No More HGTV for Me?
I have this vision for my bedroom - brown walls, white molding, hardwood floors, custom made curtains (made by myself), beautiful light fixture…
Of course, this is the product of watching too much HGTV, TLC, and the occassional decorating/house flipping show on Discover. It’s a problem. Every show has some gorgeous finished product that I would love to have in my own home. It wouldn’t really improve my life, but these show always lead you to believe that you’ll be calmer, more organized, a better hostess…
I painted by bedroom over the past couple of weeks and I’m in the midst of a quilt that will complete the bedding portion of the vision. However, all the other improvements would take large capital investments. I tend to be cheap (let’s say frugal) and Brian’s frugality makes me look like a spendthrift, which means that the larger projects won’t be happening any time soon… or ever.
Of course, I try to internally justify home improvement projects by thinking of increased value of our house. Surely putting hardwood floors in the bedrooms or tile floors in the bathrooms would improve the overall presentation our house would make when we sell it. But then there’s the question of when, if ever, we are going to sell our house. The home improvement shows would tell you that if you put in a $10,000 deck, you’ve increased the value of the property by $20,0000 - instant profit. Of course, some of the profit comes from doing the work yourself.
Then there’s the enjoyment that I would get from having a perfectly decorated bedroom. When I’m honest with myself, I think about the piles of clean and not so clean clothes that are always scattered all over the bedroom, the layer of dog hair that even a twice a week vacuuming regimen wouldn’t contain and toddler that tears through the room without regard for anything fragile (which is why there is nothing fragile in the room, or any other room in the house).
In theory I should stop watching these shows, but in the end, I’m sure I won’t. There’s nothing wrong with ideas. As long as the price tag stays reasonable.
