Tips and Tricks on How to Decorate Your Home
Finally, FALL has arrived! I absolutely love fall and all the “feels” it brings with it. The cooler weather, warm conversations around a fire, cozy blankets, and sweaters, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, and opening up windows to let the fresh air in again. I’m wrapping up some large projects, and I’m ready to start some new projects that will be completed in 2025. Kids are back in school, and I don’t know about you but having a routine is my jam, and it makes me excited to get back to fine-tuning processes to constantly educate myself on new trends and looking for new products being introduced in 2025. Stay tuned for that in my next blog and newsletter! Make sure to follow me on FB or Instagram to learn more about design trends and products coming soon!
This month's blog is dedicated to sharing some free tips and tricks I've utilized to enhance any home’s decor. With the holidays fast approaching, now is the perfect time to start preparing your house for family and guests. I will dive into how you can decorate your home with simple things and use what you may already have. I will also provide some ideas on how to decorate your home on a budget. I’ll focus my decor ideas around the living room since this will most likely be the main gathering room for the holidays.
If you're feeling overwhelmed or lack the time to prepare your home for guests, consider hiring a professional (like me!). Reach out today to schedule your free design consultation.
Dining Nook for client's retreat home
When I dive into a project, whether it’s an entire home or a small powder bath, I follow these trusty steps to make sure the design flows from top to bottom like a perfectly brewed cup of coffee! Use these steps and you will find your home to be in good shape by the time your company arrives on Thanksgiving! I’m going to take you through how to decorate a living room step by step. Lets begin, shall we?
Step One: Figure out what your style is!
If it has been a while since you have updated your living room, your tastes/style/aesthetics may have changed. Take a look at Pinterest boards and tag what rooms you are drawn to. Have some fun with this! It doesn’t have to be the entire room you love, it may be that one chandelier, or the way that sectional is placed. You get the point. After you have a few photos tagged, you will see a common denominator as to what style and colors you like. Be sure to incorporate these into your new decor.
EXPERT TIP!
Visit your local hardware or paint store and grab some FREE paint samples! Look at these at night and in the daytime in your home (trust me, color swatches will look completely different when you get them home.
Step Two: Make sure you have a solid space plan
When it comes to space planning and interior design, you will need one to do the other. It involves understanding the flow of movement within a space, determining the function of each area, and ensuring that all elements serve their purpose effectively. Once a solid plan is in place, the interior design part can begin! There are simple space planning rules to follow, and there are many space planning examples you can search on the internet that may have a similar setup that you want to incorporate for your space.
EXPERT TIP!
Make sure to keep 3 feet around a piece of furniture and a wall for traffic flow. If you have a dining table, there should be 42 inches around it for optimal traffic flow.
Step Three: Clear and Clean!
Once you have established a solid layout for your space and arranged the furniture, rugs, and electrical elements, it’s time to focus on styling! Clearing everything away to create a blank canvas allows you to see the space from a fresh perspective. Additionally, this is the perfect opportunity to clean and dust those hidden nooks and crannies that you might have overlooked for some time.
EXPERT TIP!
Declutter! Remove dated, worn, or damaged items that are not important to you, and donate to Salvation Army. They pick up for free!
Step Four: Finish off the space with accessories
Once you have established a solid layout for your space and arranged the furniture, rugs, and electrical elements, it’s time to focus on styling! Clearing everything away to create a blank canvas allows you to see the space from a fresh perspective. Now it’s time for the fun!
Here are some budget-friendly tips on how to style a living room:
LARGE LIVING ROOM WALL DECOR IDEAS
Create a gallery wall with like items
Place some floating shelves on a wall and decorate
Purchase large artwork on canvas (these will be cheaper since there is not a frame/glass)
Purchase large frames in bulk and place favorite photos or abstract art printouts in them, hang them evenly on the wall. I like these from Ikea
EXPERT TIP!
You can purchase inexpensive frames in bulk and place large posters of images you that you like in it
HOW TO STYLE A BOOKCASE LIKE A PRO IN A LIVING ROOM
If you have a floating shelf bookcase or a closed bookcase, go to estate sales, yard sales, or library sales and grab old, dusty books
If you have existing books, take the jacket off! Most of the time what is underneath has more texture to display
Arrange books by color (lightest to darkest), then size (largest to smallest)
Add some bookshelf decor with some interesting objects you have laying around your house
EXPERT TIP!
If you don’t have enough books, face some of the books forward, and some flat and stacked.
INCORPORATE THE RIGHT PIECES FOR FUNCTION
Make sure your coffee table is the right scale for the room
Incorporate side tables where you can for extra seating/setting down drinks and snacks when you are entertaining
Have “secret” storage. This would be baskets, boxes, storage benches, you get the idea. Something to hide items when guests arrive!
If your space is an open floor plan, use a console table that is the right scale for the room. You never want to see the back of a sofa/sectional
EXPERT TIP!
Utilize a console table for extra seating when needed! Tuck some bar stools under the table when not in use.
Still undecided? Book a discovery call with me!
In my 20+ years of design experience, I have worked on many different projects with many different budget levels. One customer is always completely different from the next, which is why a discovery call is so important. Interior Design has been and always will be my passion when it comes to my career, and I treat every customer the same no matter what your budget is. I look forward to working with you!