyone over if we hate the way our houses look (p. 17)."
"I decided to approach my house as a Cozy Minimalist who understands how to get the most style with the least amount of stuff... understanding and embracing [imperfection and cozy minimalism] will help you to become the decorator and host you've always known you can be (p. 19)."
"By not allowing her to see my bathroom, I was telling her she couldn't be trusted with the imperfections of my life... I was telling her that I expected she would judge me (p. 19)."
"Hospitality is a high form of trust. It says, Here's my mess, here are my unfinished things, and here's the truth about me. Knowing you better is worth risking your knowing me better. Inviting people in is trusting they can handle that. When we open our doors to our friends, essentially we are saying, Welcome to my home, where things aren't perfect. I trust you can relate. We tell them to come as they are, and we choose to let them see us as we are. The great thing about allowing people to see a little imperfection is that it fosters connection (p. 20)."
"I needed a logical approach to decorating... I needed to incorporate stuff I already had... I needed to free myself of a secret hoard of decorative thrift-store finds I had collected over time (p. 20)."
"Give me all the pillows and cushy throws, please. But at the same time, I craved simplicity (p. 21)."
"I needed a balance of inviting coziness with graceful minimalism. Without purpose, minimal becomes cold and cozy becomes clutter (p. 23)."
"We want to love our homes so we can use them. We want our homes to look lovely so we can stop thinking about them (p. 24)."
"Simple abundance and imperfection with purpose will be our guides (p. 26)."
"You don't have to fall into the trap of overlapping, overthinking, overspending, or overdecorating... keep it simple (p. 26)."
"'Environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior (James Clear, p. 31).'"
"People feeling welcome in our homes leads to connection (p. 32)."
"We can take our cues form the one who created fall in the first place (p. 35)."
"No matter where you live, natural rhythms are showing off outside, and if you pay attention, you'll notice them (p. 35)."
"You get to decide what feels like autumn to you. In nature, fall isn't overwhelming, chaotic, or stressful. It's about letting go, allowing things to fade, appreciating change, and slowing down (p. 36)."
"When we allow our homes to reflect the season in the same ways that nature is modeling for us, it doesn't take much to make an impact. The simplest, most natural way for our homes to feel like fall is to pay attention to the beautiful yet subtle changes that occur in the world around us and to bring some of that inside (p. 36)."
"Before you add things in, it's smart to edit things out. Moving from season to season always starts with removing things first (p. 37)."
"Choose your fall color story... Look for images that make you feel cozy and represent what you want to be surrounded by (p. 39)."
"Shop your house (p. 40)."
"Shop your back yard (p. 41)."
"Instead of counting the cost of buying a fresh pumpkin or three every year, you also have to count the cost of storing three (or fifty) plastic pumpkins every year (p. 42)."
"Functional decor works double duty for you... it's time to change the sheets. If silky sheets are cool and inviting for summer, then fall begs for the coziness of flannel sheets on the bed (p. 43)."
"Make sure your Firewood Holder Thing is something you love looking at (p. 44)."
"You can fill your home with fall sounds by creating an autumn playlist (p. 44)."
"Scent won't take up much space, but it covers everything in your home, so use it wisely. Be intentional with candles, essential oils, and fragrant cleaning supplies... Don't underestimate the cozy factor of the scent of cookies baking in the oven or your favorite soup simmering all day in the slow cooker (p. 46)."
"Welcoming people into our home has never been a waste of energy, time, or resources (p. 53)."
"My experience with Halloween is that it has been the single most meaningful night of real connection for our neighborhood. This is why we are Team Porchlights On (p. 54)!"
"When your home is ready for the season, it's automatically ready for the celebrations within each season (p. 54)."
"When I thought about times I felt most at home at other gatherings, I realized they didn't look or feel like my image of legit adult hosting. Instead, they were always casual, simple, and informal (p. 56)."
"In decorating, there is a thing called the rule of three, which simply means that things typically look better in groupings of three (p. 58)."
"Does your mantel make a statement (p. 60)?"
"Begin by choosing three places to focus your decorating magic... your front door, your mantel, and your buffet, or your entryway, a windowsill, and your dining table... Don't go overboard (p. 61)."
"It's always better to have one large statement item than lots of tiny things spread around (p. 61)."
"Food is the icebreaker of any get together. It's also one of the things we tend to make into a very big deal to the point that it holds us back from inviting people over (p. 61)."
