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Kalyn Brooke

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How to Decorate Your Home without Getting Overwhelmed

April 29 // 14 Comments // 4 Minute Read

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

I'm all too easily overwhelmed with all the paint colors, fabric swatches, and all the pretties available at HomeGoods! But, armed with these tried-and-true facts, I feel empowered to conquer decorating my home again! #decoratingtips #howtodecorate #simpledecorating #decoratingideas #decoratingwithoutoverwhelm

I know I promised all sorts of updates when we bought our new home, but two things have happened since our lovely purchase in June. One, life got crazy busy, and two, I got really overwhelmed with even the thought of decorating — therefore, almost nothing has been done!

It wasn’t for a lack of ideas though….I have a decorating notebook and multiple Pinterest boards full of dreams, wishes, and plans, but when it comes to implementing anything, I wimp out. I feel taunted by blank walls, sagging furniture, and a small budget, and it almost seems easier to put off any decorating rather than try something and inevitably fail.

You see, I’ve never been that good at decorating anything. It’s not my passion, and it’s most certainly not my talent. I’m actually much more comfortable with remodeling an old home and putting up drywall than I am with coordinating fabrics, patterns, and paint colors!

Slowly though, I’m learning that decorating a home does not happen overnight, and might not even happen in the span of a few months. The point is to enjoy the journey, not stress about it. My home will come together in time, but right now, these are the 5 action steps I’ve taken to help keep my decorating anxiety under control. If you struggle with decorating overwhelm too, you might want to keep reading!

1. Start a Decorating Notebook

A notebook might sound a little like overkill, but whenever I’m feeling stressed by a task at hand, I create a physical notebook to help sort all my thoughts and ideas.

Anytime I find an idea I like in a magazine, or a piece of furniture I’d like to save up for, I file it away in a page protector with the corresponding room. I also have space for paint swatches, notes, and even graph paper to measure out the room so I know exactly how large or small each piece of furniture needs to be. You can learn more about my notebook HERE.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much sanity this simple notebook has saved me!

How to Decorate Your Home Without Getting Overwhelmed | Creative Savings

2. Work on Functional and Foundational Pieces First

Have you ever been walking down the aisles of Hobby Lobby, eyes glazed at all the gorgeous artwork, ceramic knick-knacks, and awesome storage bins? I was just there last week and immediately became overwhelmed at all the choices! Since then, I’ve learned how essential it is to not focus on any of those final touches when you’re decorating a room from scratch.

Here’s a general order of where to start decorating:

  • Fix or remodel any of the structure that’s already there {drywall, trim, window, etc.}
  • Paint walls and trim
  • Choose furniture, storage units, shelving, and area rug
  • Focus on curtains, and any other large decor piece you want to feature.
  • Finish up with pretty candles, lamps, artwork, and other trinkets to style the room

Of course, there might be that one small piece that can inspire the entire room before you even start, so this tactic isn’t completely foolproof, but it at least gives you a starting point for those who have no idea what to work on or buy first…..aka me!

Psst….I also found the post, How to Shop for Home Decor without Getting Overwhelmed from School of Decorating very helpful when looking for items to finish up a room.

3. Ask a Friend for Help

I used to be ashamed that I wasn’t an expert home decorator, and was actually embarrassed to ask for help, but thankfully, my assistant at Creative Savings has one of the best eyes for interior design and was willing to give me a few pointers. Can I just tell you what a relief that was? I finally had a vision for the room I was working on!

It’s more than okay to ask a friend or family member, whose decorating style you admire, for their opinion on your home. Explain how you need it to function, and some of your own thoughts for furniture pieces or wall art.

Take their suggestions into consideration, then tweak to make them your own. You still want to make sure the room is YOU by the time you’re done, but there’s no shame in requesting a little help to get you started on the right foot!

How to Decorate Your Home Without Getting Overwhelmed | Creative Savings

4. Realize Nothing is Permanent

If you walked into my home right now, you’d see practically nothing hung up on the walls. Why? Because I have this irrational fear that once I put something up, I won’t be able to take it down again, or move things around. How silly is that!?

