As someone who helps people make decorating decisions every day, you might assume I have it all figured out when it comes to my own space. But let me tell you, I’m right there with you when it comes to feeling overwhelmed. In fact, I’m experiencing it firsthand with our new home build. There are just so many decisions to make—paint colours, finishes, furniture—and the fear of making the wrong choice can feel paralyzing.

I’ve noticed that this same feeling of overwhelm shows up for many of my clients too. It’s that sense of What if I make a mistake? What if this doesn’t turn out the way I want? And before you know it, days, weeks, and even months have gone by, and no progress has been made.

The problem? Overwhelm keeps us stuck, and the opportunity cost of doing nothing can be huge.

Recently, I was listening to Amy Porterfield’s podcast, where she talks about how our thoughts, not the situation itself, are often the source of our overwhelm. It struck me because that’s exactly what happens when we face big decorating decisions. The more we let fear and overthinking take over, the less likely we are to take action.

But here’s the thing I’ve learned, both from my own experience and from working with clients: taking action—even imperfect action—creates clarity and builds confidence. And that’s what I want to share with you today.

The Cost of Overwhelm in Decorating

If you’ve ever felt completely stuck in a decorating project, you’re not alone. It usually starts with excitement—a vision of the perfect space—but then the decisions start piling up: What colour should I paint the walls? Do I need new furniture? Should I re-arrange the layout? Before you know it, what seemed like a fun, creative process turns into an overwhelming mental checklist that leaves you frozen.

One of the biggest culprits? Comparison. We’ve all done it—flipped through magazines, scrolled through Instagram, or watched TV shows with perfectly staged rooms. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking my home will never look like that or I need everything to be perfect before I start.

But here’s the thing: perfection isn’t the goal in decorating. That would be completely unattainable so why put ourselves through that mental anguish??? And the moment we start comparing ourselves to those impossible standards, we set ourselves up for overwhelm.

Let’s Stop the Comparison Insanity!

I’ve seen it happen so many times with my clients, and I’ve experienced it myself. That feeling of What if I choose wrong? What if it doesn’t turn out the way I imagined? What if I waste money? It’s that fear of making a mistake that can hold us back from making any decision at all. And suddenly, weeks or months go by, and nothing’s changed. The space that could have felt like YOU is still stuck in limbo.

Overwhelm doesn’t just slow us down; it stops us completely. I hear from homeowners all the time who are afraid to take that first step because they’re waiting for the “perfect” choice or the “right” time. But here’s the thing—if we let overwhelm take over, we end up living in spaces that don’t reflect who we are, simply because we’re too afraid to make a move.

Imperfect Action Leads to Clarity

Here’s something I’ve learned both in my own life and from working with clients: action creates clarity. It’s not about making the “perfect” choice every time—it’s about making a choice and learning from it. As Marie Forleo says, “Clarity comes from engagement, not thought,” and she’s absolutely right.

I’ve been a lifetime enthusiast of personal development, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of studying mindset—from Tony Robbins to Amy Porterfield—it’s that taking action, even imperfect action, is the key to growth. It’s easy to get stuck in your head, but the real breakthroughs come when you just start doing.

For example, when I was invited to speak at the “Home Hardware” trade show about my social media, I was nervous. I’m not a public speaker! There were so many things I could’ve overthought—What if I don’t say the right thing? What if I’m not good enough?—but instead of freezing, I took action. I prepared, showed up, and by the time it was over, I felt confident. That action grew my confidence, and led to clarity, not just about the presentation, but about what I was capable of.

The same goes for decorating. When you take even the smallest step—whether it’s testing out a paint colour on one wall or rearranging your furniture or finding a pretty new bedspread at Home Sense —you begin to see what works and what doesn’t. Each action, even if it’s not perfect, moves you forward and gives you more confidence in your next step.

Building Confidence Through Doing

Confidence doesn’t come from getting everything right on the first try—it comes from DOING. It’s the action, the trial and error, that helps you learn and grow. I’ve found that when my clients stop striving for perfection and start taking those small steps, they begin to feel more confident in their choices.

This is where mindset plays such a huge role in decorating. It’s really not just about the paint colours or the furniture—it’s about believing in your ability to make decisions and trusting that each step forward will get you closer to your vision.

I often encourage my clients to start with something SMALL—maybe it’s choosing a beautiful new table lamp that lights up a space in a fresh way, picking out a throw pillow that adds a pop of colour or texture, or even rearranging the furniture to create a better flow. Those small wins build confidence. And with each decision they make, they’re not just creating a beautiful home—they’re building belief in themselves.

So much of what I’ve learned from personal development—whether it’s Tony Robbins’ philosophy on taking massive action or Marie Forleo’s focus on clarity—applies here. The more you do, the more you learn, and the more you grow. Each action, even the imperfect ones, builds your confidence, and that confidence is what transforms both your space and yourself.

Practical Tips for Taking Imperfect Action

So now it’s time to make this more practical and take some action. I’ve got a few simple strategies you can try this week or month to move forward on the decorating or organizing project you’ve been putting off in your home. And don’t make this a big deal in your mind. These tips are all about embracing imperfect action and building momentum.

1. Break it down into small, manageable steps.

Large projects can feel overwhelming, so start by breaking them down into bite-sized tasks. Instead of tackling an entire room at once, focus on one small area, like a corner, a messy shelf you’re sick of looking at, or a single piece of furniture. Maybe you start with choosing a new table lamp or finding a new throw pillow or what about creating a pretty vignette on your kitchen counter. The key is to create tiny, achievable goals that help you build confidence as you go.

2. Set a deadline.

Giving yourself a deadline is a powerful way to stay focused and avoid overthinking. Choose a realistic timeframe for your project, whether it’s picking out paint samples by the end of the week or decluttering a small area in the next two days. A deadline creates urgency and gives you a clear point to work toward, keeping you on track. Honestly, I have to do this in my own life or I keep putting off that messy closet as long as I can. Then I just end up feeling bad about myself.

3. Focus on one thing at a time.

When there are so many decisions to make, it’s easy to feel scattered. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, concentrate on one single task. For example, focus on rearranging the furniture in your living room, or just work on styling one bookshelf or what about creating a Pinterest Board for your specific project to get your vision. By narrowing your focus, you’ll feel less overwhelmed and more in control.

4. Embrace imperfect action.

The biggest lesson? Don’t wait for the perfect plan to start. Choose a small action—whether it’s buying that table lamp you’ve had your eye on or testing out a new colour scheme for your living room by creating some sample colour boards —and just GO FOR IT. The goal is progress, not perfection. Each step you take, even if it’s not perfect, will bring you more clarity and confidence.

5. Celebrate the small wins.

After each small step, take a moment to acknowledge your progress. Whether you’ve finally decluttered that messy drawer or picked out a new piece of decor, celebrate what you’ve accomplished. Believe me, I often forget to to this but it really makes a difference. Recognizing these wins keeps you motivated and reminds you that every little bit counts.

Our New Motto: Progress Over Perfection!

So I’m gonna be totally honest and vulnerable here…even as a decorator, I can experience this overwhelm firsthand. It’s sooooo much easier to be confident when I’m helping clients design their homes, but when it comes to my own space, that familiar overwhelm can totally creep in. I’ve especially noticed it with our own home build—there are so many decisions, and it’s easy to get stuck in that fear of making the wrong choice. That’s why I remind myself constantly to break it down into small, manageable steps. It’s not about doing it all at once or aiming for perfection; it’s about making progress.

So we’re in this together! But the main thing is we’re moving forward. How about before you leave this blog you decide on one small step will you take this week to move forward on a decorating project???