I like this term. It’s a quick to the point way of saying...I have a bunch of stuff, how do I bring it all together in a cohesive manner and what do I need to do to make it better.

Or, am I not getting the meaning of the term?

Well, GREAT! I hadn’t noticed it before, but now it’s all I can see. 😆

I think you’re right — HGTV and IG. I want to blame it on Candice Olson, because A. I think she started it, and B. I’m still mad at her for making 55 bright little ceiling lights in a room popular, aka every house she did looked like a jewelry store.

I know! It’s been decades, I need to move on. <kicks toe in dirt>

I think of styling as the elements that change with the event, seasons, your mood. And decorating as what you style on top of. And design as the overall foundation (Hmm, are those contradictory terms?). Kind of like accessories and how you wear them (like how you wear a scarf), on top of your attire, on top of your fashion style.

Now, see ... I can somehow readily accept it when used to describe something like a car: "The updated styling of the 2021 Jaguar F-Type transforms this car in a way that its rival has not accomplished", for example. It does certainly appear to be a perfectly valid term as it relates to performance or design, but I still find it amusing (odd, perhaps) that it seems to have come on the scene like gangbusters all of a sudden. But what do I know? I just used the term "gangbusters", so I must be about 327 years old.

Jinx, were those 85 ceiling lights 4,000 GHz LEDs (or something)? I am absolutely envisioning one of Candice's rooms right now; most likely a basement lit from above by what does indeed make everything twinkle like the Zales store at the mall.

I think I tend to follow your link of thought, bpath. At least it makes sense to me, which probably just means that you're weird too. ;-D

I wear that badge proudly!

I used the word kerfuffle earlier in a text to DH (my baby boy NOC was in one with a dog, I think, and is limping around). I fully expect to get made fun of for it later.

I'll take styling over zhush any day.

I think of styling as jterri does and understand it because I have trouble with what I think of as that final step in decorating - bringing it all together.

i guess it's another one of those words/phrases that the herd seizes as their own, like "reaching out". I think we discussed that before. I pride myself with NOT using any of those words/phrases - less of an issue now that I'm retired. I'm not enough of a decorator to know about styling. The only time I've seen the word used was when Mtn mentioned she was told her ottoman needed styling related to staging for resale.

Bringing it down to absolute basics, this is how I view the three words.

Designing: You have a hall table and decide on the sort of thing you would like to place on it that will be harmonious in the room. (You think about stuff)

Decorating: You find or buy some items you like to place on the table. ( You get stuff)

Styling: You place the items in a pleasing manner. (You arrange stuff).

I take it back a little further. I have a hall. What do I do with it?

Design: What functions will it serve? How will that be achieved? A table? What type, what features should it have, what style should it be? What else are we doing in the hall (and same questions apply)

Decorating: find a table that meets the criteria AND looks great in the space, complements the home and family. Buy it and place it just so. Also what accessories does it need? A lamp? What type? What kind of bulb? Mail or key tray? Objet? Is there something already in the house that would look or serve perfectly?

Styling: keeping junk mail out of the mail basket, only wedding invitations or birth announcements on view. Change the finial or the shade on the lamp. Toss a scarf beautifully and carefully yet casually across the table.

******

This week, Between Naps on the Porch tried to style her bed like a Pottery Barn catalog image. It involves tossing a throw just so diagonally across the bed, draping to the floor, comforter slightly rumpled but not too much. It was funny! Not sure if it was meant to be...

Term that drives me crazy n the other side of the forum is "decor" used as "what decor do I put on this wall/coffee table, etc." I've never seen such a bunch of timid and insecure people.

Yes! I think it's as you've all described and maybe then some. When I hear "styling" used, I think of it as "merchandising." And I think it's totally about social media influencers....Instagram to be specific. There, styling is all about having these magazine-ready rooms that don't look like they're lived in or used. They exist to be styled for their next Instagram post.

Or "wall art." Timid and insecure is right, and I sometimes wonder exactly what people are so afraid of ... who's going to keel over from the shock and fright of it all if they hang "the wrong thing" on that expanse of wall next to the TV? Then again, I realize I've posted about where to hang things myself (i.e., does this painting look stupid hung below my bathroom window? Oh, it does? Well, I'm hanging it there anyway, so never mind), and I know I have little room to criticize. But I do wonder how it is that so many can be so unsure of what they like or want to live with in their own homes.

