February has flown by and it turned out to be my busiest month yet. I spent most of my time redoing the girls’ bedroom and finishing a loft space in our house. Today I want to share how decorating became simple and enjoyable thanks to the DIY Home Planner. I’ll include a few photos and explain the sources of inspiration and tools I used. I’m not a professional decorator, and I certainly didn’t want to lose my mind over this project, so I relied on a few straightforward strategies to keep things manageable and fun.
At first I began the room the way I usually do—somewhat haphazardly. Then I heard about KariAnne Wood’s new DIY Home Planner and decided to try it. The planner appealed to me because it includes clear guidance on creating floor plans and arranging furniture before you move anything. It also offers practical features like pockets for paint chips and fabric swatches, which essentially makes it a portable mood board. To visualize the layout in three dimensions, I paired the planner with a web-based room tool called Roomstyler, which helped me create 3D mockups and see how furniture would fit and look in the space.
The planner breaks the process into clear sections—flooring, paint colors, patterns, wall treatments, window treatments, and more—walking you step by step through how to build a room design. That structure helped me prioritize tasks and stop jumping around between decisions. Normally I’m a bit scattershot with decorating choices, but following the planner kept me focused and calm.
The first step was painting. With the girls’ input we decided on white, but choosing the right white turned out to be more complicated than expected—so many subtle tones! After debating, we picked Basic Brilliant White by Benjamin Moore and began painting. The girls helped and worked hard, but then they surprised me with a suggestion: paint one wall with a non-white, almost entirely their idea. I was hesitant at first, but the result was wonderful.
They envisioned an ombré wall that starts like outer space at the ceiling and gradually fades into atmosphere tones as it reaches the floor. I was pleasantly surprised by how well it turned out—the ombré effect gives the room depth and a playful, dreamy feeling that fits the girls perfectly.
Reading the DIY Home Planner felt freeing—it reassured me that it was okay to let the girls take the lead and not worry about every detail. This is our home and it should reflect the people who live in it. The results brought joy and a sense of ownership for them, and they were thrilled to help make decisions. Normally I shy away from bold color choices, but here everything came together beautifully once I trusted the process and the girls’ instincts.
When it was time to choose storage, we headed to Ikea ready to select the right units. We chose classic Billy bookcases and used the Roomstyler 3D mockups to confirm dimensions and placement before purchasing, which made the trip more efficient and less stressful.
We also found a rug that felt like it belonged in the room from the moment we saw it. Its subtle ombré echoed the painted wall and helped tie the whole palette together. After stretching the budget just a bit, I let the girls pick a few accessories to personalize the space—little touches that make the room feel lived-in and loved.
The girls even agreed to let me display a recent painting of mine in their room—it fit the new palette unexpectedly well. We also updated lamps to a coordinated black-and-white look that balances the blue accents and gives the space a fresh, modern feel.
The loft space was another project I completed at the same time. It’s an open area with a few windows and no dividing walls. The planner helped me understand the differences between hardwood, laminate, and engineered wood, which made selecting flooring much easier. We chose a warm walnut-toned laminate that complements the neutral gray walls and creates a cozy, cohesive flow between rooms.
The DIY Home Planner became a trusted companion throughout these projects—even coming with me to the store. It’s full of practical advice, step-by-step guidance, and a generous dose of the author’s personal stories and humor. If you struggle with decorating or feel overwhelmed by choices, a resource like this can simplify the process and help you make confident decisions.
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If you face decorating dilemmas, using a step-by-step planner and a simple 3D room tool can make the process much less intimidating. Over the coming weeks I’ll share more projects and updates from these rooms as we add finishing touches and personal details.