Tough to call this a series when it's been a few months since the first installment, right? If you missed my confessions about mixing white and ivory in home decor, click here and get up to speed. It wasn't too long ago that I didn't know anything about anything. Something I knew even less about? Where to start when you have to start somewhere.
You see, when starting my decorating plan for a room, I used to start at the paint store. Like many of you, I'd pick a pretty swatch, order a can of the stuff (always eggshell), and pick up a roller and go to work.
Then what? Well I'd spend weeks, months, even years picking out furniture, fabrics, curtains etc. to coordinate with the $30 can of paint I'd just slathered on the walls without thinking.
HOW BACKWARDS.
Here's a great example of where this 'technique' failed me. In my family room, where I started with navy walls.
It's cute. We like it. Ish. Let's come back to my self-deprecating analysis of this situation.
Here's where I should have started.
My rule of 3: Art, Rug or Fabric Start with a STATEMENT!!!
When you start decorating a room, comb your world. Find an incredible art piece, an amazing rug or a stunning piece of fabric (or ready made curtain panel, bold printed sofa, a pillow, wallpaper...you get it).
Now that you have something that you LOVE, take your cues and colors from there. And run with it.
Some examples of fabulous rooms that appear to have originated from a first beloved selection, and my guesses as to what that was.
The art....
The toile...
The art...
The wallpaper...
The fabulous pink chintz sofa...
The wallpaper...
The glorious pink and gold paisley sofa...
The geometric art reflected in the mirror...
Wow...who knows? Which came first, the fabulous wallcovering, the amazing upholstered bed, or the little hot pink setee...
We know what fabulousness can arise from drawing your color scheme from a first loved piece. Now let's discuss what can happen from doing it completely backwards.
Again with my navy family room, and what happens when you start with paint.
First, why would I let a $30 can of paint dictate the $$$$$ that followed on furniture, rugs, art, pillows etc. ? So duh. We can't really talk about the boat, that's a whole other story. But I can talk about the orange rug I bought, when I was stumped as to what would look good with navy. It was around $400, which is completely affordable when talking about rugs...but when you hate it a year later, was that really affordable?
And then the TERRIBLE HomeGoods art that followed (over the sofa) because it had orange and blue in it and I needed to fill space. Really? HomeGoods is good for lots of stuff...art, not so much.
Now I've been gifted with this fabulous rug that I LOVE.
It has indigos, and rusts, and pinks and lilacs....nary an orange in sight.
So here I am, starting over. Mostly.
Be patient. Find something you adore. SPLURGE on it! And then draw from your source of inspiration.
Where do you like to start?
3 years, 3 months, 10 days
My 3 year old can whoop my tail at some video games. He likes to watch me play a game.
"Mom, you're not very good at this. But you're getting better!"
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