Candice Olson Quotes

Powerful Candice Olson for Daily Growth

About Candice Olson

Candice Olson is a renowned Canadian interior designer, television personality, and author, best known for her work on HGTV's hit series "Divine Design." Born on October 19, 1968, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Olson developed a passion for design at a young age. She credits her grandmother, who was an interior designer, as one of her primary influences. Olson studied interior design at Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto, Ontario. Upon graduation, she worked for several years in the design industry before venturing out on her own. In 1995, she founded Candice Olson Design Inc., a full-service interior design firm based in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2003, Olson's career took off when HGTV approached her to host "Divine Design," a show where she transforms homes using her unique blend of style and functionality. The series ran for nine seasons, during which time Olson worked on over 150 projects across North America. In addition to her work on television, Olson has authored several books, including "Candice Tells All: My Top Ten Rules for Designing a House You'll Love," "Candice Olson's Interior Design Makeovers," and "Candice Olson's Ultimate Cottage Style." These books offer practical advice and inspiration to homeowners looking to transform their spaces. Olson continues to work as an interior designer, running her successful design firm while also finding time for occasional television projects. Her designs are characterized by their elegance, functionality, and ability to reflect the personality of the client. Olson's work has earned her numerous awards and recognition in the design industry, cementing her status as a leading figure in home design and renovation.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The best way to create a beautiful home is to start with the heart."

This quote by Candice Olson suggests that a beautiful home is not merely about aesthetics, but rather it's rooted in emotions and personal connections. To create a truly stunning living space, one should first infuse it with love, care, and personal touches – starting from the heart. Essentially, making a house into a home means filling it with feelings and memories that resonate with its inhabitants.


"Your home should tell the story of who you are and be a reflection of what you love..."

This quote by Candice Olson emphasizes the personal connection one should have with their living space. A home isn't merely a shelter; it's a reflection of its inhabitant's personality, preferences, values, and experiences. By filling it with items that resonate deeply, a person not only creates a functional environment but also a place where they feel comfortable, inspired, and truly themselves. In essence, the home becomes an extension of one's life narrative.


"Design is really about problem solving. You're trying to find a solution for a space that works visually, functionally, and emotionally."

The quote by Candice Olson emphasizes that design isn't just about aesthetics; it's fundamentally about problem-solving. In other words, designers strive to create solutions that are visually pleasing, functional (meeting the intended purpose effectively), and emotionally engaging (evoking feelings that enhance the user experience). This multi-faceted approach ensures a harmonious balance between form and function, ensuring design serves its practical purpose while also resonating with users on an emotional level.


"It's so important to choose pieces that not only look good but make you feel good."

This quote by Candice Olson emphasizes the significance of selecting items that not only have aesthetic appeal but also evoke positive emotions within us. In essence, it suggests that personal satisfaction and comfort are crucial factors to consider when making decorative choices for our living spaces. The aim should be to create an environment where functionality, beauty, and emotional well-being harmoniously coexist.


"A room should never be too fussy or too casual; it should always be inviting."

This quote by Candice Olson suggests that a well-designed room should strike a balance between formality and comfort, avoiding both overly formal (fussy) and overly casual (laid-back) aesthetics. Instead, the goal is to create an environment that invites people in and encourages them to feel at ease. This idea emphasizes the importance of striking a balance when decorating spaces to make them visually appealing, functional, and welcoming.


Now that our kids are getting older, they need their space. We dug out the basement so they will have a place to go crazy in the wintertime. My son is already talking about how he's going to make a skateboard ramp. It's just a mosh pit down there, so they can do whatever they want. We're not even going to finish it.

- Candice Olson

Talking, Basement, About, Skateboard

One of the most common reasons people renovate their homes is a change in their lifestyle - an upcoming wedding, a new baby, or grown children moving away.

- Candice Olson

New, Away, Reasons, New Baby

I tell people marriage is a compromise, and so are renovations.

- Candice Olson

Marriage, People, Tell, Compromise

I think people underestimate the importance of lighting - layers of lighting, not just one light. I do a lighting seminar where I take a $300-a-yard fabric and a $3-a-yard fabric. I show what lighting can do to either one.

- Candice Olson

Think, I Think, Importance, Seminar

With every bathroom renovation, there are three areas that I focus on: budget, function and style.

- Candice Olson

Focus, Style, Function, Budget

Ask any teenage girl to describe her perfect bedroom, and you'll get answers like 'a room with a private phone line, a place to hang out with friends, and for it to be way-cool and funky.' Ask parents the same question, and 'a locked door that opens on their 21st birthday' might top the list!

- Candice Olson

Birthday, Door, Private, Locked

Strip makeup lights just don't give you a fighting chance no matter how good looking you are. Light sconces that flank the mirror illuminate your entire face evenly.

