SO YOU THINK YOU WANT TO BE A DECORATOR
January 11, 2008
Have you ever heard the saying, "look before you leap?" They're just four simple words that mean prepare yourself before you begin the task at hand. The key to success for most, in respect to decorating their own home is not to look at all, and NEVER leap. Taking on the task of decorating for most, is a disaster waiting to happen.
Think about it. Would you fix a pipe that burst on your own? How about doing some electrical work? With your abilities, or lack there of, you’d probably flood the place, or burn it to the ground. If decorating is not what you do for a living - don’t.
No matter how much you think you are going to save by not hiring a designer or decorator, it will cost you more before the paint dries. And, if you do decide to go forward on your own, I can promise you, the results will not be pretty. Now, I’m not saying everyone reading this story has bad taste, or lacks the ability to decorate a room, much less entire house, but I am saying, 90% do not.
But, if you are still seriously considering taking the leap, which for most would be insanity, look at the following “Decorating for Success Tips”, and then…think again.
1. Define Your Scope & Goals
Setting a goal is doable, but if you have no idea what scope means, stop now, before you hurt yourself and your home.
2. Define Your Budget
By stopping yourself at this moment in the process you will save yourself a small fortune. Not understanding the decorating game is going to cost you money, big money.
3. Find Your Decorating Style
The fact you have to “find” your decorating style says it all. You’re not Lewis, Clark, or Martha, and if you think you know what your style is, watch HGTV a few times. Reality will strike you down like a bolt of lightning if you are lucky.
4. Lay Out Your Floor Plan
If you're developing quite a project plan in your head, and think you see the big picture starting to come together, remember cutting out miniature furniture pieces and placing it on a miniature room plan does not count.
5. Identify Your Focal Points
Not know what that means should tell you something about how little you actually know.
And, if your room happens to be architecturally challenged, you are really screwed.
6. Use Your Imagination
Your imagination and creativity are essential to bringing life to your decorating project, but in most cases, decorating death is the result. Think about it.
A final thought: When the going gets tough, the tough, don’t decorate… they pour themselves a big drink.
