Welcome to day 12 of our series 31 Days to a Better Dressed Nest. I’m so glad you are here.


I am the only girl in my house. I’ve got 3 boys and a manly husband and they all own guns of various types, shapes and sizes. They are manly. And I am girly.


For the first 10 years of our marriage our house was quite plain and masculine. Leather sofa, canvas drapes and neutral colors. I loved it.


Then we slowly changed over and added more color and pattern. Before I knew it our house was full of toile and pillows and painted pieces. A few months ago I started thinking about our home–ok, so I’m always thinking about our home. It’s quite pretty to me. And I’m afraid it leans a little too girly. See that lovely bunny, the one with wings? Two years ago it hung in our bedroom. I know. My poor husband. One day I realized how feminine it was and asked my husband if it bothered him and he said ‘not at all’. He’s nice like that. Or nonobservant.

I still love all my pretties but I blame some of my girly decor leaking out every where on the fact that I do not have a daughter.


And look at our current bedding. I adore it, but I feel it’s entirely too ladyish. For now I took off the duvet and I’m using the chocolate brown comforter underneath. I think our room needs to change from cutesy to sexy. And I have no idea how I’m gonna pull that off for virtually no money but I’ll keep you informed.


It doesn’t take much to let the guys in on the fun. I’m trying to be more aware of making sure the stuff in our home represents all who live here. Does that mean no toile sofa and not pretty painted armoire? No way. But, there are a few ways I’ve found to help man up some of our rooms.

Here’s some ways I’ve made our rooms a little more manly, or at least things I’m planning to implement

  • Plaid and houndstooth fabrics
  • Black furniture
  • Wood finishes
  • I’d LOVE to find a big nice leather chair for my husband
  • Display the guitar
  • Mount the 100 year old beautiful shotgun on the wall

Make room for their stuff: I love a pair of dirty man boots outside the front door on the porch.

Does your house lean more masculine or feminine?