Check Out Claire Billingsley’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Billingsley

Hi Claire, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m from Illinois originally and relocated to Cleveland, Ohio after going to college in a small town nearby called Wooster. I’ve always loved art and decorating, and was raised in a family that prioritized creativity. I come from a long line of builders and makers so fusing art and building always just made sense. It’s not surprising that from a young age I loved decorating my room and today find so much joy in decorating my own home.

I’ve always been pretty bold in my design choices and don’t really pay attention to what’s normal or what other people like. Of course, my style changes and I often start over with a blank slate (in 6 years, I’ve redone my guest room 4 times). I enjoy the process of making something new just as much as the end result. Many friends told me to I should share my home on social media and eventually I agreed. In January 2023 I launched my Instagram, odetoanabode and since then have found such a great community of like minded folks and have been featured in Apartment Therapy and Cleveland Magazine.

People tell me things like, “You make me feel braver in my own home” or “I was afraid to try this, but now I feel like I can.” It’s deeply emotional for me because it feels like I’ve found my calling. I can’t wait to see where this path leads next.
From my instagram I began working on brand deals and design contracts. I consider all of this one of several part time jobs – beyond content at home I also have two part time jobs and two antique/oddity booths at local stores.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been smooth, but the challenges have shaped both my process and my approach to design. One of the most significant struggles has been tackling the repairs on my house. When I bought it, it was a 120-year-old foreclosure, and the amount of work needed was overwhelming at times—everything from plumbing issues to foundation repairs. Balancing the pressure of those essential renovations with my desire to make the space my own has been stressful, especially on a budget. There are always more projects than there is time or money, and it’s easy to feel like I’m never quite finished.

On top of that, it’s been a challenge to find my true style amidst societal pressures and trends. After college, I felt like I had to “grow up” and adopt a more muted, minimalist aesthetic. For a while, my home and wardrobe were more toned down because I thought that’s what adulthood was supposed to look like. It wasn’t until a few years later that I realized I was compromising my own sense of creativity in favor of fitting into an ideal that wasn’t really me. Reclaiming my bold, eclectic style has been freeing, but it’s a process that involved letting go of what I thought I should be doing and embracing what makes me feel most at home. Now, I feel like I’m ready to gain some balance. I’ve been bold, bright and chaotic for a few years and think I’m ready to find that sweet spot where clutter is contained and colors are strategically placed. It’s fun and exciting to challenge myself to change.

Practically speaking, another struggle has been the limitations of my workspace. I have four pets, so doing projects indoors isn’t always an option—sawdust and fumes aren’t exactly pet-friendly. Unfortunately, I don’t have a garage, so most of my painting and power tool usage has to happen outside, which limits what I can do during the colder months. Winter can be frustrating because it puts a pause on some of the bigger projects I want to take on. I’ve been dreaming of one day having a studio space—maybe an upcycled shed—to give me the freedom to work year-round.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I never know how to answer when people ask “what do you do?” But I’ll try my best 🙂

I specialize in DIY projects and interior design, often incorporating secondhand or repurposed materials to create spaces that feel personal and inviting. My approach to design is all about creative freedom—breaking the conventional rules and encouraging others to do the same. I love mixing bold colors, patterns, and textures in unexpected ways, creating a sense of energy and fun in every space I work on.

What I’m most proud of, though, is the work I’ve done through nonprofit decorating projects with Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH). For LMM, I decorated three homes for families leaving homelessness, transforming those spaces into something warm and personal for people starting a new chapter in their lives. For that project I almost entirely thrifted the three house’s contents or donated them from my own home. I’m currently working on the NEOCH project which has been focused on redecorating their office building to create an environment where staff feel welcomed and reenergized. On that project, instead of thrifting I’ve been working with brands/collabs and waiving my content creation fee. These projects have allowed me to combine my passion for design with my dedication to making a tangible difference in people’s lives, which is deeply rewarding.

What sets my work apart is my belief that a home should be a reflection of the people who live there, not what’s trendy or expected. I encourage others to take creative risks and embrace what feels right for them, even if it’s unconventional. The most rewarding part of what I do is hearing from people who feel more confident expressing themselves in their own homes after seeing my work. It’s about creating spaces that feel truly authentic.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
I was raised in what I’d call a “quietly creative” family. My dad is a self taught home builder and my mom is a yogi and occupational therapist. Both have musical and artistic talent that they encouraged me and my siblings to develop on our own as well. While they’d never call themselves artists, sometimes I’d come home to find my dad painting a watercolor or my mom improvising on the piano. Art was a fluid and welcome component of my life. Building blocks were my favorite toys and sketching my favorite pastime.

I always enjoyed decorating and was given free reign to do so from a young age. I loved spending time in the attic pouring over old photos and ephemera – souvenirs from trips decades past, spurs from my dad’s previous life as a cowboy, coin collections that belonged to some distant relative. I loved this stuff and proudly brought it downstairs to display throughout the home wherever and whenever allowed. To me all these things told a story and I felt an innate connection with them.

I also decorated my own room constantly. I was allowed to paint and repaint the walls and eventually began scribbling poems in sharpie on the ceiling. I added a giant mural and hung sketches from the ceiling on fishing wire. I painted my door and had all my friends sign their names. I rearranged the furniture constantly. When I was maybe 7 or 8 I made my first DIY furniture piece – two end tables connected by a piece of scrap wood to form a desk/keyboard stand.

Creative freedom and independence is perhaps the greatest gift my parents ever gave me and I am so grateful to them for it. Today as an adult I feel unhampered by “what ifs” during the creative process. I do what I want in my space, just like I did as a kid. My goal is to encourage my community on social media to do the same.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/odetoanabode/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@odetoanabode