Everybody’s situation is different and so, as perfect as it would be to decorate an entire home from start to finish at once, this just isn’t the case for everyone. There are so many reasons why you might need to decorate over time; from needing to budget because you are receiving benefits; or perhaps you work as a contractor and are paid in instalments, or maybe you are receiving a structured settlement.

Whatever the reason, there are several ways you can smooth the transition and redecorate your home slowly, yet effectively over time:

Learn to just go with it

From the outset, trust in the process and accept that this is going to take a bit of time – but that that in itself is a thing of beauty. Watching your style change over time, observing the gradual changes and taking satisfaction from finding individual items that you can then introduce one by one is very enjoyable.

Another great thing, however, about decorating slowly is that it gives you time to appreciate the process more and ‘smell the flowers’ so to speak. You will also be able to research more about exactly what you want and make sure you have got as much information to help guide you into making the right decision, rather than rushing into anything.

Declutter and organise

Decorating in gradual stages allows you to reevaluate what is in your home and properly assess whether you still need it or not. You have more time to thoroughly declutter your home, then organise it all so that it works better for you and looks much more open and neat.

This will put your home in the right position for redecorating too, as there’s less stuff for you to move out of the way when it comes to painting, for example. Plus, it means that your house is already looking better because you will have made it more spacious, so it is already halfway to being the home you dream of!

Create a decorating plan

If you create a plan from the start, it will enable you to keep track of your goals, work within your budget and not become tempted to go off-piste or get complacent or disillusioned. 

Write down tangible goals for each month alongside your budget, any blockers or steps you need to take to get there. Then, work through this plan each month, adjusting it as you go along and aiming to work 2-3 weeks in advance to avoid delays and research the items required in plenty of time so that you can compare prices to get the best deal for when you need them.

Collect things you love

Appreciate that you are in a position where you can truly ponder over each purchase and about whether or not you genuinely love it, rather than submitting to trends. 

Slow decorating is authentic – rather than a false sense of making a house look like you have accomplished your style over time, when in fact, it has been thrown together in a rush, it creates a true home with pieces you have collected throughout your lives that mean something to you and that belong there. 

cover photo via nordicdesign.ca