Welcome to the Tinker & Trim Blog!

Welcome and Hello

If you’re here, chances are you’ve been looking for ways to decorate your apartment, or maybe you’re trying to design a vacation rental for Airbnb or VRBO without making permanent changes or working with many limitations because of the lease agreement. If that’s right, welcome! I’m here to tell you you’re in the right place. First, a proper introduction.

Hi, my name is Lelayna, and I’m the interior decorator for Tinker & Trim. While I don’t have any formal training in interior design or a formal degree, I do have a deep love for learning, storytelling, helping others, and interior design. I’ve spent years creating spaces within games, creating miniature models like mini bakeries, studying, taking classes, and I am currently learning 3D modeling itself. Thankfully, my education in journalism has assisted me with creativity and thinking outside of the box.

Why did I start Tinker & Trim and this blog?

I started this company and blog because I want to help others create a beautiful and amazing space, no matter the restrictions. Honestly, the rules and restrictions I find to be the best part. Sometimes the more restricted you are the more creative you can get. Though this adventure began with a much simpler start: family. You can read more here.

My approach to Interior Design

I believe everyone deserves a space they love to call home or to retreat to on vacation that truly welcomes all who enter the door and allows them to be their authentic selves. Design should be approachable, achievable, and showcase each person’s unique story. More importantly, it should be built to last. While keeping up with trends is incredibly important, I also believe that your space should be built to last.

That’s why whenever I design a space, there are three important questions I’ll always ask:

• How do you want this to feel when you walk in?
• What does the best day in this space look like?
• Who are you, and what are the most important values you want this space to reflect?

The second question I learned from Joanna Gaines on MasterClass is my favorite question to ask. Why are these questions important, and what do they have to do with design? Let me give you an example.

Let’s say I’m decorating an office for myself. How would I want the space to feel when I walk in? Well, I’d want it to feel organized, dramatic, and playful. I want it organized so that way I can find and put everything away easily. I’d want it to feel dramatic because I’ve always loved the traditional or Victorian style and I find more saturated colors to be inspiring. Finally, I’d want it to be playful. Why? Because the best day in my space looks like me writing one of my stories at my desk, in a soft, comfy chair, surrounded by books and my trinkets.

Which brings us to the final question. Who am I and what do I value? One way I’d describe myself is a collector. I’ve always had tiny trinkets throughout my entire life and I love having them displayed because it also allows me to do my second favorite thing, which is storytelling. Whenever a guest sees a strange trinket or maybe a really small and cute one, their curiosity is piqued, and they ask about it. Not only do I get to connect with my guest, but I also get to showcase a favorite memory or story to tell. So, for my study, it’s important to me that the trinkets I do put in there are allowed to shine. Seeing what I’ve created over the years inspires me to always be improving, growing, and creating.

Who is this Blog for?

You. This blog is for anyone who lives in an apartment, childhood bedroom, or is designing a vacation rental for guests to enjoy. I want to help you create the space you and your guests will love without the need for a massive budget, major renovations, or promoting designs that might damage the property. With this blog, I’ll be sharing straightforward, actionable advice to help you bring your vision to life with confidence and remove the overwhelm that comes with decision-making.

What you can Expect

This blog will be covering a wide range of topics and projects. Mostly, they will be in one of these categories:

• Challenges: I’ll be creating or participating in random and fun challenges to keep developing my skills as a decorator, even when the challenge might be unconventional. After all, smooth seas don’t make skilled sailors.
• Decor inspiration: I’ll be giving you fresh ideas and sharing all kinds of inspiration to help you either get on the right track or to just share something absolutely beautiful.
• Design Study: I’ll be sharing detailed and thorough guides about different aesthetics or design styles to help understand what makes each design style unique.
• How-tos: Relatively simple, these are step-by-step guides to help you bring design concepts to life.
• Showcasing: Another value that is important to both Tinker & Trim and me is community. To help foster a community that is kind, supportive, and creative, I’ll be showcasing different designs within the design community and the industry.
• Musings: These are personal journal-style reflections of mine that I’ll share about design trends, creativity, personal growth, mental health, and more.

So, whether you’re looking for practical advice or are just here to find your next piece of inspiration, I welcome you to the Tinker & Trim blog. Subscribe to the newsletter for updates on new posts, and don’t forget to follow Tinker & Trim on social media for more design inspiration and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks. I’d love to hear from you—what do you want to learn and explore in interior design? Drop a comment below and let’s start a conversation!