Is It Just Me...?

[AmyBoz]

...or are there others out there who just do not have that decorating gene inside them? It's not that I don't want to decorate my house, I just don't have an eye for it. It's ridiculous that I should be missing this gene because my parents house is BEAUTIFULLY decorated, year round, with every season, and even when there is no "season" to decorate for, my mother just has the house looking great. My house, I feel, just looks like a house. Dh and I were walking with dd the other night and were looking in people's windows (from the street, of course, we weren't crawling up to people's windows with bushes strapped to our backs as camoflauge) and we kept saying, "How come their house looks so good inside?" It's not a money thing. I KNOW you can decorate a house beautifully with yard sale, thrift shop, and freebies. It's a decorating thing, I don't have it. I want it, but I don't have it. Anyone else?

[Darlene]

I don't have it either Amy. I have a little bit more of it than my sis so I feel good about that.Nernie nernie to her. Her hubby often remarks that he wished she could be more like me in that area.
Bet you have other wonderful traits that your neighbors wish they had.

I too like to look in windows. (no covert operation )

[dz_blonde_girl]

I don't have it either My sister does, and all of my sils ....... It doesn't bother me as much as it used to. Occasionally I get down in the dumps looking at my crappy, ugly house knowing it will never be pretty like theirs.

[MJsLady]

I don't decorate for seasons, I add extra at christmas time but the rest its just normal. I do want a cutting garden though so in spring and summer I can add fresh flowers.
I love to decorate, I just don't enjoy changing stuff out! I feel it would be toooo much clutter!

[isaacsmommy]

Don't feel bad, I don't have it either. MIL is constantly trying to tell me what I should do - she should have been an interior designer - but I definitely don't have the same taste as her, and don't like being told how something should look. I think I need to work on cleanliness before I work on pretty! lol

[mommy2three]

i don't have it either. one of my sisters has it, the other is worse than me. i like to decorate, but just don't have the money (even for thrift stores right now), or the space. our house isn't that big.

[mylittle4]

No decorating gene her either. I know 2 ways to decorate blank or cluttered. When we buy a house I will have to just copy a trading spaces episode.

[lucy979]

No decorating gene here, either. I am always saying how I can't stand the way our house looks. Although alot of that is the ugly hand me down furniture that we own.

[Sara Noel]

I love to decorate, but have a completely functional and minimalistic decor now. Not many items of flair.
I did decorating for a living and my home is a decorator's nightmare! It's just so stark and barren looking to me sometimes, but I also can't be worried about if the kids break something, ya know?

I think the main thing in decorating is surrounding yourself with things you really like. Think layers. Anchor with the floor, accent with walls and curtains, and embellish with additional touches in pillows and personal items you like. It's amazing what great lighting can do too. Two well placed lamps can make a huge difference in a room. Same with furniture placement. Think conversation areas.

I believe any room can have good impact with a decent rug, a nice piece of framed art, one piece of good quality furniture, and a touch of whimsy.

I think some rooms look fabulous in magazines, but if you redid them you'd find you didn't really like them for you and your life. It's a very personal type thing.

I like to see detailed ideas in magazines vs. overall looks. Look to see how they place accent items and what types of items they are using. What textures they use and the scale of those items in what size room. I like to clip out or write down those small things later.

Color adds tons too. Like here almost all the walls are off white. It's soooo dull. I can't wait to paint.

I used to hit sales and buy things I liked and then find places for the items. Now I don't bring home anything unless I know where it's going. No more tchotchkes!!

Check out http://www.homedecorators.com
There's some really good foundational items there that can really add some punch to a room. You can create a list of items you like and look for those pieces at sales or save for one good piece to add to your home.

I truly believe it's the people that "make" a home though.

If you ever want to post a picture of a room, I can offer some tips.