Why Fixer to Fabulous' Dave and Jenny Marrs say cozy and realistic is better than perfect

With sweater weather and pumpkin spice season right around the corner, it might seem like a good idea to splurge on lots of new seasonal decor.

But HGTV's "Fixer to Fabulous" hosts Dave and Jenny Marrs have some words of advice for would-be shoppers.

“If it doesn’t bring you joy to load 15 totes full of decor down from the attic, don’t do it. Here’s your permission not to do it. If it does bring you joy, do it,” Jenny Marrs said. “My mom is amazing — she decorates for every season — there are hand towels and sheets, everything. She loves that…it gives her life. It’s so fun and she always made every season so magical for us as kids. My style is the opposite. But I really believe you should do whatever makes you happy...

"Just do you.”

Marrs’ personal style is minimal, relying on natural elements she takes from the outdoors. She says the simplest thing someone can do is cut branches with turning leaves outside, bring them in and put them in a vase. It adds instant atmosphere.

The Marrses also grow their own colorful pumpkins, though they take an annual outing at a local pumpkin patch with their five children. But they use the pumpkins, whether grown or bought, around the house to invoke autumn. They love to level up the cozy factor by having chunky blankets around, lighting candles and having a roaring fire going.

“Keep it simple,” Jenny Marrs said. “We live in a society of trying to create content all the time, but you have to shut that down and actually just live your life and make it cozy and enjoyable. If it’s not bringing you peace to have your house full of seasonal decor, don’t do it. That’s our mantra. Some years you’ll have more time to decorate — give yourself the grace to not feel guilty if your house isn’t decorated.”

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The timeless home

Now filming season 6 of “Fixer to Fabulous,” the Marrses recently spoke from the kitchen of their restored farmhouse with their dog, Daisy, sleeping peacefully in the background.

“She tries to average between 18 and 21 hours of sleep a day,” Dave Marrs joked.

He shares his wife’s philosophy of simplicity and timelessness. When it comes to the trends they’re both seeing in home improvement, they say it's more about permanence. People are choosing a place to stay and live versus flipping homes.

“People are finding where they want to live and the work they’re doing is to make the house work for them,” Dave Marrs says. “They might be working from home now, or they may just want to update their space because they have no intentions of moving. I like to see that. Ten or 12 years ago, it was, ‘Let’s build as big a house as we possibly can so we can get the best square footage price when we sell it.' That wreaks havoc on old historic homes.”

Today, Dave Marrs said more people are moving toward wanting to save and preserve historic homes, even if they’re smaller spaces. They’re moving away from huge homes with big formal rooms and are scaling back and enjoying living with less, he said.

“We love working on old homes and preserving them, so if there were one trend I’d be ready to see make its exit, it would be not tearing down those old homes and building something else,” says Jenny Marrs. “The other is leaning into the aesthetic of the home and not to make it something it’s not. If you’re living in a classic ranch-style home, don’t try to make it a farmhouse. Lean into whatever it is and make it work for you.”

But that can be a big job, her husband warns.

“It’s tough for people to sift through styles they might see on Pinterest," he said. "There are 8 million directions you can go on a house, but focus on keeping the house what it was meant to be."

Have realistic expectations

The Marrses admit that in the modern era of social media, which is full of curated DIY projects, photogenic inspo and shows like the ones aired on HGTV, including theirs, it’s easy to have unrealistic expectations.

They explain that for every 43-minute show they produce, they film 120 hours of footage. So when someone thinks of all the behind the scenes details and even mishaps they don’t see in an episode, Dave Marrs’ advice to have a defined plan, reasonable expectations and a timeline that adds a buffer to the project is guru-level.

“There’s a misconception from the homeowner’s point of view where they think projects can get done really quickly," he said. "Establish a timeline, say, six months, then add two months, because whether it’s waiting for products or running into an issue in the home that you don’t foresee, you know, that happens. A house is thousands of parts and it’s never just one contractor. There’s a lot of balancing that has to happen. What’s in my head and in your head are two different things, but what is on a piece of paper is just the fact. Doing a lot of the pre-work and setting up expectations can alleviate a lot of that.”

The Marrses recommend above all else starting with a drawn-up plan, whether provided by a contractor or an architect, that outlines exactly what is to be done in the home. That plan can be given to a few contractors that can bid on the job.

A draftsman or architect can tell if an idea is doable in the home and what direction should be taken, potentially saving tens of thousands of dollars. Dave Marrs suggests going to friends or neighbors for recommendations, or maybe a local lumberyard.

“They work with contractors. That’s their sole job. They know who pays and who is moving jobs through,” Dave Marrs said. “They’re probably a pretty good judge of who you could hire.”

Fall is also a great time to do most projects because the weather is usually cool and doesn't require heat or air conditioning. Homeowners can leave doors and windows open while working on interior projects, and many garden centers discount trees and perennials that can be planted in the fall, the couple said.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Fixer to Fabulous' Dave and Jenny Marrs say cozy and realistic is better than perfect