I’ve Been Sleeping on the Floor for 2 Years as Part of Slow Decorating Trend—but I Still Think It’s the Best Way To Design a Home

Peek into the primary suite of my 1927 Tudor-style house, and the mattress laying bare on the floor beside moving boxes that still need unpacking would appear to signal a recent move.

Yet, I actually made the change of address two years ago and have essentially been sleeping on the floor of an empty room ever since because I have spent the majority of that time embracing the slow decorating trend.

As a design approach, slow decorating encourages homeowners and renters alike to take their time filling their homes with curated decor and furniture. It emphasizes personal meaning and long-term quality of furnishings over immediate quantity, and makes intention the goal rather than completion.

In other words, shop a la carte instead of adding all to cart.

Going slow is not an interior design strategy I often come across as a writer who reviews home renovation and real estate reality TV shows.

When tuning in to HGTV, Magnolia, and other popular home-improvement networks, it’s typical to watch a total house makeover progress from demo day to fully-furnished reveal in the span of just one hourlong episode. 

Of course, no one wants to see a disappointing before and after shot of an empty room, but even reality TV experts such as Chelsea and Cole DeBoer, Jeremiah Brent, and Nate Berkus agree that habitually presenting buttoned-up abodes on television can create unrealistic expectations for residences in real life—and worse, lead to undesirable results that the occupant is either forced to live with or re-do.

What are the financial advantages of slow decorating?

The main reason half of my home remains unfinished is because my family of four went from a two-bedroom, 805-square-foot flat in San Francisco to a four-bedroom, 2,230-square-foot house in the suburbs, and there is simply too much ground for our existing furnishings to cover.

Plus, our furniture deficit further deepened when we were forced to get rid of our four poster bed that wouldn’t fit under our new sloped ceiling.

While an affordable shopping spree at IKEA or 0% interest credit card offer at any other furniture retailer could remedy our shortage in an instant, holding off gives us time to research and save money for the big-ticket items we truly want and need.

Married design duo Berkus and Brent of “The Nate and Jeremiah Home Project” back up this strategy and practice it themselves. 

“Good design is not going out on the weekend and filling your car with accessories and being done,” said Berkus. “Good design isn’t going to the furniture store with no payments [until] 2029 and buying a set of new furniture. 

“Good design is taking the time to really figure out what makes your heart sing—[like a] chest of drawers that we saved up for that we had to have because it’s made by this Swedish designer that we love—That takes time to curate a lifestyle that feels really good to you.”

“A lot of what we’ve seen, it’s all about doing it quick and fast, and you’ve got to have this house done by this weekend—We don’t subscribe to that,” Brent added. “We believe you should take time and be thoughtful with what you choose. Slow down. Take a minute. Think through decisions.”

Speaking about her own primary bathroom remodel, “Artfully Designed” star Natalie Papier emphasized how resisting impulse decor purchases and rash renovation decisions is crucial for design longevity and budgeting.

“It’s going to cost a lot of money, so I have to be really thoughtful,” said Papier. “You have to take time, save money, plan for what is going to go not just in the architecture of our home now, but that we’ll still love 10 years from now.”

As I dream about the bedroom set I’m saving up for while still sleeping on a mattress on the floor, I take comfort knowing the experts agree that decorating doesn’t have to happen overnight, and my unconventional method will quite literally pay off in the future.

Why does slow decorating result in better design choices?

Any large purchases or major design decisions are vastly improved by the ability to do a realistic road test before committing to a big spend. And that's is why I’m keeping much of my wardrobe on the steps of my walk-in closet while I figure out the optimal configuration for a custom closet system.

It’s an approach “Going Home With Tyler Henry” star Tyler Henry took when making over his own home in Jupiter, FL, and what he recommends to all renovators.

“When you’re going to renovate a home, the best things to do [are] live in the house a little bit, feel it out, understand the quirks of the house, and understand what spaces you use the most, what’s most important to you in the house,” explained Henry.

“Take some time to figure that out, and then really plan it out and stick to that plan.”

“Bargain Mansions” star Tamara Day underscores that advice, arguing the biggest design mistake she sees clients make is “not doing enough research and being in a hurry.”

To that end, I’ve built in time to determine the perfect placement of permanent built-in rods, shelves, and drawers that will be tailored to my new preferences and natural rhythms within the available closet space.

Thus, the piles of clothes on the floor that have gone through two years of seasonal rotations are not evidence of a failure to act or organize; they’re essential research to ensure my closet will one day be outfitted perfectly.

Why should you prioritize slow decorating over speedy decisions?

When speed isn’t the priority, a more flexible decorating timeline also allows for active participation in the process that can lead to even greater results than great design. 

“Luxe for Less” star Michel Smith Boyd suggests the pride in working on one’s own place brings a sense of satisfaction and self-fulfillment that’s worth the extra effort.

“There’s something about that sweat equity at home,” said Boyd. “Feel empowered to make changes and don’t put so much pressure on yourself. You should enjoy design. People can feel the joy in the interiors.” 

It’s why DeBoer admits she’s “always putting Cole to work” at their family home in Sioux Falls, SD.

