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 ENTIRE house needs done and we’re on a tinybudget. Where do I begin??
Hi, Jennifer!! I totally understand! Email me and we can chat more about your house and where you may want to start first! I may have some ideas for you 🙂 THRIFTDIVING at GMAIL dot COM. Let’s help get you on track! 🙂
Thank you for this post!!! I have struggled with all of this! I was told when we bought our house that we will only live here 5 years and then we will want to sell and buy a different house. This threw me into a cage for so long. Everything became about someone else… Will this color help the house sell, what decorations would someone want in here to convince them to buy my house! It caused me not to enjoy my own home. We have been here coming on 8 years and we are finally doing what we want! Our goal was to buy a home,not buy, sell, buy,sell. Nope this is our home for as long as the Lord allows.
Oh, man, Dawn, I could imagine how frustrating that would be! Always leaving out your own personal taste for the sake of “well, one day when we sell….” If I were you, I would forget about that! Sounds like you’ve tossed that habit out the window, and with good reason! Do what YOU want to do, and don’t worry about whether it’s the “wrong” color. Paint is easily replaceable! 🙂 Your happiness ISN’T! :)Thanks for commenting!!! Hope to see you around more.
Talented and “real’…you’re awesome! I am at the age where I am in the process of purging things and then I want to “create” my sanctuary, simply but personally. Money is tight here, too. Pinterest (though I love it) at times makes me feel that I’m standing still when in reality I’m slowly moving forward…at a crawl but moving! lol Thank you for your realness.
Hi Linda! YES, you said it best. Pinterest has that affect on me, too. I still have so much to do in my house!! I’d love for you to join my January Room Challenge! 🙂 I’ll be posting about it this week!
You are SO RIGHT! We’ve been in our home for 28 years now and I haven’t loved it for all these years. (Unless you’re really organized and good at purging, never stay this long in the same home.) Sadly, all of our neighbors & friends DO have places like you see on Pinterest, etc., but we’ve never had that kind of money, which is why I do DIY. Even once our two grown children left home for college & their own lives, I can’t keep up with the repairs & replacements before the next round starts. Suddenly, an enormous kitchen, 4 BR, 4 BA, 2 LA, 2DA and a double size lot has become a burden. However, I’ve been trying to get the hubby motivated to move since 2008 but we’re still here. I think we’re never going to move, so I’ve started making it more like what I want instead of always saying I’d wait until we move to do anything. After several years of drought, losing our water well, weeks of triple digit heat, and all of our trees dying, I’m sick of the lack of curb appeal & hubby won’t spend the money to have it all re-done. So, I might as well love it since it doesn’t look like I’m ever getting out of here alive… Anyway, thanks for the boost!
Oh no, Liz, sorry to hear about losing your water well! I know this may sound like a stupid question, but what does that mean? No water for you, or will you have to pull it in in another way?
I sooooo feel you! I am still struggling with this house we bought 4 years ago. It was way more work than I ever realized. I am actually a little embarrassed of my house! I know that’s awful to say, but there’s very little I’m proud of when people come over (just the two rooms I mad over recently, but NOT the rest of the house!).
But you know what?? Even though you and I are battling loving our homes, at least we’re not homeless!! Our homes may not be the great “pinterest-worthy” homes (yet), but at least we’re warm when it’s cold and cold when it’s warm :). I can’t complain there!!
Thanks so much for reaching out and leaving such a thoughtful comment! You should really consider joining my next 30-Day Room Challenge! I think we’re starting up in January and the idea will be to transform just one room in your house in 30 days. This will be Cycle 3 here on the blog. You’ll be amazed what you can accomplish in 30 days! 🙂 Here’s the link to sign up: https://thriftdiving.com/challengesignup
Thanks!!!!
You’re spot on with all of these. I’m especially guilty of #1. I’m always terrified about wasting money on decorating disasters or putting stuff together that will end up looking hideous to everyone else. And there’s my decorating fantasy (unlimited $, time and the clean, uncluttered look I want) versus my reality (budget limits, 3 messy kids to homeschool, & the things we need to have in the house). My sister-in-law is a decorator and constantly changing & staging stuff in her house, and it would always make me feel like I needed to update things more or go for perfect Pinterest looks than what I put together myself. I’ve started to realize it’s crazy to decorate your house for people who don’t live in it. While she’s got a trendy magazine spread feel in hers, it’s not the kind of place I could really live in. Kind of like a stylish hotel lobby – it looks cool, but you’re not going to feel relaxed enough to hang out in your robe & eat snacks in it.
Oh, the KIDS……..I HEAR YOU! Loud and clear! This morning I trying to throw my hands up and proclaim that I would focus on my blogging and I was NOT going to clean and worry about how the house looked. THEN….I started stepping on crumbs on my floor and my OCD kicked in. LOL. At first I fumed, “Why can’t this house just be NICE and CLEAN?!?!” And as I was sweeping, I though, “You know….one day there won’t be anyone here to mess it up. The kids will be grown….I’ll be old…And it will be pristine.” And it was a sad thought. SOOO….with that being said, as moms with 3 kids, there is only so much “clean and perfect” we’ll ever have. And that’s okay. As long as we try our best, and learn to deal with pillows strewn over the floor or built into forts. 🙂
Thanks, Cheryl!!!!!