"When it comes to food, limit yourself to two foods maximum to make from scratch, with the rest beings store bought or others brought (p. 63)."
"Your guests cannot possibly remember every detail of their time with you, but they will remember something. When you spend a little more time on one lovely detail, you can boss their memory into choosing to remember how delightful that wonderful detail was and how it made them feel loved (p. 64)."
"Helping your guests to feel truly welcome starts with you. Are you ready to listen and engage? Have you arranged your day so you can be fully present and undistracted when your guests arrive? Have you given yourself time and space to prepare so you aren't a ragged, stressed-out mess (p. 67)?"
"If there's no room, hope, or energy for connection, then having people over is pointless (p. 67)."
"People are the heart and soul of why we open up our homes (p. 68)."
"If you follow the hosting trinity formula by focusing on the mood, the food, and the people, your gatherings will be simple, memorable experiences of connection (p. 68)."
"We don't have to finish every project, redecorate every room, overthink or overspend. People remember being loved, welcomed invited, and thought of (p. 68)."
"Instead of decorating for Christmas, you're going to focus first on preparing your home for winter (p. 73)."
"God's already laid the groundwork for seasonal change, and it starts with creation (p. 74)."
"The empty deciduous trees and brown grass are seasonal reminders of the importance of dormancy and rest. They're also a visual reminder that we are in a season of waiting for something more to come--a season of Advent, of preparation. This is a time when the night is longer, and I remind myself to pay attention to that darkness... as we anticipate and prepare for the coming light of Jesus (p. 75)."
"In nature, transitioning from one season to the next is never an abrupt change (p. 76)."
"Consider how you experience winter in nature through the five senses so you can bring some of that into your home (p. 77)."
"Sparkle. When I think about my visual experience of the winter season, the first thing that comes to mind is light and darkness (p. 77)."
"I make it a huge priority to incorporate candlelight and sparkle to provide the coziness and touch of delight, wonder, and awe that we all long for during the winter season (p. 78)."
"Greens. Where I live, winter also provides an abundance of evergreen branches, magnolia leaves, and wood (p. 78)."
"If you really pay attention to winter in nature, you'll notice that things are muted and dry and the color has drained away. Winter color... is most easily communicated through neutrals and textures (p. 78)."
"Some examples of textures I like to incorporate in winter are faux furs, blankets, and neutral table runners with decorative tassels or other special details (p. 80)."
"When I think about how I experience winter through what I hear, one thing I think of is a crackling fire... What sounds like winter to you? Maybe you have a piano... every season requires a playlist (p. 82)."
"I'm not a baker at heart, but even for this impatient imperfectionist, the bread has always been worth the trouble (p. 85)."
"'As we decorate and celebrate, we do so to mark the memory of your redemptive movement into our broken world, O God (Douglas Kaine McKelvey, p. 91).'"
"Sit in the glow of the white lights on the tree... The best traditions and celebrations out there are the ones that are meaningful and life-giving and work for your family (p. 91)."
"The best gift I can give you is permission and blessing to do less this Christmas. And the weary world rejoiced (p. 94)."
"Allow others to help. Allow your favorite restaurant to help. Pick two things you love to make... Allowing guests to contribute is a way of welcoming them (p. 99)."
"Think about how guests are welcomed into your home. You want them to feel at ease and comfortable and loved. A key way to show this is simply by being prepared for them. When you put time and effort into creating a welcoming home where the focus is on connecting with people, it shows (p. 102)."
"Depending on the ages of our guests, I'll set out puzzles, coloring books, and markers... I love to plan a simple craft, and so I might set out supplies for making paper snowflakes or materials to make a gingerbread house (p. 103)."
"At Christmas, one of my personal rules is that any child coming to my house always gets a gift (p. 104)."
"Group time is simply a conversation when everyone is present in the same room, listening to one person talk at a time (p. 104)."
"Take a few minutes for a slow walk outside and whisper a few prayers before your gathering. It's amazing how slowing down and reminding yourself that the gathering is all about the guests can change your perspective and reduce stress and hurry (p. 107)."
"Instead of perfection, you'll focus on a few important things and let everything else take care of itself. Grace, abundance, presence, and cozy imperfection are your goals (p. 107)."
"Keep only the Christmas decor you used this year and give the rest away (p. 108)."
