We've been in our house for about 3 years. There's nothing really wrong with it, in that it's not a fixer upper but it's definitely not my style. We finally have the basics covered, in that we have a table and chairs but I hate them but I haven't always had furniture, etc. I refuse to go into debt to fix up anything, so we're going to do things one step at a time.
Do you think it would be better to get a room completely done including decorating or would it be better to get all the basics out of the way, like paint and carpeting throughout and then go back and take care of the details? Thanks.

By Yjja123 on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 02:35 pm:

I have always done one room at a time. It helps you keep your focus and it is such a relief when it is done. Then you have a completed room to take joy in.
Enjoy the process!

By Reds9298 on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 02:53 pm:

I have not always done one room at a time and I think Yvonne's suggestion is best if possible! The times I have done an entire room at "once", it REALLY did help to keep the focus. Doing things piece-meal for me has meant one room in particular that I just don't like(which is easy to do when you're on a budget or first starting out). It will stay that way for a while though because I don't want to spend/don't have the $3-4K I need to make it the way I want it.
Good luck! I recommend doing one room at a time also

By Jjb on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 03:22 pm:

I never did one room at a time, but now that we're decorating our new house I'm trying to do it that way. I find it helps me finish the room instead of leaving loose ends or unfinished little projects. It also gives me a feeling of accomplishment. I think either way is fine, but I'm finding one room at a time works best for me.

By Rayelle on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 04:13 pm:

I guess I tend to lean towards getting the rooms completely done one at a time. We don't make a ton of money but we're better off than we used to be and I'm ready to have things that I like instead of stuff that was the right price and that was the only thing "right" about it, lol. I just wish it could all be done ! While I'm wishing I'd want a whole new house though,lol.

By Bea on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 04:21 pm:

I've always done things a little at a time and when we had the funds. If the sofa in the den needed a slipcover I'd put that high on my priority list because it was expensive and something we used a lot. A new lamp for the living room when the old one still worked but was old fashioned went lower on my list. LOL By the time you get the list finished, there's a new list waiting.

By Mrsheidi on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 09:44 pm:

I would start in the rooms that you spend the most time in. Kitchen, eating area, living room, etc.

Good luck! I LOVE to decorate but I really don't think I'm all that good at it!

By Conni on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 11:45 pm:

I am the oddball on this one. If you *need* or want to paint, then you should do it all at one time.

If you need new flooring and have the money now, I would then do the flooring (after painting). If you dont have much furn. now, you wouldn't have to move so much out of the way to put the flooring down.

Then I would move on to the basic furn in each room and rugs / window treatments.

Over the years you can add/remove/add again decor...and small unique pcs. of furniture.

By Debbie on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 08:14 am:

Ditto Conni, I think I would do major things, like painting and flooring at one time. Then, I would concentrate on finishing each room. But, I would also have an idea of what you want to do in each room. I feel that a house looks better if it all flows together. We have an open floor plan, so it was important for the family room, kitchen, and dining room to go together. So I made sure that I had an plan for what I wanted to do in each room, before I started buying things.