By no means am I an expert when it comes to decorating. I never took formal classes on interior decorating or read any design books for that matter. I'm just an average girl who loves to decorate and redecorate until I am completely happy with a space. I pretty much learned what I love and what works best in our home by trial and error. As a result, I have slowly started falling in love with my home and thought I would share a few of my favorite decorating tips and tricks.
1. HANG CURTAIN PANELS HIGH AND WIDE.
Covering up windows not only limits natural light, but also makes a room appear much smaller. To maximize ceiling height and natural light I hang all of my curtains high and wide. That means the curtain rod is usually halfway between the crown molding and window molding and the edge of the panels skim the edge of the window. If your curtains are currently covering the majority of your window I challenge you to hang them wider. I promise the room will suddenly feel so much larger and brighter.
2. ADD BOOKS TO LIVING SPACES
I don't know what it is, but I love using books in my decor. I've mentioned many times that vintage Reader's Digest books are one of my most favorite decorating items. Not only are they super cheap, but their colorful bindings and covers add instant color to any space.
They work great as risers for decor pieces or filling up space on a bookcase. Add a few books to a coffee table and you have an instant conversation starter and staple in a room.
3. KEEP COLORS COHESIVE IN ADJACENT SPACES
Even though my house is small and doesn't have an open floor plan I make it a point to keep my colors cohesive throughout the main living areas. My kitchen, dining room, living room and hallway all have the same color palate, which helps our rooms flow and feel larger. I'm not afraid of using color, but tend to save it for the bedrooms.
4. SAY NO TO MATCHING FURNITURE.
There once was a time when I was black paint crazy. I thought every piece of furniture had to match, therefore every hand me down furniture and Goodwill score got painted black. I was afraid to mix colors and wood tones, so I went the easy route and played it safe. As I have grown, I like to think my decorating style has grown as well. I try not to get stuck on the fact that everything has to match. My favorite spaces are the ones that are collected and have a few unique pieces.
My living room has a mix of black and white furniture as well as wood tones. Having a few pieces in each color tone helps keep it intentional.
5. ADD WARMTH WITH WICKER AND WOOD TONES.
Even though I have been slowly phasing out the dark painted furniture in my home I still love the look of dark rich wood. I think I'll always be drawn to espresso colored furniture and my stain of choice has always been Minwax Jacobean. To soften the harshness of all the dark wood I like to add lighter wood and wicker to bring a little warmth to my spaces. It could be as simple as displaying a wood cutting board in the kitchen, hanging a rustic wood frame on the wall or tossing a throw blanket in a wicker basket.
Summer House Tour Via The Inspired Room
Creating a beautiful home and a space that you love doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Take your time and find pieces that express your personality and make your house a home.
Awesome tips Katie!! Love the curtain one, definitely going to do that in our living room!
ReplyDeleteThanks Bre! You'll be amazed at how much it makes a difference. I'm also dying to see more of your new space!
Deleteyes these are excellent tips everyone xx
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Susan!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips Katie. I'm leaning towards the darker furniture in my downstairs at the moment, but have been thinking of upcycling my dresser with the Rustoleum Grey, having read this I think I'm gonna go for it!
ReplyDeleteAwesome tips. Love the tip about mixing furniture. I am a big fan of that!
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