Now that I see the title there I am feeling a bit of pressure to be sure this really is my BEST decorating advice. Thinking it over, yes I do believe it is. Of course I highly recommend learning all that you can from blogs, magazines, and books. It is amazing all of the great ideas you can absorb there.
But there is a more important thing you can do to improve your decorating, and it is simpler than you think.
You might even know what I am getting ready to say…
JUST DO IT.
Yes that’s right, just do it. I was listening to a podcast on ‘how to do podcasts’. The speaker said the most amazing thing. He said when he started he was terrible, but he did it any way. I was taken aback. What? Start podcasting to learn podcasting? Hmmm. This had me thinking. When I was on the track team, what did we do all day? Run. and run. and run. We ran up the stairs. We ran down the stairs. We ran around and around the track. We ran in the hallways of the school. I was a sprinter, and I was required to sprint 6 miles a day. This was not a leisurely jog. To get faster we ran, and ran, and ran.
And then I began to think of my journey with decorating. When I began blogging my house was not perfect (and still isn’t) but I began to chronicle the process. Because I was blogging, I was changing things up much faster than before I began blogging. I began spending a lot more time decorating my house. I really spent a lot of time decorating my house. Sometimes I had some amazing successes, and other times… not so much.
And do you want to know what happened? I got better at it! Much better! I really didn’t care that my house wasn’t as pretty as the houses you saw in the magazines. I still remember the photos I sent to Southern Living and the “thanks but not thanks” email I got back. Did the rejection phase me? No, not really. I saw it not as a wall, but a measurement of where I was. I needed to work at it some more. and I did.
I’m not saying I have arrived, I’m just saying I’ve learned a lot by doing, and to prove my point here are some before and afters of my farmhouse.
BEFORE GIRLS’ BEDROOM
AFTER GIRLS’ ROOM
BEFORE MASTER BEDROOM
AFTER MASTER BEDROOM
BEFORE LIVING ROOM
AFTER LVING ROOM
So JUST DO IT!
I would say that is Great and Sound advice. Fear robs us of our creativity and your mantra is key in designing a successful, beautiful environment. Loved this post and the examples of how far you have come in your designs because you JUST DID IT!!
Kathysue
If I tried I could think of some intelligent sounding comment but instead I will just say, I adore you and all your posts!
What perfect advice!
You are so right Anita! I’ve always had very little patience for research, I always tend to just “jump right in, and do it! Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t but I always learn something from the mistakes, if it doesn’t work out! Love the post!
Thank you Anita for another inspirational post. I always gain from your thoughts as I do from your wonderful, creative and understated decorating.
I totally agree. So often it just feels to overwhelming or intimidating to start, but once we start…it’s so fun and amazing. Totally agree with your advice!! Happy Wednesday ~
Practice makes perfect for sure and getting inspirations from every inspirational resource makes one get better and better. Thank you for being one of my resources for inspirations that I occasionally “steal” from!
BTW, although I do love the girls new bedroom look, I still love the old one very much, too!
JP
Anita,
Perfect advice!!!
We are in a Year of Renewal for 2015!!!
Nearing the finish line for the upper level living areas!!!
Hoping to extend some Renewal for the out~of~doors living areas, soon!!!
Thanks for the advice!!!
Fondly,
Pat
What is the paint color for the exterior of the farmhouse? I love the gray!
SW Escape Gray
Okay Anita, whatever you say. lol I am getting better some times i stop in the middle and wait cause it just is not working and then it just happens or maybe it is just being an okie.lol
Anita, No truer words were ever spoken. Sometimes it is hard to take the plunge but when you do decided to go for it, everything gets easier. Also, your tastes may change over time and not being afraid to go with the changes is a good thing. By the way, I love the puffiness and softness of the duvets in your girls’ room Where did you get the duvets?
They are from Pottery Barn.
decide to go for it. Oops!
Inspiring! Sometimes, I have this feeling that I have to wait until I can afford the “perfect” things. I just need to do it! It is okay to have interim makeovers. Then, I will learn.
Best,
Michelle from simplysantabarbara.blogspot.com
I love everything “ROOSTER”!!!
So funny. As I spent the entire yesterday humming and hawing over my dining room and adjoining sitting area. Colour?, no colour? Curtains, rug? I became overwhelmed and literally had to go lie down for awhile…
After reading this today I’m going with my gut that says just Do It! Stop waiting for stars to align and losing that extra 100lbs… Make a decision (which I have now after seeing your blog today) and go forth and get my hands dirty! Thank you for the “sign” I’ve been waiting for, lol!
My only question is: having cool coloured white walls with black painted furniture, should accent pieces, such as pillows, rugs etc. all be cool greys as well or is it ok to throw the natural warm burlap or ecru linen pieces in? Do they mix well or fight? It’s hard to tell in your photos…
Thanks to anyone who can reply and advise 🙂
Cheers!
Barbara, Here is my suggestion to you. Join my free interior design forum on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/interiordesignforum/
You can upload photos, get suggestions, feedback, and encouragement all in the same place. It’s a fantastic free resource.
Always so happy to see your posts. I am always creating or changing my decor, whole house transformations but have never blogged anything maybe I should look into it. Thank you again.
Jane
Anita, what fabulous advice. JUST DO IT! It’s scary to do so, but once you get going, you don’t look back.
I love how your home and decorating style has evolved. Wonderful before and afters! I recently looked back at my blog posts from 2 years ago – cringe – when I had no idea how to blog or what I was doing. But I JUST DID IT, and as with all things in life, you learn as you go.
Thanks for the very apt reminder! Sometimes I think and think about doing something and don’t get started because I don’t have absolutely everything worked out. Just actually taking that first step and putting aside the fear of failure are all that is really needed!
Sometimes getting started is the hardest part!!!