12 Key Decorating Tips to Make Any Room Better
I hate to break it to you, but designers don’t follow a secret rule
book. There are no hard and fast laws governing what we do. We are
creative types by nature and love to imagine, dream and explore,
following our intuition. That said, there are some rough principles that
guide us to ensure a great result every time. They are just tried and
true things that work. And these aren’t tricks or skills that take years
to master. Anyone can do them from day one. Consider this a foundation
for developing your own quirky, creative, rule-breaking intuition.
1. Pick the paint color last. I
get calls all the time from homeowners who want to pick a paint color
before they move in. I get the logic. Why not arrive to walls with a
fresh coat of paint? Of course you can do it this way, but in my opinion
it’s not ideal.
There are thousands of paint colors with various tints, tones and shades. And each one looks different from home to home, because light sources vary, meaning what looks good in your current home might not in your new one. You want the color that best complements your upholstery, artwork, rug and whatever else. You can pick that color only if your stuff is actually inside your home.
There are thousands of paint colors with various tints, tones and shades. And each one looks different from home to home, because light sources vary, meaning what looks good in your current home might not in your new one. You want the color that best complements your upholstery, artwork, rug and whatever else. You can pick that color only if your stuff is actually inside your home.
2. Give your furniture some breathing room. Resist
overcrowding a room. Gracious living means space to maneuver with ease.
This is really great news if you are working with a tight budget. You
don’t need to fill up a space with lots of furniture. Spend more of your
budget on fewer but better-quality pieces, and your room will look
better than if it’s stuffed to the gills with flea market finds. The
high-backed chairs shown here, for example, stand out because they don’t
have to fight for attention.
3. Hang artwork at the right height. Galleries
and museums hang artwork so that the midline (center) of each piece is
57 inches to 60 inches from the floor. (The average human eye level is
57 inches.) And you should do the same.
In a room like this, where the ceilings soar, there might be a tendency to hang the art higher. But remember: It needs to relate to human scale, not the structure’s scale.
If you’re not sure, take a picture. It’s remarkable how much a photo can reveal. Print it out or use Photoshop or an app to draw on the photo. This can give you a sense of whether a larger or smaller piece of art is needed or a tall plant might be best to fill a vacant spot.
In a room like this, where the ceilings soar, there might be a tendency to hang the art higher. But remember: It needs to relate to human scale, not the structure’s scale.
If you’re not sure, take a picture. It’s remarkable how much a photo can reveal. Print it out or use Photoshop or an app to draw on the photo. This can give you a sense of whether a larger or smaller piece of art is needed or a tall plant might be best to fill a vacant spot.
4. Know how to arrange furniture on a rug. There are basically three ways you can arrange furniture on your rug.
All on: The rug is large enough to place all of the furniture legs on top of it. This creates a more luxurious feel. For this, bigger is better. Just be sure to leave at least 12 to 18 inches of floor surface on all four sides of the rug’s borders.
All off: If you have a small room, keeping all legs off the rug is a great cost-effective choice. You don’t want to pick too small a rug, though, or it may look insignificant, like an afterthought. The rug should appear as though it could touch the front legs of each of the seating pieces. This approach is best suited when you’re layering a pattern over a larger solid or textured rug.
All on: The rug is large enough to place all of the furniture legs on top of it. This creates a more luxurious feel. For this, bigger is better. Just be sure to leave at least 12 to 18 inches of floor surface on all four sides of the rug’s borders.
All off: If you have a small room, keeping all legs off the rug is a great cost-effective choice. You don’t want to pick too small a rug, though, or it may look insignificant, like an afterthought. The rug should appear as though it could touch the front legs of each of the seating pieces. This approach is best suited when you’re layering a pattern over a larger solid or textured rug.
Front on: Put just the
front feet of all your seating pieces on the rug to tie the arrangement
together visually and create a well-defined space while lending a
feeling of openness.
5. Resist the urge to be too theme-y. For
example, the Cape Cod look is a very popular request. You know the
hallmarks: beadboard, a blue and white nautical palette, some sailboat
paintings. But this has been done so many times, it lacks individuality.
