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Do you ever walk into someone's home and think to yourself, "Wow, this place looks like a showroom!" How is it that some people manage to achieve that designer look with kids and dogs at home? You think to yourself that you couldn't afford those expensive things, and that even if you could they would be destroyed.
Today I want to talk about some inexpensive ways you can not only refresh your home, but give it that custom, designer look... and maintain it!
1. Establish a Color Palette
Come up with a color palette that you love, and then stick with it! Paint and decor are inexpensive ways to update your home, especially if you're comfortable doing the painting yourself. Having a plan before you get going is so very important. A neutral color palette is an easy way to start, but if you're someone who prefers color I recommend using the largest piece of decor in your home that you love (like a rug or piece of art) and plucking colors directly from that. If that is too much, then follow this simple rule: 60% of your home can be one neutral color, with 30% in a complimentary color, and then 10% in an accent color. You really can't go wrong if you're being thoughtful in your selections.
2. Declutter
A theme in the most well designed homes is that there's no clutter. I'm talking shelves filled to the brim with collectibles, piles in the corners, family photo collages, etc. I'm not saying you don't want to personalize your home. Your home should have personality! But, there is a difference between filling the home to the brim and thoughtfully decorating it with pieces you love that reflect who you are. If it's broken: throw it out; if it doesn't get used; donate it. The most inviting, beautifully decorated homes are the homes with a place for everything. Good organization and furniture pieces that provide you with the proper storage for your things can make all the difference in the way your home presents itself to others, and will work wonders in de-stressing your life! Clean-up at the end of every day is always so much easier when everything has a designated place.
3. Select Quality Furniture Pieces of the Proper Scale
I'm not saying you need to go and drop tens of thousands of dollars on furnishings. If you're on a tight budget you're much better off thrifting quality furniture pieces than buying cheaply made junk that will need replacing often. A lot of the inexpensive furniture options available these days are mass produced particle board, versus pieces you can find in online marketplaces or local thrift shops that might need a hardware upgrade but are otherwise sturdy and timeless. Another important part of furnishing your home is making sure that the pieces you purchases are the proper scale. Humongous furniture in a small home with low ceilings will make your home appear even smaller. The same goes for a large home in that small furniture pieces might be drowned by the ceiling height and scale of the rooms.
4. Pull Furniture off the Wall
A common mistake people make is that they line their walls with furniture and force the flow of traffic through the center of the room. Instead, try purchasing an area rug (each piece of furniture should touch this rug) and use it to anchor your furniture pieces. This will make the room feel cozier, more inviting, and will push the flow of traffic around the conversation areas. This is one of the hardest sells when I'm decorating spaces for clients. Their instinct is usually to fill in all of the dead spaces on the walls, when in reality they're actually creating more dead spaces in the center of the room.
5. Swap Out Contractor/Box Store Grade Finishes/ Decor
This seems like it could be both daunting and expensive, but I'm not talking about the big stuff like flooring, cabinetry, etc. You can usually make your home look expensive and well designed without a complete overhaul.
Swapping out small stuff, like hardware, mirrors, light fixtures where you can, etc. can make an incredible difference in the perceived quality and value of your home. Pairing this with a fresh paint job in your newly selected color palette (wink, wink) can completely transform your home. Also, ask any realtor out there: these small investments in your home have the highest return if you ever decide to sell.
In this same vein, you won't see the pillows that came with your big box store couch in the homes that inspire you. They might be on the sofa, but they are covered with pillow covers that compliment the color palette the owner selected. This same thing goes for faux flowers, vases, wall art, etc. If it's in the aisle on your way out of the big box store, stay away from it. Plan out your color palette and then thoughtfully select finishes that compliment it. It's so much better to take your time decorating your home than filling it up with stuff you'll regret buying later.
6. Don't Forget the Importance of Textiles and Decor
I can't say this enough: layer your home with thoughtful textiles and decor rather than cluttering it with stuff.
Window treatments hung above and beyond your window trim will make a room feel cozier, and will add the illusion of height.
Instead of a bunch of too-small, competing art pieces hung too high or too close together, select larger art pieces and give them a prominent place to then build around.
Add greenery in every room. You don't have to have a green thumb... faux trees and table plants work too!
Don't be afraid to mix textures and shades. A lot of clients want to buy furniture sets with all matching woods and fabrics. I recommend against this. If there is a wood tone you absolutely love, like the one in your flooring, select wood tones that compliment it in shades darker and lighter. Finding a color palette you love is important, but your home will start to look flat and boring if you repeat the same textures and patterns over and over. Instead, introduce different woods, stones, metallics, and patterns for a more inviting look.
So that's that! 6 things to do that you can get started with today if an interior designer or decorator isn't in the budget. If one is in the budget (ehem, insert shameless plug here) then these are rules you better get used to because most decorators will recommend (or enforce) them (hehe).
Reach out today if you need that extra helping hand in achieving your interior goals!
xoxo
Alyssa
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