Yes, there might be a few extra holes in the wall that you need to patch and paint over, you might have to return a piece of furniture, or get rid of a lamp you don’t like anymore in a yard sale, but anything can be changed. Nothing is set in stone.

Home decorating is a process, and your style from a couple years ago may not be your style right now. I’m slowly learning that it’s okay to switch things up, even if Joseph did just take down a set of shelves he installed for me a few weeks ago in an effort to try something new. He’s a keeper, that one!

5. Invest in Great Resources

Finally, don’t be afraid to invest in a few resources to help. One of my favorite home decorating magazines is HGTV Magazine — I get so many ideas out of it, and they use products from places like Target, West Elm, and HomeGoods, rather than these super high end brands that I could never possibly afford. It’s like home decorating for real people!

I also recommend taking Decorography, my all-time favorite decorating program. This has saved me from making so many decorating mistakes, and I was shocked at all the things I didn’t know!

I talk more about these “aha moments” in The #1 Reason Your Decorating Dreams are Not Reality…Yet, including,

  • The biggest reason a room never feels “finished”.
  • Why you can’t afford to keep making decorating “mistakes”
  • How to decorate your home even when you don’t feel like a decorator. Hint: There’s an actual science behind it!

Click HERE to read the post.

The next time you look at a home decorating project, take a page from my own personal notebook, and don’t let the hugeness of it overwhelm you into inaction. Start small, enjoy the journey, and work on making your home a sanctuary and space you love.

Do you get easily overwhelmed with home decorating?

– – – – –

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Comments

  1. Vanessa King says

    January 21 at 11:45 am

    I’m SO glad I’m not alone in this! We are living in an apartment saving up for a house (once all of our debt is paid off first) and I feel as though my decorations are bland. I have to remind myself that this is temporary and when the time comes I’ll be able to spread my wings and paint etc. While I look forward to that day of owning a home, I have to mentally prepare myself to NOT get overwhelmed when we have more space 🙂 I’m definitely pinning this for later, thank you!

    Reply
  2. Ginger says

    January 21 at 11:53 am

    Oh my! You just described exactly how I feel when I’m trying to decorate. I often leave the store with nothing. Seek out a BIG coffee, and vow to try again tomorrow. I have enlisted the help of my sister-in-law. It is sooooo much more fun with a friend.
    Thanks for the links.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      January 26 at 3:38 pm

      Yes, it’s WAY more fun to do it with someone who loves decorating and is willing to help you find your style!

      Reply
  3. Leslie says

    January 21 at 12:44 pm

    I like that you are so organized you have a notebook, I must say i’m a little jealous. I wish I would’ve thought of this. This is a great post & Thanks for sharing these helpful tips. Happy Wednesday!

    Reply
  4. Kristen @ Joyfully Thriving says

    January 21 at 2:48 pm

    I wish I had started a notebook when we first moved into our house! Our house was built in 1945…and we’re only the second owners, so we’ve been lots of updating! I’m playing catch-up but the paint colors alone have been tricky to remember. Great advice!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      January 26 at 3:36 pm

      Thanks, Kristen! Having the notebook has certainly saved me from a lot of stress. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kira says

    January 22 at 10:41 am

    Yes, I get completely overwhelmed when it comes to decorating. I have ALL these ideas, but then I want to implement them ASAP. Problem is that I’m not always sure how or I don’t always have the money to spend to do it all exactly the way I want. Thanks for all the resources. I’m sure it will help!

    Reply
  6. Juli R. says

    January 25 at 9:56 am

    I love the idea of using a notebook to organize inspirations. I have scraps of papers torn from magazines and such that have found their way all over the house. How nice it will be to have everything together in one place. Thanks for the (“Why didn’t I think of that?”) idea.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      January 26 at 3:37 pm

      You’re welcome, Juli! And there are so many ideas I read about and can’t believe I didn’t think of them before either. 🙂 Hopefully, the notebook gives you a spot to put all those scraps of paper now!

