Hello, I’m new here.  My name is Lauren and I’ve been a part of the design world for about 5 seconds.  

Let me explain.

I’m actually Lindsay’s sister!  When she asked me if I would contribute to her blog I was SO excited but also terrified because her content is so beautiful and I am, well, what I like to call “design challenged.”

We shared a lot of things growing up. Bedrooms and Barbies and birthdays. But one thing we didn’t share is an artistic flair. That gene skipped me completely. In fact, pretty much anything I do know about style and design I learned from Lindsay. This goes way back to when we were kids and she taught me about complementary colors (which helped me understand why I always wanted the purple and yellow Easter basket). When we were teenagers it was not uncommon for me to ask her if my clothes matched (you guys, I just didn’t know!). With birthdays just four days (and a few years) apart we celebrated together. I'm in the background and Lindsay is in the foreground.

With Lindsay’s help, I’ve come a long way and learned a lot about style and design. I hardly ever have to ask her if my clothes match anymore. We took my background (or lack thereof) into consideration when discussing what my contribution to the blog would be. As I continue learning more about the design world, you guys can just think of me as an “Everyday Designer.” What that means is that I will be bringing you content from the perspective of a busy, working mom (with no design background) who’s learning everyday about how to make mealtimes (and more!) beautiful. 

To start off, I wanted to offer up my top three tips for the “design challenged.” These are things I’ve learned about style and design from stumbling my way through everything from decorating my first apartment to planning my wedding (spoiler alert, Lindsay helped a TON with that last one). There's Lindsay on my right, we're all wearing the dresses she helped me find that matched my wedding colors!

Top 3 Tips for the “Design Challenged”

1.) Fake it ‘till you make it

If you’re flipping through a magazine or scrolling through Pinterest and see a room you love or an outfit that catches your eye, emulate it! There’s a reason for the saying “Mockery is the sincerest form of flattery.” Reproducing styles you see that you like is the best way to learn how to start piecing things together yourself. Of course, always give credit where credit is due, but if you really love the look of something try to make it happen!

2.) Find someone to bounce ideas off of

You know that friend you have whose outfit is always on point? Or the cousin with the dreamy foodie Instagram pics? Those are the people I’m talking about. If they can style an outfit that looks like it came straight from the pages of a fashion magazine or snap a pic with gorgeous balance and light (#nofilter), then chances are they have that keen eye for design. Reach out to them and say, “I really like the way you ___________, do you think you could help me put together an outfit for my birthday, or pick out some curtains that will match my throw pillows, or come up with some table decorations for Easter dinner, etc.” My guess is that they’ll be totally flattered and willing to help! P.S. This person for me is Lindsay. Any time I’m redoing a room or working on a project she can expect to get lots of picture texts from me asking “does this match?” or “is this too busy?” or “DOES THIS EVEN LOOK GOOD?!”

3.) Live on the edge

Take risks! If you’re unsure if something is going to work, just try it out and see what happens. The worst that can happen is that it doesn’t work and you gotta try again. Learn from your mistakes and move on. Mix some patterns (I love doing this with throw pillows)! Instead of wearing that striped top with your go-to skinny jeans, pair it with a floral skirt. It might just end up looking fabulous! 

All in all, my message to you guys is to just think outside of the box. This is the best way to learn and grow. 

Before you know it you can be an Everyday Designer too! 

-Lauren

Come follow Lauren on the Suite One Studio: Making Mealtimes Beautiful Pinterest Board!