It can take a lot to pull a room together. From the planning and creating timelines, to budgeting and making final purchases, there are many many components that factor into a successful design. Since I first began working with clients and walking them through this process, I have acquired a few tips and tricks that you can use to make it a little easier. So if you can’t afford an interior designer, here are a few of my personal tips on how to decorate like one!
one. pick a focal point
In every room there needs to be a focal point. Without one, a room can feel disjointed and awkward! Your focal point can be a wall, a piece of art, furniture, a fireplace, you name it. That focal point dictates the layout of your room, and is the true jumping off point for every space. Your furniture and space planning will be used to draw the eye to this focal point strategically, so identifying this first will help direct every move and purchase you make
. If you don’t have an obvious architectural focal point like a fireplace, windows with a view, etc., there are plenty of ways to create one. A gorgeous sofa, a gallery wall, or even your TV can serve as an easy focal point.
two. start on the floor
Our flooring is one of the largest expanses of visual real estate in every room besides to the walls, so it is very important to get them right! One of my biggest tips is to select your rug(s) first. It is much easier to match colors and furniture to a rug than to find a rug that *magically* coordinates with existing pieces. Find a rug that incorporates all the colors and patterns you love, and start pulling inspiration from there. It will make your room will feel thoughtful and cohesive.
three. create symmetry (the rule of thirds)
Designing a beautiful room is all about visual balance. The key to any successful space is being able to level out the visual weight. This applies to all areas of design; color, texture, size, scale, and tone. In terms of furniture, a great example is a bed and two nightstands in the bedroom, or a sofa paired with two chairs in the living room. Odd groupings and groups of three naturally appeal to the eye.
The rule of thirds is also used when choosing the size and scale of a rug, mirror, or artwork. A good example of this is artwork behind a sofa. The general rule of thumb is to choose a piece that is 2/3 the length of the sofa to create visual balance.
four. create collections
I always find that the coziest and most memorable spaces are the ones filled with pieces that tell a story. This means curating furniture and accessories that compliment one another, but not match. One easy way to do this is by selecting furniture from the same style or era from different brands. If your style leans more traditional, pull together pieces of that fall in line with that style but incorporate different colors, stains, shapes and scales. This makes a space feel more lived-in and authentic.
five. artwork
Artwork is one of the greatest assets to a space, and a great way to make a room feel like a true reflection of you. If you love beautiful, large-scale art but don’t want to pay the large-scale price, a great solution is shopping websites like Juniper Print Shop. Websites like these allow you to print a scanned copy of a real painting and frame them yourself. This is a much more cost effective way to add artwork into your home and the curated collections are great for finding some hidden gems.
six. color
There a few tricks of the trade I swear by when choosing paint colors. First, always look at your swatches or paint chips in the room you will be painting. Lighting is everything, and the lighting in your space can drastically change how a color reads. Second, be sure to look at the swatches upright instead of looking down at them – the lighting will alter how the color reads when it’s not parallel with the wall. It is also worth noting that most paint “samples” are mixed with a low grade paint, which can also change the color. If you are matching the paint color to something specific, or need to know exactly what the final result will look like, purchase a quart. Lastly, if you fall in love with a color but it feels too dark, consider ordering the paint at a lower strength. Paint stores can lighten and sometimes darken any paint color, so if you love the color but don’t love the tone, consider that trick.
Until next time!
xx Kelly
*featured image via Pinterest