- Candice Olson

Mirror, Makeup, Give, Lights

We're a very active family, and I like everything in its place. I'm all about designing every little space. It will help me in the business of being a mom. Every single day is so crazy with my work that I just need to be able to come home and do that business as efficiently as I try to do my professional work.

- Candice Olson

Mom, Very, About, Single Day

Today's kitchen is all about a well-planned space that makes cooking a completely interactive experience among family and friends.

- Candice Olson

Interactive, About, Makes, Kitchen

A common mistake people make regarding dining rooms is to buy a matching set of table and chairs, which can be monotonous. I like to mix guest chairs in one style and head chairs in another for a more interesting, dynamic look.

- Candice Olson

Another, Buy, Rooms, Matching

Dining rooms are really all about the table and the chairs.

- Candice Olson

Dining, About, Rooms, Chairs

Spaces I love to do - the uglier the better - tend to be really old, dated basements - especially from the '60s to the '80s. I love those.

- Candice Olson

Love, Old, Really, Uglier

I simply adore getting dressed up for a special occasion. I feel incredible stepping out in luxurious fabrics and a bit of bling. That's also how I feel about special-occasion dining rooms. Because these aren't everyday spaces, they contain all sorts of drama for that once-in-a-while 'wow' event.

- Candice Olson

Occasion, About, Rooms, Spaces

Things have changed a lot since the earth was cooling and I was a teenage girl, but the basics of teenage bedrooms have remained the same. Every girl wants a place that they are proud to call their own and where they can express their own individuality.

- Candice Olson

Basics, Own, Teenage, Bedrooms

I never want to hold myself up as the poster child of the successful mother-businesswoman. It's a total 'Gong Show.' I won't pretend. When you do so many things, something always suffers. You just can't be great at everything.

- Candice Olson

Hold, Show, Pretend, Poster

I never try to be the poster child for the perfect mother/wife... You prioritize, you do the best you can possibly do, and you don't beat yourself up.

- Candice Olson

Best, Perfect, Prioritize, Poster

There are a million studies that say the money you put into a kitchen and bath update you get back. That's one of those places you can't go wrong. It can be as simple as updating counters and a backsplash.

- Candice Olson

Go, Back, Update, Updating

Mom raised me all by herself, and although we went through our share of lean years, she always worked hard to make our home warm and welcoming.

- Candice Olson

Through, Always, Raised, Welcoming

I've dealt with a lot of couples over the years, and most cite the battle for closet and bathroom space as one of the most frequent causes of marital discord.

- Candice Olson

Over, Closet, Frequent, Discord

Bathrooms are, on a square foot basis, the most expensive room in the house to renovate. If you want to test your heart's fitness, try shopping for simple bathroom faucets. Add in the cost of the required valves, mixers and trims, and you may need reviving when you see the tally!

- Candice Olson

Simple, House, Your, Shopping

The perfect antidote to dark, cold and creepy is light, warm and cozy.

- Candice Olson

Light, Perfect, Warm, Antidote

The type of renovation I do most often is opening a kitchen to the family room.

- Candice Olson

Often, Most, Type, Kitchen

When I'm doing kitchen planning as well as bathroom design, I try to walk through the day with the homeowner. If we're talking about a kitchen, it will be: So, we are walking in with the groceries. When we are taking them out of the car, where will they go? What is the distance to fridge, to pantry?

- Candice Olson

Doing, Through, Fridge, Kitchen

There has been a major shift in how we live in our homes. Everyone knows the kitchen is the soul of the house. It's more of an open-concept approach.

- Candice Olson

Soul, Everyone, Been, Kitchen

I love doing kitchen renovations where we're opening up the kitchen and creating open-concept main floors. I think that's one renovation that really changes the way people live in their homes.

- Candice Olson

Love, Doing, I Think, Kitchen

Why do guests always end up in the kitchen at parties? Is it a social phenomenon? Some strange gravitational pull? I don't know, but one thing is for sure: If your friends are going to congregate in your kitchen, you'd better make it as nice as possible.

- Candice Olson

Why, Some, Phenomenon, Kitchen

I sort of went into the TV thing kicking and screaming.

- Candice Olson

TV, Sort, Kicking, Screaming

There are designers who say, 'Oh! I see wallpaper and blue carpet.' I usually start by knocking down walls. 'You thought you just needed some new drapes? Well, guess what: That wall's gotta go.'

- Candice Olson

Thought, Some, Needed, Knocking

Great French design is often about unexpected touches.

- Candice Olson

Unexpected, Design, About, French

Sometimes living in a room that's badly designed isn't the worst thing in the world. Trust me - this is a fact! Living in a room that has no design whatsoever is even worse. I've learned this from my many clients over the years that have moved into new houses and just can't figure out where to begin.

- Candice Olson

Trust, Fact, Badly, Designed

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