“I just had him install some built-ins next to our fireplace and I love how they turned out,” she said. “I’ll always have a long list of dream projects that I want done around here, it’s just finding the time to do them. We are busy-busy!" she admitted.

I find myself in the same boat as the DeBoers when it comes to my home office: Plenty of ideas to do that don’t get done right away due to the demands of our young family’s schedule.

For now, the office serves as more of an unofficial storage room than an exclusive work space. It’s where everything we don’t know where else to put ends up.

My desk is present, but surrounded by baby furniture that is ready to find a new home, bins of artwork that need to be relocated to the garage, and random pieces from our old place we aren’t certain fit in here.  

I envision a multi-functional layout that accommodates a comfortable place to write in front of a visually-appealing backdrop for video conferencing, a corner dedicated to a small home gym set-up, and an area for my 6-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter to create projects out of materials they grab from the room’s attached art closet.

The aforementioned closet stocked with art supplies is actually a task I tackled myself, and I am proud of how it turned out. I now want the chance to do and feel that again with the rest of the office, and am leaning into guidance offered by “Who’s Afraid of a Cheap Old House” star Elizabeth Finkelstein, who appreciates taking the long road when taking on personal home projects.

“If you have patience, [if] you’re able to learn to do a few things by yourself, and understand your priority list—Not everything needs to be done at once,” said Finkelstein.

“You need to understand that you’re going into this, you’ll have a list, you can check it off over time, and you’ll be able to handle it. And, at the end of the day, you’re going to have something that’s different, fun, full of character, and represents you.”

How can slow decorating help to evolve personal style?

Having a home reflect those living in it is a common interior design objective, and decorating at a relaxed pace creates conditions that are prime for personal style to develop, crystallize, and continue to evolve.

Indeed, some of the most meaningful design features can only be added slowly over time, as “Beachfront Bargain Hunt” star Rachel Spezzapria shared about her kitchen table that was fashioned by her father and further customized by her kids.

“That one’s a really special one,” said Spezzapria. “It’s got markers and glitter stuck in the cracks. It’s like paint projects and homework. It literally holds our memories and I think those are the best [pieces] to have.”

I’ve kept that anecdote in mind when thinking about the design direction of my children’s playroom. The cluster of black permanent marker ink dots on the hardwood floor where my art-loving son Dean drew his original comic character, "Fire Boy," is now a custom detail that will one day possess the superpower to bring me back to the good old days of when my kids were little and under our roof.

Building upon those reminders of the past, Berkus reiterates that “a home should tell the story of the people that live there,” as well as reserve space for fresh decor as new chapters unfold.

“Your eyes should land on something that reminds you of where you’ve been, and reminds you where you aspire to go,” said Berkus. “Jer always says you need to leave room for the future because things change and ideas come in and you get inspired and want to change things.”

In the two years since my family moved in to our forever home, the playroom has gone through several iterations as my daughter Emmy learned to crawl, walk, and run, and as her baby toys transitioned into toddler ones. The baby gate at the base of the staircase—no longer needed to keep her safe—now stands as a physical reminder of our ever-changing design needs in the space.

Embracing that reality of constant change, I’ve installed two long rows of Casso Display Rails so I can effortlessly switch out pieces of my children’s art. 

The next phase of the playroom’s design will be wrapping the lower half of the walls with a peel-and-stick wallpaper pattern that can grow with the kids as they—and our home’s style—mature over time.

Can slow decorating actually lead to better and more budget-friendly results?

Between regular maintenance and sporadic repairs, homes are a constant work in progress. Yet it stands to reason that fewer updates and upgrades are required when proper deliberation of the overall aesthetic and major design elements is given before proceeding.

Celebrity interior designer Cheryl Eisen, who calls Kim Kardashian and Jeff Bezos clients, believes its best to ignore trend cycles and instead, carefully consider style choices to make selections that are more likely to last long term.

“If done right, you shouldn’t have to redesign your home ever,” stated Eisen. “You can sometimes replace or rotate art, but I try not to do things that are trendy so that it doesn’t go out of style.”

Case in point, “Design Down Under” stars Richie Morris and Georgia Ezra meticulously fulfilled all their design wishes when they reimagined their Spanish Mission-style home outside of Melbourne, and years later, have no notes.

“We’ve lived in our home now for six years and it’s the exact same as when we walked into it because we really invested in good-quality items,” revealed Ezra.

“I don’t want to change a thing in my home, and I designed it seven years ago. I love everything because when I chose it, it wasn’t a trend. It was my true vision, my true design, something I loved so much, and so essentially, it’s timeless for me.”

I’ve long wanted a large, circular dining table, but it’s been more difficult than I imagined finding one I love enough to invest in. So until we find “the one,” our dining room looks more like a dance floor, and our family of four gathers around the kids’ table for most of our meals.

Designing a timeless home takes, well, time, and the rise of slow decorating supports taking the scenic route through each room. As I continue to design without a deadline, retreating night after night to my bedroom that’s reminiscent of a college student’s crib, I can rest assured trusting Rome wasn’t built in a day, and home doesn’t have to be either.