HELP ME DECORATE!

    Does anybody want to come help me decorate my new house? Or better yet—just do it for me while I sit back with my feet up and offer occasional commentary? We’ve officially lived in our new place for over a month now. Everything is unpacked, for the most part, and I’ve managed to get things generally looking how I want them. The garage—which falls squarely into my husband’s jurisdiction—is another story entirely, but let’s just agree not to speak of it.
    The part that’s taking the longest? Hanging stuff on the walls. I’m just not good at it. I stall. I second-guess. I make piles. It’s like I need someone to come in and just do it all for me. If you remember a column I wrote a Christmas or two ago, I mentioned that while I love having my house festively decked out, I don’t want to put in the energy it takes to make it happen. I want the “after” without the “during.” That continues to be my vibe.
    This is not to say I don’t own plenty of wall décor. I do. Too much, honestly. The real issue is decision paralysis. Where should things go? Do they still match my style (or what I wish was my style)? And are some of these pieces...well, a little too “well-loved”? Some stuff is definitely past its prime, with more than a few items drifting into the “vintage in a bad way” category.
    To complicate matters, my husband tends to be far more sentimental about décor than I am. He’s got wall art that once belonged to his grandma, things that “bring back memories,” or remind him of something meaningful from the past. That’s all well and good, but I’m a little more ruthless. 
    That said, I’ve hung onto my own fair share of questionable décor. When I moved into my first semi-nice apartment in Brookings, I decided to lean into my love of movies. I went wild at Gordmans and bought a bunch of canvas prints featuring film reels, fun sayings, etc. Since then, I’ve carted that “collection” across three states, clinging to the dream that I’d have the perfect movie-themed spot for them again. In our new house, though, they just don’t really go anywhere. So maybe it’s time to say goodbye to Hollywood.
    Then there’s the “Wildlife Collection.” This eclectic mix comes entirely from my husband and includes various pieces he acquired at Ducks Unlimited banquets, college wildlife conferences, and questionable bar auctions. I like wood ducks and pheasants as much as the next person, but do I need them featured prominently in my living room? I’m still undecided.
    There are some surprisingly interesting pieces in the Wildlife Collection, though. For instance, we have two framed sketches showing detailed illustrations of many fish species found in Iowa. They look like textbook pages and they’re oddly charming. So yes, they’re hanging in our formal living room, along with a deer mount and a fish mount (which I did allow). I’ll admit it: they kind of work. 
    We’ve got a decent number of things up at this point—some of which actually look nice, and others that were clearly hung in a “just put something there” kind of moment. As for my personal décor style? I’d describe it as “cheap” to be perfectly honest. I don’t mean tacky (though we’re probably flirting with that line), I just don’t like spending money. That’s how I ended up with several choice pieces from the elite art collection available at Dollar General, as well as a few finds from Facebook Marketplace—including one acquired in a shady parking lot transaction.
    I’m still debating whether to hang the Pabst Blue Ribbon bar sign, but I’ve firmly drawn the line at the Captain Morgan rum pirate-themed plaque I won at a Super Bowl party in college. I mean, I do have standards.
    So, if you’ve got any decorating advice for someone trying to make a home feel warm and inviting using outdated canvas prints, wildlife memorabilia, and deeply discounted wall art—I’m all ears.