In a world where everything feels rushed — fast fashion, fast furniture, fast trends — a quieter movement is gaining momentum: slow decorating.

If 2024 was about quick refreshes and instant makeovers, 2025 is shaping up to be the year of thoughtful, intentional, deeply personal interiors. And there’s no better time to lean into this shift than December — a month made for pausing, resetting and reconnecting with the spaces we live in.

Slow decorating isn’t about perfection.
It isn’t about finishing your home in one weekend.
It’s about creating a space that feels calm, collected and deeply yours.

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Vintage South Coast NSW Collection

So… What Exactly Is Slow Decorating?

Think of slow decorating as the antidote to “just get something up on that wall.”

It’s a design philosophy built around:

• Collecting, not accumulating
  Art and objects chosen because you love them — not because they fill space.

• Letting your home evolve naturally
  No more pressure to have a “finished” house by next Tuesday.

• Choosing for longevity
  Pieces that feel meaningful, calm and connected to your life — not just trends.

• Quality over quantity (always)
  One piece that moves you will always beat eight pieces that don’t.

It’s not minimalism.
It’s not maximalism.
It’s intentionalism.

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Why Art Is the Heart of Slow Decorating

When you decorate slowly, art becomes the grounding force in your home.

Your couch can be neutral. Your table can be functional.
But your walls? That’s where your personality lives.

Art sets the tone for the entire room:

• A soft, moody landscape can create instant calm.

• A vintage coastal scene can anchor a space with nostalgia.

• A muted abstract can fill a room with understated warmth.

• A single black-and-white photograph can feel more personal than a whole wall of random prints.

When you choose the right artworks — slowly and intentionally — everything else in your home begins to fall into place.

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Why December Is the Perfect Time to Begin

This season is naturally reflective. Life slows down a little. Days stretch out.
You start noticing things — the light in your living room at 4pm, the corner that’s always felt unfinished, the room that needs softness.

That’s the perfect mindset for slow decorating.

Here’s how to start, one quiet step at a time:

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Vintage Photo Mirror Lake - Yosemite National Park 1865

1. Pick One Space to Reimagine

Not a whole room — just a wall or a corner.
Slow decorating thrives on small beginnings.

A hallway, a bedroom nook, a reading corner, even the wall above your sideboard.
One space. That’s it.

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2. Choose One Anchor Artwork

This is your starting point — the single piece your space will grow from.
It doesn’t need to be bold. It needs to feel right.

A. Anchor Artworks — Start Here

When choosing your first artwork, look for something with presence, warmth and a sense of calm. An anchor piece should feel meaningful the moment you see it.

Prints such as Kookaburra on the Fence, Flourishing (1934) or The Sun (1909) are examples of artworks that can quietly command a room without overwhelming it. They carry mood, grounding energy and a sense of place — ideal foundations for a slow-decorated home.

Hang your anchor piece — then simply live with it.
Notice how it feels in the morning light and in the evening calm.
Let it settle before adding anything next.

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Red Crown Cranes 1600's Japanese Art

3. Build Layers — Slowly

Once your anchor artwork has found its place, begin adding complementary pieces one at a time.

B. Layering Pieces — Add Slowly

Look for secondary artworks that softly support your main piece — never compete with it. Muted photography, classic vintage prints or gentle illustrations are perfect for this stage.

Prints like the Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo, Klimt’s The Kiss, or the vintage Metung aerial photograph bring personality and depth while still keeping the room restful. They add interest in a way that feels natural rather than rushed.

Add one piece. Live with it.
Only choose the next when you’re ready.

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4. Create Slow-Decor Moments Throughout the Home

Slow decorating isn’t only about feature walls — it’s also about quiet corners, nooks and smaller moments that deserve attention.

C. Slow-Decor Moments — Quiet Corners & Everyday Spaces

Some artworks shine not because they’re bold, but because they create mood.
Prints like the Coolangatta 1950s Aerial Photograph or Alfred Frueh’s 1920s Stage Duo sketch offer gentle character and charm, perfect for bedrooms, hallways or reading corners.

These pieces work beautifully where you want atmosphere without clutter — spaces where your eyes can rest.

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5. Let Your Home Evolve, Not Rush

This is the real secret — slow decorating isn’t about “finishing.”
It’s about listening to your home.

The pieces you choose tell your story.
Let that story unfold at its own pace.

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Why Slow Decorating Works So Well

Because it creates homes with soul.

When you stop rushing:

• Your home starts to feel calmer

• Your rooms become more personal

• Your walls feel curated, not crowded

• You buy fewer things — but better things

• Your aesthetic becomes clearer, softer, more grounded

Fast decorating fills a room.
Slow decorating fills a life.

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Final Thought

This December, instead of trying to complete your home, consider beginning a new design rhythm.
A quieter one.
A slower one.
One that feels more like you.

Start with one artwork.
Let the space breathe.
Let it evolve.

Your home doesn’t need another rush.
It needs intention.

And slow decorating is exactly that.

If this idea of slow decorating resonates with you, you may enjoy exploring Curat’d’s collections for inspiration. They’re curated with calm, timeless interiors in mind — pieces made to be lived with, not rushed.

Browse slowly.
Choose intentionally.
Decorate in your own time.