I’ve made a lot of decorating mistakes over the years, and when you are self-taught like I am, that’s how you learn. So it’s okay to make mistakes as you go, but if I can learn from someone else’s mistakes, that’s even better.
So I thought I would share some of my biggest mistakes in the hopes that you can avoid these pitfalls.
Keeping things I didn’t like because I paid a lot for them.
Oh that is big. I call this being a furniture hostage. I spent a TON on our furniture when we got married. It was heirloom quality. I knew it was built well, I would love it forever, and it would never go out of style. Well 2 out of 3 ain’t bad. (Meatloaf reference) In the end, I sold these pieces and I can’t tell you how good it felt to move on with my life. It was like keeping an annoying boyfriend around, just because you had invested so much time with him. Sometimes you just need to rip that band aid off.
I kept this expensive table for a long time.
When I sold it, the money I made was more than enough to buy the new table.
Adding something I didn’t like because it was the right color
This one seems like an obvious mistake and yet I did it. It wouldn’t be so bad if I just did it once, but I did it over, and over again. When my house was blue, I bought all blue things. Then my house was red, so all of the blue things had to go. When I went neutral, I got a bit smarter. I painted a lot of my red things this time. So what if you buy something but then change your colors? Paint it, like I did this box.
Buying the cheaper thing to save money
Yes I understand that many are on a budget and you can’t just buy anything. But here’s what I have learned. If I really want something that is expensive and I can’t afford it, I do better to save up for it, than to buy a cheap imitation. The thing is I usually don’t like the cheap imitation thing very much. I give it away and later, sometimes much later, I buy the thing I really wanted. So I paid for the item twice. In the end it costs far more than if I had just saved my money and bought what I wanted. And I would rather have a few nice things, than a room full of so-so things.
This armoire was a big regret of mine. It was cheap though. But I believe I ended up giving it away, so there’s an expenses that I did not recover.
Does this look as nice as the piece I used in our new house for my daughter’s room? I actually want to change out her mirror for an original Louis Felipe mirror, but my daughter wants to keep her fru fru mirror.
I think all of these mistakes fall under the category, “Why didn’t I listen to my intuition?” So if your gut is telling you something, be sure to listen.
For example when I saw this chair (and it’s twin) I knew I loved them. I wasn’t sure where they would go, but I knew they were right for my house. I got them, and moved something else out.
I will try to continue posting in the next few weeks, but if I don’t, it’s because I’ll be busy with my booth at Round Top.
Here’s what’s on my calender.
BOOK SIGNING AT MARBURGER IN ROUND TOP SEPT 29 8 AM TO 3 PM
If you are coming to Round Top, I would LOVE, LOVE for you to stop by my table on opening day. I’ll be there right when the doors open at 8 am until 3 pm. MARBURGER FARM.
BOOK SIGNING AT THE COMPOUND ROUND TOP SEPT 29 4 PM TO 7 PM
From 4 – 7, I’ll be signing books and enjoying the party at THE COMPOUND. Here is the map for the location. THE COMPOUND LOCATION
MY ROUND TOP BOOTH at THE COMPOUND ROUND TOP SEPT 25 – OCT 3
This is a correction, I previously said it opened Sept 29, but that is incorrect. It opens the 25th.
I’ll have a booth at Peck Barn in the Compound, shown above 2550 S. State Hwy 237, Round Top
BOOK SIGNING AT JOYCE HORN ANTIQUES OCT 6
This will be in conjunction with a container opening from a shipment from France.
BOOK SIGNING AT THE FRENCH COURTYARD OCT 17
I’ll be doing a book signing at THE FRENCH COURTYARD on October 17 at 27326 Robinson Road, Suite 101, Oak Ridge North, TX near the Woodlands, TX. The shop is owned by my dear friend Becky.
BOOK SIGNING AT THE VINTIQUE FLEA NOV 21 11 PM TO 7 PM AND 22 1:30 PM TO 5 PM
I’m excited about this book signing too. I hope I get to shop while I’m there. I hear this event is amazing. It’s got tons of dealers with loads of antiques and vintage items. 2000 Edwards Street, Houston, TX 77007 I’ll be there on Nov 22, 11 am to 7 pm, and o the 22nd from 1:30 pm to 5 pm.
I am definitely guilty of all those mistakes at one time or another! My husband should read this as well. He thinks once you buy something you keep it FOREVER. No matter if your tastes change or even if it is falling apart. Then I feel guilty and wasteful and I listen to him…ugh. I need to remind him that life is too short for ugly furniture! Enjoy your week!
Shelley
I am an admitted furniture hoarder….I love everything I have ever purchased, but alas, have a hard time letting go when life moves on. When I moved into my current, and final, home, I not only brought decades of “my furniture” but inherited my mother in law’s 74 year collection. Big decorating disaster. Too many periods, too much furniture, and not enough clarity as to what really looked good and what was just something I liked. Its taken me 9 years to sort through, correction, almost sort it all out. There have been many trips to the barn, many trips to the consignment shops, thrift stores and begging my relatives and friends to take my favorite pieces and put me out of my misery.
