Decorating and designing your home can be a grueling task for some. I hear a lot of people say that they are not good at decorating their home or find that they just flat out do not know what to do. There are some easy ways to take your home to the next level though. You do not need to be a professional in order to instill some of these tips into your home and you will be happy that you did! Take a look at some tips and ideas for you to utilize during your next project.
1. Groups and Levels
The first tip I want to introduce is the idea of levels when you group decorations together. Grouping decorations is already a great start to upgrading your space but it is the way you do it that will take you from blah to bam! I like to follow the rule of three: three pieces and three levels. (Of course, this does not mean you are ever forced to use that number of pieces/levels but it is an easy idea to remember and to utilize for those who have a little less courage when it comes to decorating) One way to achieve levels in the grouping is to find three differently sized objects and put them together in a group. These objects do not need to be the same, but they do need to have a common feature such as color, style, material, theme, etc. There needs to be something tying them together otherwise, your planned grouping looks like you forgot to put something away. If grouping vases, make sure to have different heights as well as different widths. Mixing skinnier and wider vases together in addition to changing the heights works wonders. One way to create levels in pieces that may not necessarily have different heights is to put them on something to give them a little height. You can use books, small stands, have one on the floor and something else above it on a small table, etc. The ways this can be accomplished are endless. One way I love to decorate a fireplace mantle is to also use the floor around the fireplace as part of my space. I use taller vases with some palms in it to draw the eye up from the floor to the mantle which may have other smaller vases on it, pictures hanging or leaning, a mirrors, various sculptures, etc. I constantly am changing out my decorations with the seasons, as I change the use of my spaces or even just on a whim as I want to change things up a bit.
2. Mix and Match Patterns or Textures
I cannot count how many times my clients say they are afraid to mix patterns because they do not understand how. They are afraid of creating a hodgepodge of a design or cannot decide upon what they want. Well, do not be afraid of patterns. They are a wonderful way to create a unique accent for your space and a way to portray your personality. You want your home to showcase who you are, as it is the place you find comfort and peace. One rule of thumb is to keep the size of the pattern different. That is easy to remember as well! If you found a large pattern that you love in a pillow, you will want to mix it with a pattern that is smaller in scale. If you find a pattern that is small in scale, vice versa. Sticking with the thought of having one large, one medium, and one small sized pattern in scale is a great way to always mix your patterns. The reason that you want to change the scale is that patterns that are too close in size will conflict with each other, creating that sense of wrongness that you see when you look at it. That sense of wrongness is from the vibration of our eyes as they try and take in the two patterns that are fighting for attention. When mixing patterns, you truly can mix the patterns. Stripes, flowers, polka dots, plaid, paisley, etc. can be put together easily. You will want some common thread to tie them all together. That can be done with keeping in the same color scheme, having something else in the room that they can be connected to visually such as a painting that showcases the colors used in the patterns, they can be complimentary colors as well. If you are afraid to go too bold with a large pattern, keep the large pattern to something of a small size like a small pillow and use the large pillows, blankets, wallcoverings, etc. to show the smaller scaled patterns. If that is still too daunting, mixing texture is a wonderful way to have that same feel of mixing patterns without the fear of choosing the wrong color or pattern. Mixing neutrals is an easy way to create the visual interest of a space while still maintaining a calm, relaxed feel that your eyes can easily travel across. The different textures will provide the interest and will catch your eye in a different way than mixing patterns. One of my favorite ways to mix textures is to include leather pillows on a sofa or to add some metal pieces to a room overrun by wood. The sleek metal contrasts wonderfully with the rougher quality of wood. Mixing textures can feel less threatening and an easier idea to tackle for many, and by doing so, you will easily upgrade the look of your home.
3. Removable wallpaper
I love wallpaper and the options are endless when it comes to color, pattern, texture, and style. A great option for upgrading the look of your space is to use wallpaper. The best part is, so many of them are being made as removable so whether you are in your forever home or just a rental, you can still upgrade your home with some wallpaper. Wallpaper is back and the styles are gorgeous; I could not be happier with the evolution of wallpaper over the years and how it can be incorporated into any home. I love using wallpaper as accent walls or the entire room depending on the design! As this is supposed to be a tip to quickly upgrade your space, only doing an accent wall will save some time. You can also use it in areas that are more unconventional, such as to bring some life back into old furniture. I love using it to back a bookcase, or to highlight some accents on a dresser. Some other places you can use it that are not always thought about are as an accent up a staircase, underneath a sit-in counter area, or the backwall of a bathroom. Truly, it is up to you how you use it and how much you want to put up. The option for removable helps keep the fear of doing something different and unique at bay, as it can easily be taken down if you grow tired of it or just want to change it up after a few years. Using wallpaper to bring in pattern and color is such a wonderful way to show your unique style to make your space truly yours.
4. Change Hardware
This next tip is so easy! It is also something that many of my clients do not even think about. One amazingly easy way to do a quick facelift and upgrade is to change out the hardware on your cabinets. This is a great option for both homeowners but a truly great option for renters who want to give their worn out kitchen a little pizzazz. Changing out the cabinet knobs/pulls and drawer knobs/pulls is so easy. The hard part is finding one that you cannot live without as the options are endless and making that final decision can be difficult. Picking out the hardware for a project to finish the room is a difficult task and one not for the faint of heart as there are millions of options available. But, it truly can change the entire look of a room, just by switching out the builder grade hardware for something really shows who you are. You can tell a lot about someone by the hardware they choose and it can really enhance your kitchen or bathroom. You can add some glam by picking a shiny, bold, ornate drawer pull or you can tone it down to a sleek, satin, minimalistic pull. I love changing out my hardware to upgrade my space. I do it on my cabinets, drawers and I also include my furniture as part of this change. Sometimes, the hardware that some furniture comes with just does not do it justice. Therefore, change it out to express your style and to upgrade your space. As a homeowner, you can search for the option that will be your long term replacement to take your kitchen up a notch. As a renter, I suggest finding an option you love without breaking the bank, as you will have to remove it before moving out (unless it is something that has been cleared with your landlord and you are able to leave it behind). If it is something you are doing to upgrade a temporary space, save the old hardware so that you can put it back and you are not charged with any rental fees. Or, if you just want a change, you can switch between hardware options (just be careful not to strip the screw as you exchange the hardware multiple times). I have used different drawer and cabinet pulls/knobs to take an average cabinet to one with some spark, and the change is instant!
5. Hire an Interior Designer or Decorator
In order to easily and quickly upgrade your home, your best course of action is to hire an interior designer or decorator. Interior designers and decorators are professionals in the field and can give you their objective opinion when it comes to making changes to your home. Each role is different and it will depend on your needs for who would be the best fit for your project. The fastest way to take your home up a few notches is to hire someone to do the hard work for you. Interior designers and decorators will be able to make these design decisions efficiently and keep your project moving. It is easy to get side tracked when making changes or to even stray from where you started. This wastes time, resources, money and your patience. Therefore, hiring a professional to keep the project in line, keep the design in tact and to keep your frustration to a minimum is the ideal answer.
As not everyone is ready for that commitment, the tips above can give you a nice start in making the changes you want to make your home showcase who you are and to give it a little bit of oomph. I hope these tips help you with your next home upgrade!
Thank you for reading!
Colleen
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