Q: How do you come up with your amazing home ideas? Is it all on your own? Do you have some secret inspiration method? Like the built in wardrobes in your master bedroom and the doorway widening trick that you pulled in your den/kitchen/dining area. I just wish you could teach me how to think like you so I could come up with some original ideas to make my house feel like it’s unique and cool instead of lame and boring! – Lisa
A: First of all, we’ll say this: we’re 100% confident that nothing that we’ve ever done to our house or on this blog hasn’t been done before. We repeat: there’s probably not one original project that we’ve taken on out of the 500+ that we link to on our Projects page. In fact there are probably multiple designers and regular people alike who have done a lot of the exact same things that we’ve tackled (from widening doorways to creating bedroom built-ins) before us, better than us, and maybe even cheaper than us.
Really, it’s true.
It’s kind of like advertising. As a copywriter I felt like every commercial I wrote must have unconsciously been inspired by something else (from my own life and personal experiences to other amazing ads that I studied in college or even from pop culture-ish things like TV or a favorite song). A script couldn’t really come out of thin air, since all that we soak up and experience on a daily basis makes up our sub-conscious and somehow reemerges when we’re channeling that part of our brains and trying to be creative.
And thus I’ve come up with this simple explanation: inspiration is everywhere and we’re like ShamWows- just absorbing it all.
Most of the time we don’t even know that it’s happening. We’re listening to a song or going for a walk and then bam, an idea pops up. Sometimes it’s obvious where it came from, like when we created the post card wall in our office after reading about it in a magazine (read more about that here) or when we whipped up some tone on tone stripes in our bathroom after being inspired by Jenn from Design Star Season Two (read more about that here).
And sometimes it’s just something that we’ve seen done a whole bunch of times that we can’t wait to try (like upholstering a chair, painting a ceiling, making a headboard, building a vanity out of a night stand, taking the door off of our linen closet, or painting the back of a bookcase). These are basic things that lots of DIY lovers have tackled, and in each instance we were excited to try our hand at something that we’d seen successfully done a bunch of times, both in magazines, the blogosphere, and even in our friends’ homes.
Sometimes a project that we take on is just a tweak on something that we’ve seen and thought “hey that’s cool but we can’t afford it”, like when we covered glass vases with cork after seeing a sweet but pricey cork lamp in a shop in Delaware (read more about that here).
Heck, sometimes we honestly have no clue where on earth an idea actually came from, but we’re sure it wasn’t all us (how could it be when we’re so surrounded by inspiration everywhere we look?).
The takeaway here: there’s no secret fountain of creativity, and the best way to tackle your home makeover head-on is to immerse yourself in inspiring TV, magazines, and life in general to find something that really excites you. Then take that ball and run with it baby! We actually think that 1% of the “hurdle” to making over your house is finding inspiration. That’s the easy part (read more about a few ways to do that here).
The other (more challenging) 99% of the process is actually deciding to get moving and committing to doing something that you’ve thought about- even if you’re nervous. Paralysis doesn’t lead to a new looking casa- action does. We’ve toyed with lots of things, but thinking about ideas doesn’t make our house look different. Actually tackling those tasks with excitement and a mild sense of “this-should-work… right?” usually does the trick. You can read more about how we prep for projects and gain confidence as we go here. But the whole act of committing to executing something that you’ve toyed with is really the way to that “I’m so happy I live here” feeling when you walk in the door.
In short: we’re so not special. And the whole mission of this blog is to encourage everyone out there to just do it. Wait is that someone’s slogan already? My bad. The point is that if we can do it, you can do it. There’s nothing magical about us. Quite the opposite actually. We’re so normal it’s crazy.
So go forth and DIY something! What are you guys up to this weekend? Anything particularly fun going on in your house?
Lyndsey says
We’re just carving some jack-o-lanterns over here. Even if your design ideas have been done before, there’s something about your design choices that are so beautiful and cohesive in your home. I guess you really know your style and what you like, and that works really well in your home.
p.s. Clara’s costume is adorable on her. You guys should be ketchup and mustard bottles! jk
Amanda says
I love the projects on your site! I even “borrowed” the initials above the bed idea…my sister was super impressed when she saw it for the first time!
