Pinterest is highly distracting, not meant to be viewed in any capacity while working--not because it's not safe for work, but because it's a time suck. Between Pinterest and the Gawkerverse, I'm surprised I have time for anything else. Don't get me started on how they both have iPhone apps that I've downloaded but hidden from myself. Time suck.
When I do let myself indulge in Pinterest, though, I spend more time focusing on what my friends and contacts have pinned than doing any pinning myself. There are a lot of people out there with some fantastic taste. Thankfully, some of what they pin inspires me to repin that item(s) to my own boards. I've even created a new board for the Guest Room project (board)! It's filling up with pins I want to refer back to for color and design options, but the damn thing is becoming beautiful enough to stare at on its own; like a little piece of artwork I wouldn't hesitate to print, frame, and hang.
Images were taken from my Pinterest boards, "Design of a Kind" and "To Live By Them."
For those who haven't given Pinterest much thought, maybe considered it a passing fad, or assumed it was mostly for those who fancy DIY, design, and decorating, then I urge you to take a closer look. Pinterest is ultimately about one thing: gathering content. That content is categorized into boards--board, singular, if you like the chaos of everything in one place--where you "pin" images, video, and more. Those pinned items can be:
- things that inspire you (e.g. color palettes)
- are meant to inspire others (e.g. eco-friendly ways to update your home)
- depict your creative ventures (e.g. step-outs showing how you reupholstered your couch)
- are creations by others that you like (e.g. an IKEA sofa hacked to look more mid-century modern)
- are items to help you plan an event (e.g. potential decor choices for your holiday party)
- research for projects you want to tackle (e.g. various ways to create a solar oven)
There's no real limit to how, and for what, you can use Pinterest. My personal preference is to pin things that cause a strong, passionate response within me. If it pulls at the heart strings, attracts my eye, inspires me to do something similar, or challenges me in some way--whatever it is that brings to life something where there may have been nothing--I'm going to want to keep it. Pinterest lets me do that. And, if I happen to need a bit of chaos some times, or organization/order in others, Pinterest lets me do that as well.
You should take a (closer) look into Pinterest for yourself. If you need an invite, leave a comment or click the contact link to let me know.
