Besides my little venting. I still decorate here and there. Do you decorate one room at a time?

Joanne

Be patient, you've got years to decorate, and by the time you get done...it will be outdated and you'll get to start all over! HA!! Down time from spending is the perfect time to use for planning out your next project. When I'm in down time mode, I love going to some of the shops to look for ideas, my favorite place being HomeGoods, which is awesome for that.

Hi. I'm Sarah. I'm overwhelmed by decorating. :)

I think certain topics seem to show up like rashes on these boards, and this is one of them (I started a very similar one a couple days ago). You'll get there. Make a plan. There are small things you might be able to accomplish. Not sure how old your children are, but if they're off at school during the day, you might be able to accomplish quite a bit while they're gone. If they're not in school, you may have to do what I do -- stay up really late.

Hi, I'm Ann and I'm burned out.:)

I'm the opposite of you Joanne. The thought of making another (15th so far, but who's counting) trip to the paint store for more samples is like knowing you have to go for that root canal but must it be today?!! I'm now procrastinating and was giggling with pure joy when our painter called today to delay the start date. Instead of narrowing my paint choices I've chosen to close the doors to those rooms and watch my favorite movies. My neighbors on the other hand would be suicidal if they had to live longer than a week with 12 different samples on their walls. Not me, I'm hosting a pool party on Sunday and letting everyone sign their names next to their favorite color. Now, on the other hand I love this forum and love it when I'm able to help someone or give my opinion or advice. What's up with that? LOL

I hope you are not going to let them sign their names on your walls. IF so, be careful, that could cost in prep fees to get rid of the autographs. Happy decorating. You will love your paint once you get it done and will be a very happy occasion. I hate it too but we paint about every 2-3 years and I hate thinking about it and the last 2 times, we hardly deviated from the former color. :) In fact, I had people come over and say, "I thought you were getting the house painted." Well, we did, it's just that there was such a slight color variation it was not noticeable but it was fresh and it made me feel better.

Yes, I sometimes feel overwhelmed with decorating too. But I do it to myself. I decide (or feel) like things are in disarray and I must fix it, as soon as possible or before.

Now, anytime I start a project, my husband says lets just take our time with this, because he knows how I am. I have had to learn to take things a little slower or I will lose his skills, and I need them.

Anyway, yes, there are others out here just like you.

Hi my name is Deb and I'm a decoratorholic. I'm also often overwhelmed.LOL One thing this forum taught me in all the years that I have been here is patience. I take one room at a time and I have learned/am learning how to do it cautiously with money. I buy retail but I also check out Craig's list, second hand stores and the like. One thing I do is collect all my change into a big decorative canister and once a year I cash it in. I have been able to save hundreds of dollars this way and either goes toward my "free" money for vacation or towards decorating the house. Since we haven't gone away in awhile, I was able to get a custom made valance for my FR and one silhouette blind for my GR. I don't have to feel guilty about the money spent because of my little stash.

I would collect inspiration photos, figure out which room you want to work on first and then have at it. I can tell you that it seems that most of us have a tendency to start with public rooms first such as FR, GR, DR, LR or kitchens. Then we just work our way through the house. Hope this helps.

patricia43: The rooms need so much prep that signatures on the walls are the least of my worries. Thank you for your kind words. I know I'll be happy once they're painted it just the long process to get there. I think we've finally picked a color for DD(16)'s room. She really liked BM Palladian Blue and it blends nicely with the carpeting. I'll post pics when it'd done.

Who me? Never. I'm fully in control of all decor decisions in my home. I'm just on the forum because the folks here are so wonderfully kind and nice to hang out with. :)

I am really lucky because my husband wants to live in a nice space. Working hard is something he does for me, making a nice home is my gift to him.

Maybe if you put in those terms to your husband, he will feel grateful for your effort. If he still puts up resistance, tell him you are spending your monthly "entertainment expenses" LOL.

I can't say i've ever felt overwhelmed, but I DO take my time decorating. In my last home, it probably took me four years to get things the way I wanted. I only lived there for nine, and really didn't start decorating until the second year of living there. I feel it's important to 'get to know' the house, and what is needed and will be right for the different rooms. It's a slow process in finding things you really love and can live with for a number of years.

Yes. Today I went to a boutique shop, and was just absolutely overwhelmed with two things: the beauty of the displays, and my complete inability to replicate them.

There were new and old pieces, beautiful painted and distressed furniture pieces, tablescapes, greenery, mixes of patterns and colors, etc.

I stood there realizing that even "at cost", I'd be looking at well over $200 to replicate some of the table adornments that I loved so much.

I'm low on coins in the piggy bank right now, and when I realized that the 2 or 3 things I could have bought wouldn't have made even a drop of a difference in my own house, I put them back and left.

do you ever feel overwhelmed with decorating?

...Everytime I walk in the door.

You all will love the BM Palladian Blue. I have seen it in a friend's home (wished I had gotten that instead of the color I got) and it is sooo beautiful. IT is so clean and peacefully beautiful.

mldao,

I have to learn some of your patience. I make decisions too quickly and then regret them ALL THE TIME. Good luck with your pain colors, I am sure they will look beautiful.

Thanks for sharing all your wise advice. I will try to slow things down but I really need some paint and a dining room set. lol..

Love the piggy bank idea. If I said to my husband I am making the house beautiful for you he would say it is fine just the way it is. I want to retire early.. lol..

ahh! can't complain, he is pretty good. Tomorrow he arrives home from being away and will notice all kinds of new things on the walls. oops. lol..

Thanks again ladies. I really enjoy this forum and your sense of style and humour.
Joanne

Overwhelmed? You could say that. Orange walls and green carpet?

Pastel Pink and blue wall paper, red and cream tile, and dark beige toilet and sink?

What was the PO thinking?

E gads boo...did they also leave you half a cat? Ask for the other half quick!!! :oP

boopaboo,

Hang in there.. the cat seems to like it. lol

Overwhelmed is putting it mildly. It took me 5 years to almost get the last house right and then we MOVED. Its been two years in the new house and its far from how I want it. I painted the same color scheme from the last house in this house, I loved it and felt I never got to enjoy it. And I couldnt image trying to figure out a new set of colors! I find it so time consuming to pick the right things...it costs so much money I have to make sure I love it. SO...You are not alone!!!!! It takes time and/or a winning lottery ticket:)

Your so right, it is very time consuming. Good luck on the lottery ticket. I am sure your house will look beautiful in time. Thanks for sharing.

Paralyzed is more like it for me.

It takes so long for me to come to a decision, then dh invariably second guesses me, that I end up with nothing. And I tend to focus on decorating only in the summer/fall when I don't have work pressures (CPA) so it's very disjointed.

So I move forward two steps, and back one.