Yikes, this weekend’s all about Penn State football and hopefully painting some ceilings and trim in the new guest room and study (our roommate moved out – yay for more space).
Thanks especially for the post on how to get your S.O. on board with projects. I love tossing ideas around with my boyfriend, to the point of when I say “So I was thinking…” he starts rolling his eyes!
Chelsea@ThisFreshFossil says
I completely agree! It’s taking action that’s the hard part of the process. But once it’s done, you usually wonder why it took you so long to get up the nerve to do it in the first place. At least it is for us!
This weekend we’re planning on tackling some new major projects (furniture refinishing and sewing – yikes!) and then finishing up another big one – grouting our new kitchen backsplash. Sshhh.. we haven’t spilled the beans on that major undertaking yet on our own blog, so don’t ruin the surprise! ;)
Happy DIYing!
~Chelsea
heyruthie says
creativity tends to breed more creativity too–and some people are just much more naturally creative than others. in areas where i seem to lack creativity or inspiration, i try to surround myself with other people who can help compensate. when i didn’t know what to do in my first home, i invited a friend over who is 10 years older than me, and she’s been in design for quite some time. she had LOADS of ideas, where I had none. in lieu of friends, investing in a good designer can cover a multitude of “lack of design idea” sins….althogh it initially costs money, it might save some $$$ in the long run, if creativity just isn’t your “thing.” but if you do have some friends who have good ideas, you might be surprised at the creativity it sparks in you, too!
GreenInOC says
I beg to differ.
There may not be a “fountain of creativity” but I really, truly believe that people who have vision the way that you two do are artists. Artists do think differently.
I will never forget an old show on TLC, it was called the operation. The first one I saw with a plastic surgeon was a surgery on a little girl who was born with 1 finger on one hand and 2 on the other. They took a couple of toes and split them to “create” more fingers. When the operation was done that little girls hands looked AWFUL. The surgeon kept exclaiming, “beautiful” and I, in all my wisdom, was horrified.
They showed a follow-up from 6 weeks later and not only did those toes look like fingers, her hands were incredibly beautiful, you couldn’t even tell. I cried at the result. That was when I realized that certain people can see the end result while others of us (like, um, oh, I don’t know… ME), simply can’t – it’s a matter of brain wiring.
Also, you happen to be handy to boot which, wow what a combo!!
Alondra says
See, this is the reason why out of all the blogs that I read every day, yours is the one that I turn to the most. You guys are incredibly accessible and true to yourselves. You make DIY look fun and easy! Thanks for keeping all your posts fun and real. This one in particular really spoke to me and made me want to start my living room/dining decor makeover!
Laura says
No DIY this weekend (only Halloween fun), but last weekend I got my DIY on with a little IKEA hacking (inspired by you and Design on a Dime, of course). http://gojennings.tumblr.com/post/1340614255/my-very-first-ikea-hack
Kendra says
Great & encouraging post! As far as my project this weekend, I am reworking my “craft station” this weekend. I have a table and chairs but so many buttons, feathers, fabrics that I need to organize it all! Hoping to score some kind of old library catalog cart with little drawers for all the pretty little things! So far I have four old vintage suitcases to begin organizing my larger items & finished products! Check out my blog to see progress if you wish! You guys are awesome!
http://kendrasfreshcut.blogspot.com/
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
I actually just decided to go to IKEA tonight on my way home, I love Long Island for that reason. ;) I’m going curtain shopping for my bedroom and for a project I’m trying in our Laundry Room to hide our boiler & furnance. I see some pipe rods hanging from the ceiling and long pretty curtains in the future of our Laundry Room redo. ;)
Sherry, you made a post I think about Ikea curtains and how easy they are to “no sew” the hem right?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jen,
Yup, here’s that link for you: https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/02/nursery-progress-getting-the-hang-of-it/
xo,
s
bethany says
This post really reminded me of the book “The Creative Habit” by Twyla Tharp. Even though the author’s a choreographer, she related her book to any creative outlet really, and it was a really good book on where inspiration comes from and such. If you’re in the mood, you should definitely check it out. :)
Kate says
Funny – we just had our painter copy your bathroom stripe project in our powder room! Doesn’t count as DIY since we hired a painter, but the idea was recycled, and we LOVE it!
