Whether you just moved, or you have lived in your home for 10-20 years and are looking for a change; decorating your home can be overwhelming. And if money is tight it can take a lot of creativity which can also be overwhelming, especially if you don't find joy in decorating, or simply need some direction to get started. My home is a place that I want others to feel welcome, relaxed and inspired. I want my home to help my family thrive and inspire them to have fun and be creative. So how I choose to decorate my home can help reflect that. Below are some tips I have put together to help you get started on continuing to make your house a home.
5 Beginning Tips for Decorating Your Home:
1. Choose A Style-
There are so many styles out there to choose from that it can be overwhelming. Because of that people will often default to whatever is trending or most popular at the time and realize months later that they actually don't really like their decor or at the very least it's not something that inspires them. Just because someone else is doing it or because it’s popular, doesn't mean it fits you. Kind of like when a clothing style comes back around and everyone assumes it will look good on them forgetting about the different body types God gave us ;). Not every style fits us!
So here are two things to keep in mind when choosing a style for your home
Pick two styles that you like that compliment each other and stick with them. That way it gives you options but also keeps things from being to busy. In my opinion once you get beyond two styles it can quickly turn chaotic.
Pick styles that you actually really like!! Ones that inspire and excite you. Ones where you will feel relaxed and you will want to spend time in. Colors, patterns and textures you like will all help you make a style decision.
2. Choose Your Colors-
“Pick colors in 3 then Let it Be!!”
When decorating a room it's a good idea to pick a color for each category below for your base colors. Sometimes more color can be added on later but this is a good place to start:
Background color- this could be your wall color, cabinets
Product color- this could include couches, chairs, shelves, frames, curtains
Pop of color- pillows, curtains frames, art, other decor. You can pick up to 3 “pops” of color that compliment each other. Any color after that should simply be different shades of those three.
Example: My living room wall color is grey(background). I have white shelves, white and grey frames, grey couches, white end tables(product color). My pops of color are teal and navy blue and various shades of those. The pops of color show up in a rug, lampshade, frame, bowls, pillows etc.. 3 colors plus various shades of those colors weave through everything I listed above.
3. Simplify- “Less Really is More”
Try to stay away from putting stuff up on walls or out on shelves etc. just to fill empty space or just because you have it and don't want it to go to waist. This will quickly make your space seem overwhelming and to busy. Even if your decor that is out fits your style and colors you want to accomplish, if you have too much, things get lost and the eye doesn't know where to focus. The same is true for those collectible items. Unless you have an amazingly organized, uncluttered way of displaying them, or a separate shrine or room for them (ha!); then just pick a handful and display them well.
4. Reuse the Old to make the New-
We have all heard the phrase “Out with the old, in with the new”. But money is tight that is not always realistic. Plus there can be a lot of life left in your decor. So I like to change the phrase around to say “out with the old in with the new, by using the old to create the new”.
What does that look like:
-Look at your decorations, furniture etc. and think outside the box. Can it be repainted? Or lightened up, roughed up, or simplified? Can it be re-used in a different way? Does it just need to be moved to a different setting? These are all questions to ask before you think that you have to go buy everything.
Some things just need to move on and be someone else's treasure. But everything deserves a second look.
*There will be a detailed post on #4 coming soon
5. Flow-
This ties them all together. If you have a couple styles picked out, use these throughout your entire home. this will help create a flow that keeps the home balanced, organized, and well thought out. Rooms can have different looks or paint colors while still carrying the common style and theme which, in turn, will connect them all together.
Take on one room at a time to make it less overwhelming!!
(Ha! If all else fails, invite me over for suggestions :) )
Happy Decorating!!
-Beth
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