Decorating is personal because everyone has their own sense of style. Designers that work with people from all walks of life understand certain principles that optimize outcomes. If you want decor in your home that truly satisfies your desires and needs, check out the five principles below.
1. Vision
One of the first things you need to do when decorating your home is develop a vision. In other words, you need to understand how you want the space to function. You must be crystal clear about what kind of activities will occur in the room and how you want to feel when you walk into the space. To some degree, a room should tell a story. In fact, it should tell your story. Some rooms tell a story of comfort, while others tell a story of creativity and vibrancy. The good thing about decor is you can create a narrative that’s unique to you and your family.
2. Scale and Proportion
Scale and proportion must always be a priority when decorating. For example, you shouldn’t have an oversized sofa and a tiny coffee table in the same space. You should plan the scale and proportion of each piece of furniture in advance so that it accommodates the amount of space available in the room. The same applies to all other elements, including artwork and accessories. One way you can manage scale and proportion is with quantity. For instance, instead of one vase, you can have a group of vases for a more balanced presentation.
3. Lifestyle Accommodations
How you live your life isn’t how someone else lives their life. This is why the way in which you decorate your home should align with your lifestyle. If you have small children, it makes sense that you would not have white or light furniture. If you prefer to spend time curled up on a sofa, you should consider a comfy sofa that’s oversized instead of one focused on high design. In this case, function should be prioritized over form. Similarly, if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you can accommodate your needs with seating and other elements that allows space for family members and visitors.
This aspect of decorating is one of the reasons why so many homes now have spa bathrooms. Instead of spending a tremendous amount of money at day spas, some people choose to invest in spa elements in their bathroom. The possibilities are endless because this can also mean creating an office space or perhaps or a media room that meets your needs. The bottom line is that you must consider your lifestyle and incorporate elements accordingly into your decor.
4. Materials and Construction
Materials and construction must also be a priority and this is something that top designers understand. When you walk into a room, you can tell when furniture is constructed with quality materials. This includes the sofa, chairs, tables and other items. This certainly doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money decorating. However, it does mean you should take time to choose quality materials.
One of the reasons why so many designers love going to thrift stores an estate sales is because you have a good chance of finding quality pieces. Some of the highest quality furniture pieces can be found in vintage stores. Your goal should be to assess whether or not the item that you’re purchasing was made to last. Fortunately, you can find these types of pieces at just about every price point.
If you’re unfamiliar with quality materials, visit a high-end furniture store and check out what they have to offer. This can give you an idea of what to look for when you’re actually buying items for your home. Even if you end up spending a little bit more money on the front end, you’ll save on the back end because it could literally last for a lifetime.
5. Authentic Style
Walking into your home should not be like walking into any other home. Why? Because it should be a display of your authentic style. While it’s perfectly fine to get ideas from others, you want to make sure your home represents you and your family. One of the benefits of doing so is that you’ll feel great in every space. It’s emotionally satisfying to only have items in your home that bring you joy.
In addition to the tips already provided, one of the things you’ll want to be sure to do is edit. Editing means taking a look at everything you have in a space and figuring out what doesn’t belong there. Editing can help to ensure a room is aesthetically pleasing and doesn’t feel overwhelming.