Kristina says
I can’t wait to start working on projects from all the inspiration you guys have given me. Hubby is going to paint the nursery while I work this weekend. Due one month from Saturday…so the sense of urgency is starting to go into OVERDRIVE. I really plan on incorporating some of the design elements from your sweet nursery into my little girl’s room.
michele Daggar says
You both have become my gurus. When I have a home decor problem, or something I need to be frugal about I think “WWS&JD” which of course is “What Would Sherry & John Do?” (Yes I do realize I am a goofball to think about what people I’ve never met would do)
Recently we had a financial setback that impacted us “home decor wise” and money wise. We had picked out 2 new chairs that we scrimped and saved for (a Sherry & John lesson; only pay cash!) The next day my husband’s boss said he might not be able to pay him by the end of November. Well of course we didn’t buy the chairs.
I seriously did think of you guys regarding my dilemma. I just thought “well I’ll just use what I have.” I rearranged the living room (without my beloved leather mission chairs) and I absolutely love it! I used your decorating talents as inspiration and it worked great. So thanks YHL !!!!!!
Pam says
When you said that paralysis doesn’t make a new looking casa — action does, you are soooo right. I spent weeks, if not months planning my bedroom makeover, pricing paint and flooring, budgeting, figuring out where to move the furniture while I tore out carpet and installed hardwood floors. Finally I realized that I had everything figured out, but nothing was happening. Why? I was worried that I couldn’t do it. I have a slanted ceiling that goes from 8′ to 12′, and I don’t have a ladder that tall, not to mention I’m afraid of heights. How was I going to stand on a 10 ft. ladder and cut around the ceiling?
One day I woke up and said, “The only way to get this project done is to get started.” I borrowed a ladder from my neighbor, and it didn’t take long to get past the anxiety of working 12 ft. off the floor.
The painting is done, the new floor is 80% complete and I plan to finish it this weekend. I thank you guys every day for your inspiration.
Great post (and sorry for the long comment)!
Claire says
I love posts like these that remind us all that you two are, in fact, human. Just like the rest of us! You’re great at what you do and I so enjoy your blog. I’m always game to hear about your creative/house project decision making process.
Sadly I no longer own a house (rent now) and my only house related project at the moment involves getting rid of my huge stash of moving-related trash! Despite the fact that I haven’t been doing anything creative with the new place I have been keeping two of your mantras in my head- “A place for everything!” and “Work with what you’ve got!” Once I find my living room floor again I plan on a DIY storage ottoman made from a poor, ugly plywood trunk from my childhood (Barbies and Baby Sitter’s Club books are long gone, thankfully) with a tufted seat and somehow making my too-short sheer curtains from my previous home work on my new super-high ceiling apartment.
Dena says
I love to absorb things around me…I’m big on finding inspiration and figuring out how to do things myself.
Your comment on painting the back of the bookshelf made me think of this question… Are you planning on repainting it to match the rest of the wall color? It does look better with that color back there (which may help the impression of the house), but once the bookshelf is removed, it will be an odd block of color floating on the wall… (Opinion time) How do you decide where that line is…between leaving something for the buyer to deal with vs taking care of it yourself?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Dena,
We’re planning to touch up all the nail holes around the house and do paint touch ups where necessary, so rolling over that block of color on the wall is definitely on the list – unless our buyer wants it to stay or plans to paint as soon as they move in and are fine leaving it be.
-John
Kiran says
How I wish to DIY my whole house. It is bare, with tall ceilings and droopy looking furniture. But due to personal reasons (Immigration reform) we are indecisive at the moment. Might have to walk away from the house :(
MichelleG says
woohoo! your DIY peptalk was even more inspiring than when the narrator on the Home Depot commercial says “put on those Saturday clothes …and get after it” :o)
thanks youngsters!
