WHEN PROGRESS HITS A WALL: SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT FAILED EXPERIMENTS
- Totally get what you mean about the old tile. I’ve tried to save original features too, thinking it’d save money and add charm, but sometimes it just doesn’t work with the new stuff.
- It’s weird, though—those “failures” stick in your mind way more than the things that went smoothly.
- Honestly, sometimes I wonder if I should’ve just leaned into the clash and called it “eclectic.” Maybe next time I’ll just roll with it...
Honestly, sometimes I wonder if I should’ve just leaned into the clash and called it “eclectic.” Maybe next time I’ll just roll with it...
Funny you mention that—one time I tried to blend some vintage wallpaper with modern cabinets, thinking it’d be quirky. It ended up looking like a thrift store exploded. Ever feel like the “eclectic” thing is just code for “I gave up”? But sometimes, those weird combos grow on you after a while.
I totally get what you mean—my first attempt at “eclectic” was basically just me putting stuff I liked in the same room and hoping for the best. It looked like a Pinterest board gone rogue. But honestly, I think there’s an art to making clashing styles work. I started small, mixing just one bold thing with safer choices, and it helped me figure out what I could actually live with day-to-day. Sometimes you have to let the weird combos sit for a bit... they either grow on you or you know it’s time to swap something out.
Sometimes you have to let the weird combos sit for a bit... they either grow on you or you know it’s time to swap something out.
- Totally relate. When we moved in, I thought mixing my grandma’s floral chair with a modern lamp would be “quirky.” It was just weird at first.
- Gave it a week. Turns out, I actually love it now—guess some combos need time to settle.
- Agree about starting small. Tried swapping out a wild rug for a neutral one and suddenly the whole room made sense.
- Not every experiment works, but sometimes the “failures” end up being my favorite parts.
Letting things settle is underrated, honestly. I’ve had similar moments—once tried pairing a reclaimed wood table with these super sleek metal chairs. Looked off for days, but after living with it, the contrast actually felt intentional and kinda cool. Sometimes you just need to give your eyes time to adjust. And yeah, not every mix works, but those “failures” can add so much character. It’s all part of the process... nothing wasted, just lessons learned.
