Welcome to decor8 on Substack

Be inspired and learn how to create a home that you love from 4x bestselling author and interiors expert, Holly Becker.

Hi, I’m Holly Becker and I’ve been writing online since 2006, namely over on one of the first design blogs out there – decor8 - where I once had over 1.2 million readers. I’ve grown and changed so much in the past 16 years and like everyone, I’ve had good times and bad.

For the good, I launched the first online class about blogging and social media in 2009 called Blogging Your Way. I’m still an online educator today and I’ve taught over 8,000 women how to run successful businesses like I do by creating content that they love (here).

I also relocated to northern Germany from Boston in 2009 where I’ve been living in a turn-of-the-century Jugendstil apartment for the past 13 years in a beautiful city and I mostly work from home. I’ve also written four books with my first, Decorate, in 2011 followed by Decorate Workshop (2012), Decorate with Flowers (2014) and Decorate for a Party (2017). All have been printed in a combined total of nearly 20 languages. I’ve had the honor of going on multiple book tours and I’ve met thousands of my dear readers, a career highlight for sure.

In 2019, my first home collection launched for Depot and in 2020, my decor magazine (in German) called HOLLY launched on newsstands all over German-speaking Europe.

Out of all of the beautiful moments that have happened since starting my blog, the best was becoming a mom on February 9, 2014 to the sweetest little boy in the world who is now 8-years-old, bilingual, and in the 3rd grade.

On the flipside, it’s not all been a bed of roses since launching my blog. Both of my parents (and grandparents) passed away. I’ve also struggled with anxiety and SAD (Seasonal Depression Disorder) over the years, though I seem to have it under control through lifestyle changes and with the recent introduction of my yoga practice. I also lost my magazine, HOLLY, during the peak of the pandemic as my publisher couldn’t make it work with so many stores and newstands being closed for so long. I took that very hard. I’ve learned so much about myself by losing those I love and work that meant a lot to me, but I press forward no matter what and infuse my days with meaning and light so I can bring it to my readers far and near.

As a writer, photographer, photo stylist and author, I’ve worked in the world of interiors on so many projects throughout the years that have brought me great happiness in addition to my blog.

The 4 Bestsellers I’ve authored (above)

I give lectures and moderate panels at fairs. I offer consulting to business owners and develop concepts for clients. I shoot catalogs for brands. I’ve worked for brands that you know and love like: Domino, The Boston Globe, Real Simple, Living At Home, Flow, West Elm, Livingetc, Liberty, Anthropologie, Ferm Living, Jonathan Adler, Depot, Martha Stewart and so many more.

I find it impossible to define my interior “look” so I usually go with European eclectic with an American heart. I love to mix old with new and I’d consider myself a professional bargain hunter and style-mixer. I also enjoying working with hands, particularly with flowers because my mother raised me to love nature as she was a floral designer and herbalist. I also like to paint and draw along with my son, Aidan.

In an attempt to reclaim the old-school vibes of blogging, where it was slower, more intentional and meaningful, and when content had more substance and originality (and less ads!) I decided to launch here on Substack.

There has to be more out there than click-bait and sponsored content, right? I want the content that I create here to be delivered in a way that feels cozy, personal, warm - very much like my interiors. With your help and support, I hope to organically evolve this space into something unique and different from what I’ve previously done. It feels good to break away from the pack, run from the algorithm, and try something new that also feels a bit retro at the same time.

My work here will focuses primarily on how to create relatable, cozy and beautiful interiors that bring comfort and joy to the home. I want to share my personal stories through words and images and inspire you to see your home in a new way as you learn how to decorate with your all of your senses and to infuse your home with personality and style. I also plan to show you the world of design through the eyes of an American in Europe, since there are many talented people and beautiful things here that I can provide special insights into.

I only blog a few times a month on decor8 nowadays, and I’m not that inspired over on my Instagram, so I’d like to fill my Substack with regular content that is valuable to you and meaningful to me. I love writing online and never wish to stop, so this gives me a new space to create content that isn’t for the masses, but only for you – my subscribers – and can be delivered to your inbox (if you wish) as I publish.

Beginning on October 1, this will become a mostly paid space where subscriptions will be offered at a small fee that will support me and my work. I hope that you will find the subscription fees reasonable and valuable. I will offer sponsor and advertiser free content from my heart. There will always be free options to read me here to if you don’t wish to pay, or you can still follow me on decor8 and Instagram, so don’t worry. I also plan to write and publish book #5 in the next year or so.

It’s a big step for me to write in another place online outside of decor8, but I’m ready to invite in the new and have fun here! I want to make this a wonderfully creative and beautiful space where you can tap into the mind of a good friend (me) who just so happens to be a design pro living in Europe that loves to share and interact with you. You can comment freely, I’ll even post some videos, and some of my content will have audio files so you can listen to them or read them.

Thank you so much for following my work, supporting me here, and for sharing this space (if you like it) with your friends.

Love,

Holly Becker