Decorating is a Process, Not a Design Show
Decorating is a process. It’s one little decision built on another. When done well, leaves you with a much better outcome than any design show ever could.
Have you ever wished for a team of designers to swoop down upon your house, work their magic and transform all the rooms into gorgeous spaces overnight just like they do on all those HGTV design shows?
Yeah, me too.
The problem is, real life decorating isn’t like a design show.
Decorating is a process.
Sometimes it’s a slow process. It’s one little decision built upon another. And truth be told it may take you quite awhile to feel like you’re 100% finished decorating your space.
And that’s what I really want you to know – that in real life decorating your home doesn’t happen over night and that’s okay.
It’s okay to leave a formal living room without furniture while you save for the pieces you really want.
It’s okay to use a folding table in the dining room until you find the table you really want.
It’s okay to use a hand me down place holder couch until the one you’d like is back in stock.
It’s okay to stare at a blank wall while you search for the perfect piece that you will love for years to come.
Don’t rush out and buy all the things just to fill your home.
Because in the end, you want to love your home. You want to spend your money on things you will continue to love and admire for a long time. And you want your space to feel like an extension of you…not just some randomly decorated rooms that may or may not look good on tv.
Decorating is a process. It’s one little decision built upon another. And when done well, leaves you with a much better outcome than any overnight, quickie-makeover design show ever could.
Living Room Source List:
- Wall Color – Sherwin Williams Analytical Grey
- Curtains – Ikea
- Flooring – Sandy Hills Hickory “Handscraped” Laminate from Lumber Liquidators
- Area Rug – Moroccan Trellis in Tan from Rugs USA
- Couch – Ektorp Sectional from Ikea
- Pillow Covers – Porter Lane Home on etsy
- Pillow Inserts – FJÄDRAR inner pillow from Ikea
- Grey Plaid Throw – similar here
- Oversized Clock – Fulton St. Wall Clock from Wayfair
- Grey Knit Poufs – Addison Pouf Ottoman in Grey from Wayfair
- Chandelier – Hampton Bay Heritage 6-Light Iron Chandelier from The Home Depot
- Large Square Coffee Table – DIY Brickmaker’s Coffee Table found here
- Large Square Tray – Homesense
- Large Vase – Walmart
- Faux Pink Stems/Flowers – Michael’s
- Electric Fireplace – Canadian Tire
- Corner Floor Lamp – Logan Floor Lamp from Wayfair
- Leaning ladder – DIY Ladder Made with 2”x4”s found here
(Our source list contains affiliate links. That just means that we make a few pennies at no extra cost to you, should you purchase anything via one of the links. Thank you for helping to make this site possible! )
Love the grey.. My favorite. Looks great.
Thank you, Gail!
This is so true! I also love to make my own decor items- they feel more special than buying everything. But it takes time and now with 4 little kids at home I think it’s ok to put off the dream decorated home until I have a bit more time to savor the process! Besides, when every surface is cluttered with toys, at least my blank walls look tidy and clean 😀
Absolutely! And your kids are only little once.
I really needed this article right now. We just bought our dream home and are almost done with a complete remodel. I’m staring at blank walls and bare floors and getting antsy to fill them. You are completely right and I need to slow my roll and breathe. Patience is a virtue, right??!?! 🙂
Yes, yes, yes! Slow down. Wait until you KNOW that you know what you want in your new spaces!
This is a great post! It’s so hard to see all the pretty pictures and not want it NOW. I remember when we had folding chairs around our dining room table (for about 4 years) until we could afford the nicer chairs we wanted. Thanks for the beautiful reminder!
It’s so true! And it is hard to be patient. So hard.
love the pillows on the couch — where can i find them?
They’re from this etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/bowsandburlapdesigns
I love your style and colours, very much like my own. I have a smaller home and wondered if you could show a floor plan for yours with approximate room sizes.
I’ll see what we can do!
I love the wall color – what is the type of paint and color that you used?
It’s Sherwin Williams Analytical Gray. 🙂
I love this! We just moved to a new home and it needs a full makeover. Plus it it larger then our last home so it feels sort of empty. I am slowly working on it, but sometimes I feel the rush to hurry up and try and fill it up. I love when I find things to use for decorations in our house in unexpected places.
– Jaclyn
Yes, Jaclyn. Take your time! There’s no rush and you want to love the end result, right?!
I love the walls….is that paneling?
Thank you! The walls are faux board and batten.
Excellent advice. Taking time to buy “forever” furniture is important. Money can be so wasted to fill a need that doesn’t fill the heart of the home.
Yup.
Always looking for ways to improve my decorating skills!
Yay! 🙂
Hi! Do you know what the name of the curtains are that you got from ikea for this room? Thank you! Love your space so much!!
I’m so sorry I do not remember!
Enjoyed your comments….great pictures…the idea that it is a process is so “comforting”. I have lived in my current home for 11 yrs and I am still working on the interior…trying to eliminate unnecessary stuff and getting down to only what I really enjoy….Thanks for your reinforcement….
I just loved this article !!! It is so true. I also posted it on Facebook. I love all of your articles. Keep up the good work.
I’m glad you liked it! Thank you for sharing!