"'There's always a sunrise and always a sunset, and it's up to you to choose to be there for it. Put yourself in the way of beauty (Cheryl Strayed, p. 118).'"
"I can choose to put myself in the way of beauty. I've decided that it's part of my job as a child of God to do so, to look for beauty in the natural world (p. 118)."
"Let your home reflect the fullness of the season in the same ways you experience spring in creation (p. 120)."
"Choose your spring color story. Vivid colors, pastels, and greens trigger spring thoughts for me (p. 122)."
"Let the sunshine in... I've learned that a quick squirt of Windex... makes a huge difference in the view (p. 123)."
"Use plants--real ones... It's time to buy yourself a real, live plant. This is not an option. I will not have done my job here if you read this book and don't end up with a live plant in your house (p. 124)."
"Do some organizing and cleaning (p. 124)."
"Gradually removing a few layers of winter and then adding a few touches of spring is the Cozy Minimalist way. Creation has the right idea with her unhurried pace (p. 125)."
"I know people who switch out their drapes in the spring just to change from a heavyweight fabric to a lightweight fabric. Drapes are one way to instantly make a home feel lighter or heavier based on the fabric (p. 126)."
"Spring is full of sounds... birdsong is like therapy (p. 126)."
"The most important part of creating a place for connection starts with being willing to open up your mess and invite people into it. We do our part simply by making room and inviting people in (p. 136)."
"A Cozy Minimalist values both simplicity and abundance with purpose (P. 137)."
"Simplify surfaces with a home base (p. 137)."
"Something magical happened when I prioritized a cleared off surface (p. 138)."
"Choose a few spots in your house and observe the level of light in those spots. Do these areas get actual sunbeams (p. 141)?"
"Every home needs a few types of vases (p. 143)."
"Get to the point of the gathering early, and allow the time at the end to be for those who want to linger and engage in conversation (p. 149)."
"Summer Season... Thou burning sun with golden beam (p. 153)."
"'There is such a thing as sacred idleness (George Macdonald, p. 155).'"
"She wanted to incorporate elements of her favorite place in the world--the beach--into her landlocked home in the piedmont of North Carolina (p. 155)."
"The secret to seasonalizing your home without filling it with store-bought decor is to cater to all five senses (p. 158)."
"For you, maybe summer is about wonder and peace, travel, recreation, adventure, and freedom. If so, making your home feel like summer might mean clearing out some space by removing stressful distractions like the stack of papers that you need to file, the exercise equipment you keep meaning to post on Craigslist, and the winter clothes that have been piling up in the corner of your bedroom (p. 158)."
"Cool. In the summer, we don't want our houses to be too hot physically or to look too hot visually (p. 161)."
"Create a reading nook... a dedicated space for napping outdoors (p. 165)."
"What smells like summer to you (p. 168)?"
"Our back yard is the nicest room in our house (p. 175)."
"We didn't wait until we had a finished back yard to host outdoor gatherings (p. 176)."
"Set expectations low by inviting your guests at the last minute (p. 186)."
Here are some quotes I liked:
"Enjoy looking forward to the change from season to season, and... add some different seasonal touches to your home (p. 13)."
"Recognizing each season and letting our homes reflect the seasons as they come is a way to cultivate life-giving homes that feel connected to the world (p. 14)."
"What we really crave and hope to provide in our homes is hospitality. Hospitality feels welcoming, warm, simple, and as is. It's about mutual receiving. Hosts receive guests into their homes, guests receive care, and both receive connection. Hospitality is grace with throw pillows (p. 16)."
"Come as you are, and I'll meet you as I am (p. 16)."
"We won't invite anyone over if we hate the way our houses look (p. 17)."
"I decided to approach my house as a Cozy Minimalist who understands how to get the most style with the least amount of stuff... understanding and embracing [imperfection and cozy minimalism] will help you to become the decorator and host you've always known you can be (p. 19)."
"By not allowing her to see my bathroom, I was telling her she couldn't be trusted with the imperfections of my life... I was telling her that I expected she would judge me (p. 19)."
"Hospitality is a high form of trust. It says, Here's my mess, here are my unfinished things, and here's the truth about me. Knowing you better is worth risking your knowing me better. Inviting people in is trusting they can handle that. When we open our doors to our friends, essentially we are saying, Welcome to my home, where things aren't perfect. I trust you can relate. We tell them to come as they are, and we choose to let them see us as we are. The great thing about allowing people to see a little imperfection is that it fosters connection (p. 20)."
