Decorating Advice From A Design Pro.
The decorating advice you didn’t know you needed.
Decorating Advice From A Design Pro. Creating a beautifully decorated interior that makes a good impression on your guest is something we all strive for—it’s great to feel like everyone who walks into you home feels welcome and even a little impressed.
Some people are naturals when it comes to design and decorating—they have an eye for design. But if you’re more likely to pour over Pinterest boards, design magazines, and even look to your friends’ homes for inspiration for your space, I get that.
There is a subtle art to decorating a room. It needs to look great and function in a way that fits your needs.
From hanging artwork to selecting colours, positioning curtains and even planning your shelves, interior designers have a toolbox of trade secrets that take what might first be seen as basic and turn it into something fabulous.
I want to help you take your home décor to the next level. So today, I’m opening up my toolbox and sharing some of the trade’s best-kept secrets. I’m excited to give you some of my favourite decorating advice—it’s like having an interior designer on speed dial!
12 Decorating Advice From A Design Pro:
Set a good foundation
When you are decorating a room, it is best practice to start with the biggest pieces of furniture in the room before you get into the details of accent furniture, artwork, textiles, and accessories. For example, if you are decorating your living room, it’s best to have your couch in place before you start to pick out an accent pillow. This helps you set a solid foundation that you can build upon. And never forget the importance of scales—don’t select a harvest table for your eat-in kitchen.
Live in the space
When you are decorating your space, plan everything based on how you use your space. It’s great to have beautiful things in your home but if you are afraid to use them because they are so beautiful, you’re missing out. This doesn’t mean you need to pass on the white leather couch—it just means you need to be willing to use it!
Harness the art of display
Have some shelves you’re hoping to decorate? It’s easy to just fill shelves with books and be done with it. But there is a way to balance practical storage while still creating a beautiful feature. Remember not to overcrowd the space, use complementary colours and tones, and be sure to include plants or foliage of some kind. Finally, aim for one-third accessories, two-thirds books, and display books both vertically and horizontally.
Take advantage of the power of three
Ask any designer what the magic number is and they will all say “three”. Grouping an odd number of items creates visual interest that is missing in symmetrical, even-numbered arrangements. Try adding three candles, three books, or even three plants to a coffee table and see what a difference it makes.
Never underestimate the power of paint
A fresh coat of paint is like getting a brand-new pair of jeans—it can completely change the look of a room. Whether you’re painting a wall or giving an old piece of furniture a new look, paint can really give your space new life.
Pad your budget
Even with undertaking a decorating project, it is always better to overestimate your budget. Odds are there will be a few things that will come up during your project and it is best to not be caught off-guard. If you manage to finish your project under budget, you’ve got all that extra padding to pick up a few last finishing touches.
Make a big change
If you are looking for a quick but impactful project, consider switching out pieces that take up the most surface area in a space. Consider changing up paint colours, window treatments, rugs, or larger furniture.
Try the 70-30 split
This is a great tip to help you get your proportions right and to balance different styles in the same space. When you are decorating, aim to use one style in 70% of the room, and complete the remaining 30% in a different style. This allows you to mix styles and also gives your space character.
Pre-plan your gallery wall
Gallery walls are a huge trend right now. But planning your layout is critical to creating an eye catching, well-balanced gallery wall. Grab some cardboard, cut out templates of each frame, and use the templates to play around with the composition until you get it just right.
Don’t shy away from texture
It’s easy to decorate a whole room without giving texture a second thought. Decorating Advice From A Design Pro says texture is something you touch as opposed to see, it often gets overlooked. It’s important to consider the different textures as that’s what will help make a room feel cozy and complete. Think about how
you can add leather, cotton, wool, metal, stone, glass, plant life and any other texture that appeals to you.
Use the golden ratio
A ratio that can be found in nature and has been a staple for artists for centuries, the golden ratio can help you make a room feel balanced. It works by dividing the space into two-thirds for one section and one-third for the remaining section.
Trust yourself
Above all else follow your gut. If you want something that bucks what is commonly done trust your instincts. Maybe you feel like kitchen cabinets in your closet will work best for you and your organization style. Embrace that and trust that you know what will work best for you. As the
incomparable Billy Baldwin once said, “Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style.”
Feeling inspired? Get decorating! I hope that these 12 tips have inspired you to get moving on your next decorating project. Book your interior design consultation. Contact us at 905 208 3078 or info@ramseydesign.ca
