Even Designers Struggle with Home Design Projects
I’ve been an interior designer for over 10 years. I’ve helped clients design everything from one-room refreshes to full home renovations.
But here’s the truth: even designers get overwhelmed when it’s their own house.
There’s something about working in your own space—with your family, your mess, your real-life schedule—that makes it way harder than designing for someone else.
I remember moving into our current home and thinking, “I should know exactly what to do!” But instead, I stared at empty rooms for months. The to-do list felt endless. The budget felt tight. And real life didn’t slow down just because I wanted to update the living room.
That’s when I learned to slow down, prioritize, and take my home design projects one step at a time.
If you’re staring at a long list of ideas and don’t know where to start—this is for you.
Step 1: Ask Why This Home Design Project Matters
Before you pick out paint colors or start buying new furniture, stop and ask yourself one simple question:
Why does this project matter to me right now?
Maybe your bedroom doesn’t feel restful. Maybe your kitchen drives you nuts because the drawers barely open. Or maybe you just want to enjoy one room that feels done.
Not every project needs to be urgent. But the ones that fix a problem or make your life easier? Those go to the top of the list.
Check out my previous blog about bathroom design and self care which is a great example of why you would want to prioritize a project.
Step 2: Make a “Now, Soon, Later” List for Home Design Projects
Grab a notebook—or the Notes app on your phone—and write down every home design project that’s floating in your head.
Then sort them into three simple categories:
- Now – High-impact, high-priority
- Soon – Helpful but not urgent
- Later – Dream ideas or non-essentials
This takes the pressure off and gives you a plan. You don’t have to forget about the fun stuff—you just get to stop feeling like it all has to happen right now.
I created a simple checklist to help you get started, you can grab the Free Design Project Checklist Here!
Step 3: Pick One Room and One Project
If you try to tackle too many home design projects at once, you’ll end up stressed, burned out, and possibly with three half-finished rooms.
Even with my years of design experience, I only focus on one space at a time in my own home. I sit with the room. I notice how we use it. I plan before I buy.
Choose one room. Then choose one project within that room. Start small if you need to:
Paint one wall. Swap out lighting. Declutter and reset the space.
Finishing something builds momentum—and confidence.
Step 4: Start With the Most-Used Spaces
You don’t need to start with the biggest room or the one that guests see. Start with the room you use every single day.
If your entryway is a mess, fix that first. If your family eats dinner at a wobbly table every night, that’s the project that matters.
Design isn’t just about beauty—it’s about function. When you improve the spaces you live in the most, you feel the benefits right away.
Here’s a post I wrote on creating intentional spaces on a budget…this is a great read before starting any home design project.
Step 5: Work with the Budget You Have
You don’t need a $10,000 budget to make progress on your home.
Some of my favorite transformations started with less than $100—a can of paint, a new rug, a secondhand light fixture. The key is doing something with purpose, instead of feeling stuck until you can “do it all.”
Small projects, done with care, add up to a home you love.
Follow me on LTK for pre-made room designs that you can shop on a budget.
Your Home Design Projects Don’t Have to Be Perfect—They Just Have to Start
Here’s what I want you to know: You’re not behind.
Your home doesn’t need to be magazine-ready. It just needs to support you and the people you love.
Even with all my design knowledge and experience, I take it one project at a time in my own space. I plan. I pause. I do it on my timeline.
So the next time your to-do list feels like too much, remember this:
Pick one room. Choose one project. Do it with purpose.
And let the rest wait.
Want Help Picking the Right Project to Start With?
👉 Let Marlo, my virtual design assistant, help you figure it out—based on your space, your budget, and your real life. Get on the WAITLIST now and be the first to know when she launches.
