Do your friends...

[Anonymous]

We don't think about our home being ready for photos (??) but our house always looks clean and organized. We have a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old. We don't give our kids tons of stuff. They have enough to play with and keep them entertained, but little enough that it's easy to clean up and put away. DH and I are naturally neat and organized people. Also, while we do watch tv at night after the kids are in bed, we don't sit on the couch, but are cleaning up, going through mail, updating the magazines on the coffee table, etc.

[Anonymous]

Yes, most of my friends have better decorated houses. I hired someone to help, but it's taking me a long time to implement her suggestions for my living room! It's expensive, too, and I'm trying to spend a little bit every month to spread it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had our house done by a decorator before kids were born. They did top to bottom, like paint, drapes, carpeting, and all furniture. It came to $25-50k per room. The stuff is really good quality, so it's lasted through wear and tear of kids, though I know once they're older I'll have all the upholstery and carpets deep-cleaned. We have cleaning people every 2 weeks -- no pets, so it's just "kid mess" in between.

I'm sorry, good quality is not the key, these expensive furniture can't survive markers and pen and spilled milk.

It's a matter lifestyle more than the quality of your goods.

[Anonymous]

It's all about money. If I had money to spend on it mine would be decorated too.

[Anonymous]

I have a handful of friends whose houses are Pinterest-worthy like that. Mine is well-decorated but often messy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're talking about decorating: Some people just have more style and have an eye for that kind of thing. I wish I was a decorator, but I can pull anything together and make it look like it goes. We don't spend lots of money on design either. We get lots of compliments. I've decorated most of my friends houses too, which is really hard. I'm very good at colors, textures and knowing what I like. I absolutely love curtains and I think most people think it's a stupid thing to waste money on good fabric. But it's what makes the room.

I think most of the above people are talking about cleaning.

Why is that hard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're talking about decorating: Some people just have more style and have an eye for that kind of thing. I wish I was a decorator, but I can pull anything together and make it look like it goes. We don't spend lots of money on design either. We get lots of compliments. I've decorated most of my friends houses too, which is really hard. I'm very good at colors, textures and knowing what I like. I absolutely love curtains and I think most people think it's a stupid thing to waste money on good fabric. But it's what makes the room.

I think most of the above people are talking about cleaning.

Absolutely agree on the curtains. Don't skimp on those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's all about money. If I had money to spend on it mine would be decorated too.

Plus 1

In the absence of money, we did our house bit by bit over time. It still isn't completely done but good enough.

[Anonymous]

We live in a rental with boring white walls and relatively harsh lighting. No amount of pictures on the walls, better furniture or decorating makes it look really nice. My friends with the most comfortable homes have nicely painted walls and a few nice pieces up. They have well-coordinated furniture. Looks good even with toys out and visible presence of children. Someday, it'll be us too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're talking about decorating: Some people just have more style and have an eye for that kind of thing. I wish I was a decorator, but I can pull anything together and make it look like it goes. We don't spend lots of money on design either. We get lots of compliments. I've decorated most of my friends houses too, which is really hard. I'm very good at colors, textures and knowing what I like. I absolutely love curtains and I think most people think it's a stupid thing to waste money on good fabric. But it's what makes the room.

I think most of the above people are talking about cleaning.

Absolutely agree on the curtains. Don't skimp on those.

where do you both recommend getting curtains from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's all about money. If I had money to spend on it mine would be decorated too.

Money helps but I really don't think it is about money. So, my house always looks nice, it is decorated, and I am the one everyone asks for help - they call and ask me to come to their houses. It is even friends of friends...like they may come for an event or something I am hosting with one of their friemds and then compliment me, call me after the event, etc. But, the thing is, I have a style that I own or " know" when I see it ( A lot tell me they don't know their style); I am clean ( even with kids/ dog), and I don't have clutter or keep things. Those are not really money- based.

The clutter/dirt is what does people in and makes it seem not decorated. a friend kept asking for my opinion but all the paint, new cabinets, counters, furniture, do nothing if you are going to store pots, pans in sight. if you are going to keep every photo, artwork from kid. another friend, we spent no money...I just had her move things around, declutter and it was like a new house. keep things clean, limit clutter, and find something you love ( art, a clock, a paint color) and work around that. Wipe down your walls, cabinets. Put out new hand towels in powder room. simple is always best!

p.s. The pp. With the 2-3 yr olds-- that is so sweet with the art supplies and one bookshelf. Similar to me, but be prepared with huge backpacks, size 10 feet, footballs, guitars, french horns, music stands, text books, you name it. There is a lot of stuff for teens and it is so big - think ahead for storage!