5 Secrets Interior Designers Use In Their Homes
Why is it that a beautifully designed home looks so effortless? Have you ever tried to emulate a room you found on Pinterest, only to find that it feels impossible to create that designer look? I am going to let you in on some secrets to take your space to the next level, and decorate like a designer!
Tip Number 1: Create a Cohesive Color Scheme
Beautifully designed homes have one thing in common; they are COHESIVE. This means that
rather than looking like a bunch of random rooms under the same roof, each space in the homes shares similar elements that take it from a collection of rooms to a unified home. There are a few ways to achieve this, but the easiest way to make this happen is through the use of paint colors.
There are endless options for paint colors, so the easiest option is to get the input of an expert. I offer paint consultations for a small fee, that are guaranteed to make your home look amazing. If you would rather go the DIY route I would suggest by creating a Pinterest board with inspirational photos for your home, and seeing if there is a common theme. If you are pinning a lot of rooms with neutral color palettes, start there as a blank canvas. Alternatively, you might find yourself drawn to bold colors. While I don't suggest a bold color throughout your home, a great accent color can be used in small doses in multiple rooms to carry out a unified look.
Tip Number 2: Theme vs. Concept
This could also be described as "collected" versus "matchy." A great way to elevate the look of your home is to avoid the collections from the big box furniture stores, and select pieces that are complementary, but different. An example of this would be choosing two different sofas in a living room, or a bedroom with a metal bed and some wooden night stands. When the items are all the same it gives off a "cookie cutter" vibe, which usually does not translate well.
Another example of a themed room would be a nursery themed after animals or a certain
character. This works because themes are juvenile, and kids like spaces that have an easy to understand vibe. Now this becomes a problem when you decide to make a "coffee shop" theme in your home, and instead of using elements that you would find in a coffee shop (think cozy conversation zones, eclectic furniture, warm lighting, etc), you put signs that say "coffee shop" and mugs everywhere.
Tip Number 3: RUGS!
Rugs are essential to creating an ambience in a space. One of the most important items in a room is the rug. My favorite tip for decorating a space, is to start with a beautiful rug, and use the colors to create a cohesive room. Rug size is also incredibly important. There is a tendency to buy rugs that aren't the right fit for the space, creating a dreaded rug island in the middle of the room. A rug should tie the space together, bringing all of the furniture in to create a cozy atmosphere. I have included a helpful graphic from Park and West Home with some ideas for arranging furniture
depending on the size of the rug.
Tip Number 4: Outdated items make your space look sloppy
If a piece of furniture is outdated, it makes a room look sloppy. There are plenty of incredible options for giving new life to outdated furniture, but sometimes it is just beyond saving. If an item doesn't have sentimental value, you can sell or donate it and replace it with a more timeless piece. When a room has timeless pieces, it will never go out of style.
Tip Number 5: Decorate a home with things that YOU like!
If you try to use accessories or furniture pieces that you only purchased because they are on trend, but you don't actually like them, your home will never feel right to you. Even if something is not currently trendy, if you love it, that is all that matters! A home with thoughtfully collected pieces will feel like YOU, and it will make your space a place that you enjoy being!
Loving where you live is always in style, and I am happy to help you create the perfect space through my virtual design packages! We will create a beautiful space that fits your budget with a mood board and a shopping list with items for you to purchase at your own pace! Head to my Plans and Pricing page to learn more!