A few of my biggest decorating mistakes and the lessons I’ve learned.
No one likes to admit when they’ve made a mistake, especially me, but I’ve learned over the years that you can’t find out what you really like (when it comes to decorating) if you don’t make mistakes.
Some of my mistakes are small ones, like buying a lamp and cutting the tags off only to find out that I didn’t really love it, but some of them are big…and expensive.
Let’s talk big mistakes, and trust me…some of them are doozies.
Decorating Mistake #1
Buying furniture because it’s trendy
The biggest, and costliest decorating mistake I ever made was when I bought a green and burgundy plaid sofa (remember the jewel tone trend?). Sure, I loved it at the time, but it wasn’t really practical for the long haul. Styles change, and tastes change, but an expensive sofa sticks around for years (in our case anyway).
Luckily for me we moved and I was able to sell the sofa to someone who really loved it. Of course, I didn’t make any money off the deal, and I had to spend more money on another sofa, so it ended up being a costly mistake.
Like I said, I tried to learn my lesson every time I made a big decorating mistake but sometimes it takes a few times for it to get through.
Case in point…my sectional sofa with a chaise (that I bought to replace the green and burgundy beauty).
See, I learned my lesson with color but I still had a lesson to learn about size and shape.
This sofa wasn’t cheap, and I didn’t make the decision to buy it lightly, but I also didn’t consider how I would use it if we moved into another house. It fit the room, and our lifestyle, when I bought it but I had no idea that we would move, 3 more times, and it would be hard to fit in every single house. Our intent, when I bought it, was to stay in the house forever but, well… you know how that goes.
We moved into our current house and couldn’t get it to fit in our tiny 1946 living room. I had to go out and buy another couch (not an expense we had counted on) and the sectional was relegated to the sunroom. It did all work out in the end but it turned out to be another expensive lesson.
Decorating Mistake #2
Buying a burgundy leather chair
Let’s stick with furniture mistakes and talk about the hubby’s chair. It’s leather, which is great, but it’s a burgundy leather. I bought it year’s ago to match my green and burgundy plaid couch (see mistake #1), and I really loved it at the time. Fortunately for us the couch found a new home but the chair is still with us.
It’s my dirty little secret that I try to crop out of all of my pictures that I share on Chatfield Court. To say I hate this chair is an understatement, but the hubs loves it so, until it falls apart, it stays. Don’t worry though, I’ve learned my lesson…no more burgundy leather recliners. When we do get a new one it will be neutral, and it won’t be as massive.
Decorating Mistake #3
Buying stainless steel appliances
I always try to decorate with things that I love but appliances have been a different story for us. We always find ourselves moving for one reason or another so, when we have to buy new appliances, I’ve learned to take resale into account. These days, most people want stainless steel in their kitchens so it helps when you are selling your home.
Sometimes the choice isn’t easy…or cheap.
The last two houses we’ve lived in had some new appliances in place when we moved in and they were…you guessed it, stainless steel. Moving is expensive enough without buying all new appliances so we’ve chosen to match the new ones we inherited.
Me personally??? I don’t like stainless steel. It looks great…when it’s clean, but it doesn’t stay that way for long. I don’t like that it’s so hard to clean and keep it looking clean.
If I could buy all new appliances, I would choose white colored appliances any day, to blend in with glossy, white cabinets. That would be my first choice.
Decorating Mistake #4
Paint color choices
Let’s talk paint.
Yes, paint is way easier to change than a plaid colored sofa or a stainless steel refrigerator, but let’s face it…who wants to repaint a room after you painted it?
I usually spend a lot of time trying to find the perfect paint color for a room. I’ll test several colors and hang swatches on different walls, checking them in different light. While I’ve had a lot of success with this method, and loved the colors I chose, I’ve also had some fails.
There was no bigger fail than the color I chose for our living/dining room in our Illinois house. This was a big room so it took me a while to paint it. I knew immediately though that it was the wrong color. It was just too dark for the space.
Don’t get me wrong, I love to paint but I didn’t like the thought of repainting the room.
Putting it off wasn’t going to make it any better so I pulled up my big girl pants and repainted it. I stayed in the gray family and just lightened it up several shades.
Even though it was a big job, lightening it up did the trick. It really made a huge difference!
I learned my lesson with this one.
What did I learn? I don’t like darker colored walls in a room that doesn’t get a lot of natural light. It may work for some but, for me, lighter is better. Luckily I haven’t repeated this decorating mistake.
Give me time though, I’m sure it’ll happen again.
What are some of your decorating mistakes that you’ve made and what lessons have you learned?
Sure I’ve made some decorating mistakes but I’ve also had success! Check out our kitchen remodel and the new powder room that we built from a closet.
Kristi
A fellow La-Z-Boy devotee! I love them but I’m just so ready to move on. 😉
I agree with you…white appliances are very hard to find. Such a shame because not everyone wants SS.
