VOOZH about

URL: https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/decorate.1505504/

ā‡± decorate | WordReference Forums

Menu
Install the app
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.

decorate

amateurr

Senior Member
Russian
Could you tell me what "decorate" means in the statement?

"I just moved in last month and Iā€™m still decorating."

I mean there are a couple of definitions. One of them goes "to add something (pictures, carpet etc, flowers etc) to an place, especially in order to make it more attractive". The other one goes "to paint the inside or outside of a place or put paper on the inside walls" I'm not sure which one to choose but then I found one more definition which says that the alternative with painting and putting paper on the inside walls refers to British English.šŸ‘ Confused :confused:
I am not certain I understand your question. Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, which is a British dictionary, has both of your definitions for decorate.

In American English, as I know it, in this context decorate would mean making the room more attractive, as in the first definition. It might include painting or putting up wall-paper, but it would not be used to mean that exclusively.
... I'm still decorating the house to my own taste rather than that of the previous owners, i.e. repainting and rewallpapering (mainly).
There seems to be a slight change of emphasis AE/BE, or possibly only Cagey/ewie&panj.
Cagey suggests that decorating might include painting/papering.
Ewie suggests (and I agree) that decorating must include painting/papering.
Yes, if I lay down new carpets, hang new curtains, and put up some pictures, I would be decorating my house.

If I paint and add wall paper, I am probably redecorating my house, unless it is a new house with unfinished walls. In the latter case, I would be decorating my house.

This division is not strictly adhered to, of course. I would never claim that it is universal, but it is my experience.
In my experience, there is a definite difference between the AE and the BE use of decorating.

In BE, decorating seems to be primarily (and even exclusively) doing something to the walls (painting or papering). Someone who says she is decorating her bedroom could be doing no more than painting the walls, as I understand it.

In AE, however, we would say "painting (or papering) the bedroom" in that case. When we say "decorating", we usually include all the ornamentation of a room: color schemes, lamps, throw pillows, rugs or carpets. We may also paint or paper, but not necessarily.
I was totally unaware of that difference until now, Nunty.

Yes, BE decorating = painting and/or wallpapering.
AE decorating = BE furnishing (possibly.)
For me (Hiberno-English) there is no distinction - decorating can mean any or all of painting, wallpapering, hanging posters, laying a carpet, putting gee-gaws and kinick-knacks on the mantlepiece...
Back
Top Bottom