Dread making decor decisions?

Decorating is not something to dread. It never should make you feel anxious or stressed out. Choosing paint colours or a new sofa should be a pleasant experience that makes you feel happy and energized.If you would like to avoid decorating distress, do some soul-searching to uncover the reasons for your panic at the paint store, and your hand-wringing when facing the sad shape of your kitchen.

A book that caught my attention is Nest Building, A Guide To Finding Your Inner Interior Designer by Kate Bridger. What struck me was that the book has not one photograph, which is odd for a decorating guide.

But after digging deeper I saw the rationale behind the author’s decision. Bridger is not offering colour choices or setting rules. She has written an easy-to-follow guide to help you make choices that work for you. The magic is “works for you.”

When faced with a difficult choice, we too often choose what is trendy, what friends are doing or what we think we should do.

How wrong is that if it doesn’t make you feel good?

Bridger outlines exercises with great doses of psychological advice to help you stop making safe choices and become a proactive decorator.

Bridger’s photo of the painterly kitchen won my heart.

“This is what happens when a creative homeowner comes up against an uninspired bank of white plywood kitchen cupboards,” wrote Bridger.

“Not in a position to replace them, many hours were spent with a sander, a ruler, a selection of primary paint colours and varnish to create this three-dimensional, functional art installation.

“It was intended to be a temporary solution, but that was more than a decade ago and this kitchen remains as it is because it clearly reflects the whimsical personality of its owner.”

Visitors to this kitchen have said it’s awesome but they couldn’t live with it, and what would they do if they were selling their house.

The point is those visitors aren’t living there and if they plan to sell they can either repaint or leave it to the new owners.

Why decorate for future owners? Enjoy the present and do what makes your life richer.

Whether embarking on your first foray into decorating, or longing to escape from past follies and indecision, Nest Building will set you on the road to success.

This column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email questions to house2home@debbietravis.com