My home took 5 years to feel finished – and I’m glad I didn’t rush it

Home decorator and content creator Grace H is one of Ideal Home's new Open House contributors, sharing her thoughts on colourful home design, mixing vintage pieces with new and making personality-filled spaces. See the rest of her articles here.

I remember the day we finally got the keys like it was yesterday. Armed with a Pinterest board, boundless enthusiasm, and a very limited budget, I was so excited to get the house "finished" before I had even started. I romanticised the idea of lighting candles in a beautifully decorated room, waking up to a little bud vase full of flowers, and enjoying Sunday lie-ins in a home that was a true reflection of us.

Nearly five years on, people often consider it finished because of the carefully photographed angles on Instagram. And it is finished in a way, I guess. We’ve done all the big jobs, but I honestly believe that now is the fun part: adding layers, styling, and upgrading the items that just don’t fit my style anymore.

Lesson learned: do not be so impatient. I can hear my Grandad’s voice ringing in my ears: "Slow and steady wins the race..."

I often share before-and-after shots on my Instagram page. While I hope they offer insight and inspiration to others, I also selfishly share them for me – to document the process and remind ourselves of how far we have come. We worked incredibly hard (and I use the phrase "we" loosely here, as my other half doesn’t take a massive role unless it comes to the tech elements of our home!).

So, if you will indulge me, let’s take a walk down memory lane. Hopefully, it’ll help you take your foot off the pedal a touch so you can enjoy the process and avoid making a hasty mistake.

Don't rush

I’ve spoken about this in previous articles and wax lyrical about it on my page regularly, but it’s honestly so true. If you rush, you WILL make mistakes and compromise the overall design.

A room needs to evolve slowly so that layers and pieces are added organically. If you’re not careful, a space can easily end up looking over-designed, too matchy-matchy, or even a little soulless.

No regrets (well, maybe a few...)

While I’m not a fan of the concept of regret – I always think we learn something from our decor missteps, I have made some rash decisions that I’ve since had to rectify. (Industrial lighting choices, anyone?).

I’m not going to spend too long talking about what I wish we’d done differently, though. Instead, let’s focus on the joy of layering slowly.

Stop shopping!

Yes, I mean it. If you go on a massive shopping spree just to complete a room in one weekend, it will look too "done", too curated, or worse, like a showroom page.

Paint the room, buy the key pieces of furniture, and maybe grab one new cushion if you really want to push the boat out but leave it there.

To get that eclectic look (that I personally love), pieces need to feel a bit random or thrown together. I actually love interiors best when there are one or two elements in a room that don’t quite work on paper.

Let’s take a look at our living room through the years to break it down.

Phase 1: The blank canvas

This is where we started. A completely blank canvas, or fifty shades of no thank you.

Phase 2: April 2022 (5 months in)

Five months after getting the keys. The walls were painted, picture rails fitted, alcove cupboards built, and the mirror and mantelpiece added. The yellow sofa was brand new, but everything else came with us from our old London flat.

This is the perfect demonstration of a rug that floats in the room completely unanchored. I couldn’t be bothered to paint the ceiling either, which is why it remained brilliant white – a decision that future Grace would come to regret.

Phase 3: October 2023

The uPVC window frames were painted (see my previous article on how I did it) and the layers were slowly being added. Notice how a correctly sized rug makes a massive difference?

We added a vintage armchair, a striped side stool, window film to stop the snoopers, plants, and curtains (admittedly too drab, but it’s all a learning curve). Clearly, my love of stripes was starting to come into play.

This is the stage where my Mum assumed we’d stop. She was wrong. It was fine, but a little flat. I needed more texture and more pattern!

Phase 4: February 2025

The drab curtains went and the bespoke blinds arrived (in hindsight, I would have picked something a tad bolder and more fun, but we’re as I said, we’re constantly learning). My bespoke ottoman of dreams also arrived in a custom size – do you see how much better the scale is here compared to the old wooden coffee table?

Some artwork went up, rechargeable lights were added to the alcoves (a total gamechanger in winter), and most importantly, the ceiling was finally colour-drenched in the same shade as the walls.

The room was really starting to come together. But we could still do better...

Phase 5: The present day

Is it perfect? No. But it is clear to see that every single little change has added to the overall finish.

Today, there are pinks, yellows, reds, and greens. There are mismatched vases, large-scale artwork alongside small-scale pieces, a lovely, layered lighting plan, a freestanding stove, and trinkets and treasures that have been collected over time. (Top tip: always shop your own and move things from room to room to keep things fresh).

The moral of the story?

Grandad was right. It looks a little mismatched, and that’s exactly what I wanted. It feels so much cosier now with lighting that actually works for the space, furniture that is the right size, artwork that is the correct scale, and a rug that covers nearly the whole floor.

Do I wish the TV wasn't on show like you see in the glossy magazines? Sometimes. But watching TV is a massive part of our lives, and our homes need to be a reflection of the actual people living in them, not a tick-box exercise for the approval of others.

Let me know if you liked me breaking things down like this, and we can tackle another room next time!