Jenny says
Hey guys! I just wanted to say thank you John & Sherry for keeping it real and for being so inspiring ~ I am actually going into DIY overdrive this weekend :) My hubby is coming home in 10 days for leave from Afghanistan (yay!) and he hasn’t seen our new little rental cottage that our son & I moved into when he left (we moved home for the year that he’s gone to be closer to family.) I want everything to be perfect for his leave, so I’m painting ceilings, touching up trim, and spraying painting little projects I’ve put off. I actually hopped online tonight to look up your DIY curtain tutorial, I’m going to give it a whirl in our living room so wish me luck! Thanks again you guys! :)
Barbara says
Wow. You have no idea how incredible your timing is with this blog, Sherry. Your words here resonate more than I can say. I’m going through some stuff right now (aren’t we all), and just finding the will to stop merely thinking of all the cool ideas I’d like to tackle has me almost at a standstill. Why does it all seem so overwhelming to just DO them? I don’t actually think I’ll fail at these things, so that’s not it. I’m wondering if it isn’t the idea in the back of my mind that if I do complete this stuff, then what? Like there will be nothing new left to do, which in saying it out loud comes across as totally ridiculous. There are always “new” ideas (even if they’re new only by osmosis) and we really do never know what tomorrow brings. And beating ourselves up for not having a creative idea before anyone else really is summed up best by your ‘pish posh’. Absolutely everything is a product of what has come before.
What you wrote here resonated as much as something Nate said this week – “I want you guys to start making your surroundings worthy of you.” I actually wrote that out and posted it on the wall.
Have a great weekend, and thank you again for the gentle inspirational push!
Jenn L @ Peas and Crayons says
Ideas by osmosis… haha love it!
Candy from Candied Fabrics says
Great post! SO many people look at what the hubby and I do and just shake their heads and say “I don’t know how you do that…”. You gotta get inspired…and then “git ‘er done!”
ginger says
It is the old nature vs nurture. Personally, I dont think it’s a brain you are born with necessarily…we all have a right brain, the creative part. It’s more about using it, and learning as you go. Just like with that surgeon, I doubt that he could visualize that when he was a med student either…he had to build on experience one operation at a time. It’s building those creative muscles just like biceps! ha
susan says
we’re so surrounded by inspiration everywhere we look?).
I couldn’t agree more with your statement. I just started doing easy projects around the house. Then got the wallpaper taken off and rooms painted which let to new drapes, new mdeicine chest…… It’s kind of like the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie! Susan
Nina says
I know this is in the wrong area but I was wondering if you could answer a question. We just purchased a home and I wanted to re decorate and I am a bit confused our living room, dining room, and kitchen are somewhat connected…in a sense that there is nothing to separate them, so I am clueless as to what color scheme. Can I have a color pallet in the living room that is different than the dining room or do I have to keep the dining room and the living room the same but make the kitchen a different color scheme? Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
We would recommend carrying over some common hues to keep things cohesive but your accent colors can change in each area. Just have fun with it and see what you end up loving. And don’t forget to use inspiration images from magazines or books or google to get ideas. Good luck!
xo,
s
ekis imkani says
hehehe :)this very good.
Jen102905 says
Speaking of fun projects, I re-created your map project for my husband and I’s 5 year anniversary. Check it out and thanks for the idea! :)
http://www.1creativemomma.blogspot.com
Jen
Kristi says
I love all your diy ideas and the creative way you guys write about them!
This weekend I decided to organize our memories into one general location. It took about 8 hours! It was really fun reading stuff that we had written when we were younger and looking at our drawings, etc.
What do you guys do with cards that people give you? The ones with really nice sayings in them. I am thinking of scanning them to a CD and then tossing them to free up some space.
YoungHouseLove says
We have a shoebox sized leather keepsake box that we use to contain sentimental items like cards, old airline tickets, movie stubs, and other small things that we’d hate to part with. Whenever it gets full we edit out things we no longer feel the need to hold onto so we don’t amass thirty boxes over the years. The one box only rule has worked so far!
xo,
s
Cassie {Hi Sugarplum!} says
Thanks for the post guys…you keep it real and make all of feel like if we knew you ‘real’ life, we’d be ‘friends.’