Paint boo-boos are so easy to make. I’ve used yellow before and I know that it’s a tough color to get right. So glad that you found that perfect shade. It’s really beautiful when it’s the right shade.
A new Ethel!!! Congrats on your new addition! My lady just got a trim but she is as pretty as every. Best of luck with your girls.
Thanks so much for following along with us, Sue! I appreciate the support!
Kristi
Thanks so much for sharing, Ann! I have tried it but I didn’t care for it. Glad you found something that works for you, and I know that your suggestion will be help someone else with the same issue. Thanks again! 🙂
Ann Zimmermann
I am a neat freak and used to have a problem with streaky stainless kitchen appliances UNTIL I found this product: KENMORE STAINLESS STEEL CLEANER. Now, I can’t remember how I heard about it, but it is absolutely fabulous. I ordered it from Amazon. I can’t describe what it does. It’s like it makes the “gray” color deeper. Anyway, it is wonderful. It is a polish/cleaner and helps prevent fingerprints.
Sue Scimeca
Oh , Kristi, you and I certainly think alike…from having large indoor plants named “Ethel” to owning a burgundy and hunter green plaid couch! I bought mine from Lazy Boy and it lasted 30 years! Couldn’t wait to have it replaced as the material finally gave out to Sun damage and tore on the back..other wise we would still have it. lol
I also am a big fan of white appliances. Why you ask? Because I have lived long enough to see white, almond, Coppertone, avocado come and go. I swore I would stay with white and not get trapped into a “fad” color again. The only problem is finding white appliances now.. its getting harder and harder. I can’t afford to buy new again so I will just struggle through with my white 16 yr old appliances here.
One of my biggest bo-bo’s was to paint my kitchen a sunny yellow…wrong! its so sunny you need sunglasses to eat in it.. but I am to lazy to paint it yet. So I live with it.
Years ago I had this beautiful pale pale yellow living room and decided to paint it a dark tan after my daughters living room walls..it looked so pretty with her white trim. Well, I almost had a heart attack when I rolled the first wall with the paint…it looked as if I was painting with mud all over those beautiful yellow walls. But with my husbands encouragement, I kept painting and in the end, after I got use to the change in color, I loved it just like I loved it in my daughters home. lol
By the way, I loved your plant “Ethel” so much I went and found one of my own at our local Ikea’s. So far so good with it, it got a new leaf already. I wanted to get a big one like yours but it would never have fit in my car for the ride home, so I settled for a smaller one, about 3 feet tall.
Anyway keep up the good work with your home and Minnie. I enjoy reading about your projects!
Best regards, Sue and her 2 “Ethels” from the Chicago area
Kristi
Awww, thanks so much for the sweet comment Pat! I think that mistakes are just part of decorating…you just never know until you try. It just stings a bit when it ends up being an expensive mistake. I try hard not to make them but it happens. 🙂
Kristi
Oh I hope you enjoy your recliner. I don’t hate them but burgundy just doesn’t fit my color style (and it’s humungous piece in our tiny house). And believe me, I make mistakes all the time…still. Sometimes I wonder if I’m qualified to dole out decorating advice. 😉
Kristi
I think you’re right, Marlene. You never know what you really like until you try. Sometimes it works…sometimes it doesn’t.
Thanks for the kind compliment my friend!
Kristi
That’s interesting Melanie. I think that you’ll never know what purpose a room serves unless you try. I’m sure you’ll “find” your little home office space. 🙂
Kristi
Thanks so much, Kathy! Yes, I’ve made many mistakes when it comes to decorating but it’s helped me learn what my true style is. It’s just hard to swallow some of the bigger, and more expensive mistakes. 😉
Marlene Stephenson
It’s good to know i am not the only one, but your house is so cute now. I think it takes all of us time to really settle on what we need.
Debbie Halcomb
I had to laugh when I read the recliner part. I just bought a burgundy leather recliner a few months ago. I have also have made the wrong sofa mistake, Southwestern and cabana stripe. The most recent is the kitchen paint. Right color wrong value. Thanks for sharing your mistakes Kristi, it makes me not feel inept as a decorator. Debbie
Pat M.
Your recent accomplishments in your new home have more than make up for any “mistakes” you may have made in the past. The eye-popping little 2nd bath and closet, the guest bedroom, and just your general use of space and minor upgrades such as a new front door, woven blinds, painted window frames, glass doorknobs, etc. in this amazing little cottage. Plus, don’t forget the miracle you’re performing in your Minnie camper. I’d say you’ve learned your lessons very well. It all looks amazing. Great job …..
Kathy Dombrowski
Thanks for the tips. It’s nice to know that even someone with your decorating expertise has made mistakes also.
Melanie
Hmmm I am trying to think of mistakes and I guess at this point, the mistakes are tied in to what purpose a space has. I still have not landed on where to make a little home office.