For the longest time I avoided taking on the task of home decorating. During my years of moving from apartment to apartment, I quickly learned that all those pretty little things I would hang on the walls and put out for all to see would eventually have to be taken down and packed back up for yet another move. So the solution I found to be the easiest, and least stressful, was to just not decorate at all.
Then nine years and nine apartments later, I decided to buy my very first home. As excited as I was about my new title as “homeowner”, I was also overwhelmed with thoughts of decorating. It had been so long since I had even taken out a hammer and nails, I was feeling very anxious thinking about where I would even begin. The fact that I was never good at decorating in the first place didn’t help much either.
A year later, I’m still working on my “decorating” style, but my first home is slowly coming together. I can’t even tell you how many magazines I’ve picked up or internet searches I’ve done to get some advice on what to do and what not to do when it comes to decorating a home. I recently came across an article by Jen DeRose at House Beautiful that really inspired me. Jen throws traditional rules out the window, and offers decorating advice for those brave enough not to listen to everything they’ve been told.
Jen’s 10 Decorating Rules to Break
- Use only one type of wood in a room
- The most important piece of furniture is the sofa
- Play it safe in small spaces
- Every room needs a rug
- Furniture styles should match
- Always put a coffee table in front of the sofa
- Vintage pieces are best left as is
- For a small bedroom, use small furniture
- Dining chairs should be part of a matching set
- Children’s art is for the fridge or a box in the top of a closet
I’m currently working on my impulse to match everything, which seems to be one of the hardest rules for me to break, but I’m getting there. Another resource I regularly use for inspiration is New Homes Guide’s Interiors. New home builders do an amazing job decorating their model homes. If you aren’t able to get out and see these beautiful new homes in person, Interiors offers the convenience of enjoying them right from your own home.
