5 Mistakes I Made When Designing My Home

Congratulations on your new home! It's a blank canvas waiting to become your personal sanctuary. But before you get swept away by furniture shopping fantasies, take a deep breath. Decorating can be a delightful adventure, but for first-timers, it can also be a minefield of pitfalls. Here are 5 common mistakes I made (and how you can avoid them) to ensure your decorating journey is smooth sailing:

1. Budget Blindsided:

• The Mistake: If you have just purchased a home, you are already stretched in the budget area. The contractor always gives you a low budget because he wants to get your work. So he takes the minimums and shows you a total and you think. Oh I can manage that. But then as the project starts, all kinds of expenses start popping up.
• The Fix: Set a realistic budget upfront. Factor in everything from furniture and artwork to paint and decorative accents. Prioritize your needs – do you absolutely need a brand new sofa right now? Consider spreading out bigger purchases over time and be mindful of sneaky costs like delivery fees. If you are contracting your work, just double the quote he gives you. Believe me you need that much to finish your project comfortably.

2. Style Chameleon Chaos:

• The Mistake: I became a slave to inspiration overload. Every stunning Pinterest board and Instagram post influenced me, resulting in a mishmash of styles that didn't quite click. My living room looked like a battleground between farmhouse chic and minimalist Scandinavian.
• The Fix: Inspiration is fantastic, but define a central theme or style that reflects your personality. Do you crave the warmth of mid-century modern, the coziness of farmhouse, or the clean lines of minimalism? Create a mood board to visualize your desired aesthetic. Clip magazine pictures, save inspiring online finds, and don't be afraid to experiment! But remember, your home should be a cohesive haven, not a museum of conflicting trends.
• Check out our mood boards which help you do this by bringing a curated collection of decor items that will give you a complete look.

3. DeClutter Your Stuff

• The Mistake: Buying more before you declutter what you already have. This is a mistake I did and often make. We have cupboards over flowing with our mistakes but we keep them because we have the 'what if I need it' syndrome. Yet the shopoholic in us never seems to stop the purchases.
• The Fix: First shop at home and check what you have. Our styles are evolving all the time and what was wonderful a few years back might look hideous to us today. De-clutter your present space and know what you have before you start the decor project.

4. The "All or Nothing" Trap:

• The Mistake: I tried to furnish and decorate every room simultaneously. It was exhausting! My once-exciting project became a stressful race to the finish line, and my apartment never quite felt complete.
• The Fix: Slow and steady wins the decorating race! Focus on one room at a time. Find that inspiring piece we talked about earlier, and use it as the foundation for your design. This creates a sense of accomplishment and allows you to savor the process.

5. The "Matchy-Matchy" Mishap:

• The Mistake: Obsessed with achieving a perfectly coordinated look, I ended up with a sterile space that lacked personality. Every throw pillow matched the curtains, and every lampshade matched the rug. It felt like a furniture store display, not a home.
• The Fix: Strive for a cohesive look, not a matchy-matchy one! Embrace the power of patterns and textures while maintaining a color scheme that flows throughout the room. Introduce pops of color and unique pieces that reflect your personality. A well-curated vintage rug or a statement piece of artwork can add a touch of character and become the focal point of your space.

By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can transform your new house into a home that reflects your unique style and brings you joy for years to come. Happy decorating!