5 Bad Decorating Habits to Stop: How to Decorate For YOU!
I don’t know about you, but I second-guess every decorating decision. We moved into this house nearly 7 years ago, and most of the rooms still feel “unfinished” because I just can’t figure out what I want a room to look like.
I know, I’m lame.
I would like to contribute my lack of decorating productivity to being super busy (just blame it on the kids, right? LOL). But the truth is that I have been making 5 bad decorating habits ever since moving into this house.
And it’s time to knock it off, already!
1. STOP asking for permission on how to decorate.
If you want turquoise on every square inch of your walls, do it! Why do we need to ask our friends…..our mom…..post it on Facebook to let social media decide how our homes should look? If you like a look, just do it.
For me?? I love turquoise. Seriously, nearly all the painted walls in my house are some shade of turquoise-y goodness (my favorites are Sherwin Williams Rainwashed) like my bedroom, and Sherwin Williams Sea Salt in my master bathroom and foyer. My blogging room is Sherwin Williams Window Pane, with is the lighter version of Rainwashed.
You see where I’m going with this, right….? 😉
Decorate how you love.
(Oh, and my thrifted craft room was also turquoise!)
2. STOP ignoring your feelings.
I am tired of cringing every time I come home. I want to come home and feel like a queen in a pretty, clean, well-organized home (um, I wish my kids could read this–clean, I say!!). If you’re walking into your home and you’re not feeling like it’s your oasis, it’s time to change some things. That’s what I’m trying to do! Listen to what your gut is telling you, and if something is not working, change it.
Watch My Home Tour
3. STOP comparing your home on Pinterest.
I have a love/hate relation with Pinterest. This is why:
My house looks nothing like what those other chicks’ places look like. My house feels like an “Eclectic Nightmare” because everything doesn’t fit well together yet, and I have limited time and money to pull a room together to look so Better Homes and Garden-worthy. But you know what? We’ve got to stop this comparison. Inspiration is good, but let’s not have inspiration cause frustration. Let’s appreciate the fact that we even have homes, when so many people are homeless, living out of cars. The home we have, we’ve got to be thankful for it. And make that home as pretty as it can be. And love it for protecting us in cold winters and cooling us in hot summers.
Here’s a video I recorded to bring home this message — Stop Thinking You Have an Ugly House
4. STOP buying “anything” and “everything.”
Okay, you know how we thrift divers love a good deal (and if you’ve been a long-time reader of this blog, you know I fully support impulse buying at the thrift store.) I have bought many ‘a things just because it was a smokin’ deal. But later, I realize that it’s either “not me” or that I just don’t LOVE it. But for some reason, I’ve got it sitting around for whatever reason. I’m on a new kick now to start buying only the things I love, and leaving the things I “like” for other people that may “love” it!
5. STOP trying to be perfect.
I spend too much time trying to make things look and feel perfect. Do you do this, too? Going forward, I’m going to fill my house with the things that I love and that make my house my oasis of coziness and comfort! Every picture won’t have to be perfect. My sofa won’t have to be manicured perfectly with pillows. In fact, it may even be milk-stained with mashed veggie nuggets underneath of it 🙂 But as long as it’s cozy and cheerful, it will be perfect for my family 🙂
Do you struggle with any of these bad decorating habits, too? Leave a comment below and add to the discussion!
Photo: Courtesy Free Digital Photos
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My home is, and always has been eclectic, and I love it this way. It is serene and comfortable, and I’m always told how cozy it feels and complimented on different aspects. I’ve noticed that people always spend time looking around and seem very interested. Now in my mid-50s, I’ve bought a one family home with a finished basement, which is my living space, with my daughter and her family living on the main level. Aside from 3 spacious closets and a full bath, the basement is completely open and reminds me of a loft apartment. I’ve used furniture and wall decor to break the space into 4 separate areas. Everytime I enter my home, I feel a sense of calm and peace – and the pitter-patter of my grandsons running around upstairs is music to my ears. Loving where I live is the most important thing in the world to me, and I think this is reflected in the decor of my home, that although mismatched, magically comes together with love and happiness by reflecting all that is me.
