Not everyone does all that; some people are perfectly content with the minimum, for others it's a hobby, something they do with pleasure.

I tend to think we are what we surround ourselves with. I do better in lovely surroundings, I'm a very visual person. I decorated when I had little money,
my obsession was the same. Now my decor is done. This winter, we are leasing a condo in florida; we might buy it, so I automatically started thinking about how I would decorate it if we do buy it. I can't help it.

Some people decorate to be validated by others, it's part of who they think they are. There's a large range of "why's" regarding decorating, feathering the nest, call it what you want.

I have been wondering about this for a long time. Thanks for posting the question!
I have a very close friend who moved into her home a 6 years ago, the same time I moved into mine. She painted the walls white, used what she had from her previous home (pics, a few accessories) and was DONE. We go shopping together- I ALWAYS end up in the home furnishings department, and she never does. I am always on the look out for "stuff" and she never even thinks about her home other than it being neat and clean....why?
For me I think our homes should be a place to decompress and wash away your day. It really should be your haven. When I am surrounded by things I love it makes me feel warm, safe and secure. I want to walk in the door and say "ahhhhhhh"- "oooohh" is always good too : )
I also think it is a "learned" thing. My parents were always doing things in the house. My mom took great pride in the house looking nice and was always "sneaking" stuff in and wondering how long it would take my dad to notice! My girls are already wanting to repaint their rooms now and then and moving their furniture around ! I always let them- am I an enabler? Probably- my younger daughter is now wanting to repaint her room for the 3rd time in 6yrs- Peacock blue. Am I going to let her? Of course............

I'm quite sure my husband wonders "why?"!

Like others I am also an extremely visual person. I cannot be in a room without examining every inch and wondering what to do with various spaces or what would make it better. It's a creative outlet and the end results deeply satisfy me.
I have also always decorated and it never had a thing to do with money or time.
I am finished inside for the most part ( can always refresh and upgrade) but my attention is outdoors now in the yard. Just another extension of the inside only with plants.

I think bumblebeez hit the nail on the head when she wrote "It's a creative outlet...", I know that's what it is for me. My Mom was an enabler with me, as is homebody with her daughters. And that's a good thing. I passed this "need" onto our daughter.

Just think of how far back decorating spans. It's gone on for ages ... even prehistoric people "decorated" caves with pictographs and carved petroglyphs into rock walls. True, this artwork told a story - but there can be no denying its aesthetic value as well.

I agree that decorating is a creative outlet, and it allows us to "tell a story" of who we are.

Because we think it will get us closer to happiness.

I am uncomfortable and unhappy unless my surroundings are serene and (by my estimation) beautiful. I have always been this way, from a very young age. I am not sure that it translates into "decorating," but I surround myself with art, furnishings that I feel are attractive, fresh flowers, and order--and then I can hear myself think, and I can be productive.

Interesting point about being decorating-minded from a young age. I was too - at least I think that's what I was doing when I was spending hours playing in my mom's spice cabinet (I must have been about 3 years old or so) lining up spice bottles and jars in ways that were pleasing to my eye. I think some of us are just wired to crave a certain sense of order and placement, and I would wager that most of us who greatly enjoy decorating as adults were also very much into arrangement and placement as children.

I'm not so into decorating, although I truly enjoy the discussions and results on this forum. My creative outlet is gardening and that obsession is now creeping onto the patio.

Interior designer Charlotte Moss "collects" sayings or passages from all kinds of books, poems etc. about the descriptions of houses and homes. I'll post one or two of them -- but her book is called "Poetry of Home" -- and is one of my favorite volumes.

But first: I grew up in a family that was by nature and nuture -- true and essential homebodies. Just one example -- at this time of the year -- my grandmother (and her mum before her!) would be sending for the "paperhanger" (wallpaperman) and the painters to refresh the whole house. Rugs would be hanging on the clothesline to air and every curtain would be down -- the heavier ones aired, brushed and cleaned and stored. The fine lace curtains would be hung -- and of course -- parties planned.

You see -- "Home" needs love, care, attention -- just like any other member of the family. Look at the film "Gray Gardens" for an example of the obsession with home -- but without the care and maintenance, of course! :) Just teasing -- but there are extremes on both sides of the issue!

I look at neglected homes of any age as "unloved" -- and I've been in tears over many broken old homes.

But -- to return to my point -- that even in literature of any type and age (and in movies too!) houses and homes can literally be part of the story -- and sometimes it is the center point.

