When you start to remodel or redecorate common questions are “Will it look right?”, “What if I mess up?” “What if I hate it?” These are all natural questions. Because we’ve been taught, told or just learned on our own, that we should always avoid mistakes it makes sense to approach home design the same way. But while there is some risk in most things, being afraid to make a mistake can defeat the purpose of your home. Your home should reflect your personality, it should inspire you and most importantly it should make you feel safe, creative, energized, fulfilled and at ease.
We’re not saying that you should go crazy and buy anything without measuring, price checking, testing for comfort, ect. We ARE saying to throw all the ideas of what your home “should” look like out the window and stop feeling nervous or afraid about introducing risky ideas into your home.
It’s the unexpected, the re-purposed the innovative things that really make a home, a home. These are all things that take going with your gut instead of fearing a mistake.
As you look around your home what do you see that you’ve said to yourself “I really should do _____” but you haven’t taken the chance? Well here it is! Nail holes are easy to fix, so hang up or rearrange all that art up on your walls. Yes! That wall would look good in the color you are thinking, so grab a paint roller, and a can and take that chance! If the risk is just too much for you, then work up to it. Decide to do one small thing you’ve been considering but haven’t been sure about and go for it. Let this new year be the time to “just do it”.
If it doesn’t work out, remember that you can resell it on craigslist, you can repaint, you can re-purpose and you can mend, all pretty easily. Hopefully this process will help you listen to your creative impulses and teach you to approach your surroundings with courage and an open mind. I hope all your risks pay off and that you get a creative surge of joy when your project is finished!
I always thought decorating was supposed to be fun and your article confirmed that. I love the picture of the lady putting a swing in her loft, that is a great idea if you have high open beam ceilings like that and it would be a lot of fun anytime. Thank you for posting this because I am trying to teach my son how to decorate his place and this will be a huge help.