How to Combat Perfectionism In Interior Design
Are you afraid to engage with design in your home?
Please do not allow the idea of perfection scare you away from design! Don’t let the ego overtake your soul in regards to designing your own environment! Im going to explain some tips on how to combat perfectionism in interior design, within your own home design projects.
I want you and all of my clients to know that there is no such thing as perfection, the perfect room, or the perfect room idea(s).
If you don’t believe me try and find it. Show me that perfect room! Please feel free to send me a photo of the space, and then send me a video of the designer explaining their process, as well as the homeowner explaining how much this has changed their lives/turned them into a better person. If, after watching, you would love to actually become either one of these people and live their lives, you have found it, the holy grail of the “perfect” room!
…When you inevitably decide that you don’t want to be either one of these people understand that, behind the scenes you would see as much questioning and uncertainty as you are feeling, trust me. Oftentimes much more depending on how much ego is attached to a specific design process and environment.
Remember, people only post the beautiful days, not reality…
…So the perfectionism aesthetic, isn’t a real aesthetic.
I know that the design world can be a scary and very elitist place, unfortunately. All of the images out there seem “perfect” and as though they were created by people who know much more than you do. Everyone living in their shiny perfect lives (these shiny happy people! -REM) with the most beautiful amount of natural light and no evidence of a children’s toy, a single dog hair, or any real sign of life in sight! Just like all of social media and lack industries have bred us all to believe that we need things in order to be better people… They scream “HEY! Your home doesn’t look like these images!!! (…that we had a professional stylist in as well as a photo production team in to shoot for this magazine,) so that must mean that you are not talented or special or smart enough to have a hand in creating your own space, pay us to tell you what is right!”
Pff Oh please! It’s all smoke and mirrors folks. Don’t be bamboozled. I’m telling you this because I do this for a living! The design industry exists to validate itself. Just like the Wizard.
Understand that the only true and deep design inspiration lies within the conscious depth and bravery of real people, not designers seeking repeated validation of their own egos.
All of the stores and social media continues showing you the “perfect chair” The “perfect design style” for the year that you are living in. All these things constantly moving away from each other in a flash flood of ideas and images.
This constant rat race of design elements reminds me of a quote from a client a famous designer once shared with her audience. The client told this designer before her project, “Make sure when designing my house that you are showing me the next best thing!” As if the designer could read the mind of the zeitgeist of the design world, as well as tell the future… of a subjective practice…WTF.
This statement hit me right in the gut and made me so sad for this client, seeking outside themselves for validation that they may spend a lifetime chasing and never find. Also the irony of these words! Her statement also meaning she wants the thing UNDERNEATH the best thing, which is exactly what you will receive with this sad yearning to be accepted in the design world (or the world at large).
This client sold her soul to this designer expecting her to carry her into the promised land of “THE PERFECT SPACE”. Poor thing.
The market exists so that you feel as though you aren’t good enough, but that is a blatant and bold faced lie!
Don’t put the world before your inner knowing.
We must start to treat design as an expression of ourselves, which is what it truly is, instead of allowing the system to tell us what is right, it’s completely backwards!
If you continue to try and chase an ideal of perfection, and the right and most beautiful type of design, according to other people, you will never be happy with your space.
When you learn how to trust yourself in all things you become the creator. You no longer put your happiness outside yourself.
…But if you follow your perfectionism and get sucked into the absolute black hole that are trends and trying to keep up with the folly of the design world (which again, is subjective by the way). You will constantly be chasing your tail!
When you decide that the locus of the universe’s perspective starts within you, trust what you love, and choose to express this inner knowing in your space you will always create a deeply beautiful space perfect for you and surprise inspiring to the world…
Overcoming perfectionism in all things will bring you great peace within yourself. Here are some things to think about below in regards to design (and perfectionism in general)!
How to Combat Perfectionism in Interior Design:
True Creativity:
Realize that the only point of design is being creative, and the only new perspective can be brought forth through you, not by copying something that someone created again and again (often for themselves not even their client anyways).
