Fear of Committing to Home Decorating

We purchased our first home 10 months ago and I’ve successfully completed decorating one room. The bathroom. Now, we have a furnished living room (sans coffee and end tables, much to my husband’s dismay) and master bedroom, but they are far from completion. At this point, the furniture is only helpful in providing us a place to sit or lay. It has not offered any design inspiration. And that’s why I’m here 10 months later. Melissa, meet rut.

Don’t get me wrong, my boards on Pinterest are full of amazing design ideas. I obsess over certain color schemes for the guest bedroom and ideas for how to decorate above my kitchen cabinets. I can pick out and appreciate great design, but when it comes to making that a reality in my home, I panic.

It’s discouraging to find that something I watched my mother excel at, causes me such stress. She, so seamlessly, threw together amazing color schemes and found the perfect accessories for each room of the house. Although our styles significantly differ, I figured I would be blessed with that same home design finesse. I was mistaken.

But I’m not giving up.

This is our first home. It’s more than double the size of our last apartment and there is a lot of extra space to fill with, what my mother would call, ‘pretties’. It’s bound to be a bit overwhelming and I think what scares me the most is the commitment. Decorating a home can cost a pretty penny and our pennies are limited, so when I find a piece of art or furniture that I love, I ask myself one of three things.
#1 Can I make it? I’m a supporter of DIY projects. #2 Can I find something similar for a smaller price tag? If I answered no to the first two questions, then I move on to #3 Can I live without it?

Now let’s be real, even if I decide an item is not live withoutable, it still takes me 20+ minutes to take the leap and make the purchase. Do you know why? Because I’m afraid. Afraid that 6 months down the road my ‘style’ choices will be outdated. Afraid that my husband will hate my ideas. Afraid that I won’t be able to create a clear, cohesive design that shows our personality. Afraid that I’ll realize I’m not my mother and really, have no idea what I’m doing.

It’s a bit terrifying, but I’ve decided to jump in. 2014 will be a year of design. Successful or not, I’m going to create.

Pictures to come.

2013, The Year I Realized I’ve Become My Mother

Growing up, I was my father’s daughter. My 5th grade picture looks freakishly like my dad's 5th grade picture. We are both social and outgoing. We like roller coasters and sour candy. We both have droopy eyes and identical thumbs. I’ve always been like my dad and thought I always would be. Then I got married.

I don’t know if things changed because I now have someone to cook dinner for and we have a house that I can decorate or if it’s just because I’m growing up and dare I say it, maturing. But over the past year, I’ve become more and more like my mother.

I quite frequently have astonishingly trivial facts or stories to tell.

I say funny phrases like, ‘sheesh oh Tuesday’.

I stress about the perfect presentation of a meal or dish.

I bake when I’m dieting.

I craft and DIY, sometimes with the help from my mom via Facetime.

I hate planning dinners.

Sometimes when I'm talking to my husband, I realize I sound just like my mom when she talks to my dad.

Now, you might be thinking that none of those are necessarily bad qualities and I agree. But had you told me 5 years ago that I would possess those qualities, I would never have believed you.
My mother has always been my #1 fan and I wouldn't be the person I am today without her. All of those 'astonishingly trivial' facts she told me over the years stuck. I listened when she spoke, although I rarely acted like it and I admire her. I always have, but she and I are so different. Our styles and personalities... It
never occurred to me that I'd end up just like her. And as shocking as it may seem to both of us, I couldn't be more proud.

2013 has been a year of realizations. I am my mother's daughter.