Q: “How do you know when you’re investing in the right piece for a room? I’m paralyzed to pull the trigger and then later realize the table, curtains, or rug I’m currently eying aren’t ‘the answer’ for my room and then spend years regretting them.” – Melissa
We hear this question a lot. After roughly six years of decorating two homes on a modest budget, with plenty of mistakes, experiments, and course corrections along the way, here’s what experience has taught us. We don’t get everything right on the first try—sometimes a choice is too risky, sometimes too safe, sometimes size or proportion is off, and sometimes an item just isn’t as functional as we thought. The good news: most decorating missteps are fixable, and you don’t have to live with a decision you hate forever.
Mistake #1. The fluffy green rug in the living room. Cost: $425 (8 x 10′ wool rug).
When we moved into a much larger family room than we’d ever decorated before, we bought a super-shaggy rug that looked cozy but was far too small for the space. It also proved impractical for a toddler who dropped food. Rather than forcing it to work, we replaced it with a larger short-weave rug that better suited the scale, added pattern, and held up to daily life.
One of the most practical lessons here is that reuse and resale are useful safety nets. If a piece doesn’t work in one room, try it elsewhere in the house—guest rooms, sunrooms, or a play area can be great second homes for an item. If you can’t find another spot, reselling the piece recoups costs and reduces buyer’s remorse. Knowing you have options like reusing or reselling makes it easier to take a decorating risk.
Mistake #2. The stools in the kitchen. Cost: about $150 for four, plus primer and spray paint.
We bought a set of inexpensive stools, then stumbled upon a different style we loved. Instead of holding on to the originals, we sold them and used the proceeds toward the new stools. We even made a small profit after accounting for the time spent painting the original set. Testing inexpensive options and being willing to change them out later allowed us to “try before we commit” without a major financial hit.
Mistake #3. The dining room chairs. Cost: $400 for eight (including slipcovers, dye, paint, and extras).
After multiple attempts to make inexpensive chairs work—slipcovers, dye, lots of trial and error—we realized they weren’t the right fit. We sold them and recovered half of our investment. Then we bought six comfortable, on-sale chairs that fit the space and our lifestyle. Sometimes you have to accept that an item isn’t salvageable and move on; recouping some of the cost through resale makes the decision easier.
It’s worth noting that many of our purchases worked out from the start. We’ve kept and loved items such as our counters, floors, major furniture pieces, storage pieces, appliances, custom lights, and many handmade or thrifted finds. Those wins remind us that while mistakes happen, they’re balanced by choices that don’t require do-overs.
- Corian counters
- Cork floors
- Ed the bed
- Large patterned bedroom rug
- Upholstered headboard we made
- Karl the sectional
- Giant living room storage ottoman
- Kitchen and laundry appliances
- Several handmade or purchased light fixtures
- New dining table
- Craigslist buffet
- Curtains we’ve made or bought
- Console we built in the living room
- Thrift store media cabinet
- Ikea bookcase in the sunroom
- Office built-ins and chairs
- Round jute rug in the office
- Clara’s secondhand nursery dresser and crib
- Craigslist dresser for Clara’s big girl room
Resale, swapping pieces between rooms, yard sales, and donations are all part of a practical decorating strategy. We’ve sold items from past kitchens and remodels, and those resale earnings helped fund new projects. Remember: no purchase has to be forever. Being flexible lets you learn what works in your home without locking yourself into permanent regret.
If you find yourself paralyzed by the fear of making a mistake, keep three principles in mind: buy what you can afford, think choices through, and accept that a few missteps are normal. Most of your purchases will be things you love; a handful will teach you what not to repeat. Rather than letting fear stop progress, use the safety nets available—reusing, reselling, or donating—to move your home forward. Decorating is often trial and error, and that process is part of finding the pieces that give you that “this is it” feeling.