5 Tips for Finding Inspiration Everywhere

Tips to Get Inspired no Matter Where You Are

View from outside of our room at The Stanton in Miami Beach, Florida

Inspiration is everywhere! All you have to do is take the time to stop and look around. I use these tips to spark my writing, home decor, tablescapes, and entertaining.

Tip #1: Look up.

It’s easy to be focused on the path right in front of you, but sometimes the most beautiful things are up. We were finished with our tour of the Presidential Suite at The Greenbrier. While walking out, I happened to look up and there was a stunning pink and white pagoda chandelier leading guests in and out. I would have completely missed it had I not thought to look up.

In fact, one of my favorite interior design podcasts, The Chaise Lounge, talked last week about the different way that creatives like interior designers look at the world, admiring each and every minute detail around them. It’s a good philosophy of life, much like stopping to smell the roses.

Take the time to stop and look around. Admire every detail and seek out new ways of looking at pieces. There are so many details out there in everything from churches to museum exhibits to federal building exteriors and they’re the perfect for soaking up ideas for dinner parties and interiors.

Photo from The Greenbrier, Presidential Suite

Tip #2: Look to your own city.

Check out the National Register of Historic Places, your local library, and drive or walk around. Every city and town has its footprint in history, and that can lead to loads of inspiration – and places to photograph. One of the steakhouses in my hometown in South Carolina was an old bank in its past life. I remember asking one of the managers if they knew anything about its history and if they wouldn’t mind showing us around. You’d be surprised how many times people are willing to do this if you only ask.

Tip #3: Go outside.

Nature is a perfect spot to get those creative juices flowing. Whether it’s walking through a trail on a crisp day or walking through gardens, being outside is the perfect breeding ground for inspiration. Hillwood Museum and the U.S. National Arboretum are two of my favorite spots in D. C. to be outside.

The Greenbrier

Tip #4: Listen more.

One of the things we love most about traveling is the people we meet along the way. You can learn so much about a place’s culture, food, and history (often the juiciest parts, too) from locals no matter if you’re in San Antonio or Florence. It’s the best. This is often how we hear about some of our favorite spots to visit and places to eat when we’re visiting a new place.

Photo at Bittersweet Cafe, outside of Nemacolin in Pennsylvania

Tip #5: Look at places and things at different angles.

Crown moulding is my favorite example of this. Looking at it from a seated position, it looks great, but it might not appear to be anything out of the ordinary. Look at it from an angle and you’ll notice the intricate cuts and the very specific way that each piece must be made so that it fits into the next like a jigsaw puzzle. I can appreciate this much more after having it installed in two rooms in our house, but it’s a great example. You can also apply this to your photography. Play around with photos at an angle or through a doorway, whether you’re using a DSLR camera or an iPhone. These photos often turn out to be more interesting and appealing to the eye than those taken straight on.