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We have an epidemic, folks. Some of my clients (and I suspect many more homeowners across the country) are suffering from a condition I call “ish”. Ish is a nasty, insidious disease that attacks unsuspecting DIY-ers at the most critical point in a project: decision time.

Ish n. inability to make a design decision to save one’s life. intj. non-committal reaction to a question when presented a choice.
related forms: v. isher adj. ishy, ishier, ishiest

Ish is most likely to infect homeowners at the onset of a project during the idea-hunting phase. Unaware of the potential damage, folks will sit for hours watching design shows, soaking up an overload of ideas. Hazardous Ish particles stream from the television to the viewer through the eye socket, depositing themselves in the brain. Ish particles can build up to toxic levels when the homeowner is engaged in other idea-hunting activities such as shopping at home improvement centers, visiting model homes, and reading magazines. Once toxic levels have been reached, indecision becomes the primary reaction to every option during the project. To determine whether you have been afflicted with Ish, ask yourself the following questions:
• Do you feel that you are never satisfied with any of the design selections found or presented to you?
• Has your project been in the preliminary phase for more than 6 months?
• Do salespeople run screaming from you in home improvement stores after helping you (or worse, when they see you coming?)

But seriously…..why are there so many indecisive folks out there? While the surplus of ideas on design shows can make the most stoic decision-maker hesitate, the biggest reasons I’ve found for homeowner Ishiness are:
• They’re scared to death to make the wrong choice Wrong choices are expensive and time-consuming, and the fear of having to start over can paralyze the do-it-yourselfer.
• They like too many things Determining what you don’t like first is a better way to thin the decorative herd and start from a happy place.
• They suffer from sticker shock Thanks again to the design shows, folks actually think that you can pull off a total remodel for a thousand bucks. When DIYers see actual pricing, some hold off projects hoping that products will go on sale or that they can get a better labor deal elsewhere.

So what’s a poor Isher to do? The first thing is to limit your choices. Don’t spend the weekend going to 6 different stores for ideas- try only one or two to start. Only bring samples home that are front-runners, and make sure to collect all the relevant statistics and functional info on each product. The next thing you can do is trust your gut. With most of the clients I end up assisting on a DIY project, I end up confirming their initial choice. If it feels right, you can safely stop looking. Finally, if you’re still ishing, then hire a professional. A designer will give unbiased advice on your selections and steer you in the right direction. In many cases, it’s great to have an unemotionally attached set of eyes to look over your project before you begin.