3 Easy Ways to Decorate Your Home
Like a Pro (Without the Cost)
By Elliot Caleira
How many of us have spent hours daydreaming of how we would design our dream home? Yet, how many of us put off making a real effort into creating your dream interior design in your current home? I’ll admit that I have. I think of how I would design my gorgeous bathroom with a claw foot antique soaking tub and marble counters only to realize I’ve lived in my current house a year and the bathroom is nearly bare!
Interior design doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It also doesn’t have to be expensive. If you’re tired of putting off making your current home your dream home here are three ways you can design like a pro while guarding your wallet.
Choose a Color Palette First
When designing any room, color is key. Ask yourself if you are happy with the current colors or are looking for something new. Most of the time changing up color is a great choice. It freshens the room and makes it feel like a new space. You may want simply a new accent color to tie the room together or you may want an entire overhaul of your color scheme. No matter what you decide, always choose distinct colors before starting any interior design project.
To choose a color palette, start with the base colors. Interior designers recommend putting together a palette of three colors. The base color will typically be something that occupies a good deal of space like your wall color, couch color or bedding color. Next, tie in your accent colors. Accent colors can vary in how frequently they are used in the room, but are essential to bring together a professional color palette. Once you have your palette completed, take note if there is anything already in the room that will clash with the new palette. If so, you may want to remove it and find a new place for it.
A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place
Before beginning any interior design project, professionals take stock of the room. It’s important to go back to basics and look at what exactly that room is used for. Is it a living room that doubles as an office? Is it a kitchen that doubles as where you entertain? When you look at what your space is being used for, it will help determine what needs to stay and what can go.
It’s essential to get rid of clutter and unnecessary items during a design project. Not getting rid of clutter ranks as number three on the list of Top 10 Interior Design Mistakes. As my Grandma used to say, “a place for everything and everything in its place.” Getting rid of unused items will open up your space. It will also help ensure that at the end of your design project your room will stay looking flawless and not become re-cluttered.
Statement Pieces
The best way to start a great interior redesign is to choose a statement piece to build the room around (no, this can’t be the TV). For many of us, this will be simply a couch or a bed. Don’t be afraid to get creative! Many designers choose a large piece of art that draws the eye, a set of brightly colored chairs, or replace drab doors with elegant glass interior doors with a creative pattern. The key to selecting a statement piece is to choose one that truly serves as your inspiration for the entire space.
The statement piece should set the tone of the room. Everything selected after should fit the mood and style of the statement piece. This may sound constricting, but it will save you time and energy when choosing accent pieces. You will be able to rule out many right off the bat, rather than spending hours overwhelmed in the décor section of your favorite store.
These three steps can make your home look like the work of an interior design professional, without the cost of hiring one. There are a limitless number of resources you can use to find inspiration for your home. As I always say, the first step is simply to get started!
Elliot Caleira is a freelance writer in the self-mastery and health and wellness spaces. When he's not writing you'll find him cooking or teaching Portuguese classes. More articles by Elliot.