That is such a good reminder Serena. I go through that same scenario everyday (agh the constant messes!!!), but one day it will be too quiet and too clean and we’ll be missing these crazy days. I still want them to pick up a bit better around here, but I’d rather they remember fun times than Mom was out of control with things being neat.
Well, you know what stopped me in my tracks last night??? I was busy crafting and cleaning up, etc., and I had promised the kids we’d carve the pumpkin. Each time they asked, I was like, “Okay, in 5 minutes…..” and then “okay….after you eat your dinner….” and then when they asked again, I was about to say, “Okay, we’re just going to do it tomorrow because there isn’t enough time tonight. You’ve got to go to bed.” But before I could get out the excuse, my 8 year old said, “See, Mommy? You are always breaking your promises.”
Whoa. Wait.
I didn’t even realize I was doing it!! Yes, my crafting is partly to blame for that, but I’m always so busy trying to get things in order, decorate that, cleaning up this…..so much so that my kids are being shuffled to the side so I can make room for all the other stuff. That’s totally not right and fair to them! But the truth is that I am breaking all kinds of promises for the sake of my house, etc. I just needed an 8 year old to point it out!!!!
I loved this! As a real estate agent, a pinterest junkie, a thrift shop queen and a fantasy decorator, I relate to all of this! I see a lot of really nice homes (and some not so great) and I always dream of having my home a certain way… but I can’t pull off those looks because I just don’t have the money. What I’m good at doing (and what makes me comfortable) is a slightly kitschy, whimsical, eclectic look. It isn’t the clean and polished Martha Stewart look by any means, but it’s cute, and it’s me. I have had a problem in the past with getting things I only like rather than love but they don’t really go with my home and they end up in a pile… now I plan in advance what I’d like where… and I wait until I find what I’m looking for exactly. Anyway, I like to know there are others out there like me, lol. Thanks
Hey there, Kori! Yep, I am limited, too! But then I realized that if I put all my focus into transforming that one space, I can usually pull out something really good! And you are so right, it’s about going with your own style. I feel that Pinterest has a certain look circulating around, and if you don’t have that look, your house isn’t “good enough.” But it’s just an image. We have to be true to our own decorating styles! Thanks so much for sharing your side! 🙂
Hey Serena, I love your craft room! I think that turquoise and design is fantastic. I also want to comment on your point that you should stop asking for permission to decorate your house a certain way.
I’m sure a lot of people seek out approval from others to validate their own decorating idea. Perhaps they simply aren’t sure. But in the end, it’s their house and they can do whatever they want! If they don’t like it, then they can change it and you can have another project on your hands! But I agree, you shouldn’t be only decorating your house the way someone else approves of.
Hey there, Allison! Thanks for the compliments on my craft room! I think it’s because Pinterest is so popular now, that it’s easier to compare your space to someone’s online. And if you feel like your space doesn’t measure up, you feel bad about it. Well, you can only compare your space “before” to your space “after.” That’s all that matters! 🙂 And if you feel comfortable in that space, you know? Thanks for the comment!!
I agree with your list mostly because I am guilty of all of them! Sometimes it takes reading them to realize, hey, it’s my house- I can do what I want!
Also happy to see your use of Rainwashed in your room. I have been stalking that color for years! Lol!
Hi Jo! Yep, guilty here as well!
Rainwashed is sooooo pretty. I used the one-lighter-color on the color card for my blogging room (aka formal living room area) called Window Pane. It’s just as lovely!!
Serena I just love you! Love your down-to-earth take on life. I don’t do Pinterest or Houzz (much), but even watching HGTV I get so frustrated seeing 20 year-olds buying their first house demanding a 4 BR 3 B mansion, and turning their nose up at what they’re offered, because it’s not “good enough”. People have become way to focused on material stuff. Don’t get me wrong I love my house and what I’ve been able to do but I soooooooooooooo appreciate what you said in your video! Rock on!!!!
Yeah, Pinterest is like the ex-boyfriend you want to hate–you love looking at him because he’s so cute, but you makes you feel like crap! LOL After too long, I have to close out Pinterest because it’s overwhelmingly pretty and perfect and the light is “just so” on every shot. My house, there’s crumbs under the desk, discarded kids socks in the corner, and piles of toys dumped out of the toy baskets! But it’s my house, and it may not look like an HGTV feature, but I know that I’m doing the best I can with whatever resources I have (which aren’t many!). LOL Thanks so much for commenting, Karen! Hope to see you around on the next posts! 🙂
I fight with myself so much on decorating and find myself sitting in an undecorated room very often. I know what I want in my head, can see it there but for now the walls are still empty canvas’ One of these days I am just going to get inside this head and pull out the ideas that I know are in there and then smile as I pin MY CREATIONS on Pinterest. Great post!
So what’s stopping you? Maybe start with how you want to feel when you walk in the room. What paint color would make you happiest? I like a very simple style. I don’t do a lot of fussy stuff. Clean lines and soft colors, with a little pop of color here and there. Do you ever go to Houzz.com? You might find some decorating ideas there, too, that aren’t on Pinterest! 🙂