I started working on the dining room mural when there were still nail holes in the walls that needed to be patched. I was doing so well with taking each step of the makeover in its proper turn. I painted the ceiling first, installed the molding, caulked the seams, and painted the trim and wainscoting. After doing it all in the right order, I was ready to get to the fun part and wasn’t going to let spackling slow me down. I can always fill them in later (which I did.)
I had to laugh at myself when the holes in my freshly painted mural became bothersome and I filled them in, sanded, and had to touch up the paint before the mural was even a week old. I could’ve saved some time by doing things in the right order. Instead of fretting over a small detail that won’t make any difference in the finished result, I embraced the idea that sometimes the wrong order is the right order.
So, I doubled down and started hanging curtains and artwork before the mural was even finished. And I don’t mind a bit that I will need to slide panels out of the way or take a painting down as I finish things up. I’ve noticed this tendency about myself while working on projects before, but I think this was the first time I acknowledged it as something more valuable than impatience or a lack of attention to detail. I recognized that it’s about noticing what I’m excited to work on and permitting myself to do it. Not only does this approach prevent me from getting stuck or dragging my feet for too long, but it focuses my energy where it’ll be most effective and rewarding.
Sometimes I have to buckle down and do the boring things, the parts of a project I have to wade through like mud, but, more often than not, it’s not a big deal if I rearrange the game plan on the fly. I don’t typically overthink things anyway, but I found this approach liberating. It’s sort of an extension of one of my favorite Marian-isms – Start where you’ll start. If you want to start painting the walls before the patching is done, it’ll be okay. If you want to buy a bush and plant it before you have a firm landscaping plan, go for it. If you are hot to play with the accessories before a room is fully finished, knock yourself out.
I’m not talking about high-stakes decisions, big-money purchases, and critical home projects. I’m talking about the order of things, the little details, and the fun stuff. I think it’s safe to say there are very few fatal errors that can be made in those places. So, give yourself some latitude to work on the things that have you chomping at the bit.
I truly believe that momentum begets momentum when it comes to a to-do list. Painting the walls will likely give you just the push you need to spackle those holes. Even if you did it in the wrong order…
23 Responses
A wise woman, you are.
I love it already!!! YES! It always helps to stick a little fun into the mix. It is the boost to the finish line…..and gets the heart racing!
It looks so pretty with your furniture and those gorgeous drapes! Your instincts were right about the style and colors. Yay for you!
I’ve noticed that myself. I get stuck on getting started on projects because of the tedious steps I didn’t want to do first. Jumping in and doing something else may have motivated me to start sooner. Start where you start. I need to do that.
The proof is in the pudding!
The room will look fabulous no matter how you did it…sometimes you need to shake things up and work on what excites you the most. Other times you want to get the difficult or boring stuff out of the way first…you are the one in charge. What you want to avoid is losing interest and abandoning the project.
I agree and thought I was the only one. No one understands it, but I am not doing it for ‘no one’. I always trust your instincts and your final decision.
I love it and can sense the excitement in your voice.
Nothing like velvet drapes…and they were a bargain.
Looks beautiful. One person’s order is different than everyone else. I love how your room looks, but i think it’s time to get rid of the high chair! It’s a lovely, well aged piece of furniture but it’s time to move on and deal with teenage boys!
That came out of my Opa’s attic and I’ve had it in my house since I was a newlywed. It’s going to stay. 🙂
I agree! I have the antique high chair my father used in my kitchen and I don’t have any children. So sentimental!
Oh, the yummy yummy colors! Yes I have been known to hang a clock before the sheet rock was up! ( I had to figure out the clock placement, hahaha) Loving the mural!
I enjoy reading your content, so I thought you’d like to be made aware of the fact that one of your ads (the Best Buy ad) is blocking at least 5 lines of your blog. Not sure if it’s a glitch you can fix or not, but I would want to know if it was me.
Thank you so very much for your blogs.
yes, that’s definitely a glitch. Ads shouldn’t be covering the content. If you have that problem again, try refreshing the page.
Wow, these two sentences really speak to me: “I recognized that it’s about noticing what I’m excited to work on and permitting myself to do it. Not only does this approach prevent me from getting stuck or dragging my feet for too long, but it focuses my energy where it’ll be most effective and rewarding.”
I often proceed like this, and when I do, my excitement and curiosity carry me through the rest of the task at hand.
Truly magnificent! And you are right, the velvet curtains are a show-stopper! I did giggle a little at your use of ‘chopping the bit’ comment. Growing up with horses ‘chomping or champing at the bit’ was a term we used. But it did send me down a small rabbit hole. I thought, is it chomping or champing?! LOL Turns out both are acceptable! Champ is a more proper term, and chomp is more what most of us horse riders would use! Chopping, though, now that would add another whole angle to it! ha!
Ha! That was a typo. I meant “chomping” so I changed it. 🙂
I started sorting and scanning antique and vintage family photos about ten days ago and guess I need to quit and find something that gets me champing at the bit because I am definitely stuck in what seems like an endless project! Once you have all the mess out, it just seems sensible to keep plodding away, but I think, once again, I’m going to have to put these aside, leave this project unfinished and start decorating for winter!
How many walls does your mural cover? I think I see at least 3 in the photos. What a mighty (beautiful) project to undertake. Congrats and keep plugging away at the fun parts, interspersed with the “get this part done” parts. Thanks for taking us along on the journey.
No matter the order, the mural turned out beautiful! I caught a glimpse of the velvet curtains, and they look gorgeous as well.
Marian, I’m so glad it’s not just me that needs to do things out of order sometimes! Well, a lot of times is more like it! I love your velvet curtains – and I’d love to get some but do you find they are a cat hair magnet? Thank you!
Marian,
As I read and looked my words went like this~
The colors, the trees, oh my the CURTAINS, and with the furniture in place and a painting to pull it together made it just beautiful!
Wow~ so gorgeous!
Thank you.. it’s magical!
And there is that precious cat again! What a gift to be able to transfer your vision to A WALL. I didn’t think any room could trump your kitchen, but this did. Is the chair fabric the same as curtain fabric? A slightly different color? A thumbs up on this project. You didn’t disappoint!
How far do you take the spaces behind the large pieces of furniture-just in case you ever want to switch things around.
The added bonus of the mural is the sunlight stretching across it.