      Reply
  7. Geri says

    April 25 at 5:51 pm

    i think your order of work us incorrect. How can you choose a paint color, a $25 item and base your rug in that? I suggest getting a ‘must have, can’t live without’ rug or piece of art and then buying neutral furniture and picking a paint color – maybe a lighter version – from the painting or rug. Paint can be the last choice since it’s the cheapest item. Just how I do it.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      May 3 at 10:21 am

      I love that you pick a piece {like a rug} and build a room around that feature! For some reason, I can’t envision the space by doing that, but that’s because my mind works a little differently. There’s definitely no wrong way or order of choosing paint vs furniture or decor items — whatever works best for your decorating style is the way you should go!

      Reply
  8. Michelle says

    January 9 at 5:21 pm

    Really great post, Kalyn! When I moved from LA to NYC, I found myself extremely overwhelmed when it came to furnishing my new apartment. I sold all of my old furniture and hired a startup called Furnishr to help me furnish my new space – they saved me some money, and I didn’t need to run around searching for some great pieces!:)

    Reply
  9. Genesis says

    October 8 at 12:49 pm

    I love this post! I’m currently in the process of decorating my space, but my biggest complication is that I am not inclined to spend money- like, at all. It always makes for a really fun process, though, because I just rely on the cycle of life to provide the things we need. For example, we have neighbours on both sides that are asking us to take some furniture off their hands now that they’re downsizing. We’ve gotten living room chairs, a couch, a dining room table, and some great shelving units this way, and now I get to solve the puzzle of how to decorate these pieces to make them our own!

    I’m totally with you on the wall decor, though. I hesitate to put up wall art because it feels so permanent!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      October 8 at 2:03 pm

