Have you spent countless hours shopping and almost always resulted in a room that either didn’t feel complete or was filled with things you absolutely hated within a week? These steps are so easy and will help you avoid making the same mistakes.
Today I want to share 5 easy ways to style your home! These steps will change the way to look at decorating your home and completely banish the wallet-draining process of shopping on a whim and turn it into a well-thought-out, easily executed plan. Follow these simple steps, and you too can have the well-decorated home you have always wanted.
Determine your design style
This is huge! Think about what your style is and how you want that implemented in your home. How do you want to feel when you walk through the door every day?
Usually, the first thing is to start searching for inspirational images of whichever room you will be decorating. Save about 5 to 7 images as your inspirational images and go back and really study those images to pinpoint what speaks to me and any traits the images have in common. There will almost always be at least one commonality between them. If there are multiple commonalities try to narrow it down to the two that speak to you the most.
Is it color or maybe mixed metals? Funky light fixtures or maybe lots of gold accents. Are they light and bright or maybe they are bold and full of pattern? Once you have these things pinpointed take your worksheet and write them down in the commonalities section of your notebook.
Once you have the commonalities listed in the first section move to the second section and think about what three words you would use if you had to describe your style but keep in mind whatever you write down here will need to carry over to the rest of your home. You can mix styles but you want your home to feel cohesive. In order to do that you will want to carry the same styles and colors throughout your home.
Clear The Space
Now that the style and colors are determined, I like to clear the entire space. You can use this time to rid the space of all clutter and also get rid of anything that doesn’t match your design style. That does not mean every single thing should go, keep anything you could still use in the space, you may need to change it up a bit for it to work. For example, when we decided to redo our master bedroom I knew that I could keep our current night stands and dresser since I would be lightening the walls and purchasing a much lighter bed. If at some point I decide that will no longer work I could always change them up with a little bit of paint and new hardware. Do you have items you could use in your new space? Write those down in the things I already own section along with any changes in the changes to be made section.
Create a Base
Once you know the pieces you have to work with you can figure out what you still need in order to make the vision come to life. Try to be as thorough as possible, if all of your current furniture pieces are traditional then they obviously won’t work if you’re going for a transitional style look and vice versa. Start with the big pieces and work your way down. Try your best to keep the walls and all large furniture pieces neutral.
Mix patterns and textures
Choosing the right accessories can be a daunting task and I understand why some people get frustrated and just don’t bother decorating at all. The thing is this is where you are supposed to have fun, where the entire space comes together. So to make things easier for you I am going to break down the design essentials that every room needs to look its best. Layering in different textures throughout the space will create dimension in an otherwise bland space. This is how designers are able to make even a monochromatic room look amazing! Think chunky blankets, baskets, textured pillows or vases. Varying throw pillow patterns is the easiest way to have fun in a space. Practice mixing pillow pattern combos and play with it until you get a combination that you love. Adding in natural wood tones in the form of accessories and or a coffee table is a great way to warm up a space and is an absolute must. Mixing finishes such as brass, nickel, and bronze instantly gives your home a layered look. In most cases picking two and weaving them into different areas of the space is best.
Layered lighting
This is surefire way to make any space feel inviting and cozy. Most homes come standard with an overhead light and adding recessed lighting and multiple lamps or other lighting options is key. It instantly gives your home that lived in look.
Greenery
Whether you are great with plants or have the dreaded black thumb you should never skip adding greenery to a space. It doesn’t matter if it is faux or real just make sure it blends well with the design. Adding some succulents or cool faux fiddle leaf fig trees are great ways to up your greenery game.
Execution
Think of this step as putting the icing on a cake, the furniture is the cake and the accessories are the icing. Yes, the cake is good by itself and yes you would still enjoy it without the icing but when you add icing it turns into a wonderful dessert you would be happy to serve your friend. Once you’ve finished the space, grab a cup of tea and sit back and admire your home. Or if you are still feeling overwhelmed with decorating your home, we can help. Schedule a discovery call to discuss your next project or email us jenny@jennychohaninteriors.com
