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I had the pleasure of meeting Jonathan and Drew Scott, aka The Property Brothers, a couple of years ago at a book signing at Lowe’s in Franklin, TN. There are not a lot of people I care to stand in line for these days. But my heart skipped a beat when I saw with my very eyes all 6’5” of these famous twins.
For years, I had watched them on HGTV’s Property Brothers. They had taught me so much about great decorating and design. So, as a home decorator, to meet them in person was a dream come true!
What I learned from Jonathan and Drew about home decorating:
1. Decorating Should be More Fun Than Serious
Many people take decorating way too seriously, wanting everything to be perfect. Therefore, they don’t enjoy the process or they get stuck from the very beginning. Indecision stifles them so they don’t even get started.
What I’ve learned from Jonathan and Drew is that decorating homes is super fun. It’s literally one of my favorite things to do in the whole world. Even though I love French country decor, I can also have fun by mixing things up and adding zebra print pillows to our patio. Decorating should be fun.
You can end the decorating overwhelm.
Many people don’t feel they have the “gift” of home decorating. I am here to change your mind. Decorating is like following a recipe. In my 7 Steps to a Lovely Home, you can learn how to break down the overwhelm and take one easy step at a time.
If you watch HGTV’s The Property Brothers, you will see how much fun these twin brothers have when designing and decorating houses. They understand that all of us shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously, nor should we take choosing paint colors or inexpensive decor like pillows seriously either. It’s okay to be silly sometimes.
Lighten up, it’s just paint.
Yes, we should make wise decisions when it comes to spending our money. That is where I can help in showing you what to focus on when it comes to financial priorities in your home.
But honestly, if you don’t love a color or lamp a year from now, you can always repaint or buy a new one. There are more important things in life to worry about.
By the way, did you hear that HGTV has purchased the Brady house and The Property Brothers are renovating it to look like the the original set? This was THE best news for a girl who wanted to be friends with the Brady sisters growing up. How fun is this?
2. The Rules of Decorating Work for Every Style
I have decorated traditional homes and modern homes. The same process applies for every style. Jonathan and Drew know the formula for making decorating work for every home.
They minimize clutter. It’s the opposite of a lovely home. I recommend exactly what they do – design first, then decorate. This will save you so much headache if you take the time to plan out each room. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, a pencil and paper will do.
So no matter what style or color you love, you can use my decorating guides to decorate every room of your home with confidence. I always say, “Your family will thank you and your friends will think you hired a decorator!”
3. Functional Design Can Be Beautiful
As I said, great decorating always starts with great design. When you watch Jonathan knock down a wall that should never have been added between a dining room and kitchen, you see why planning is essential. There are so many homes, even new homes being built right now, that have poor design.
You have to think about your family priorities and how you live. Every home should be unique to that family’s needs. You can make the most of every inch of space just like my friends at The Home Edit did for our pantry.
Storage should be beautiful, not boring. It doesn’t cost that much more to put things in pretty containers. Make sure you declutter first so you’re not storing senseless items that have no value to your family now or in the future.
4. Show Your Personality
Every home should be unique to that family. Your home should not look like your neighbor’s. The Property Brothers always look for ways to personalize a space, from choosing a favorite accent color to special family photos or mementos for a room.
It’s okay to have fun with color. I love pink and flowers. I use both generously throughout our home. This amazes me since I live with two teenage boys. Thankfully, the men in my home are secure in their masculinity, just like Jonathan and Drew who also have fun with color.
5. Include Every Member of the Family
Decorating a home is a family affair. I’ve found that when I bring my boys into the process of decorating their rooms, they have a greater sense of pride. They each work harder to take care of their rooms and keep it clean. They chose the paint color and bedroom furniture along with their wall art. I always say, “It’s just paint.”
I’m a big believer in having lots of family photos in a home. We are not trying to sell or stage our homes, so let’s honor our family and loved ones by displaying cherished memories.
From family vacations to hanging an ancestry gallery wall of photos like this, the time your children have in your home will go by too fast. Give them positive, loving memories of home.
By the way, my mom’s third great grandfather was born in Scotland. I’m just hoping maybe I’ll discover we’re related to the Scott’s!
6. Small Changes Can Bring Big Profits
I’ve learned to never say never. We thought we would never leave the first home we built from the ground up. Then, 21 years later, our family moved to Franklin, TN. Lucky for me, we had a bigger house to decorate!
But the effort we put into our first home over those two decades by keeping it updated and well-maintained allowed us to get double what we paid for it initially. We have made even more changes to our current home including updating our kitchen from dark and dated to light and airy, thanks our Lowe’s kitchen remodel.
Maintaining Your Biggest Financial Investment
In The Property Brothers series Buying & Selling, they teach homeowners how a small remodeling and redecorating budget can yield a return 2-3 times the investment. They are able to sell their homes much faster when they make essential updates to attract today’s savvy home buyers.
Pick up a copy of their book Dream Home.
Too many homes fall into disrepair and it breaks my heart. Yes, it does take money to maintain a home, but it’s money well spent. Your home may be a physical possession and an investment, but I look at it as so much more.
A home shelters your family from the storms of life. It provides a cozy respite from the busy world. Your home brings your children a sense of safety so they are free to laugh and be themselves. It’s a place that you can open up for parties and gatherings to show love to others.
A home is a vehicle to show love.
7. Kindness and Hospitality are Essential
Lastly, the Heavens opened up twice and our family had the honor of meeting the Scott brothers a second time. Last year our son, Brandon, discovered the HGTV crew filming on our street during their Nashville episodes. He saw Drew from a distance and knew it was most certainly him so he walked up to the set. One of the crew members was kind enough to speak with him and asked if he would like to meet Drew.
If you watch the show, you can see the genuine kindness the brothers have toward people. Drew was exceptionally kind and respectful to my 17-year-old that day. He even offered to take a selfie with him unsolicited. So if you think all celebrities are arrogant, they are not. Drew made a major impact on our son that day, and I want to thank him.
Jonathan and Drew Just Make the World a Better Place
There is nothing more important in life than how we treat others. Being kind to everyone is honorable. Opening your home to others and showing love is being hospitable. It is one of my 7 Steps. This is yet another reason to make it lovely.
So thank you Jonathan and Drew Scott for teaching the world how to make a lovely home. I thank your amazing parents for raising you to be exemplary. I also thank HGTV for bringing you into our homes.
It’s Your Turn Now
You too can have a lovely home. Let me show you the way.
I’m here for YOU!
Much love & joy,
Get my Decorating Guides:
How to Set a Lovely Table in 7 Joyful Steps
How to Hang an Ancestry Gallery Wall
7 Things The Property Brothers Taught Me About Home Decorating