5 REASONS YOU THINK YOU CAN’T DECORATE

I can’t tell you how many times that I have heard someone say, “I can’t decorate”. Guess what? You actually can!  There are many roadblocks you may come up against, but I am here today to help you overcome them and start creating a home that you love! So let’s look at the most common reasons you might think you can’t decorate and how to break free of these obstacles!

So you think you can’t decorate? I’ll show you that you can!!!!

Decorating is like getting in shape. It takes time and practice and you have to work at it learning new things about decorating. We have to flex our decorating muscle to create a beautiful home.

Here are five reasons that you might think you can’t decorate… 

FEELING BAD

Sometimes people think they can’t decorate because they don’t feel particularly great about themselves. Feeling bad can bleed into so many areas of our lives and home and is certainly one reason we think we can’t decorate.  

When we are feeling overwhelmed with life and not feeling the best about ourselves it is hard to create beauty around us. 

This is the time to take any energy you have and turn it loose onto messes in your home! Try de-cluttering! Any room… and mess!  You’ll feel a little stress lifted off your shoulders. Decluttering can be therapeutic!

Did you know I declutter my home in 15 minutes a day, almost every day? See How To Declutter Your Home in 15-Minutes A Day and get my declutter worksheet.

Another mood lifter is to bring home a bouquet of flowers for your kitchen table or for a glass right beside your bed.  You’ll instantly feel uplifted.  And by the way… you totally deserve the flowers! And if you can’t get real flowers investing faux flowers. They work their magic on how we feel too!

See How To Make Faux Flowers Look More Realistic and How To Care For Cut Flowers So They Look Nice Longer.

Not many of you may know that a few years ago I went through the roughest time in my life. I had eleven surgeries over a four-month period, had had a pic line and iv antibiotics for 8 weeks, and had been in a wheelchair for over 18 months.

I’ve been in and out of the hospital and in and out again. Each time I worked from my hospital bed. 

I had been in a very serious battle to save my left foot and my life. I’m finally coming out the other end of this rough time. It’s taken a few years. During these times decorating was really hard but in the end, made me feel better and gave me a creative outlet!

I KNOW how it feels to not feel good and at times not feel good about oneself.

But listen… be good to yourself if you are not at your best. Give yourself grace and give extra grace to all those around you! Everyone is going through something. Remember that! Pray for others and yourself! 

And if you are like me and love your home don’t get discouraged. Carve out little areas to beautify! Create little sanctuaries!

COMPARISON

So many of us suffer from the negative effects of comparing ourselves to others.  Have you ever visited someone’s home and just loved what they have done and feel like you would never be able to do that?  You are not alone, friends. 

Instead of seeing your friend’s homes as something you’ll never have, take what you love about the home and let it inspire you for changes you’d like to see made in your own home.  You could even take it a step further and ask your friend for help.  They would love it and you would have something to do together.  

We can find comparisons on line and in magazines. These images of beautiful homes are there to inspire you and to help give you ideas.

Comparison is the death of creativity and inspiration. So when you feel those bad defeated feeling of comparison sneaking up on you call it what it is, a lie, and move forward. Don’t get stuck in the comparison rut!

TOO BUSY TO DECORATE

Is your time limited? Every season of life is different, and we often find ourselves with no free time to spruce up our home. 

I totally understand! But here’s what I keep in mind during those busy times. Decorating is NOT remodeling. Decorating can be something little!

Decorating can be as simple as a new kitchen towel, a pretty pillow for the sofa or even rearranging the books on a bookshelf to make it more pleasing to the eye. 

Even the smallest touches can bring great joy to a room. 

I’m a big believer that less is best when creating a beautiful home! Please read LESS IS BEST DECORATING if your time is limited or budget is small!

TOO LITTLE SPACE 

When you live in a small space, you may feel too cramped to make any decorating changes.  Small space decorating is actually one of my favorite things to do!  Do a quick clean up of your small space and then surround yourself with the things you love. 

Sometimes even really large pieces make a smaller space feel so impactful.  The key to small space decorating is “less is more” and keep it tidy.

You might like to see How To Make A Small Room Live Large.

5. TINY BUDGET

Forgive me if I sound like a broken record from some past posts, but decorating does not have to be expensive.  Shop your home for things to use in another way. You won’t believe how fresh a room can look until you try moving a piece of furniture from one room to another. Magic! 

Add a coat of spray paint to something to create an entirely new aesthetic.  You can even shop thrift stores and yard sales for inexpensive items that will bring great changes to a room. 

 It’s all about being creative! Pinterest is full of decorating ideas on a budget!

You might lie to read How To Decorate Your Home Inexpensively for lots of budget friendly ideas.

I’m sure there are other reasons you may have for not being able to decorate but I bet most of them can be debunked! Just get started! Once you dig in and start to enjoy the process of decorating in your home you will see how easy and enjoyable it can be.