I have not reformed, but with continued therapy, I continue to work on my house, and my furniture management skills.
When I wanted to update my bedroom recently, I realized that if I put all the French country pieces in my room, I could create a beautiful, restful space, so that is what I did. Thank you for your site. Its full of wonderful ideas and I have found inspiration for my tranquil retreat. Happy decorating and I agree, life if too short to haul all the baggage, and old furniture, around.
Barb that sounds awesome and yes you are right it can be confusing with too many styles in one room.
Thank you for this post and it is so true. I just tend to think i am not living with something i don’t like but sometimes it takes me quite awhile to find something i do. I am so glad you wrote your book i love it and it is so wonderfully full of decorating ideas and so wonderfully written,thank you.
I’m guilty of all of those thing Anita. I bought your book French Accents and had to laugh about all of my decorating mistakes. I’m still making them. When I first tried to have French Country decor I failed miserably. I can relate about all the roosters you mentioned. I have all mine packed away and will be selling them soon (I bought some nice ones) I love all of your suggestions.
I have definitely made many mistakes you speak of, in my lifetime… and we have expensive things. However, when we go to sell something… people have the opinion that its used, so it’s worth very little… and they simply won’t pay a decent price, no matter how much it originally cost, or what like-new condition it’s in. I’ve just found that people want it ‘dirt cheap’ if it’s not brand new. So, anymore, I don’t even try because I cringe when I have to give up things for a pittance. Perhaps I don’t have the right connections, or don’t live in the ‘right part of the country’… But now, if something absolutely must go, I prefer to GIVE IT AWAY to family if anyone wants it. It would be wonderful to recover at least some of the cost of expensive items, but people just walk away if they can’t get it for practically nothing.
I think of not what I paid but how much I loved each expensive piece, then want to pass it along to someone else who will continue to love and care for it. Its like buying a new car, no matter how much you care for it, its still looses value and has to go at some time.
Another thing I do to fool myself is to select one or two pieces to keep, and let the rest go away. I call them my future antiques. Good luck.
Great idea Barb!
Anita,
I’ve made a few of those similar decorating mistakes, too, dear friend!!!
I “chalk it” up to inexperience. I’m older and wiser these days( I hope)!!!
The greatest lesson I’ve learned is to measure the area of where I’m doing a future design change!!!
I’ve found several amazing wall clocks for our Family Room, but was unsure of the size.
“Mr. Ed” took the measurements yesterday and they are on my referenced index card in my purse!!!
Anxious to begin searching, once again!!!
Much $uccess with your booth and book signing!!!
Wishing you a wonderful first week of Autumn!!!
Fondly,
Pat
Anita, The worst mistake I made was buying a solid dark pine master bedroom. Bed, 2 side tables, huge hutch and dresser for hubby. The main problem is that it still looks brand new! You can’t destroy this furniture! I am so sick of looking at it after 42 years. My tastes have changed and now I am in love with Shabby Chic! Hubby doesn’t understand. Any advice?
Nancy
P.S. How do you travel and do what you do when you have children in Denver?? That’s AMAZING! I would be a nervous wreck. GOOD LUCK!
Nancy, I do a lot, but my kids are here in Texas. That is a good question. I am going to have to think about that.
Nancy, can you paint your bedroom furniture? Also, adding new hardware can modernize and update older pieces. If the style of your bedroom furniture just doesn’t suit your design style now, think about how changing up the cosmetic finishings can give the furniture just the boost it needs. For example, add scrollwork pieces. Apply framing materials to drawers, creating a Shaker style. Swap out cabinet doors or leave them open; apply a coordinating paint or wallpaper to the cabinet backs to make them pop. Sketch your ideas on paper until you find just the right combination. If all else fails, maybe you can barter a trade or put the furniture set on consignment; once it sells, you can use the proceeds to purchase bedroom pieces that make your bedroom a beautiful haven for your life today.
Dear Anita,
I can relate to every single word you’ve written!
I still have a problem getting rid of expensive stuff. Last year I bought two beautiful sofas, right color, right style, just way too big for the room. I’ll have to hang on to them for a bit longer as my husband was reluctant to buy them in the first place, he kept saying “are you sure they won’t make the room look crowded” No, they’re perfect says me! I’m not going to eat my words, so they stay for a little longer, then I”ll probably sell them for half of what I paid! I won’t make this mistake again!!
I enjoy your blog and look forward to catching up reading it when I’m home.
Lynne x
Anita:
What is your source for the wonderful linen-look fabric that your dining room chair seat
covers are made of? And are they lined to give them body? I really like them.
It’s just linen from a local source. I don’t have one source for linen. I buy it many places. Try your local fabric store. They are not lined.