      Ohhh decorating on a budget can be such a fun challenge! You’re forced to be so much more creative. How handy that your neighbors have some great pieces to share with you!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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👩‍💻 | I help value-driven women lead manageable + meaningful lives.
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Kalyn Brooke
I used to feel guilty for reading fiction novels. I used to feel guilty for reading fiction novels. 😔⁣
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Once in high school, someone told me that I needed to expand my world through real stories and information instead of reading all that fluff. 🥴⁣
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I understand the point they were trying to make. If you want to learn how to do something or get to know historical figures or grow personally in a positive way, non-fiction will help you get there. ⁣
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But fiction matters too... for so many reasons! Here are my three: 📚⁣
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1. Fiction helps me practice empathy. I see the world with new eyes because of the way the author invites me to step into the shoes of a beloved character. 🥰⁣
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2. With fiction, you can live thousands of lives. George R.R. Martin said, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” Fiction allows me to enter a world I don’t get to experience in real life. 💗⁣
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3. Fiction helps me write better non-fiction. When we hear a well-told story, our brain reacts as if we are experiencing the story ourselves. So when I read a particularly captivating passage, it gives me ideas on how to weave storytelling into my writing too. 💪⁣
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I’d love to hear why you think fiction matters. Comment below and tell me one of your favorite things about reading fiction!⁣
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And if you love books just as much as I do, I invite you to follow my new bookstagram account @theunclutteredbookshelf where we can talk about books ALL the time. 🤩
STORAGE IDEA… for paint swatches! ☝ Keep and l STORAGE IDEA… for paint swatches! ☝ Keep and label the colors you use, then tuck them away in a small envelope for reference. ⁣
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Whenever I go searching for a new rug or pillows, I grab this envelope so I  have ALL my paint colors on hand.  I can match the colors seamlessly without trying to guess if the blue on my walls trends more blue than green. 🤔⁣
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Another perk? You won’t spend an excessive amount of time in HomeGoods waffling between decorating decisions. Not that I’ve ever done that... 😆⁣
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‘Tis the season for spring-cleaning your home … and your finances! 💸⁣
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While most of us use the spring season to deep clean spaces we might otherwise forget (or ignore—fan blades, I’m talking to you), let’s not forget how necessary it is to do a financial check-in too. 💰⁣
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If it’s been a while since you last overhauled your budget, updated your savings goals, etc., not to worry. I have just the thing to give your finances a fresh start! 🥳⁣
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On the blog this week, I’ve listed 7 essential steps to help you clear out the cobwebs. Don’t be intimidated—I promise it will be fun! And once you have these systems in place, you’ll enjoy less stress during the rest of the year. ⁣
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Drop any cleaning emoji in the comments below and I’ll send you the link to get started. 🧹🧽 🧼
⚡NEWSFLASH:⚡ While there’s so much you could ⚡NEWSFLASH:⚡ While there’s so much you could be doing, there’s only a handful of things you can do at one time. 💪⁣
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The authors of the book The One Thing get this. ⁣
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If you’ve not yet read this book, here’s the main premise: 📣⁣
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Not everything can matter equally. If everything is important, then nothing is. And extraordinary results are directly determined by how you narrow your focus. ⁣
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In other words? Balance is nothing more than an illusion. 🔮⁣
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On the surface, balance sounds like an ideal destination, where every part of our life will magically fall into place and we’ll finally experience the peace and contentment we long for.⁣
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But balance prevents you from “going all in” on anything. Balance chains you to the middle so you can avoid the extremes of the right and left, never committing a significant amount of time to any one area of your life. If you approach anything with balance, each task will tug at you, claiming just as much importance as the next. ⚠⁣
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And equal approaches almost never result in equal outcomes. 🙅⁣
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So embrace being out of balance. Go “all in” on the things that are important to you and let the rest go. 👋⁣
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One of my favorite quotes from The One Thing is, “The key to success isn’t in all the things we do, but in the handful of things we do well.” 🥳⁣
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Think about what you want to do well and then leave what you can behind. And of course, grab the book if you’re able and add it to your reading stack. I have a feeling you’ll love it like I did! 💞⁣
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Have you read this book yet?
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With a discbound notebook, you have the freedom to…⁣
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1️⃣ Rearrange pages however you wish and whenever you wish 💪⁣
2️⃣ Organize your planner into sections 🎉⁣
3️⃣ Use bullet journal printables to save time drawing layouts (this is the solution to the loudest objection I hear about bullet journaling) ⏰⁣
4️⃣ Throw away pages when you mess up (as opposed to ripping a page out of a bound notebook and risk the whole notebook falling apart) 😳⁣
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If you’re not satisfied with the 2021 planner you picked, try a discbound notebook ... bullet journal style. This week’s blog post dishes all the details on what you need to set one up along with a video on how I use mine! 📣⁣
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Drop a notebook emoji in the comments below if you want the link. 📒
Last week the world watched Harry and Meghan’s t Last week the world watched Harry and Meghan’s tell-all interview. 📺⁣
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I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed with the royal family (even though I did hang a photo of Prince William in my high school locker!). But I bought a pint of non-dairy Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and settled in for the two-hour tell-all interview. 🍦⁣
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And here’s my main takeaway:⁣
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Suicidal thoughts. 💭⁣
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Yep, we’re going there today. ⁣
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When someone says they “didn’t want to be alive,” don’t ignore their pleas or pass them off as attention-seekers or say they can’t get help because it would look bad on the royal family (all things that were told to Meghan). 🤯⁣
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Nope. When someone says that, believe them. ⁣
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Even though my life looks completely different than Meghan’s, depression whispered the same lies into my ear. And when I tried to get help, I was given Christian books and resources that criticized medication and labeled depression as a spiritual issue. ⁣
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We must remember that words hold power. When we throw out flippant remarks about mental health, it negatively affects the way people view themselves. 👀⁣
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Their brain is already at war. We don’t need to ruin their chances of winning. 🏆⁣
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So regardless of your opinion about Meghan or the royal family, I hope you hear my heart in this. 💞⁣
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We need to stop believing people only when it’s too late. We need to believe them now… and make sure they know they have our full support. Someone close to you right now could be struggling with their own thoughts and you don’t even know it. 🤔⁣
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So be careful what you say. ⁣
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Meghan probably won’t hear or read your opinion, but your friend will.
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