How to Overcome Decorating Commitment Phobia

There are countless decisions to make when decorating, and for the commitment-phobic those decisions can sometimes be difficult. If your commitment issues--or your landlord's rules--are keeping you from the gorgeous home you crave, fear not--there are decorating options for everyone, even those of you who aren't ready to make any permanent changes. The key is to keep the more expensive and difficult-to-change elements neutral and classic--and have fun with the pieces that are easy to replace and switch. Here are some suggestions.

Things You'll Need

• Paint
• Paint brushes
• Wallpaper
• Painters Tape
• Tape measure
• Sponge
• Stencil
• lighting
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Pillows/Blankets
• Table linens
• Flowers
• Art

Instructions

1. Paint is one of the quickest and cheapest ways to change the look and feel of a room. If you're not inclined to opt for wallpaper (or if you're renting and your landlord won't allow it), consider paint your new best friend. A bold, colorful wall can bring life to a room, but just because you aren't using wallpaper doesn't mean you can't bring a little pattern into the space. Use several tones or colors to create your own wallpaper effect. All it takes to create stripes or a checkerboard pattern is some painter's tape and a tape measure. If you want a less geometric option, you could opt for a technique like sponging or stripe. Paint a pattern onto the wall, freehand if you've got the skills, or use stencils if you're not exactly Michelangelo. Remember, paint doesn't have to stop at the walls. Ceilings deserve a little attention too. You can also give your furniture, mirrors and frames a fresh look (or many fresh looks) with paint.

2. If you're considering hanging wallpaper, but aren't ready to cover your house, start with one accent wall or a small or less-used space like a powder room or guest room. If you aren't allowed to apply wallpaper, but still want the look, try framing large pieces of paper as a graphic art statement or cover large pieces of foam core board with paper and mount them on the wall. You could also create a three or four-paneled wood screen and cover that with wallpaper instead of the wall. If you place the screen behind a sofa or other piece of furniture it will create an effect similar to a wall of wallpaper. Or you can opt for wall decals, which are a temporary way to give new life to walls.

3. You have a few options when it comes to switching up your lighting too. Table and floor lamps are mobile and require no installation, so they're perfect for people who don't want to make more permanent decisions. And beyond just being easy to move, these lamps can be given new looks too. You can switch up the shades relatively easily and inexpensively, change colors or shapes or add ribbon detailing to a simple white shade. When it comes to overhead lighting, typically you need to have the proper wiring in the ceiling. But if you want to add an overhead source of light without rewiring the room, you have a couple of options. Large, arcing floor lamps (the most famous example is the Arco by Achille Castiglioni) can provide overhead lighting. Or if you want the chandelier look, you could consider rewiring a pendant light with a long cord and a plug for a standard wall outlet and hanging it from a hook in the ceiling.

4. Change up accessories. If you don't want to reupholster the sofa, switch up the throw pillows and blankets. Getting new bedding is an easy, low-commitment way to give your bedroom a new look. You can stick with the simplest of white china, but manage to create a colorful and vibrant table every time you entertain just with new table linens and flowers. Rotate your art and photos periodically; one way to make it easy is to use picture ledges. You could keep your major furniture and your walls the same color--and manage to give your home a new look every season with just the accessories!