Alright friends, lets talk shnickle-shnockle. First of all – I dare you to say it out loud. Shnickle-shnockle. Wasn’t that fun? Little did you know (before reading this post) the importance of those words. Humungous, jumbo, BIG TIME importance. And right about now you’re probably reading this wondering what the heck I am talking about. Let me define it for you.
1) Decorative items that fill a space in abundance causing the area to look busy, messy and cluttered.
Ex: Today I re-decorated my bookshelves and decided to keep them simple instead of filling them with shnickle-shnockle.
Alright, do you have a better understanding of the phrase “shnickle-schnockle”? This isn’t a real word you’d find in the dictionary (duh), but I use it quite often. And let me tell you, shnickle-shnockle is an EPIDEMIC. This idea that every wall needs a picture or painting, every shelf needs 3 frames on it, or every other table needs a lamp… it’s false.
Today I’m discussing the beauty in simplicity, and encouraging you to say NO to shnickle-shnockle. It’s a rut I find myself in many times without even meaning to. I start to re-decorate the corner area on my kitchen countertops and end up having a lamp, frames, greenery sitting on top of three stacked cookbooks, a candle, the random little sculpture my grandma gave me when I was a little girl, and then I stop and think WHAT HAVE I DONE!!! All I did was just create a corner of shnickle-shnockle.. and then I start all over again.
While decorating our new home, I am teaching myself (and constantly reminding myself) that less is more. This isn’t always easy, of course. But, when I keep my decorating simple, I tend to feel cleaner, more organized, and feel that there is a greater sense of peace in our home. Keep in mind that you don’t want your home to just be EMPTY – because there is no design aspect in that at all. It’s more just learning and reminding yourself that clean, simple decor often makes a greater impact.
Here are some homes whose designers have truly mastered the technique of saying no to shnickle-shnockle. All resources will be listed below the image.
Link: Katie Stassi Scott – Cote De Texas
Link: https://www.decorpad.com/designers/Lux-Decor/2
Link: http://www.homebunch.com/interior-design-ideas-56/
Link: http://www.postcardfromparis.com/pfp_portfolio.php
Link: http://www.studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/2015/3/11/farmhouse-kitchen-nook
Link: http://www.veranda-interiors.com/p/past-work.html
Photo: Ben Gebo Photography
Link: http://www.homebunch.com/interior-design-ideas-94/
Link: http://www.postcardfromparis.com/lb-palmetto-bluff.php
Seriously, did those rooms not make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Simplicity at its finest.
So, today I challenge you to #SayNoToShnickleShnockle ! Try ridding some areas of your house that are filled with an abundance of decorative items. I’m willing to bet that you’ll feel a whole lot cleaner, more organized, and maybe even a bit refreshed after.
In my next post, I’ll be sharing some spaces from our home that I am working on making shnickle-shnockle free. YAYYY FOR SIMPLICITY!!! Stay tuned!
Katherine
I just love reading your blog, Katherine. You are so very talented!
There’s nothing like a house full of Shnickle Shnockle to make you feel like you are sitting in Tante Veronika’s living room! Love the simplicity in the rooms you posted. Beautiful. The time it must take to put these posts together must take days, but it’s a gift to others. Thank you Katherine for this gift. Love you!