From writer Robert Polidori (page 11 "The Poetry of Home" by Charlotte Moss):

"Who among us has never been struck, upon entering a room for the first time, by its particular atmosphere, the undefinable perfume give off by it? Doesn't this effluvia of sensation seem to carry with it the memory of actions, silences and emotions to which the room has been witness? Why wouldn't its walls have recorded and stored away all the emotional vibrations given off by its successive occupants and visitors? Both metaphor and psychic catalyst, a room always seems to reveal to us a specific psychological and spiritual universe."

And for one of the BEST examples in literature -- simply read the first page of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien! The description of the home of Bilbo Baggins is wonderful -- and reveals so much of his own character.

Our houses can reveal so much of our essential "selves" and our stories.

(From page 38 "The Poetry of Home" Charlotte Moss) From the writer Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

"Our house was not unsentient matter - it had a heart and a soul, and eyes to see with, the approvals and solicitudes and deep sympathies, it was of us, and we were in its confidence and lived in its grace and in the peace of its benedictions. We never came home from an abscence that its face did not light up and speak out in eloquent welcome - and we could not enter it unmoved."

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

I'm in the same camp as Beachlily ... "I'm not so into decorating, although I truly enjoy the discussions and results on this forum. My creative outlet is gardening..."

I can get by with the minimum indoors and change is rarely a thought, but gardening outdoors it's a completely different story! That's where my 'decorating' comes alive!

I wondered a lot about this when I was in design school, what it all meant. I ended up doing a lot of fully rendered projects that were really pretty empty--furniture placement and a complete "envelope", but not much in the way of accessories.

For clients, even if I am doing the collecting/accessorizing part -- I try not to do random decorative items just because they go with the color scheme...I try to look for something meaningful.

For myself, my decoration is an outgrowth of my collecting. I don't ever buy anthing as a space filler. I have lived in plenty of places without a single picture on the wall because I didn't have anything I felt was worth hanging.
Now that I have 20 years or so of intensive collecting behind me I have a ton of stuff--so I decorate with it. (Although some collections I like to keep boxed up and just look at them occasionally, like Fagin and his box of loot from Oliver Twist.)

I like and want my home to be pleasing to my eye. The problem is I don't always know how to create the look but my home is important to me.

I know plenty of people that it's just not a big deal to them. I think it all comes down to we're all wired different.

This place has helped me learn what I like and don't like. What works and doesn't work for our life and home.

I think it's important to keep a balance in life and it can be easy, with anything, to get carried away.

I, too, am a very visual person. I also like texture - love to touch, pick up or run my hand over items (fur, worn leather, old wood, wicker...). When going through museums, I find myself holding my hands behind my back. Although I've never wanted to reach out and touch something in a museum, I think the desire in there and, in my min, it is realized. I did get too close leaning towards a Renoir at the Musee d'Orsay and a guard asked me politely to stand back. DD2 was slightly amused. ;D

I do what I do in our home for me, and my family. I am a creative person - from playing the flute, doing needlework, art and gardening. Making a house a home is a creative outlet for me. Doing what works for us and our way of life. The best compliment was from our next door neighbor in our last home. She came into that house one day and said "this isn't a house, it's a home."

Sure, I enjoy hearing nice comments, but I don't live for the comments and don't care whether something is disliked by someone who does not live here.

It's also in my blood. My paternal grandfather had a furniture factory (burned down when my parents were in HS) and a furniture store. My dad had 3 furniture stores and I spent a lot of time there when growing up. I move things around my room all the time and was very frustrated there was really only one good way to put twin beds and later a full in my room!

Like someone above, even when money was scarce, I did the best I could. I certainly don't shop often but strolling an antique store looking for something special to bring home is distressing for me. I don't have to buy something to enjoy.

I decorate because I like order and coordination. It makes me feel good when my surroundings relate to each other and express my personality. Any compliments I get are nice, of course, but I don't decorate for others, I do it so my house feels like home, and not just some place I store all my stuff.

I think we all can agree why we decorate; it's the other questions that need to be asked - to those who don't decorate!

Why play video games?
Why watch nascar?
Why twitter?
Why watch mindless sitcoms?
Why ____________?

IMO, what really got people started on the 'decorating band wagon' were all the decorating shows~watching Lymette, Kitty, Christopher and others added fuel to *my* already 'burning embers'. Add to that, new magazines and books that became available as abundant resources.