In this room the coastal vibe was achieved through a palette, artwork
and materials that give the effect without drawing on the obvious
clichés.
6. Create a focal point. There
are leading roles and supporting cast members in any production. The
same holds true in design. Choose your star and make it the focal point
to anchor a room. Allow other items to take a secondary role. Don’t ask everything to have a leading role; it will just result in visual noise.
Your focal point might be a dramatic hood in the kitchen, a mantel and art piece in the living room or a headboard in the bedroom. Whatever it is, choose something that will draw attention. In this room the fireplace and the lighting work together as a collective focal point, bringing your eye right to the center of the composition and anchoring it there.
Your focal point might be a dramatic hood in the kitchen, a mantel and art piece in the living room or a headboard in the bedroom. Whatever it is, choose something that will draw attention. In this room the fireplace and the lighting work together as a collective focal point, bringing your eye right to the center of the composition and anchoring it there.
7. Consider sight lines. Your
focal point should be free and clear from one room to the next, so that
it feels like you’re being drawn between them. That’s why the best spot
for a focal point is usually directly across from the entrance to the
room.
Here a seating arrangement around artwork draws the viewer into the room because the sight line is clear.
Here a seating arrangement around artwork draws the viewer into the room because the sight line is clear.
8. Edit your collectibles. Don’t
hang on to a piece that just doesn’t fit. I don’t care if your
great-aunt Sally gave it to you. If it’s not working for you, then find a
new home for it (maybe in a different room).
The unifying theme here is the use of black in the utilitarian pieces. The balance is almost perfect. It reminds me of something Coco Chanel said about accessorizing: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” In design, know when to stop.
What to Let Go and What to Keep
The unifying theme here is the use of black in the utilitarian pieces. The balance is almost perfect. It reminds me of something Coco Chanel said about accessorizing: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” In design, know when to stop.
What to Let Go and What to Keep
9. Vary the scale. What
looks good in the store may look like an elephant in the room when you
bring it home. Or it’s too tiny to be of any significance. So always
vary scale and proportion.
The oversize sunburst mirror frame fills up the wall space nicely here, while the sand dollars make an interesting grouping below. They would be much too insignificant individually. Threes and fives make for more pleasing arrangements than even numbers.
The oversize sunburst mirror frame fills up the wall space nicely here, while the sand dollars make an interesting grouping below. They would be much too insignificant individually. Threes and fives make for more pleasing arrangements than even numbers.
10. Add layers of lighting. In
this kitchen seating area, the backsplash is lit, the artwork is
highlighted and the cabinet interiors are filled with light. One central
lighting fixture would not have had nearly the same dramatic result.
Professionals build layers of lighting to create interest, intrigue and variety. In a room where everything is lit evenly, nothing stands out. Pick a focal point and perhaps a secondary focal point and highlight those. Add general ambient lighting and some lower lighting, like table lamps, for interest.
5 Questions to Ask for the Best Room Lighting
Professionals build layers of lighting to create interest, intrigue and variety. In a room where everything is lit evenly, nothing stands out. Pick a focal point and perhaps a secondary focal point and highlight those. Add general ambient lighting and some lower lighting, like table lamps, for interest.
5 Questions to Ask for the Best Room Lighting
11. Be bold. Personality
is what makes a space great. Make your own statement and have fun. The
more you try, the more you will begin to see what works and what
doesn’t.
Incorporate unexpected elements for drama. The unconventional ottoman seats, library-style bookshelves and oversize chandelier here are all unexpected in a conventional living room, but the result has charisma. Eschew expected pieces and interpretations if you want a room that will really wow.
Incorporate unexpected elements for drama. The unconventional ottoman seats, library-style bookshelves and oversize chandelier here are all unexpected in a conventional living room, but the result has charisma. Eschew expected pieces and interpretations if you want a room that will really wow.
Go with something personal that makes you smile and, above all, is comfortable. Overly designed rooms don’t really translate in modern life. A pillow collection and an art arrangement that are seemingly haphazard, as shown here, create a dressed-down look with plenty of style.