No Sheep Here:
Don’t feel as though you need to follow the crowd. Thats’s completely lame and you know it inside! The lemmings are all jumping off the cliff anyways. Don’t do it.
Inner Validation:
Question WHY you want the validation you think you will receive from the outside world when you design the “perfect” room.
Let’s take a field trip!
Take a look at any Vogue home video here on Vogue Living, don’t you feel like all these beautiful famous people looking for validation too, from YOU the viewer?
You feel like this, because they are…
They are saying, “LOVE ME LOVE ME”, another song reference…
No one can give you the validation you are looking for, besides your inner self.
Everyone Longs to Belong:
Really people. Take a deep look at the designers and stylist professionals when they create videos on instagram or YouTube. Can you get quiet within yourself and feel their desire for validation of “correctness” they seek from YOU the viewer? If YES shouldn’t this mean that these people may not know everything, maybe you can know something too?
You are a Divine Individual:
Why do you want to be like everyone else? Really, why? Reflect on what makes you amazing, bring THIS into your environment.
Inner Expression:
Can you recognize that design styles or trends only start from people truly expressing themselves, and the constant repetition of these styles end up becoming sad and lifeless, until finally someone bravely creates something new from within themselves again. Within their own life, personality and experiences that are unique to them, expressed through them into their environment. And…… then we go around the merry-go-round again endlessly cloning this person’s taste! Blah so boringggg.
Don’t you want to be a part of this true creative process and not the endless circle jerk?
Really, No One Cares, Don’t Worry:
Have you realized that people are so wrapped up in the drama of their own lives that they don’t have the time or the care to judge your design taste? There aren’t any design police, no one is questioning your design choices…
This is your environment for God’s sake, no one else has to live here, who cares!
Create for yourself!
You Already Have What You Seek:
Do you know that creating the “perfect” room will not bring you happiness within yourself?
Only your alignment with your inner desires will bring you happiness no matter what you are looking for!
*Be sure to carry these anti-perfectionism affirmations with you into any new design project!*
Continue to follow your heart so that you do NOT fall into the ego trap below!
When you choose a designer only based on their own aesthetic, you are signing up to be a part of a trend in time. You inherently believe that someone outside of yourself can create a space that’s better for you just because you like the way it looks. Understand that you are not reacting to that person’s outward style, made up of all of the physical things that make up their designs, in reality you are reacting to the bravery that that person originally put forth by creating from within themselves.
Beware of the designer that creates a space for you without knowing or caring who you are and what you want. They are using your home to bolster their own ego and search of their own misguided perfection and validation, and if you choose a designer based on their aesthetic only, this is what you are signing up for, since you too are using their taste for validation in the outside world through your space.
The perfect mutually parasitic relationship. EW.
Do NOT give your power away!
Question your own intentions with design, and question the intentions of your designer. Your mutual goal should always be to bring your unique perspective into the light through the design of your environment,
not to sell you on perpetuating a particular aesthetic or the complete BS idea of perfection!
Let me know if you guys found any of these tips helpful for slaying your inner design critic.
I would also love to hear how you all view the design world if you are up for sharing!
“You had the power all along my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.”
Thank you so much for reading!
Hi I’m Catherine,
“I balance authentic interior design with intuitive insight to help my clients connect to their deeper selves by empowering their own creative self expression.
I create space for them to follow their desires and depth of feeling, into a new environment that supports them, mind, body, & soul”
Love,
Catherine Rose
• If you would like to read some of my own random journal entries go to •Musings•
• If you are interested in more Interior design, deeper self, wellness, or psychology posts…
• C • R • D •
• If you are looking to see more post like these in general you should join the community by signing up below!
I would love to connect with you deeper!
Love,
Are you new here?
Welcome to Catherine Rose Design!
I also have the following blogs and resources to help you with your holistic interior design goals if you are looking for more!:
Did you enjoy this advice?
Consider exchaging some energy with me to support future offerings!