Even though I love reading, writing, and thinking about interior decorating, I also love to come up with excuses to put off new projects. It’s easy to dismiss home improvements as too expensive, time-consuming or hard to complete, but the benefits outweigh any real problems. Think about how your talents can help you transform your home. Here are some of my reasons I know you can do it:

Because You’re an Artist
Home design is a great way to tap into your creative side. Finding and combining the right colors, patterns, shapes, and lighting can be just as challenging as painting a fresco or writing a song. Unlike painting or other kinds of expression, design can add value to one of your biggest investments–your property.

Of course, the real reason to strike out on your own artistic journey is because it will allow you to tap your imagination and create something you can be proud of. Think of the project as recreation rather than as a chore. A beautifully-appointed room is a even masterpiece that you and your friends can enjoy for years to come.

Because You’re You
Your home shouldn’t just be the place where you sleep. Every nook should tell your guests a little bit about you. Have a strong sense of national pride? Hang up some patriotic wall decor. Want to share your love of your cats? Take some snapshots and make a tasteful collage the centerpiece of the sitting room.

The more you inject yourself into your space, the more comfortable and relax you will feel at home. So you may not have any interests as cut and dry as patriotic home decor or feline photographs, but you can show off your DVD collection or deck out your bedroom in you favorite color. Decorating your space is one of the few times in life when things are all about you. Enjoy it.

Because You’re Crafty
I find that the frugal, the eccentric and the resourceful are often drawn to interior design, because they can do amazing things on a small budget. If you love to hot glue, paint or sew, then chances are you already have your creations all around you. Try challening all of homemade know-how into a cohesive space. You’ll be amazed what you can do with relatively little. (It’s even possible to turn some styrofoam and buttons into patriotic decor or beer cans into modern art.)

It may involve drafting and a lot of manual labor, but good decorating is nothing if not creative. To create something beautiful and livable is an art that requires imagination and inspiration. Unfortunately, the artistry of the whole endeavor can be lost in the budget and planning stages. Below are a few simple ideas on how to clear your mind and unleash your inner designer:

- Find one wonderful piece. Every room should contain at least one item that you have fallen in love with. Once you’ve found it, make it the centerpiece of your plan.

- Look for inspiration in unlikely places. Magazines, TV, and blogs are great for tips and tricks, but be careful they don’t keep you from making your own decisions. Take a walk or go to a museum. You can find your muse anywhere.

- Don’t copy! Every room is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all design. If you find an example you love, identify the elements that attracted you to it. Now expand upon them and add your own flair. The result will be purely you.

- Be yourself. My husband and I decided to turn our passion for video games into a design statement. Our console collection is proudly displayed. We even bought some retro advertisements for art and stenciled the walls with our favorite characters. You won’t see many living rooms like ours, but it makes us happy. (I even get compliments from people who aren’t into gaming.)

- Buy one-offs, vintage collectibles, and artisan furniture . There are some great mass-produced pieces, but there is something about a unique find that really sparks the imagination. You can even help the environment and humanity by purchasing wares from impoverished craftsmen in other countries .

- Take a break. Many bad design choices are made during weekend overhauls and in the rush to fill up a newly purchased house. Avoid making spur of the moment decisions. It is practically impossible for a home decorator to throw a space together in only a few days. Get comfortable. Figure out the flow of the area. Take note of the strengths and weaknesses in architecture and layout before spending time and money decorating. Done all that? Spend another week relaxing. Your subconscious will do a lot of the hard work for you.

- Have fun. This is, of course, the first commandment of designing for yourself. If you don’t enjoy the process, you won’t enjoy the room.