Like so many others here, it must be a 'recessive gene' or in the 'bloodline'. Like Allison, my GP's owned a furniture store, and although it's a new store, it's still family run. I remember GP's home with it's Victoria furniture we weren't allowed to sit on except Christmas, which left some sort of influence on me. Add that with a visual 'need' to have a space that fulfills me emotionally~walking into a home and getting the warm fuzzies makes me happy, inside and out!

Creative expression is very big also since it's part of that visual need. To know you have created a room or a home that satisfies either yourself or your family is a joy in itself, and I believe it instills a home-is-where-the-heart is attitude in our kids. I have 5 adult kids, 3 girls/2 boys, and all take pride in their surroundings. Even GD has said, 'you'll have to help me decorate my first apartment, Grandma.' LOL I started off helping them choose furniture/color/accessories, now they have the confidence to make their own choices and not allow my influence.

Seeing them create their own environment with a love of home warms my heart. They have followed my lead, and know it's not about the amount of money spent, but the feeling it provides. ;o)

I, too, am a visual person ( "A thing of beauty is a joy forever"). I don't care if no one ever sees my home, what I create is for my pleasure. DH doesn't care as long as it's comfortable and functional.

That being said, I have been greatly influenced by this forum. I haven't liked my house for a long time, but all the talented people with beautiful homes here have inspired me to make small and budget friendly improvements that are helping me turn my home into a serene and beautiful place.

For me, it's all about having the creative outlet and trying to create a sanctuary in my home (so far, I'm not feeling the sanctuary vibe in my mess of a house but I'm working on it!).

"(so far, I'm not feeling the sanctuary vibe in my mess of a house but I'm working on it!)"
Juddgirl12, I so am with you on that one I'm sad to say. Our homes have always been a sanctuary. Our current home is still incomplete, as in the trim still needs to be made, stained and installed, so it's not "there" yet.

I am also a lifelong decorator - after my mom did horrible job redecorating my room when I was in 1st grade - she totally ignored my wishes because purple is too cold of a north facing room in NH. She made up for it by letting me do my sisters old room over when I was 14. It was beautiful and sophisticated for a 14 year old - no teen hearth throb posters on my french floral wall paper - lol

I am an artist and creative and I get deep satisfaction from making my home a beautiful and welcoming place for people to enjoy. We just rebuilt and my biggest critics - my sister and my SIL both referred to my home as having a spa like essence and they never want to leave. It isn't fancy or big but every detail was given thought and people feel it. A dad picked up his daughter from a play date the other day and looked around and said he has seldom been in a house where every detail is so well thought out.

I have a chronic illness and I have been steadily getting better since we moved back - it isn't the whole reason of course but it certainly helps that I feel happy and positive in my home.

Like others I am now working on the outside - construction did a number and we are only about a third of the way back.

why not??

Jan, I am looking into that book as soon as I finish posting this. Thank you!

Well, if you take a moment to look around you at all the creation on this earth, the birds, the flowers, the leaves of the trees, butterflies, oceans, rivers, rocks, and even people.........you see that Someone took great delight in making things beautiful. Why should we puny humans not do the same?

Red

For me, I enjoy being creative and it's a lot better than cleaning! It's like a hobby for me. Also, I feel so much more relaxed in a room that looks nice.

" I think some of us are just wired to crave a certain sense of order and placement, and I would wager that most of us who greatly enjoy decorating as adults were also very much into arrangement and placement as children."

I'm with AuntJen. I think that controlling one's visual environment matters more to some people than to others. As a child, I loved arranging things-- my brother used Legos to make lots of things; I only made house floorplans and furniture. I had no interest in playing dolls in my doll house, only in setting it up to look the way I wanted. There were many television shows and movies I watched to see the rooms as much as for the characters and plot.

I "decorated" my college dorm room and my studio apartment with the same level of interest I bring to my current home. There were years where all I had to work with was hand-me-downs and stuff I pulled of the curb, but I still worked to make my rooms "mine".

My mother is the same way-- if she lived in a straw hut, it would be a straw hut with Italian flair. My mother-in-law, on the other hand, bought some furniture and put up some wallpaper in 1972 and hasn't given it a thought since. She's just not interested in it, period.

For me i love to decorate things. Now a days every one wants to have a beautiful home or office and looks differently from others. Interior home designing helps them to decorate.