I've hit a plateau. I just can't seem to get motivated to do all of my many projects. I've started lots of things, but I find that as soon as I hit a road block, rather than pushing through and making something work, I just put it aside and start something new. I have tons of wall space, and lots of pictures, some shelves, and various pieces of "art" that could go on the walls - but I feel completely overwhelmed with where to put things. Is this normal? I didn't do a lot of decorating at our apartment when we first moved to Charlotte, because I knew we were only going to be there a year. I hung curtains and a few pictures, but really and truly, the vast majority of the wall space was blank. I want to make our new home, well, homey - and I've been watching HGTV like crazy - but I still feel completely un-inspired.
Don't get me wrong, I have done several things. I painted the accent wall in our living/dining room. I also managed to paint our bathroom, which I'm super pleased with. It is more the color I was hoping our accent wall would be - kind of a slate blue. I finally bought the shower curtain that we registered for when we got married - nearly six years ago!!! I guess that shows that my tastes have not changed that much! I also bought a beautiful brushed nickel, slightly decorative shower curtain rod. I bought a brushed nickel and glass shelf today from Target, got it home and assembled it, and decided I didn't really like the way the finish looked. It looked cheap somehow. The old me would have simply said "It's not perfect, but I've already assembled it and I'm not making another trip back to Target". But today, I dis-assembled it, put all the parts back in their individual little wrappings, and carefully placed it back in the box (it actually all fit!!!); I'm taking it back. I'd rather have nothing on the wall than the wrong thing! I found some curtains at Target today - on the end of the isle in one of their super clearance sections. They were nice and so cheap (but good quality), but I just couldn't bring myself to buy them - because they are just not what I had envisioned (whatever that it). I'm feeling the pressure to have things look nice when all of our guest come for our Open House on Sunday, but I refuse to drill holes in the wall and put up curtains I don't
love - because I'm afraid that's the way it will stay and we'll get 5 years down the road and I still won't have what I really want.
So, maybe that's what my problem is. Maybe, for the first time, I just don't want to "make do". I'm feeling a real sense of ownership and I guess, a sense of pressure. I really do think that your home is a reflection of who you are. That's why I strive to keep my house clean and orderly. This isn't just a house or apartment that we live in anymore - it is
our home! I think about all the houses we looked at while we were searching for our home. It was amazing what you could tell about a person, just by the way their home looked.
I also miss having my sisters and mom around to help me figure out what to do with things. Zach and Courtney are great, but they aren't here much at all, and when they are I hate to constantly be asking them to help me put up a shelf, or hang a picture. It really is kind of weird to be having this big Open House, but have none of my family here. I know a lot of people live away from their families - and I've lived away now for over a year - but it just feels strange to have this party without them. It's amazing the things that make you miss your family. They are often little and they creep up out of nowhere. Of course there are the obvious ones - like holidays and birthdays. But the things that really hit me are things like this, decorating my house and having a party.
Anyway...I better get off the computer and get back to work! No rest for the weary!
Comments (4)
Lisa I hate that we can't be there! You know I would love to tell you how to decorate your home.
I'm sure your house will look great on Sunday and I think that you're right not to settle for things that you don't think are "perfect". I'm sure no one at the party will care if you don't have every space in your new home decorated. Take your time. You'll bee there a while and there is no need in racing to finish.
I love you!
Lisa,
Oh we to wish we could be there. I would so love to be able to celebrate with you all and have a glass of wine and throw out decorating ideas. I know how it feals to get overwhelmed. It is a nice thought to want everything just so but don't spend to much time thinking of how you want everything and miss the enjoyment of living in your home. I find it takes sometime to live in our home to find out some times how I want to decorate or arrange things in it.
Love,
Micky
Better too little than too much, right? It sounds like what you have done is so amazing and beautiful!
We have lived here (in our apt.) for two years and I still have NOTHING on the walls except a big mirror in the living room, because I'm scared I'll hate it. I think it must take years to find all the right things that reflect your family's personality. Maybe you just need to relax and think of it as a work in progress... sounds gorgeous, though!