Sarah, that is awesome! I think we all strive to live in a home like that. And it sounds like you’ve been able to create that environment! Doesn’t it make you feel light and airy?! 🙂 Way to go!! Thanks for commenting!
This is the perfect post for me!! I totally relate to #4!! How can I stop the obsession??? I find a great deal and impulsively buy it no matter if i need it or not!! Is there a 12 Step program for me? Haha! Thanks, as always, for another great post, Serena!! You and I are best friends and you didn’t even know it yet! LOL
Hey, Mary, my bestie! 😉
I wish there were a 12-step! I have figured out how to walk away, though, just because of the amount of stuff in my garage, and the fact that I reeeeeallly need a workshop space. Can’t do that if I have stuff everywhere! Also, I’m seeing some spaces of my house filling up (like the dining room), and I am wishing for less-cluttered days! LOL
I think the key is to buy what you love, and when you DO buy, the rule should be that you have to get rid of 1 similarly sized item! 🙂 Problem solved!
I’m a colbalt blue person and I don’t care who doesn’t like it.I have a friend with the same obsession and we always include something cobalt in our birthday and Christmas presents to each other.her husband once said can we have a moratorium on colbalt .we just looked at him as if he had two heads and laughed
HAHA! Oh, these poor husbands! I always think about the husbands and how they don’t stand a chance with us women and our preferences! LOL
I completely agree with this and I’m very guilty of them all! I found this post on Pinterest and really enjoyed reading it. I’ve pinned it also for a reminder later on when I’m going off track. 🙂
Just found your blog, I couldn’t agree with you more. Our homes such reflex us and no one else! I’m in love with Pinterest however with that being said you can come away with my house doesn’t quite measure up. Or if only… Really you can make yourself CRAZY!! You are a breath of fresh air. Thank You!!
Right! If we plan to do, we have to do. great. I am starting right now……………………………………..Thanks to share.
Your blog is awesome and thank you for all the tips!
Awww…thanks, Amy! Your blog is awesome, too! I love your “About” page where you describe yourself as an “exceptionally mediocre student.” HA! I was, too! Must be something about creativity that makes us mediocre students….Hmmm…. LOL
LOL, I prefer to think that we were just clever creatives and knew that there was no point in memorizing dates to pass a test. Or at least that’s what I tell myself….
That’s one way of looking at it! I hated always being told I had “potential.” That meant, “You really ain’t doing a THING, but we know you have it in you!” haha
Great post! I can so relate. A home should feel like home that is comfortable to you not a Pinterest pin.
Ive had a 25 year love for aqua-turquoise shades! Its even a color that looks good on everyone too! You can also rock so many other colors with it.
You are so right. It’s a flattering shade! For some reason, it just makes everything feel PRETTY, you know?? Ahhhh…..
Thanks for chiming in! 🙂
Thank you for sharing these “Five Do Not”‘s. I use pinterest for inspiration, among other sites (like, apartmenttherapy <3 ), so that one is the only problem I don't have. The rest, however, I big deals for me.
We moved into our current home (a geodesic dome home, no less) nearly 4 years ago, and I'm still in some of the original moving boxes! Why? The simple answer– this was my 30th move, and it was just before my 34th b-day. Our house before this one is where I lived the longest– 5 years (and still in boxes); we bought that one when just before my 29th b-day. . . and that was my 29th move!!
Then there's the more complicated "life story," which I'll not divulge. This post you've written is well done and most definitely speaks to me. I will probably print it and hang it on my fridge as I struggle to create the environment I want for our home– a bigger challenge than ever, because of the odd house design!
Thanks for sharing the post!
Hey CS!
Wow, 4 years with boxes? Okay, you should totally do our new room challenge makeover!!! That’s the only way I’ve gotten anything done around this house!
So glad you enjoyed this post and will print it out! I need this daily reminder, too! I try to just turn my head and ignore some of the things calling out to me (e.g’ “Cleeeean meeeee!”) LOL
Thanks for commenting!!!
Love these tips! I’m hoping hubby and I are getting our own place here soon (been staying with my dad to save money). I’ll be keeping these in mind when I finally get to decorate!
Congratulations, Lindsay! Now comes the FUN part–decorating!! 🙂 Let me know how it goes!
Serena