What am I up to this weekend?!? I decided to get my 4-yr old’s room painted and crown molding ‘treatment’ up in between the soccer games, birthday parties and trick-or-treating…while she shacks up in her big brother’s room?!? I’m at that point in the project where I’m doubting the color I chose, feeing overwhelmed as to why I chose now to start it, and being anxious mom about my little girl not sleeping well in a different environment! (well, YOU asked what we were up to!!) But like a true DIYer, I’ll push through and get it done.
PLEASE tell me you guys go through this some too? And have you found it’s more difficult to get projects done in the timetable you’re used to now that you’re working around a little person and their schedule?!
Happy first halloween to the little Clara Hamburgler!
(thanks for the vent session…you can send me the therapy bill…I’m off to paint!)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes! We totally know what you mean about life seeming to get in the way and slow things down sometimes! Thankfully DIYing really is a creative outlet for us (and a stress reducer believe it or not) so we’re sure to make time for it – especially since it’s what we love. But we always say family first… then painting/sledgehammering/sanding/spackling/hammering.
xo,
s
Viv says
Don’t sell yourselves short. You guys are great at taking an idea and (in the words of former American Idol host Paula Abdul)making it your own. It’s all the little tricks you’ve figured out that are so inspiring.
cj says
You guys have inspired so many! As much of it is borrowing, you have to be able to visualize. That left/right brain thing! I’m paralyzed by knowing what to put where – like where to arrange my furniture or where to hang artwork. How do you decide what goes where? I keep changing my mind and I know I’d put too many holes in my walls in the process!!!Thanks and Happy Halloween!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Just play around with things without committing. Have a friend or spouse hold things up in a few places while you step back and look at the placement. It’ll become clear that something looks better than something else in certain spots so just learn as you go and never be afraid to give things a try. A few holes in the wall can easily be patched (or you can hang something right over them so no one’s the wiser anyway). You can even use pieces of paper cut to the size of your frames to plan arrangements right on the wall (just move the paper shapes around and tape them to the wall in different arrangements). Good luck!
xo,
s
Meagan @ The Happiest Mom says
I love it! As a writer I agree–there is nothing new under the sun and all of my ideas have been expressed by somebody else before, maybe better. But you guys are pretty good at taking ideas that have been around the block a few times and making them inspiring to others!
Shar Yates says
I just had a question after reading this particular post. When you move, will you still be able to leave all of the wonderful tutorials up on your website about how you did everything? I ask because it occurred to me that maybe the new owners would not want that? I hope you are able to leave them up because I feel like I have this awesome place to go for advice for my projects.
Just love what you do…
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Shar,
Of course we will keep those projects and past photos! Nothing will be removed from the site and instead we’ll just be adding more photos and details about our new house after we move. We’re disclosing the fact that we have a website (and sharing the link) and the fact that there will be photos of this home with our furniture in it on the web for years to come. Thankfully everyone who we show the house to hasn’t had an issue with it at all. There are actually lots of published photos of homes that people no longer own online (think of flickr albums of people’s first homes) and since we are very careful not to disclose our house’s location and wouldn’t show photos of the new homeowner’s furniture it shouldn’t be invasive at all to keep all of our photos on the blog!
xo,
s
Majo says
it’s been a while since i was introduced to ur blog and i gotta tell u this answer is what makes me a fan! it encourages me to try and make thing (i live in uruguay, no ikea, some materials are hard to find or too expensive, but i have many other things u dont, we’re even).
right now i’m doing sthng like u did to the hall, with the frames. i’m handcrafting most of the things that goes behind the frames, so it’s been long and fun.(in the meantime i’ve done other things, too)
i just remembered that reading this post a while ago was what decided me into STARTING the thing already. and i wanted to thank the writer of the post for that.
keep it fun! :)
xxx
Rachel B says
This was refreshing. It is easy to get so bogged down when starting a blog, and also discouraged when you try your best to be original. It’s good to hear that it’s okay if it’s been done before. Thank you.
YoungHouseLove says
Of course!
xo
s