WHAT GARDENING TAUGHT ME ABOUT INTERIOR DECORATING
What I learned is that what worked for other gardens didn't necessarily work for mine.
Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of outside "interior decorating" (also known as gardening), and I’m really getting into it. It involves lots of weeding, planting, and watering. I’ve learned so much along the way—things like soil quality, climate, conditions, and plant types. There’s so much to learn, and I’m still figuring it all out. I’ve spent hours scrolling through pictures of the ideal garden, you know, the ones where plants are healthy and green, the flowers are in full bloom in magical colors, and there’s not a weed in sight. I mean no weeds.
I wanted one of those seemingly perfect gardens. I spent hours at the nursery reading the labels of every attractive plant that caught my eye. I even started watching gardening shows and flicking through magazines.
I invested in plants that I liked, planted them, and thought I’d cracked it. The perfect garden. But, a few weeks later, with weeds, pests, and weather taking its toll, it became apparent I hadn’t quite nailed it.
What I learned was that what worked for other gardens didn’t necessarily work for mine. I’d spent all this time, money, and effort on plants that didn't thrive, leaving me frustrated. A delicate Japanese maple tree from a shaded garden in London wasn’t going to work in my wind-swept space, with clay soil and Peter Rabbit eyeing my plants for his next meal.
This lesson actually taught me something important about interior decorating, too. Just because you see an amazing room (whether in a magazine, on Pinterest, or at a friend’s place) doesn’t mean those items will work in your own home.
What I Learned:
You can get inspiration from others, but it needs to be adapted to your own situation.
Your home is unique to you, with specific needs that no one else’s space shares.
Reality is always different from those Instagram-worthy photos.
You need to consider your specific circumstances when decorating.
Embrace your uniqueness.
There will always be "weeds"—not in the literal sense, but things that make life less than perfect. Like kids’ toys or homework on the dining table.
If you're looking for advice on how to make your space more you, book a discovery call with me or sign-up to receive my “All Things Interiors” newsletter. As an experienced Melbourne interior decorator, I'm here to help you create a space that’s tailored to your unique style and needs. And if you’d like some gardening advice, maybe I can share some wisdom too!
