ALL THINGS DIVINE

The day we moved into our new home was one of the best moments of my life. Originally, from New York, we relocated to the south because of my husband's job and chose new construction through a national builder.

We had been patiently waiting for this moment. After living in a 2 bedroom apartment, we were excited to get a little bit more space and our own backyard. Not something you can easily come by living in New York.

I convinced my husband to leave all of our furniture behind. Well not all, but most. Everything was sized for dimensions much smaller so I thought it made very little sense to move it. However, once we got settled, it started to sink in. I had a lot of stuff to buy!

The excitement quickly turned into anxiety. Anytime we talked, you could hear the echos bouncing off of the walls. It was overwhelming and yet I still decided to attempt home decor on my own.

If I'm being honest, after I made that decision, it felt like I bit off more than I could chew. Filling a house is nothing like filling an apartment. I briefly thought about hiring an interior designer. Not only was cost a factor in my decision against it, but at the time, I wasn't sure how to articulate my style.

Back then, I was all over the place. I was team farmhouse, contemporary, and mid century modern. You name it, I loved it. I googled, read magazine articles, and looked at a lot of pictures on Instagram before finally settling on transitional (a combination of traditional and contemporary design).

As I was doing my research, I also came across the same advice over and over again. I'm going to share theses main tips and also tell you what happens if you don't follow them. For some reason, I felt the need to challenge them.

Tip: Pick a home style

There's so many to choose from: boho chic, modern farmhouse, modern, transitional, and contemporary to name a few. I can find something I admire or love about each aesthetic, but it's important to narrow down a style. Think about which one best represents your taste. What vibe are you going for? Does it match your lifestyle? What do you want to feel when you walk in the room? A bit of nostalgia? Minimalist and clean? Or loud and vibrant?

You're going to see your decor everyday and you should feel good in your space! Consider using Pinterest or Instagram to find inspiration. It helped me tremendously as I was trying to find a look that I wouldn't get tired of in a few months.

My Mistake - I did the research and came really close to narrowing down a style, but I didn't actually commit to one before I started shopping. In the beginning, because so much of the house was empty, I became impulsive and rushed my purchases.

Some items had nothing to do with the style I landed on, but I thought it would magically come together. Spoiler alert - I am still waiting for that to happen and there is a good chance I am going to have to re-buy some items.

Tip: Figure out a whole house color palette

This one is especially true for open concept homes where you can see multiple spaces at the same time. The reason whole house palettes or color schemes are so important is similar to why you need to choose a home style. It's to prevent a disjointed look in your home.

The ultimate goal is to achieve cohesiveness on the first try so that you don't have to correct it at a later point in time. I am currently in the middle of fixing my own mistakes and trust me, it's stressful!

Whole house palettes usually consist of one primary color and 3 - 5 accent colors. The primary should be a neutral tone such as white, beige, or gray. The accent colors can be repeated in different ways throughout the house by using items like pillows, rugs, throws.

My Mistake - I used gray as my primary for all of the first floor with the exception of our gym area. We converted our sunroom during the pandemic and I chose a navy to create separation. This is probably personal preference, but I wish I would not have done that. The openness of the floor plan does not allow for the separation and it feels very cold in that area.

Tip: Take measurements before your start purchasing

Before you even get to furniture sizing, you need to measure the room or the space you plan to furnish. Not only should you focus on whether or not the furniture can fit, you want to make sure it's also scaled properly. There's nothing worse than getting something delivered that's too small or too big. Try putting painter's tape down if you're having trouble visualizing.

My Mistake - I bought a console for my mounted TV in my living room and it was all wrong because of the size. I measured many times, but ignored the math because I really loved the console.

It was beautiful, but the same length as my TV. I knew I needed a few inches on each side, but convinced myself that I could get away with it and I was wrong. In the end, numbers don't lie. That mistake obviously cost me because I had to buy another console better suited for that space. Moral of the story: proportion and scale are soooooooo important. Don't take this one for granted like I did.

 So much better!! I don't know what I was thinking!

Tip: Buy quality furniture and the larger pieces first

I know. Furniture is expensive, but hear me out on this one. If you invest in quality pieces, they will stand the test of time. Furniture made of solid wood or upgraded fabric can last for decades as opposed to having to replace something that will fall apart. Keep in mind that you don't have to buy everything at once or splurge on every piece. Consider spending a little extra on the items that will take up the most space in a room. So if you're furnishing your living room, the sofa is where you want to make the investment. It can serve as a foundation or focal point due to the size.

However, don't spend blindly. Make sure you do some research before buying. Just because it costs a lot doesn't mean it's high quality. Take the time to read the fine print to ensure the right materials (i.e real wood) are being used. By doing research, you may also discover that some brands you thought were going to be too expensive are actually within your budget or vice versa.

My Mistake - none. Probably the only tip I didn't challenge!

I love the way my home has progressed over time, but trying to fix some of the mistakes I've made has not been fun. So remember it's a process and nothing happens overnight. Spend the time upfront to avoid wasted energy, effort, and money later. If you don't have the patience or time, you may need to outsource this job and hire a designer. Hope this was helpful. Happy decorating!