"I needed a logical approach to decorating... I needed to incorporate stuff I already had... I needed to free myself of a secret hoard of decorative thrift-store finds I had collected over time (p. 20)."
"Give me all the pillows and cushy throws, please. But at the same time, I craved simplicity (p. 21)."
"I needed a balance of inviting coziness with graceful minimalism. Without purpose, minimal becomes cold and cozy becomes clutter (p. 23)."
"We want to love our homes so we can use them. We want our homes to look lovely so we can stop thinking about them (p. 24)."
"Simple abundance and imperfection with purpose will be our guides (p. 26)."
"You don't have to fall into the trap of overlapping, overthinking, overspending, or overdecorating... keep it simple (p. 26)."
"'Environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior (James Clear, p. 31).'"
"People feeling welcome in our homes leads to connection (p. 32)."
"We can take our cues form the one who created fall in the first place (p. 35)."
"No matter where you live, natural rhythms are showing off outside, and if you pay attention, you'll notice them (p. 35)."
"You get to decide what feels like autumn to you. In nature, fall isn't overwhelming, chaotic, or stressful. It's about letting go, allowing things to fade, appreciating change, and slowing down (p. 36)."
"When we allow our homes to reflect the season in the same ways that nature is modeling for us, it doesn't take much to make an impact. The simplest, most natural way for our homes to feel like fall is to pay attention to the beautiful yet subtle changes that occur in the world around us and to bring some of that inside (p. 36)."
"Before you add things in, it's smart to edit things out. Moving from season to season always starts with removing things first (p. 37)."
"Choose your fall color story... Look for images that make you feel cozy and represent what you want to be surrounded by (p. 39)."
"Shop your house (p. 40)."
"Shop your back yard (p. 41)."
"Instead of counting the cost of buying a fresh pumpkin or three every year, you also have to count the cost of storing three (or fifty) plastic pumpkins every year (p. 42)."
"Functional decor works double duty for you... it's time to change the sheets. If silky sheets are cool and inviting for summer, then fall begs for the coziness of flannel sheets on the bed (p. 43)."
"Make sure your Firewood Holder Thing is something you love looking at (p. 44)."
"You can fill your home with fall sounds by creating an autumn playlist (p. 44)."
"Scent won't take up much space, but it covers everything in your home, so use it wisely. Be intentional with candles, essential oils, and fragrant cleaning supplies... Don't underestimate the cozy factor of the scent of cookies baking in the oven or your favorite soup simmering all day in the slow cooker (p. 46)."
"Welcoming people into our home has never been a waste of energy, time, or resources (p. 53)."
"My experience with Halloween is that it has been the single most meaningful night of real connection for our neighborhood. This is why we are Team Porchlights On (p. 54)!"
"When your home is ready for the season, it's automatically ready for the celebrations within each season (p. 54)."
"When I thought about times I felt most at home at other gatherings, I realized they didn't look or feel like my image of legit adult hosting. Instead, they were always casual, simple, and informal (p. 56)."
"In decorating, there is a thing called the rule of three, which simply means that things typically look better in groupings of three (p. 58)."
"Does your mantel make a statement (p. 60)?"
"Begin by choosing three places to focus your decorating magic... your front door, your mantel, and your buffet, or your entryway, a windowsill, and your dining table... Don't go overboard (p. 61)."
"It's always better to have one large statement item than lots of tiny things spread around (p. 61)."
"Food is the icebreaker of any get together. It's also one of the things we tend to make into a very big deal to the point that it holds us back from inviting people over (p. 61)."
"When it comes to food, limit yourself to two foods maximum to make from scratch, with the rest beings store bought or others brought (p. 63)."
"Your guests cannot possibly remember every detail of their time with you, but they will remember something. When you spend a little more time on one lovely detail, you can boss their memory into choosing to remember how delightful that wonderful detail was and how it made them feel loved (p. 64)."
"Helping your guests to feel truly welcome starts with you. Are you ready to listen and engage? Have you arranged your day so you can be fully present and undistracted when your guests arrive? Have you given yourself time and space to prepare so you aren't a ragged, stressed-out mess (p. 67)?"
"If there's no room, hope, or energy for connection, then having people over is pointless (p. 67)."
