It’s coming up to three years since I moved into this little house. Three years of living on my own after spending pretty much my whole life living with family or flatmates. I spent a year on my own in a bedsit in Croydon when I was a student, but even then I was out at the pub a lot, or visiting with colleagues and college friends. But now I’m back on my own, and although I don’t mind my own company, it would be nice to be able to share my life with someone else again. Hence the recent foray into speed dating (which is going pretty well so far, I think).
However, that is not what I intended to write about in this entry. What I was going to say was that in the three years I’ve been living in this house, this is the sum total of the changes I’ve made:
- I painted the living room before I moved in. It was white before, and it’s a slightly brighter white now.
- I put up a shelf in the bedroom so I could get my hi-fi off the computer table and out of the way.
- I moved the tumble dryer from one side of the kitchen to the other so that I could get my bike in and out of the back door.
- Changed one light fittign and one lamp shade.
That’s it. The house still has the same carpets, wallpaper and curtains left here by the previous owners. It still has the same kitchen and bedroom furniture. It still has a sign on the bedroom door with the daughter’s name on (it’s “Louise” in case anyone’s interested).
But here’s what I find intriguing about all this: Why do I not feel the need to change anything? Why am I happy to sleep in a yellow bedroom, to cook in a yellow and blue kitchen, to walk up a flight of stairs with a green carpet on? Is it just another sign of how I’ve put my life on hold since the divorce? Is the fact I’ve just realised all this just another sign that I’m ready to move on?
#1 by Cheryl at August 9th, 2005
Is it just that the place you shut the doors on is not your life or your focus? Is it just that you’re a bloke, and if the TV, fridge and kettle work, you’re happy?
If you come up with an answer I hope you blog it!
#2 by annie at August 9th, 2005
I was going to say, all of that just means you’re a man, (ha-ha!)
But seriously- redecorating your enviroment can totaally change your mood and your outlook on where you’re at in life.
I don’t know about carpets, that can be expensive, but you can get neat area rugs in anything from traditional to shag to animal prints. Painting is the quickest way to make a change and very inexpensive, too, if you do it yourself. White walls are out. Bright and/or saturated colors are in. There are so many fabulous curtains out there, they by themselves can make a huge difference.
If you don’t know where to start, well, you have a computer, right? there are all kinds of decorating ideas out there. grab a picture and copy the major elements of a room you like.
Here is my favorite TV channels website, http://www.hgtv.com/.
Lots of ideas there and how-to’s. Try looking at the designers portfolio link.
#3 by Michele at August 10th, 2005
Stopping by to say hello….
I shall NOT say it is simply because you are a man – because two wonderful voices already mentioned that. (wink)
Actually, I think it is simply because it did not matter to you. If it did matter you would have made changes. Yes, it is possible that you are noticing it now because you are ready ot move on. The question now is, are you ready to make changes in your home?