Let’s be honest—sometimes you don’t need to go anywhere, you need a vibe shift. That’s where Pinterest comes in. It’s not just a pretty place to save home decor or plan your dream vacation (though yes, I fully support a well-curated Paris board). Pinterest is a tool I use daily to spark joy, reset my mindset, and map out the kind of life I want—no boarding pass necessary.
If you want to romanticize your life, Pinterest is your best-kept secret. Visual discovery is vision boarding with endless options. It’s the digital version of flipping through a stack of your favorite magazines, scissors in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. But here’s the magic: Pinterest boards aren’t static. They evolve with you. And when used intentionally, they can become personal retreats you can visit anytime.
Here’s how I use Pinterest to plan my dream life—and how you can too.
Start with a feeling, not a goal.
When I created my Great Escape board, I wasn’t trying to plan a real trip. I just wanted to collect moments that felt like exhaling. Think cozy cabins, soft linen dresses, sunlight on old wood floors, stacks of books, handwritten letters. Those images anchor me when life feels too loud. They help me romanticize everyday rituals and notice the beauty already around me.
Make it multi-sensory.
Pin visuals that remind you of textures, sounds, and even scents. A collage of foggy mornings, knit socks, and a steaming cup of tea becomes more than aesthetic—it becomes a mood. I’ve built playlists based on boards like this, and it’s wild how transporting it can be.
Don’t overthink your pins.
Pin what draws you in. You can refine later. I use secret sections to explore themes I’m not quite ready to share—like ideas for a future retreat, or the writing shed I’ll build one day. Your boards are allowed to be aspirational and deeply personal.
Use sections to break it down.
I love organizing my boards like little storybooks. For my Great Escape board, I’ve got sections like “Writer’s Retreats,” “Analog Joy,” “Slow Mornings,” and “Books That Transport.” Each one helps me reconnect with something that matters and adds beauty to my daily routines.
Check in with your boards regularly.
Pinterest isn’t a one-and-done platform—it’s a living archive. I revisit mine like a cozy journal, adding new images, archiving ones that don’t fit anymore, and following threads that spark something fresh. Bonus: it’s a creative break that doesn’t involve a single scroll of social media doom.
And here’s the kicker: when you surround yourself with visuals that align with the life you want to build, you start to make choices that match. It’s not magic. It’s a mindset. Romanticizing your life is about choosing wonder and intention in the everyday—and Pinterest helps me do that better than any app on my phone.
Ready to give it a try?
Start by saving my Great Escape board—it’s packed with cozy inspiration, creative reset ideas, and tiny escapes you can take without leaving home. Then create your own and tag me in it. I’d love to see where you’re dreaming of going next (even if it’s just the corner café with a book in hand).
You don’t have to fly across the world to feel like you’ve gone somewhere. Sometimes, all it takes is a relaxing pin session and a little imagination to romanticize the life you already have.
