Last week I was so excited to share a post a certain little post called Ask Sherwin-Williams… What are the Most Popular Paint Colors! Working in a paint store I spend every day answering the question “what color do people buy the most of” and the answer is always Kilim Beige. For me, that post was about the most popular colors… not which colors I personally love! In fact beige is one color I would never paint… if I had my way it wouldn’t even be a color anymore! Give me a gorgeous grey, fabulous blue or amazing pink any day… now those colors are my jam! I guess I’m just a rule breaker that way!
So today, in honor of our best friend beige, I thought we would talk about 4 decorating “rules” I just love to break!
You have to spend a lot of MONEY to have a gorgeous house!
Nopety nope nope nope. Sure having a giant dump truck back itself onto your front lawn and deposit a crisp heap of $100’s would be glorious… but it’s not reality. In real life we have bills to pay, families to feed and new curtains may not be on the top of the priority list. That’s ok! Work with what you have… if you can’t buy it make it. Thrift stores are your new best friend and hand-me-downs rock. Paint it, sew it, re-purpose it… give it new life! You’ve got this honey… and if you need ideas the internet is chalk full of amazing DIY’s. (Psst… I have quite a few on this very site! Check out 5 DIY Curtains Ideas, How to Apply FREE Wallpaper Samples, or What to do with EXTRA paint!
Everything has to match!
Does anyone else remember the scene in Gray’s Anatomy where Christina Yang walks into a furniture store and literally buys her entire living room? Just gestures to a fully decorated section and says “I’ll take that one… have it delivered?” That is sooo not the goal! Haha! In fact when my hubby and I were shopping for living room furniture he wanted to buy a 3 piece set… you know matching couch, love seat and chair. If that’s what you love go for it but I would much rather have coordinating pieces. Things that go together but aren’t identical… the goal in this house is not to be matchy matchy but rather to co-exist peacefully.
Worried because you don’t have four matching chairs? It’s alright go ahead mix and match 2 and 2… or heck have 4 completely different chairs! A quick coat of paint will unify four completely different styles! Or use two chairs and a bench… a long bench can fit more little booty’s anyways!
You have to decorate to make your happy.
Fill in the blank… mom, neighbor, best friend whose really great at decorating, mother-in-law, sister… the list goes on and on. I don’t know how many times I have heard people say “I just love this color but what would ______ think? It’s way too bright… I better go with something neutral” I say go with what you love! It’s not your sister’s house so don’t worry about how much she’ll hate your bright cherry accent wall! If bright cherry is your jam then go for it! As long as everyone living with you is happy then isn’t that what matters? If your brother’s girlfriend cringes every time she walks in the door don’t worry about it… eventually she’ll leave and go home. Make your home YOUR happy place… the rest will work itself out.
You can’t paint furniture!
I know there are two very divided sides of this particular coin… obviously I am on the “painted furniture is good” side. Honestly? I don’t like most wood… I really can’t explain it but it just does nothing for me. If you troll the internet there are a million reasons why you should paint furniture (it’s falling apart, you’re fixing it, etc.) and a million reasons why you should never paint furniture (you’re ruining the integrity of the piece… once you paint it you can never go back). Here’s what I think… do whatever makes you happy! None of these internet people live in your house with you… heck your painted-furniture-hating mother doesn’t live with you (hi mom!) so go for it. Why live with something YOU hate to make someone else happy?
And there you have it… four decorating rules I just love to break! What’s your #1 pet peeve in the decorating world? Sound off in the comments! I’d love to hear from you!
I love this advice! I love neutral tones with pops of color and I LOVE mixing patterns! It gives the room character. 🙂
I completely agree… pops of color are so dramatic! Patterns give a room life… love your ideas! Thanks for stopping by!
This was such a great read! We just bought a house and I have been itching to make it “ours”
That can be the hardest feeling… the urge to make every room yours right away! I’m so glad you liked the post… hope it helps in some way! Thanks for stopping by! Oh… and congrats on the new house!
Choosing paint colors has been the bane of my existence for the past two weeks. Ugh. Ugh, ugh, ugh. I’m waffling between going one easy neutral color everywhere, or choosing a couple paint colors that I really like. Thanks for the inspiration and the … permission? to go for what I love!
Pick whatever you like! Haha! I know that doesn’t help but stop to think if what you like is color on the walls or colorful furniture. What is your eye drawn too? Go with your gut… you can’t go wrong! Thanks for stopping by Ally… good luck!
I can totally relate to this because for most of my life I’ve lived in an apartment but pretty soon, I’ll have my first house. The house has a lot of wood, which I love and won’t paint over (it’s original to the house) but I still want it to feel youngish, warm, and inviting.
I agree with Ally, thanks for the permission to decorate for ourselves and not for others!
It sounds like you’re really excited about this house… isn’t that the best feeling?! Wood can definitely feel warm and inviting! Go young with your accessories! Can’t wait to see what happens! Thanks for stopping by!
