This is Day 2 of the series “31 Ways to Make Your Home Uniquely You.” If you missed Day 1, check the previous post on the blog. Our $159 kitchen makeover was also entered in a renovation contest, and we appreciated every vote. Now… on to today’s post!
Years ago I had the chance to attend a home decor workshop led by Jane Lockhart, known from the show Colour Confidential. The evening was everything I hoped for: entertaining, practical, and inspiring. I left motivated to try new ideas in my own home.
Although I must have taken notes that night, I don’t know where they ended up. Fortunately, a few key lessons stuck with me clearly, and one exercise in particular changed how I approach decorating.
Jane ran a short personality quiz on stage to help each of us identify how our character influences the way we decorate. She then explained how different personality traits tend to show up in our homes. I only remember two of the personality types she described, but they apply to so many of us.
The Indecisive Decorator
- Tends to spend endless hours comparing options—pausing over paint swatches, furniture styles, and accessories, often without settling on a choice.
- Worries about making the “wrong” decision, and that fear often prevents any decision at all.
- As a result, rooms can stay unchanged for a long time. The space may be safe, but it’s rarely satisfying or fully realized.
The Impulsive Decorator
- Frequently starts new projects with enthusiasm and energy.
- Gets an idea mid-project—while painting a bathroom, suddenly imagines a dramatic change for the kitchen—and drops everything to pursue the new inspiration.
- Ends up with many half-finished projects scattered around the house because new sparks pull attention away from what’s underway.
- This approach leads to lots of activity, but often not enough completion to feel content with a finished, cohesive home.
I remember these two archetypes because I used to swing between them. I would agonize over decisions until I got so tired of waiting that I’d choose something on impulse. When that impulsive choice didn’t always work out, I’d swing back into indecision. It was a frustrating cycle that stalled progress and left me unsatisfied.
{Our kitchen when we moved in…}
I needed a better approach—one that combined thoughtfulness with momentum so projects would actually get finished and look good. I wanted to keep the careful consideration of the indecisive decorator without letting fear freeze me, and to capture the energy of the impulsive decorator without ending up with unfinished rooms.
{The kitchen during its Dill Pickle Green phase…}
Over time I learned to set clear priorities, limit options to a manageable shortlist, and commit to a course long enough to evaluate how it looks in the space. When a new idea strikes, I jot it down and decide whether it belongs to my current project or a future one. This simple habit helped me stay focused while still honoring creative impulses.
{The kitchen now… and I finally love it!}
By blending thoughtful decision making with controlled bursts of creativity, I completed the kitchen makeover and turned it into a space I genuinely enjoy. The key was finding a balance: do the research that matters, make a decision, and then follow through. You don’t need to choose between being indecisive or impulsive—learn to use the best parts of both.
If you’re struggling to move forward with a room, try these practical steps: narrow your color and style options, set a realistic timeline, commit to finishing one phase before starting another, and keep a running list of future ideas so they don’t derail current projects. These small habits make a big difference in creating a home that reflects your personality and feels complete.
{Come back tomorrow to hear how one event shifted my decorating habits for good. 
}