Maybe "styling" is more akin to "arranging" in my mind too, and perhaps that's what people are actually seeking advice about. I don't know; admittedly, I frequently skip the thread in its entirety when someone asks how to style something.

i guess it's another one of those words/phrases that the herd seizes as their own, like "reaching out".

Or curated. I went to the website for those amazing puzzles that was posted about last week. I found that the pieces for each puzzle are curated so that each puzzle would be unique.

To me curated is when someone carefully puts together a collection, say in a museum. They don't have room for everything, so they need to curate it to suit the space, the standards of the museum, etc.

I'm wandering farther afield from the concept here, but may I just say my current pet peeve is the new way to end requests for help with, "And Go!"

No. No I will not.

What color should I paint my Dinning (sic) room? And go!

It hits me so very wrong. You're asking a group of strangers to help you, and you're making them feel like they have to fall all over themselves to do it.

So yeah....but no. I don't reply to those. Ever.

In other news, I may start yelling at kids to get off my lawn. :)

"And go!" ... UGH. I so agree that that's annoying, as though the poster envisions others just waiting at a starting line to receive their orders to run off in all different directions, seeking to bring back the perfect solution to the OP's dilemma. No thank you.

That reminds me of other things I hate (get off my lawn, indeed!), which are the terms "reveal" and "sneak peek". These imply to me that the poster believes others are so desperately eager to see what they have accomplished, and any photos shared will be a tremendous revelation that somehow satisfies a deep need to know (by strangers on the interwebs), and giving us a "sneak peek" is also indicative that what a poster is doing is so darn interesting that others are just dying to get a glimpse.

Lol, I have recently used two of the the terms that bug people.

I was talking to a friend the other day and was telling her how I was helping my son decorate his small apartment in a sort of “curated” boho chic. I explained that due to Covid there would be no collected items, everything had to be ordered online. By doing so, the look could be more edited and curated to the room for optimal storage and usage without looking cluttered.

I also referred to “wall art” ordered online. If they were original paintings I would call them “paintings”.

Just terri, I think we're all guilty of doing something which annoys someone else. That's just the way the world works. :)

Kudos for having a sense of humor about it. I love these light-hearted threads and it always makes me feel bad when someone takes it personal and it all goes sideways.

Some of the best threads I've ever read here have been the pet peeves one. I usually end up finding my own quirks are annoying someone else along the way....

Wall art reminds me of something I often see for sale on CL - a sitting chair. Is there any other kind of chair?

Exactly, Patrice! It's all in good fun, and as I stated in the OP, absolutely nothing in the overall scheme of things ... just a recounting of our own little peculiarities (or maybe just mine, since I have so many of them). I also see myself in these threads, once others start naming what yanks their chain. I know I've used "curate" recently, and more than once. (Hanging head in shame.)

I think there is 2Katz. There’s a fainting chair (and sofa), a birthing chair, a lounging type chair where one partially lies back and partially sits, there’s a bunch of standing chairs..However, don’t think you can draw while sitting because according to CL that’s one of those things that pull out on a dresser.

Thoughtfully choosing items that will work for an apartment fits the definition of curating much better than choosing puzzle pieces to put in a box!

I’m personally getting tired of how “boho” has become the catch-all phrase for any room that has a rug with some pattern in it. Or really, any style that isn’t “Modern Farmhouse”.

“Hi, I want to do boho in this room. Rug suggestions, please!” ... posts picture of a gray sectional, gray chairs, and a wicker basket ... everyone proceeds to post colorful tribal shag rugs from Rugs USA ... OP chooses the gray and white one.

along the same lines, if you have to have a sign in your home to announce "Farmhouse," you do not live in one. All the signs are just so overdone. Quit bossing me around; i.e., Live, Laugh, Love or "in this house, we..."

I know what I’m getting Justine for Christmas ... one for every room...

Oco, I want you to go to your room and think about what you’ve done here, missy.

ETA: At least they didn’t leave the dadgum lid up on the toilet. I have a major phobia regarding seeing people’s toilets and when the lid is up? I just want to curl up in a dark corner and rock myself to sleep.

I've used reach out. I know it bothers some people but it doesn't even register on me as it leaves my mouth (or keyboard).

However I have no word art in my home. We've already established I don't like random strangers commanding me with "And go!" - so I'm sure as diggity not going to have my kitchen screaming EAT at me.

The only time I would use the words 'reach out' would be if someone is suffering and I feel the need to help or support them. Not a generic contact, but more like opening my arms to them. Does that make sense, I'm tired and rambling.