I love pops of color and hope when we settle down in two years, I will be able to decorate our home with all the colors I love!
Isn’t that the worst? Always waiting for the one day you’ll be able to decorate to your heart’s content? Two years isn’t that long… it’ll go quicker than you expect! Can’t wait! Thanks for stopping by!
I love that you mention the Grays episode where Yang buys her living room decore! The creative genius is my was like “nooooooo!” I love the challenge of decorating on a budget!
You totally speak my language! I don’t know why that one scene sticks with me… I can’t stand it! The best rooms aren’t bought in a single second but collected over time. Thanks for stopping by Bethany… good luck with the challenge!
So much great advice! I LOVE painted furniture!
It’s so pretty… painted furniture can really be whatever you want! Thanks for stopping by Paris!
Both my inlaws and my family don’t/won’t accept that husband and I like what we like, and 95% of the time, NONE of it goes together. It is really funny.
My mom is completely the same way… she likes the exact opposite of what I do and tends to try and sneak “her favorite” things into my house! Haha… I know what you’re going through! Keep fighting the good fight… the things we love always go together!
So true! You are the one who lives there and not everyone else. I love bright colors even though most people don’t. I also can not stand beige.
Have a great week,
Haley
You are speaking my language Haley… beige is so boring! Bright colors are not my thing but I love them in other people’s homes! I can’t wait until I have little kids so I can use bright colors in their play rooms! Thanks for stopping by!
Good advice. I found when I was true to my own style, ecletic, the house came together. I never buy anything I don’t love and I generally shop at 2nd hand/consignment stores…a lot of hunting but such fun!
My hubby calls our house eclectic as well… I figure that means we have things we love! And I think that’s probably the whole point! Thanks for stopping by Midge!
Love this! I have a new obsession of grey being the new neutral wall color! I am just tired of seeing beige everyone (i.e.: my home lol)! I am renting, but will be moving in less than a year so no point in changing the wall color now.. Did I mention I just got hip to the game? I used to be so matchy with furniture too. Love these pictures you posted! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I’m so glad you liked everything… I love the grey obsession as well! It’s definitely my favorite neutral! Beige was everywhere for a while but I’m so glad it’s moving out.. you are going to have so much fun with your new house! Plus you have so much time to work out inspiration! Thanks for stopping by Lyanna!
Haha love this post! Thanks for sharing.
I’m glad you like it? Thanks for stopping by!
I can’t ever bring myself to throw down a lot of money on decor, because I always find so many things at estate sales and yard sales that are unique and affordable. Most of my artwork comes from there!
I’m the same way… budget decor is the best! There’s nothing better than finding something on sale or for a great price that you would have paid more for elsewhere! Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve been toying with the idea of painting a signature piece of furniture to pop in my room. I think I’m a little afraid of messing it up. Thanks for sharing your tips. I may just go ahead and go for it.
That’s exactly what I did with my big blue hutch… I painted it Greek Blue when most of my furniture is white or gray! I was scared about the pop of color… but I absolutely love it! Plus it’s everyone’s favorite piece in our house! Go for it.. it’s only paint! Thanks for stopping by Lauren!
I’ve said it before but I love your living room! My BF and I are going to be buying new couches soon and I was definitely planning on buying a whole set…but now I have to rethink some things! Thanks for sharing this, Betsy!
Thanks Brittany! Shop around and see what you love… I love to make my own sets! Then you get exactly what you want and it doesn’t look like you just alked out of a furniture store with the same pieces!
You go girl! You rebel! Fabulous advice for all of us to remember!
http://www.redwineandpeonies.com
Paula
Aw shucks Paula… you’re making me blush! Thanks for stopping by!
Great post. I love painted furniture!
Painted furniture is the best! Thanks for stopping by Julia!
I need all the decorating advice I can get! Your house is just gorgeous! My dad crafts wood and is firmly in the “never paint wood” camp. I sometimes like painting wood, but I always feel guilty about doing it!
You’re so sweet! I feel guilty sometimes too… but the guilt slowly fades away after I see the lovely results! I still have a piece that was handed down from my mom that I haven’t painted though… one day I might gather the courage! Once I pick the perfect color that is! Thanks for stopping by!
I’m totally with you on the no beige thing! Our living room is the most perfect blue/grey and Its perfectly neutral! I really want to paint our bedroom a really pale, almost white grey and our den a light teal. The teal might be hard to get past the husband… but I’m gonna try! 😀
I love a good blue/grey… I think my entire house is a large portion of blue with a heaping side of gray! Haha! Good luck getting the teal past the husband… you can do it! Thanks for stopping by Jennifer!
I agree…you don’t have to spend a fortune! Thank you for sharing these great tips on #HomeMattersParty!
Any time Sonja! I love your linky party!