5 Decorating Lessons I’ve Learned As A First-Time Homeowner

A little magical thinking can go a long way.

When my husband and I first toured our would-be 1950s brick ranch in Birmingham, Alabama, I was flooded with ideas: A fresh coat of creamy white paint would work wonders on its current muddy exterior; the sad, beige tile floors in the kitchen would be nixed in favor of black-and-white checkerboard tile; and the drab basement would become a welcoming guest suite, complete with a renovated bathroom. Of course, once we signed the dotted line, reality—and the budget—set in. Not a single one of those big ideas of mine have happened since we moved in a little over two years ago, but that’s okay! We’ve made our house work for us—and more importantly, feel like us—through some magical thinking and thoughtful decorating. Here are the most important decorating lessons I’ve learned as a first-time homeowner.

Related: Have We Gone Too Far With Decorating Trends?

Hold Out for the Good Stuff

I’m a sucker for instant gratification. But frankly, some of my just-for-now purchases—those things I bought to scratch the itch until I could swing the pieces I actually wanted—are beginning to give me hives. Turns out that sometimes an empty corner is better than a corner filled by something you don’t absolutely love but still spent money on. In the future, I’m saying no to quick solutions in favor of saving up and holding out for first-choice picks instead.

Take the Leap on What You Love

A shell-pink living room was at the tippy top of my decorating wishlist, but once we had sample swatches on the walls, I chickened out, choosing a pink so light that it read as white instead. Out of pure laziness (and a willingness to squint to see the blush undertones in certain light), I lived with it for two years. And in that time, this reminder of my color cowardice became an annoyance for me, especially because I knew it could be remedied with a gallon of paint and a weekend of work. I finally committed to Benjamin Moore’s Old Country and my long-awaited shell-pink living room now sparks joy daily. Going with my aesthetic gut the first time would have saved me time, money, and the nagging bother of living in a space that wasn’t quite what I wanted it to be.

Don’t Skimp on Personal Accessories

At some point along the way, I became so focused on making my shelves and furniture look editorially styled that I forgot to incorporate family photos—funny given that they’re one of the first things I’m drawn to in other people’s houses. I’m slowly righting that wrong, hanging a gallery wall in the hallway and squeezing treasured pictures onto every square inch of a chest in my living room. It’s made our home feel so much more personal, and seeing so many loved ones’ faces on display always proves an instant mood-lifter.

Creative Solutions Can Go A Long Way

During its time as a rental property, our powder bathroom was treated to a quick-and-dirty transformation. The existing pink floor and wall tiles were doused in a sterile shade of white, creating an unwelcoming experience for our guests. Because wallpaper and a full-on overhaul weren’t in the budget, I took matters into my own hands, painting stripes (a dizzying but rewarding DIY) on the walls and calling on my seamstress mother-in-law to fashion a pretty ruffled skirt to hide the dated vanity. I took a similar make-it-work approach in our primary bedroom, hanging an IKEA curtain wall behind the bed to hide an off-center window that drove me batty.

Don’t Treat It Like A Box on Your To-Do List

Perhaps the most important decorating lesson I’ve learned is that you’re never truly finished designing your house. I’m a type-A firstborn who loves to put a bow on something and be done with it, but I’ve discovered that the true joy of making a home is learning to live contentedly with unfinished business—those hand-me-down dining room chairs that still need to be recovered and the special mementoes that are yet to be framed. Daydreaming and scheming are all part of the fun.