A project that must be perfect is a project that will never be complete. If you’re addicted to home design magazines, constantly browsing the web for “the look” you want to achieve in your home, and perpetually rearranging your furniture, you’re on a road to nowhere. Consider why you should let go of home decor perfectionism.
You LIVE There
Life gets messy. That includes the part lived in your home. When every minute of your day is another chore, you’re not spending any time at home relaxing. You’ve already got a job—don’t turn decorating and cleaning your home into a second one.
News flash—those gorgeous images in the design magazines are staged. Do you remember going over to that friend’s house when you were a kid where you weren’t allowed in the living room? And the couch was covered in plastic? What good is a couch if you can’t sit on it?
This doesn’t mean you have free rein to be a slob. There are ways you can keep your home clean, comfortable, and livable without devoting every waking minute to the task. In fact, we’ve reviewed a few books on the subject. Your home is not a stage set. You’re going for peace, not perfection. Learn to regard “lived-in” as a compliment.
You Have a Personality
Homes decorated entirely in those oh-so-popular neutrals, devoid of any personal items in plain view, with cookie-cutter “decor” pieces that don’t express who you are: these kinds of interiors look pre-fab, made to appeal to anyone and everyone.
Unless you rent out your home and live somewhere else, allowing it to be an authentic representation of your style and interests makes it more interesting and welcoming.
You Have Kids, Pets, and a Partner
Real homes involve more than just you. A home populated by loving partners, kids, dogs and cats, and everything that comes with them is a home where several lives converge. Making their lives all about your need for perfection is guaranteed to spur sulking, crankiness, and dissent.
Sure, the kids should pick up after themselves, and the dishes should go into the dishwasher and not in a pile on the kitchen counter. But forcing your family to stand inspection daily will leave you exhausted and them sullen. Suddenly the kids are spending lots of time at their friend’s house, and your partner and the dog are enjoying several extra walks a day.
You don’t have to hang up a “bless this mess” sign and give up. Letting go of home decor perfectionism frees you up to choose pieces just because you like them—and not because they conform to some pre-conceived idea of what’s “on trend.”
A few well-chosen pieces that express your taste and personality can liven up your home, inside and out. They can boost your home’s curve appeal. Adopting a “clean it when you notice it” philosophy and investing 20 minutes at a time rather than a full day of obsessive scrubbing will make for a more enjoyable home.
