If you watch HGTV, you have likely seen that many people who take on renovating and redecorating projects make a lot of mistakes. I am one of those people. My decorating training is limited to one high school class and one extension program at IUPUI. I am not afraid of learning by trial and error, so you can clearly see that I might make a lot of mistakes.
I’ve only owned the house a few months but, while it still belonged to Mom, I did some basic maintenance and replacement of things that had seen better days. I replaced some worn-out blinds with what I thought were nice, light-blocking curtains. They were rubber backed and it seemed like they would last for quite a while. However, a few months later, the backing started crumbling, making a disgusting mess and looking absolutely terrible.
I have since replaced them with this better set from Amazon. The new ones are a high-quality, thick fabric without that troublesome backing.
If you are interested in buying a similar pair, click on the link below. They come in several colors and sizes, priced according to which ones you pick. The size and color I bought came in at a whopping $20.00 for a set of two panels. I used four panels because my window is extra wide.
The drop ceiling panels in the sunroom are a mistake that we've battled for years. The panels often bow and sometimes fall. Someone finally explained to me that Florida’s extreme humidity make those ceiling panels a poor choice, as they absorb the dampness and then warp. If the AC ran year around in that room, it might not be an issue, but since it doesn’t, those panels take a beating in the hell that is a Florida summer. When time and money allow, I will replace that ceiling with more resilient materials.
On a more positive note, I have noticed that the decorative wrought iron hardware and accessories brought in by my mother and grandmother have held up quite well over the years. I’ll keep that in mind as I continue my redecorating efforts.
Rearranging furniture has been a prime example of trial and error. In one bedroom, turning the head of the bed to a different wall was a brilliant solution. It made the room look much bigger and it allowed me to incorporate a larger nightstand. It also allows the closet door to open all the way, something that wasn’t possible with previous arrangement.
On the other hand, turning the bed in the second bedroom was a total failure. My son and grandson like to play video games in that room, but turning the bed made that an awkward and uncomfortable situation. Furthermore, it just does not look right to my eye. One of the first things I intend to do on our next visit is to turn that bed right back to where it was before. Live and learn.
There will probably be a lot of small successes with the house in the years to come. There will also be just as many failures. Still, it’s better to try and fail than to not try at all. I’ll keep trying until I get it all just right.
Up Next: Mailbox Matters
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