"People are the heart and soul of why we open up our homes (p. 68)."
"If you follow the hosting trinity formula by focusing on the mood, the food, and the people, your gatherings will be simple, memorable experiences of connection (p. 68)."
"We don't have to finish every project, redecorate every room, overthink or overspend. People remember being loved, welcomed invited, and thought of (p. 68)."
"Instead of decorating for Christmas, you're going to focus first on preparing your home for winter (p. 73)."
"God's already laid the groundwork for seasonal change, and it starts with creation (p. 74)."
"The empty deciduous trees and brown grass are seasonal reminders of the importance of dormancy and rest. They're also a visual reminder that we are in a season of waiting for something more to come--a season of Advent, of preparation. This is a time when the night is longer, and I remind myself to pay attention to that darkness... as we anticipate and prepare for the coming light of Jesus (p. 75)."
"In nature, transitioning from one season to the next is never an abrupt change (p. 76)."
"Consider how you experience winter in nature through the five senses so you can bring some of that into your home (p. 77)."
"Sparkle. When I think about my visual experience of the winter season, the first thing that comes to mind is light and darkness (p. 77)."
"I make it a huge priority to incorporate candlelight and sparkle to provide the coziness and touch of delight, wonder, and awe that we all long for during the winter season (p. 78)."
"Greens. Where I live, winter also provides an abundance of evergreen branches, magnolia leaves, and wood (p. 78)."
"If you really pay attention to winter in nature, you'll notice that things are muted and dry and the color has drained away. Winter color... is most easily communicated through neutrals and textures (p. 78)."
"Some examples of textures I like to incorporate in winter are faux furs, blankets, and neutral table runners with decorative tassels or other special details (p. 80)."
"When I think about how I experience winter through what I hear, one thing I think of is a crackling fire... What sounds like winter to you? Maybe you have a piano... every season requires a playlist (p. 82)."
"I'm not a baker at heart, but even for this impatient imperfectionist, the bread has always been worth the trouble (p. 85)."
"'As we decorate and celebrate, we do so to mark the memory of your redemptive movement into our broken world, O God (Douglas Kaine McKelvey, p. 91).'"
"Sit in the glow of the white lights on the tree... The best traditions and celebrations out there are the ones that are meaningful and life-giving and work for your family (p. 91)."
"The best gift I can give you is permission and blessing to do less this Christmas. And the weary world rejoiced (p. 94)."
"Allow others to help. Allow your favorite restaurant to help. Pick two things you love to make... Allowing guests to contribute is a way of welcoming them (p. 99)."
"Think about how guests are welcomed into your home. You want them to feel at ease and comfortable and loved. A key way to show this is simply by being prepared for them. When you put time and effort into creating a welcoming home where the focus is on connecting with people, it shows (p. 102)."
"Depending on the ages of our guests, I'll set out puzzles, coloring books, and markers... I love to plan a simple craft, and so I might set out supplies for making paper snowflakes or materials to make a gingerbread house (p. 103)."
"At Christmas, one of my personal rules is that any child coming to my house always gets a gift (p. 104)."
"Group time is simply a conversation when everyone is present in the same room, listening to one person talk at a time (p. 104)."
"Take a few minutes for a slow walk outside and whisper a few prayers before your gathering. It's amazing how slowing down and reminding yourself that the gathering is all about the guests can change your perspective and reduce stress and hurry (p. 107)."
"Instead of perfection, you'll focus on a few important things and let everything else take care of itself. Grace, abundance, presence, and cozy imperfection are your goals (p. 107)."
"Keep only the Christmas decor you used this year and give the rest away (p. 108)."
"'There's always a sunrise and always a sunset, and it's up to you to choose to be there for it. Put yourself in the way of beauty (Cheryl Strayed, p. 118).'"
"I can choose to put myself in the way of beauty. I've decided that it's part of my job as a child of God to do so, to look for beauty in the natural world (p. 118)."
"Let your home reflect the fullness of the season in the same ways you experience spring in creation (p. 120)."
"Choose your spring color story. Vivid colors, pastels, and greens trigger spring thoughts for me (p. 122)."
"Let the sunshine in... I've learned that a quick squirt of Windex... makes a huge difference in the view (p. 123)."
"Use plants--real ones... It's time to buy yourself a real, live plant. This is not an option. I will not have done my job here if you read this book and don't end up with a live plant in your house (p. 124)."
