A friend of ours we hadn't seen in a long time stopped by our house the other day and sang the "what-am-I-going-to-do-with-my-house-I-don't-know-where-to-begin" blues. Here's what we told them...
Fear of Decorating: Start With What You Love
Start with what you love: Let's say you no one ever came over to your house and you could do EXACTLY what you wanted, how would your house look? What would you have in it? I know that whereever Laure lives, her blue lamp will follow; Gregory's home will always find space for his toy collection. Whether it's a collection or just one striking thing, incorporate it. Your home will, and should, be unique, just like you.
Break it down: When a friend of ours got divorced and moved into his own place, he made a list of everything he needed. The list was long and he freaked out. Just then, his mother called. She imparted some motherly wisdom. "What do you need today?," she asked. What he needed that day was a bed. So he went out and bought a bed. You do not live in a decorating show. You will not decorate your entire home, even your entire room this weekend. Start with one thing and build from there. Today, you'll find a couch. Then you'll look for some lamps so you can lie on the couch and read. See, not so hard.
Find a Jedi Master: After my same friend took his mother's advice and bought a bed, he called me. We took shopping trips together, he bounced ideas off of me, he asked my opinion. And, slowly, his home took shape. Great, you're thinking, I don't have any decorator friends. Ah, but you have us. Next week, starts our bi-annual Apartment Therapy Home Cure (Read about the Spring Cure here.) Give us 8 weeks and we promise, your home will go from sick to slick. Get the book now and start your reading.
Check your bottom line: We're serious here. Before you start, figure out what you want to do (the whole house, one room, even one piece of a room) and decide how much you want to spend. It'll keep you from bringing your wallet into a store that you've just gone into to get some inspiration and coming out with a new sofa in a colour you'd never wear, let alone sit on. BTW, until you get a handle on this decorating thing, if you're going to plunk down a chunk of change on a sofa, make sure you get one in a neutral colour. You can always reupholster it later.
To read more about my friend's decorating experience, click here
[Image from Karen T's Flickr, with a Creative Commons License]
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this was a great post. people do tend to freak out over decorating.
something that always helped me is to keep an inspiration folder or book filled with clippings. this way if you can't forget something you saw and loved.
also, you are correct that budgeting is important. i developed a tier system. first tier is must-haves, like a sofa, a light source other than windows, adequate clothing storage, and a bed. second tier is smaller casegoods, lamps, bedding, and accent furniture. third tier is accessories and artwork. it takes time, but stay focused, cause its your space and its worth it!
view Kpaige13's profile
I love the idea of a tier-system Kpaige13...except artwork would be 1st/2nd tier for me :)
view abc123's profile
In terms of philosophy, I would boil it down to a top 5 list:
1. It's supposed to be fun. (So if you're making it not fun, stop and reassess.)
2. Accept what you love even if it isn't "cool" or "sophisticated" or how you might like to think of yourself. That is how people end up with tasteless or mismatched spaces rather than natural, comfortable homes.
3. Try to buy for where & when you are. I have a tendency to buy exciting, frivolous things for my "fantasy life" (fine china, antique lamps, etc.) at the expense of practical things I really need (bookshelves, chairs). While not *completely* terrible (see #2), this can lead to having the stuff you want but not the stuff you need and to feeling weighed down by stuff that you love but can't use. If you are at a stage of life where you might chuck it all and join the Peace Corps, don't buy anything you're going to love too much to leave. I don't mean you should buy junk, just that you shouldn't get super attached to stuff in general-- you can have a pleasant space without tying yourself to it (some inexpensive art, a few plants, and thrift store furniture. You'll be fine). On the other hand, if you are ready to settle for a while, it's time to think about furniture and art that will delight you your whole life.
4. It must make you happy just to see it or have a useful function. Just don't bother bringing it into your home if it doesn't fit one of those.
5. Finally, NO PLASTIC. This is more aspirational, but I find it has steered me away from purchases I would have regretted time after time. Generally you can find things in glass, ceramic, metal or wood that work just as well or better. Seriously, we even have an enameled metal kitty litter scoop (I'm working on a non-plastic box).
My last tip that helps with life generally is that if I can find it handmade or vintage, I may not buy it mass manufactured/new unless I will seriously have DREAMS about it (or truly need it right away and can't afford the "good" version).
All that said, I don't beat myself up about it if I slip on any of these (see #1). ;)
view marie516's profile
A very good article! Well written and pinpointed exactly :o) After all, when decluttering, you're supposed to keep the stuff that you love and/or need, so that should apply to everything that goes into the house in the first place as well.
@marie516, I really like your #2, it's a crucial point.
view doro's profile