17 Decorating Choices You Swore You’d Never Make in Your Virginia Home (But Did Anyway)

Kitchen nooks, living rooms, and porches across Virginia all have one thing in common: At least one decorating decision that makes the homeowner say, “What was I thinking?”

Maybe it was trendy. Maybe it was on sale. Maybe it looked better in the catalog.

But somehow, you ended up with something you promised yourself you’d never put in your home.

Let’s laugh a little and look back at the decorating choices that snuck into so many of our homes, even when we thought we knew better.

You Bought a Sign That Says “Gather”

You swore you’d never be one of those people. The ones with scripted words over the dining table or a sign in the kitchen telling people to “Eat.”

But one day, there it was. A cute little sign at a big-box store, sitting in the clearance bin.

It matched your color scheme, the price was right, and suddenly you were hanging up “Gather” like it belonged there all along.

It still makes you roll your eyes a little. But hey, it does make the room feel cozy.

You Fell for a Trendy Wall Color

It looked amazing online. Deep navy, forest green, or maybe even that muted blush everyone was talking about. You told yourself you’d never follow paint trends… but there you found yourself with a roller in hand and high hopes.

At first, it felt bold and exciting.

Then it felt… dark. Or loud. Or just wrong for the space.

And yet, you lived with it longer than you thought you would, maybe out of stubbornness or maybe because repainting sounded exhausting.

We’ve all had a color crush that didn’t quite work out.

You Got Sucked Into the Farmhouse Look

The shiplap. The sliding barn door. The distressed wood mirror. You didn’t mean to go full farmhouse, but suddenly your entryway looked like a Fixer Upper spin-off.

At first, it felt charming. Then it started to feel like everyone’s house looked the same.

You swore you’d keep things classic or modern, but those vintage milk jugs and black metal sconces were just too tempting.

You’re not alone. Farmhouse took over American homes for a reason.

You Put Up Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Real wallpaper seemed like too much commitment. You didn’t want to mess with paste or steaming it off later.

But peel-and-stick?

That felt easy enough, until you actually tried to line up the pattern. Or it started bubbling. Or it didn’t stick in the corners.

But still, you had a vision, and for a moment, it almost worked.

Even if you peeled it off a few months later, you gave it a try. And that counts for something.

You Bought a Giant Sectional That Took Over the Room

You always pictured a sleek, balanced living space with room to move around. Then you walked into a furniture showroom, sat on one oversized sectional, and that was it.

It was soft. It was deep. It had cup holders. It made movie nights feel like a big event.

Sure, it took up most of the living room, but you told yourself it was “family-friendly.”

Now it’s part of the household. And honestly? You kind of love it.

You Used Faux Plants… Everywhere

You promised yourself you’d only keep real plants. Maybe a pothos or two. Nothing plastic. Nothing dusty.

Then life got busy. The real ones died. And suddenly, a little fake fern didn’t seem so bad.

Then came the faux fiddle leaf tree. Then a few more.

Now your home has greenery that never wilts, and you’ve made peace with it. They may not grow, but they look great in photos.

You Matched Everything in One Room

You once said you’d never be the person with a living room set straight from the store display. It felt too safe. Too bland. Too cookie-cutter.

But then came the sale. The matching couch, loveseat, and chair were just too convenient. Everything coordinated. Delivery was easy.

And just like that, your home had that “complete set” look.

You told yourself you’d break it up with pillows and art. And you did… kind of.

You Bought a Rug That Was Too Small

You read the rules. You watched the videos. You knew the rug should sit under the furniture, not float in the middle of the floor.

But that 5×7 was on sale. It matched your curtains. It seemed close enough.

Then you rolled it out and realized… it was not close enough. Still, you kept it. Maybe you layered another rug later. Or maybe you just ignored it and hoped no one noticed.

Either way, you learned the hard way: size matters.

You Covered a Wall in Gallery Frames… and Regretted It

You swore you’d keep things simple. Clean walls. Maybe one big art piece.

But then you saw someone’s perfect gallery wall online, and it looked so easy. So stylish.

You bought the frames. Printed the photos. Spent a Saturday arranging, measuring, and hanging.

Then the lines weren’t straight. The spacing looked off. And suddenly the wall felt busy instead of beautiful.

But you left it up. Because after all that work, it felt wrong to quit.

You Went All In on Open Shelving

You thought it would feel airy. Modern. A great way to show off your best dishes. You took off the cabinet doors, added some floating shelves, and styled everything just right.

Then real life happened. The dishes got dusty. The shelves got cluttered.

And suddenly, hiding things behind a door didn’t seem so bad.

But for a little while, your kitchen did feel like it belonged in a magazine, and that was worth it.

You Bought Something Just Because It Was on Sale

You didn’t need another lamp. Or a throw blanket. Or an abstract vase. But it was 70% off and somehow calling your name.

You told yourself you’d find a spot for it. Maybe in the guest room. Or on the console table.

You brought it home, looked around, and realized… it didn’t actually go with anything.

But you kept it anyway. Because at that price, how could you not?

You Tried to Copy a Pinterest Room

It looked perfect online. Neutral tones, layered textures, just the right mix of modern and cozy. You clicked through the links, saved the photos, and started buying the pieces one by one.

But once it was all set up, something felt off.

The vibe didn’t match your home. The lighting wasn’t the same. The magic didn’t quite translate.

Still, you left most of it in place. And learned that inspiration is helpful, but copying isn’t always the answer.

You Hung Curtains That Were Too Short

You always said you’d do it right. Curtains to the floor. Mounted high. The kind that makes a room look tall and polished.

Then you found a pair on sale. They were the right color. The right pattern. Just… not quite the right length.

You hung them anyway. They floated a few inches above the floor, giving off that “almost there” look.

You meant to fix it. You still might. But somehow, they’re still hanging.

You Bought Trendy Chairs That Look Better Than They Feel

The shape was so cool. The color was bold. You told yourself it would be the perfect accent piece.

But once it arrived, you realized something important. It’s not comfortable. Not even a little.

Still, you kept it. Because it photographs well. Because it fills the space. Because deep down, you hope it softens up over time.

Spoiler: it probably won’t.

You Got Carried Away With a Theme

You once promised your home wouldn’t be “too themed.” No beach houses filled with seashells. No mountain cabins with bears on every pillow. No coffee signs in every corner of the kitchen.

Then you found a cute anchor pillow. A beachy candle. A weathered wood sign that felt like vacation.

And suddenly, your Florida guest room looked like a surf shop.

You meant to keep it subtle. But sometimes a theme just sneaks up on you.

You Tried a DIY Project That Didn’t Turn Out Like the Video

The internet made it look so easy. A cute accent wall. A chalk-painted dresser. A handmade centerpiece.

You gathered supplies, rolled up your sleeves, and dove in.

Halfway through, things got messy. The paint dried weird. The cuts weren’t straight. You improvised, and then improvised some more.

In the end, it didn’t look like the photo, but it was yours. And honestly? You kind of love it anyway.

You Let the Throw Pillows Take Over

You started with two. Then added a couple more for texture. Then came the seasonal ones. Before you knew it, your couch was barely visible under a mountain of throw pillows.