As a home decorator I’ve heard many reasons a home owner (or renter) inadvertently chooses not to take active steps to love the house they inhabit. Like all limiting beliefs, naming and acknowledging them is the first step to overcoming them. Today I’m naming these limiting beliefs for you (maybe one of them is yours?) and giving an actionable step to overcoming each one so you can truly love the house you call home.
1. I have kids and kids by nature are messy. I’ll wait until they’re grown and gone before decorating my house.
Yes, that’s one approach. Taking this approach is a lot like choosing not to make your bed each morning because you know you’re going to mess it up by sleeping in it that night or not brushing your teeth in the morning because you’ll be eating throughout the day and they’ll just get dirty anyway.
Having kids is part of your story and your story, whether done intentionally or not, is reflected throughout the home you live in. Embracing it doesn’t have to mean the kids take over the dining room with all their toys or you forget the idea of teaching them how to care for their belongings by putting them away. Instead could you frame some of their loveliest art, designate a cute basket for toys in the living room or let them help you choose which pillows for the couch? Let them help you tell part of your story…that’s what home decorating is all about.
2. It’s too expensive to decorate.
Yes, it can be. If decorating your house, to you, means that you do every room top to bottom all at one time, then yes – it will be very expensive. But doing it this way can also look like you shopped one product line all at one time (I call this having a Bed-in-a-Bag look) and that look can lack character and nuance. Having a budget and decorating one room at a time can actually be beneficial. Decorating your home over time creates a curated, more intentional looking lived-in space. Set a budget and a time frame for one room at a time. Don’t forget to shop your home – you may have items that were used in another part of the house that would look perfect and new in a different location.
3. I can’t make it look like pictures I see in a magazine.
I’m going to be really honest with you and spill some serious secrets here. Ready?! Those pictures you see in magazines…those are all staged. They’re gorgeous, yes. And staged. The pictures present the idea that the room you’re looking at is a casual representation of real life. Nope. Hours are spent moving, fluffing, filling, arranging then re-rearranging by professional stylists, all in an effort to get the perfect shot. Your perfect shot happens when you create a livable, loving space that can equally sustain a Cheeto crumb on the counter and pillows on the floor.
4. I have inherited pieces that are not my style and I don’t know how to decorate with them.
I’m giving you permission, right now, to honor these inherited pieces in a way that suit you and meet the needs of your family. Sometimes that means saying ‘good-bye.’ Sometimes it means painting them to give them new life. Sometimes it means acknowledging that the ‘gift’ given to you by a well-meaning relative isn’t really a gift if it comes with strings attached. And sometimes it means being creative with how to use or style the piece so it’s more reflective of your style. Pinterest and home decorators will be your friend here. 😊
5. I buy things I like, but when I get them home I don’t know how to make all the things work together.
Yes. This one is a biggie and the reason why I am creating a course teaching you how to decorate your home, on a budget, top to bottom. Interested in learning more about it - email me at: figandfarmathome@gmail.com for more details.
In the meantime try these few tricks:
* Use Pinterest as inspiration, but remember that you’re not creating an exact replica of those images.
* Style a space then take a picture of it. Looking at it through the lens of a camera often highlights the items or areas that need a bit of tweaking.
* Do you like it? That’s enough. Trust your gut and go with it.
6. I just don’t know where to start, so I don’t do anything.
If this is you, I imagine that when you walk into a room it feels, ‘blah’ and uninspiring. How close am I?
Starting with a plan is the best place to start. Start by acknowledging the room’s purpose and asking yourself if it is meeting that purpose? What changes need to be made JUST to meet the purpose of the room (more seating, better lighting, a rug to wrestle on)? Asking yourself these questions BEFORE you start the pretty stuff is essential. Once you have those questions answered, then you can move on to the beautifying aspect.
7. My husband and I don’t have the same style.
You like touches of African Safari and he likes a brooding man-cave? Blending two styles together can be tricky, but it can happen. Starting with a neutral palette will help neutralize any statement pieces that you bring in and differing textures will soften hard lines and masculine pieces. And just like any strong marriage, remember that compromises are a good thing. 😉
8. I rent my home so I can’t do anything.
What the what?! If you’re a renter you probably have neutral walls, right? Lucky you because the hard part of painting is done. You can infuse personality, color and ‘decoration’ in substantial ways like colored sofas, area rugs, and table lamps. Need to limit the amount of holes in your walls – no problem. Use a couple of etageres as focal points in the room and place your art on them.
I am positive there are many other limiting beliefs keeping you from truly loving the house you inhabit and I know for certain there are many other actionable steps to creating a space that you love. This is just a start. The same way acknowledging you have a limiting belief is a start to overcoming it.
Just start…you’ll be so glad you did!
Xo,
Dani
Oh…interested in learning more about my Design 101 course that takes you from start to finish – teaching you all the ways to decorating your home on a budget? Email me. There’s no commitment, just the start of a conversation: figandfarmathome@gmail.com
Comments