Planning a wedding, soiree or merely redecorating your home or office can feel like a daunting task or an enormous undertaking. Where do you begin? It entails a great deal of thought and planning before anything can be executed.

The first thing I do before I tackle ANY project is to pin point my inspiration.  Nothing begins until I have found my inspiration for which my project will be influenced by or modeled after.

Where does one find inspiration? EVERYWHERE and in ANYTHING! It may be found in a beloved article of clothing, beautiful vacation photos, an unforgettable vacation spot, a moving painting or piece of art, a near and dear keepsake, a fabulous printed fabric, a photo that has caught your eye or right outside your door in the great outdoors- nothing is off limits. When you are willing to accept inspiration from unconventional places you will find the ideas will flow and the task at hand will be completed in no time.

The following photos are just a few examples of where inspiration may come from.

For instance, this incredible carnival photo is wonderful inspiration for a home makeover or soiree. The beautiful colors lend itself to an incredible color palette. Creating a color palette is always a great starting point for any project I am doing.  The fun and whimsical energy of the photo helps to determine the feel of a room, wedding, or soiree, as well. A great deal can be taken from this one photo. These are just a few concepts that jump out at me:

Atmosphere/Ambience: Fun, Whimsical, Vintage
Color Palette: Yellow, Green, Red, Purple, Pink, Gray, White, Silver
Theme: Carnival, Amusement Park

This photo has got my wheels turning (pardon the pun) and I’ve decided to create an Inspiration Board using this photo as my starting point. Stay tuned!

Now let’s see what ideas I gather from the following photos!

This light and airy photo is so pretty. A few months ago I shared it on the blog, because of its wonderful unexpected color combination: cornflower blue and barely there pink/peach color.  Soon after I created a Color Palette (An Unlikely Pair) in the hopes of seeing this unusual pairing in weddings.

Atmosphere/Ambience: Sweet, Pretty, Lovely, Vintage, Light & Airy
Color Palette: Cornflower Blue, Blue, Peach, Pink, Gray, Teal, Green, GrayBlue, GrayGreen
Theme: Vintage, English Tea Party, Afternoon Tea

This photo is deliciously amazing! First of all I don’t think I’m alone when I say I am craving for some macaroons right about now! Second, our honeymoon comes to mind. Thinking about our trip to Paris and the lovely Laduree shop with all of its tasty confections. So much to take from this tasty looking inspiration!

Atmosphere/Ambience: Colorful, High Energy, Whimsical, Fun, Eclectic, Casual
Color Palette: Yellow, Orange, Light Pink, Hot Pink, Aqua, Turquoise, Brown, Purple, White, Cream
Theme: Sweet Shop, Tasty Treats, Paris, Dessert Buffet, Life is Sweet

Now to the last photo of inspiration! Once again our honeymoon comes to mind- France and its lavender fields. Such a spectacular source of inspiration.

Atmosphere/Ambience: Serene, Lovely, Majestic
Color Palette: Purple, Lavender, White, Pink, Iris
Theme: France, Provence, Lavender, Lavender Fields

No saying is more appropriate for today’s post than, “A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words.” Here I have shown you just how powerful one single image is and how much it can inspire you. So the next time you find yourself stumped or uninspired flip through your personal photos, art books, online etc. for that one photo that speaks to you and sparks your imagination.