Try these top decorating tricks to spruce up your space.
I'm a 'broken record' advocate for some things that make decorating your space(s) fast and easy. Here are my 5 top tips for changing the mood, appearance and even the style of your rooms.
1) Add Color. Try painting an accent wall to liven up a dark, dated, or bland space. In an all white room, that color might be a soft taupe like Sherwin Williams 7010 "White Duck". A subtle change does work although doesn't create the drama of a rich gold color like 6395 "Alchemy" will. Color enhances traditional decor and dramatizes a minimalist space. Use accessories when painting is not an option (as with renters) and keep in mind that fewer, larger items will have more impact than many small ones. Vases - glass filled with found items or ceramic with interesting shapes or colors - are often under $10 at local import stores. Pillows work well but use them sparingly.
2) Create functional zones: With the open plans of many new homes, and remodeled older ones, some of the intimacy of our homes has been lost. By creating seating, gathering, working, eating or other zones, you bring back a sense of intimacy yet retain the sense of cohesiveness. Area rugs define spaces nicely, and add warmth to tile and wood flooring surfaces. Using the same colors on furnishings in each area also create definition. For example, brown leather seating in the television area separates it from beige fabric in the eating zone. Lighting is a fantastic way to create and define zones. Be sure to put dimmer switches on all of your lights for mood control and energy savings.
3) Add personality. Whether you have a warm traditional home or a sleek minimalist style space, bringing in objects, art and other pieces that provide a sense of yourself is important. Decorative objects ground us, when we see a treasured piece of furniture or a favorite object d'art. Even in the most sophisticated modern spaces, there is room for a hand blown vase, canvas art, a timeworn chest, and soft, organic looking pillows. For traditional homes, inherited chests, antiques, hand-made craft items and other items fill the need for items that reflect you.
4) Mix it up. Many people like numerous design styles. Adding an Asian chest to a country living room is creative and appealing. Sleek barstools in a traditional kitchen are artistic and interesting. Mixing styles in your spaces enables more customization to suit your personality and need for function. A great wicker lounge chair works well in a traditional living room when you keep the fabrics and colors in balance with the rest of the space. Asian accents enhance every style of decor from formal traditional, country cottage, to sleek urban contemporary. Use pieces that fit both a functional and decorative need. I firmly believe that less is more since carefully selected items have more impact than a cluttered look.
5) Add softness. Curves make us feel secure and add balance to our spaces. Bring in plants to soften hard edges of large pieces of furniture or the corners of rooms. Adding up-lights behind furnishings also creates a soft effect. For large open corners that feel bare or empty, try angling large sofas or chests to soften them. Panel drapes - even on windows with blinds or shutters - adds softness and warmth.
