Here Is My Non-Expert Décor Advice
Andriana highlights the difference between personal aesthetics and design expertise and explains her guiding principle behind the decorative style of her Athenian flat.
‘‘Aesthetics is a lens through which we perceive the world around us.’’
-Andriana, Creator of ARONIA living
It goes without saying that this blog is based purely on personal aesthetics and taste and doesn’t offer expert advice. I am simply sharing what I personally find visually appealing and inspiring. While I aim to create something beautiful, my perspective is not backed by any formal interior design training or expertise. Instead, it’s all based on my own aesthetics and preferences.
Aesthetics is a lens through which we perceive the world around us. The appreciation of beauty is primarily an inherent quality, in my opinion, but you can certainly cultivate aesthetics and refine your taste by exposing yourself to art and design and expanding your knowledge of beauty, harmony, and proportion, as well as what makes a space visually appealing.
Design expertise involves, aside from having a solid aesthetic vision, an in-depth study of principles such as spatial planning, colour theory, material selection, architectural styles, and current design trends. It requires proficiency in a broad range of technical skills. Expertise and aesthetics together transform rooms into captivating spaces, sharing a story of style, beauty, comfort, and personal expression.
My aesthetics and gut feeling have been my internal compass for decorating this flat, guiding me towards beauty and harmony as I perceive them. Decorating a home is an ongoing journey, one that evolves over time. It's taken me five years to curate what you see presented on ARONIA living today, and yet, I still feel there are many elements lacking. Throughout this process, my guiding principle has always remained the same: every addition to the flat must not only serve a practical purpose but should also align with my aesthetic vision. So, for most items in the living room, I followed this practice and waited until I had the right piece identified and/or budget available to proceed with the purchase.
Let me provide a simple example: in the picture featured today, I am holding what appears to be a ceramic vessel. Curvy and elegant, in a beautiful olive-green colour matching my living room style and colour palette. You will be surprised to know that this is a 100% recycled plastic water can. Not only does it serve its practical purpose of watering my limited number of plants in this flat, but its elegant design also earns it a place in my living room as a standalone decorative piece, which I love looking at. This serves as a perfect example of how aesthetics and practicality come together, demonstrating how staying true to your interiors vision can help you select items that please you aesthetically and elevate your space overall.
It certainly doesn’t have to be this way for everyone, but with this post, I wanted to share my personal guiding principle behind the creation of this flat that you will see unfold in the Journal pages to follow. I also wanted to reemphasize what I mentioned in my welcome letter to you. The content you will come across on this website is curated and is meant to entertain you and inspire you, not dictate a specific lifestyle. It is about helping you create a place that feels true to you, reflecting your personal aesthetics, taste, and vision. A place in which you feel comfortable and love to come back to after a hard day at work.
Photos by: GIANNIS PARASKEVAS
Creative direction by: MARIA KANTANI
If you have any queries you can email me at: info@aronialiving.com or DM me on INSTAGRAM.