"Do some organizing and cleaning (p. 124)."
"Gradually removing a few layers of winter and then adding a few touches of spring is the Cozy Minimalist way. Creation has the right idea with her unhurried pace (p. 125)."
"I know people who switch out their drapes in the spring just to change from a heavyweight fabric to a lightweight fabric. Drapes are one way to instantly make a home feel lighter or heavier based on the fabric (p. 126)."
"Spring is full of sounds... birdsong is like therapy (p. 126)."
"The most important part of creating a place for connection starts with being willing to open up your mess and invite people into it. We do our part simply by making room and inviting people in (p. 136)."
"A Cozy Minimalist values both simplicity and abundance with purpose (P. 137)."
"Simplify surfaces with a home base (p. 137)."
"Something magical happened when I prioritized a cleared off surface (p. 138)."
"Choose a few spots in your house and observe the level of light in those spots. Do these areas get actual sunbeams (p. 141)?"
"Every home needs a few types of vases (p. 143)."
"Get to the point of the gathering early, and allow the time at the end to be for those who want to linger and engage in conversation (p. 149)."
"Summer Season... Thou burning sun with golden beam (p. 153)."
"'There is such a thing as sacred idleness (George Macdonald, p. 155).'"
"She wanted to incorporate elements of her favorite place in the world--the beach--into her landlocked home in the piedmont of North Carolina (p. 155)."
"The secret to seasonalizing your home without filling it with store-bought decor is to cater to all five senses (p. 158)."
"For you, maybe summer is about wonder and peace, travel, recreation, adventure, and freedom. If so, making your home feel like summer might mean clearing out some space by removing stressful distractions like the stack of papers that you need to file, the exercise equipment you keep meaning to post on Craigslist, and the winter clothes that have been piling up in the corner of your bedroom (p. 158)."
"Cool. In the summer, we don't want our houses to be too hot physically or to look too hot visually (p. 161)."
"Create a reading nook... a dedicated space for napping outdoors (p. 165)."
"What smells like summer to you (p. 168)?"
"Our back yard is the nicest room in our house (p. 175)."
"We didn't wait until we had a finished back yard to host outdoor gatherings (p. 176)."
"Set expectations low by inviting your guests at the last minute (p. 186)."
November 2, 2020
Unsurprisingly, I loved every bit of it. While it seems a little weird to read a book not just about decorating but about hosting in the midst of 2020, I am here for it.
Myquillyn's words are always so full of wonderful inspiration, the kick in the butt you need, and the encouragement to make it easier on yourself to love your home and love the people in it well and this book is no exception.
I might've binge-read about 90% of it in one day, but I'll most certainly be revisiting it as each new season approaches to thoughtfully consider how to welcome the season in my home and celebrate well in it.
Myquillyn's words are always so full of wonderful inspiration, the kick in the butt you need, and the encouragement to make it easier on yourself to love your home and love the people in it well and this book is no exception.
I might've binge-read about 90% of it in one day, but I'll most certainly be revisiting it as each new season approaches to thoughtfully consider how to welcome the season in my home and celebrate well in it.
January 11, 2021
This is the most beautiful book with lovely, simplistic ideas for creating a welcoming home environment. It is organized according to season and encourages tuning into your five senses to create your desired home environment with intention. The author also encourages modeling your interior decor against the the design of the external world, thoughtfully put together by the Creator. Beautiful illustrations. I will keep this book out in my living room for inspiration.
October 23, 2020
4.5 Stars maybe, rounded up because I just really enjoyed it. I love living seasonally and Myquillyn had so many lovely ideas that don't involve a lot of STUFF but instead the vibes and nature. I know this was written before COVID and it had to be weird/rough knowing she had a book coming out that focused so much on hosting in a time when most of us aren't doing much indoor party-going. BUT, someday, I could put those into practice!
November 15, 2022
I enjoyed the book and found a lot of great practical tips. However, sometimes I felt like she forgot what it was like to have little kids with all of her white stuff and stuff that kids will probably mess up like potted plants inside.
September 23, 2023
I love Myquillyn's simple and more organic seasonal decor focus! Less on plastic consumer items, more on creating a beautiful space with the 5 senses of the season. I've already gone through my fall stuff and gotten rid of a few items :) less to store, less to get out and put up everywhere.