Ocotillo, I literally laughed out loud with the bathroom wallwords.

Jinx, you gave me a good chuckle too with "OP chooses the gray and white one".

ocotillo, I had to laugh out loud, too! Best one ever!

Jinx, I agree with Boho being a catch all phrase.

Boho used to be more of a collected multi cultural layered look. Now it can mean almost anything. There are new terms attached like Boho chic or modern boho and a few others. In other words...as long as you have some tribal and some layers you may or may not be in the boho ballpark.

What I say about boho is break the common boho rules. Skip the neutral base and start with color. Go bold or go home. However, that’s where some “curated “ comes in . 😁 And, you need some somewhat vibrant “wall art” for balance.

The only time I would use the words 'reach out' would be if someone is suffering and I feel the need to help or support them. Not a generic contact, but more like opening my arms to them. Does that make sense, I'm tired and rambling.

Exactly.

Well as I said earlier I've only once seen the use of the term "styling" but of course now that I'm aware of it I see it as in: "I'd love the opportunity to style open shelving" . This was related to updating a kitchen on the buying/selling houses forum. What??? I would say I'd love some open shelving or I'd love to install open shelving. Well I wouldn't say that because I don't care for open shelving.

To me, "styling" came into play somewhere between HGTV remodel shows where the host/hostess adds generic decor for the homeowner and Pinterest/Instagram-type social media where everyone feels the need to share perfectly "styled" photos so we can all admire how perfect their homes and, by extension, lives are.

I completely agree with Jinx and just_terilynn about "boho". To me, boho must start with color, lots of it, and pattern and layers. If your room is white, gray, and washed out wood with a patterned rug, it's not boho.

Also, I have never liked word "art" (if you can even call it art). I find it bossy and obnoxious. Instead of telling me to "live and laugh" why don't you put up some art that makes me laugh? I do understand that there is an art to creating fonts and that there can be beauty in words like calligraphy. But the generic signs telling everyone in the house to act or live a certain way drive me crazy.

Love this thread by the way. Makes me feel right at home while I go yell at people to get off my lawn.

Well folks sometime do sound like incredibly insecure. That's my first knee-jerk reaction.

Then I tell myself "they're interested enough though to come and ask". I don't know enough about their "why"-maybe because they 're influenced by well, influencers, and pictures allover, and huge exposure we're all experiencing nowadays-for maybe they are geniuely interested, in this very moment.

If I'm in a reasonably good, balanced mood(a rare combo lol) I might answer, and I'll try to do it in a way that hopefully will deapen the interest.

I often miss though because some folks prefer to have clear instructions. X, Y, Z.

But it's hard to know in advance. Who'll benefit from what.

As for "styling"-to me it's something that I can do, and decorating is something that I can do, (and often asked to help to do) but involves more resourses whether it's time, money, energy, thought.. while designing is something that I can do but to a point and will take much more mental time and effort (especially when comes to reconfiguring whole houses, kitchens, baths, etc...spatial is my weak spot especially when two dimensional on paper...takes me much longer to translate it to three-dimensional in my head, if I compare myself with many others here)..building is something I can't do))

I've so many pet peeves though, I thnk I started couple threads about them at one point or another. I can be wicked about it too. I always need to reign myself in.

And it's not my native language of course, so I'm not nearly as sensitive as when it comes to Russian for example. I find many Russian articles etc. nowadays written very poorly as they seem to be "lost in translation" and they just use English words a lot, which can be a natural process as with any language, but mostly it's just a lazy way to go, and in such cases it irritates me to no end.

I think the word style goes back decades. Only because after college when we built this house and were poor as church mice while having babies and beginning a new life, on my mom's first visit, and she had the decor gene, not me, she asked, "What style will you decorate in?" I said, "Whatever you give me, garage sales, antique stores, and flea markets." :)

Style to me means the direction one wants to go in when decorating.

I'd wager it's Emily Henderson who popularized the term. She's an interiors stylist which is a fairly recent occupation in interior design, all things considered. But yes, I interpret "styling" to mean arranging a vignette in a room. Sometimes said vignette makes sense in real life but its primarily goal is to make the space look good in pictures. And yes, we can totally blame social media for this. :) (Very easy for most us to feel insecure about our interiors when we take pictures of it with our dinky phone cameras and everything looks "off".)

I almost commented about all this in a thread last week but gave up when I realized my wall of text was philosophizing about the odd concept of "themes" in a house vs furnishing a house that suited the dwellers' daily life. :P