Read
December 21, 2020Picked up some good hosting tips I’m tucking away for later
December 12, 2020
I'm not a decorator at all, so love how Myquillyn makes it easy! She's so inspiring, I can’t wait for inviting people back in our home life to start again
March 5, 2023
A helpful, practical guide to seasonal hosting.
November 22, 2021
This actually surprised me how good it was. I have been reading Myquillyn Smith for years and I was interested to read this but not in a hurry, so well done.
I particularly liked her take on associating seasonal decorating with the seasons in nature, rather than Decorating For A Holiday. That’s… absolutely how I want to go about it, me and my perpetual nature studies! I like how she helps analyze a space through the five senses and gives you an unfussy method to achieve it. Your results are not going to look like hers because it’s filtered through your own taste—and my house does not look like hers—but there’s plenty of structure to hang your hat on that doesn’t rely on literal imitation. Though, I mean, if you want her white farmhouse style knock yourself out. She’s very encouraging about picking priorities when it’s time to pull together a party and telling you it’s enough. There were a couple of asides that made me laugh out loud, including “slash and burn refrigerator cookies.”
Also it was a good reminder that not. everyone. is. really. into. gardening. WHICH I KNEW.
So yeah, I really liked it.
I particularly liked her take on associating seasonal decorating with the seasons in nature, rather than Decorating For A Holiday. That’s… absolutely how I want to go about it, me and my perpetual nature studies! I like how she helps analyze a space through the five senses and gives you an unfussy method to achieve it. Your results are not going to look like hers because it’s filtered through your own taste—and my house does not look like hers—but there’s plenty of structure to hang your hat on that doesn’t rely on literal imitation. Though, I mean, if you want her white farmhouse style knock yourself out. She’s very encouraging about picking priorities when it’s time to pull together a party and telling you it’s enough. There were a couple of asides that made me laugh out loud, including “slash and burn refrigerator cookies.”
Also it was a good reminder that not. everyone. is. really. into. gardening. WHICH I KNEW.
So yeah, I really liked it.
October 1, 2020
Beautiful book. I love the Christ-centered advice, and the simple suggestions for each season.
April 4, 2021
I was expecting more pictures for inspo, but it was text heavy. If you're into season decor, then it's probably good, but I wasn't looking for a manifesto about it.
November 6, 2020
3.5 Stars
Welcome Home is probably best read seasonally as Smith divides her book by season, but I read the whole thing all at once. I really resonated with her small seasonal transitions using plants, greenery, and flowers (which is something I already do). I especially liked how she celebrated the seasons in a way that moves away from consumer season decor (i.e. plastic pumpkins and other items that can only be used for one season). I liked how she emphasized incorporating all five senses into each season as well. Smith has some excellent advice about having some statement art or other pieces, but on the whole, I find her style a little too simple. I was craving a little more nuance and texture in her design work, but I appreciate her approach to coziness without going overboard. Welcome Home is a bit repetitive in places, but it does drive home the point that having our homes reflect the seasons honors transitions that refresh our homes.
Welcome Home is probably best read seasonally as Smith divides her book by season, but I read the whole thing all at once. I really resonated with her small seasonal transitions using plants, greenery, and flowers (which is something I already do). I especially liked how she celebrated the seasons in a way that moves away from consumer season decor (i.e. plastic pumpkins and other items that can only be used for one season). I liked how she emphasized incorporating all five senses into each season as well. Smith has some excellent advice about having some statement art or other pieces, but on the whole, I find her style a little too simple. I was craving a little more nuance and texture in her design work, but I appreciate her approach to coziness without going overboard. Welcome Home is a bit repetitive in places, but it does drive home the point that having our homes reflect the seasons honors transitions that refresh our homes.
December 26, 2020
This book was written to read before each season, but I read it all at once since I checked it out from the library. It is a nice formula for decorating and hosting each season, but is quite repetitive. I also found some of the information on plants and vases from the spring season to be applicable for the whole year. So I am not sure the format of the book really worked all that well. A series of blog posts would probably have been more effective. It’s a nicely designed books with lots of pictures. Generally speaking the pictures did not inspire me very much. As someone who lives in a place with virtually one season year-round, I couldn’t relate to changing out linens and throws, but it seems nice in theory. I definitely like the approach to using nature and inspiration from the outdoors to how you decorate and change up the seasons.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews