Designing and appointing the interior of your home can be a daunting prospect. The time and effort required is a major constraint, as is knowing how to coordinate pieces of furniture and décor to achieve a personal, cohesive look. Furthermore, hiring an interior designer can be inaccessibly expensive. To overcome this hurdle, you may want to learn how to be your own home decorator. Decorating your own home involves drawing inspiration from available resources and buying pieces that reflect your own personal style.
Steps.
Browse design blogs and magazines for inspiration. Fortunately, interior design inspiration is abundant. Pick up a few interior decorating magazines at the store and browse through some design blogs online. Bookmark, dog-ear, and save photos that appeal to you, whether they depict entire rooms or simply a single furnishing or piece of artwork.
Another source of inspiration is TV programming that focuses on interior design. The only drawback to this type of inspiration is that you cannot easily save photos drawn from it for later use.
Create a notebook to store your inspiration ideas. A great way to begin bridging the daunting gap between finding inspiring photos online and decorating your own home is by creating an inspiration notebook. Print appealing photos from design blogs and clip pictures out of magazines. Use paperclips or paste to secure these pictures into a notebook.
Work your new design ideas around your existing décor. Redecorating your home entirely from scratch is not generally feasible. The first important step when accommodating your existing décor is deciding which pieces to keep. Keeping large, basic pieces like sofas and tables will save you money, and their appearance can be changed dramatically through the use of accessories like throw pillows.
Furniture and décor in neutral colors can be accommodated in nearly any design scheme. Even a drab beige sofa can be livened up with brightly colored pillows. When a major piece like a sofa is brightly colored itself, this tends to constrain your design possibilities more.
Use your redecorating ambitions as an excuse to discard or give away any décor that you are tired of or don't like. Keeping too many of your old furnishings will hamper your ability to create a new space anyway.
Introduce new pieces into your space gradually. Avoid buying whole rooms full of décor at once; if you decide you don't like it, you'll have a tedious returns process on your hands. Rather, look to your inspiration notebook for some of your favorite pieces or motifs. Search for similar pieces online or at home décor stores, and begin introducing them into your room. As you work, decide what does and doesn't suit your taste, and which pieces work with your existing elements.
During this process of introducing new décor, you'll need to decide on a clear direction in which to take your style. Is it traditional or modern, subdued or lively, matching or eclectic, casual or formal, sparse or cluttered? When purchasing new pieces, ask yourself not only if you like them by themselves, but also if they'll fit well into your design scheme.
Work one room at a time. Note that each room of your home does not have to follow the same exact template; some rooms can be more formal than others or more sparsely decorated. However, you do want to consider some overarching theme that makes your entire home cohesive.
Tips.
If you are working with a limited budget, consider shopping for large, basic pieces at low prices and limiting your expensive splurges to small accent items.
Don't be afraid to shop at thrift, antique, and consignment stores for design inspiration. Mixing new and vintage pieces is an effective way to give your home a lived-in charm no matter what your overall style is.
Looking for wall decor ideas to refresh your space? Those empty walls are filled with possibilities—and a few additions can make a house feel like a home. If you're ready to turn those stark, bare walls into stylish centerpieces, keep reading. No matter your style, we've got the tricks that can amp up your walls and bring out your personality and taste. Whether you’re an art collector, a nature enthusiast, or a book lover, your walls can be customized so that you can be surrounded by the things you adore. Discover 20 wall decor ideas that are sure to add style to your home.
Add Texture With a Weaving.
Those ’70s macramé wall hangings have come back in a big way. The weavings add texture and warm up stark walls. Shop for them on Etsy, or try your hand at making your own.
Add Removable Wall Art.
Minted has an incredible collection of grown-up, sophisticated removable wall art. The adhesive murals have a luxurious matte finish and come in a variety of styles. Removable wall art is perfect if you're renting and don't want to damage the walls.
Hang an Oversized Calendar.
A large calendar works especially well on an office or kitchen wall. Keep track of your events while also adding a standout element to enliven your room! Try bright and bold calendars with sans serif fonts to create a modern look and add a pop of color.
Add a Giant Whiteboard or Chalkboard.
A big board is a perfect functional addition to an office, playroom, or even kitchen. A chalkboard lends a rustic air to any room, while a whiteboard is the contemporary alternative—and you don't have to stick to just white (they're available in a variety of shades and prints). You can even take it to the next level and paint an entire wall with WriteWallPaint, which creates a writeable surface.
Create a Basket Wall
Bet you haven't considered this wall decor idea: Add baskets to your wall! Whether you want to go colorful or neutral, you can liven up any wall with an assortment of baskets in different sizes and textures.
Hang a Personalized Map.
Add a large word map to your room's decor. You can order a personalized map of a city, state, country, or the world in just about any color palette. You can make it ultra personal by adding pins to the places you've visited or plan to visit.
Mount Your Television.
Another way to go? Mount your television. Adding a flat screen to your wall can be a great way to free up space on top of your media cabinet, enhance your wall, and update the entire look of your living room or bedroom.
Add Shiplap Wall Paneling.
Shiplap paneling will infuse your space with a fresh coastal feeling—and it works in any room. Whether your dining room, bedroom, entryway, or even bathroom walls need a refresh, consider adding the wooden boards typically used as exterior siding.
Mount Your Bikes on the Wall.
Creating a stylish and sleek wall-mounting system for your bikes will give you more floor space and create an eye-catching focal point that will transform your blank wall. This is one of the most fun and functional wall decor ideas out there.
Use the Wall for Storage.
Short on closet space? Why not show off your finery and create a striking and practical display? Install hooks or a pegboard and hang hats in a cluster.
READ MORE https://futuristichomedecor.blogspot.com
Note :
Acknowledgements
This presentation contains images that were used under a Creative Commons License. Click here to see the full list of images and attributions:
https://link.attribute.to/cc/485281
Home decor ideas,Decoration ideas,DIY for home,Creative decor tips,Home hacks,Decor hacks,home decor,Decor ideas,Room decor,Interior design,Wall decor,House,Home,Decor,Home craft ideas,DIY home decor,Diy room decor,romantic decor,DIY home decorating idea,DIY home decorating,Indoor decor ideas,room decor ideas,home decor,interior design,diy home design ideas, home decor, decor, home decor ideas, projects, handmade, room decorating ideas, decoration, decoration home,decoration ideas, home design, home decoration ideas, wall decoration ideas,
Spending as much time in your home as you probably do, soothing home decor will make it easier for you to unwind and relax. You can use soothing furnishings, like plush furniture and items that imitate nature, to create this effect. You'll also need to select a soothing color scheme by doing things like choosing cool tones for your base color and toning down colors that are too bright. Last but not least, you'll have to account for existing factors in your home, by doing things like integrating your design with its intended function and balancing design choices with lighting.
Method 1 Using Soothing Furnishings.
1. Decorate with plush, inviting furniture. Hard, spartan furniture can look uninviting from the very first glance. Furniture that is elegant, well upholstered, and luxuriously stuffed will make you, your family, and visiting friends want to sit down and relax.
Some examples of plush furniture might include things like comfy upholstered chairs, well-stuffed couches, inviting love seats, fluffy ottomans, and so on.
These kinds of items can sometimes be expensive. If you're not ready to make this purchase, buy soft, cozy throw pillows to add to your furniture.
Many pieces of gently used furniture can be bought at a fraction of the price at secondhand stores, though you might have to patiently search these for these until they come in stock.
2. Use items that imitate nature. As appealing as sleek, futuristic designs can be, natural features encourage happiness, comfort, and well-being. To accomplish this, add some houseplants or a living wall to your home. Some other ideas for adding a natural vibe to your living space include:
Choosing wood-accented furnishings and decorations, especially dark colored wood. This will create a warm feel while adding contrast to the room.
Art from natural scenes can also add to the organic atmosphere of a room. Art can sometimes be pricey; find inexpensive art at secondhand stores and thrift shops.
3. Avoid too many sharp edges. Sharp edges give a clean, geometric, well defined impression to a room. It's only natural for the furniture of your room to have some edges, but too many of these can make a room feel aggressive, in a manner of speaking.
Furniture with flowing lines and rounded edges can really soften the character of a room and make it feel more relaxed.
Some examples of furniture without sharp edges might include rounded edged bookshelves, seating with softened edges (like couches and chairs that don't come to a point at the edges), coffee tables with blunted edges, and so on.
4. Account for lighting. Natural light has a direct positive effect on your mood. Use curtains that decorate your windows without cutting off too much natural light. Add mirrors to a room to encourage the spread of natural light throughout the space.
The "temperature" of lighting refers to its tone. Light that is very white is said to have a "cool" temperature, while light that is somewhat orange is said to be "warm."
Light that is too cool can make a room feel stark or clinical. Use warm temperature lighting to cozy up rooms you are decorating.
5. Install a water feature. Water is associated with a sense of calmness, clarity, and meditation. You can bring these feelings into your home when decorating by adding a water feature, like a small bubbling fountain or a trickling water wall.
If buying a brand new water feature is outside your budget, you might opt for a noisemaker that can make water effects or even a CD with water sounds playing in the background.
Similar to the regular, metrical noises water makes, the sound of ticking can also have a calming effect. If this is true for you, a clock may be a soothing alternative to a water feature.
Method 2 Selecting a Soothing Color Scheme.
1. Utilize cool tones in your color scheme. Cool tones are green, blue, and violet. These colors, and shades of these, generally promote a soothing feeling. By choosing one of these colors for the base of your color scheme, you can replicate this soothing effect. Avoid overusing too many cool tones, otherwise your room may feel cold and lifeless.
Use green as a base if, in addition to a soothing impression, you also want to convey a sense of rejuvenation or growth.
Blue, when used as your base color, will add a light and refreshing feeling, especially lighter shades of blue. Darker shades communicate a calm sense of dignity.
Violet is the warmest of the cool tones, giving it a vital feeling. It also carries the impression of serenity. Avoid overusing violet to prevent its warmth from detracting from its serene aspect.
2. Tone down bright colors according to your taste. Bright colors carry a sense of energy. Using bright colors is a good way to balance cool tones so that the overall effect isn't cold and drab. However, you may need to tone down some bright colors to prevent them from throwing off the balance of your color scheme.
When painting, you can soften colors that are too vibrant by adding a little white to them or dull them with some black. Be sure you only mix together the same kinds of paint. Different brands/types of paint may be impossible to mix due to their ingredients.
For example, you can create a cool, refreshing atmosphere with a base of cyan, dark blue, and black. Accent these with beige and a muted red. The red should give this color scheme an upbeat feel.
3. Accentuate a soft, open feel with pastel colors. Whereas bright colors can be softened with the addition of small amounts of white, adding a substantial amount of white creates a "washed out" effect in a color. This is the basis of pastel colors.
These soft colors create a wide open effect that's useful in smaller spaces. Pastels also impart a comfortable and airy atmosphere.
For example, in a child's play room, you might use a pastel blue as the primary color to give the sense of being under a soft blue sky, and then combine this with pastel green to add a vital feeling to the color scheme.
4. Create depth in your color scheme. Neutral colors, like white, gray, and black work with most other colors, when used as accents, and are great for adding definition to your color scheme. Earth tones, like beige, brown, and shades of umber and ochre are also sometimes considered neutral colors.
Earth tones tend to add sense of warmth to a color scheme. Beyond this, the natural sense evoked by these colors can bring with them a feeling of tranquility.
Method 3 Accounting for Existing Factors.
1. Balance design choices with lighting. Rooms that have good lighting will clearly reveal the colors used in it. For this reason, bright rooms might need to be toned down a little with darker colors. Soft, light colors, however, work better for darker rooms.
The direction the windows in the room face also can have an effect on lighting. For example, if a room only receives evening light, this will generally be deeper in color and have a golden tint. This can give colors a muted tone.
Shadows may be cast by trees or outdoor features into the space you are decorating. Generally, you can expect shadows to have a darkening effect on your color scheme. Use lighter cool tones in this case.
2. Integrate your design with its intended function. Matching your decorating choices to suit the function of a place can make them feel more fitting. For example, even though red isn't traditionally considered soothing, it stimulates appetite, making it an excellent color to add to restaurants, dining rooms, and so on.
Green and shades of this color are great for sitting rooms, family spaces, and even offices.
The natural, soft feeling given from earth tones make these a strong choice for places like bedrooms or rooms without windows.
Dark colors, like blacks, grays, and earth tones can add definition to a room without becoming distracting. These are great colors to use in an office or reading room.
3. Coordinate with the existing features of your home. You'll likely have to plan your interior decorating around some existing features of your home. For example, re-flooring your home might not be an option, so you'll have to make design choices that match well with your current flooring. Other features you may have to integrate with your design include:
Cabinetry, wall color, fixtures (includes outlets, sink fixtures, door knobs, and so on), countertops, sills, and more.
Spending as much time in your home as you probably do, soothing home decor will make it easier for you to unwind and relax. You can use soothing furnishings, like plush furniture and items that imitate nature, to create this effect. You'll also need to select a soothing color scheme by doing things like choosing cool tones for your base color and toning down colors that are too bright. Last but not least, you'll have to account for existing factors in your home, by doing things like integrating your design with its intended function and balancing design choices with lighting.
Method 1 Using Soothing Furnishings.
Decorate with plush, inviting furniture. Hard, spartan furniture can look uninviting from the very first glance. Furniture that is elegant, well upholstered, and luxuriously stuffed will make you, your family, and visiting friends want to sit down and relax.
Some examples of plush furniture might include things like comfy upholstered chairs, well-stuffed couches, inviting love seats, fluffy ottomans, and so on.
These kinds of items can sometimes be expensive. If you're not ready to make this purchase, buy soft, cozy throw pillows to add to your furniture.
Many pieces of gently used furniture can be bought at a fraction of the price at secondhand stores, though you might have to patiently search these for these until they come in stock.
Use items that imitate nature. As appealing as sleek, futuristic designs can be, natural features encourage happiness, comfort, and well-being. To accomplish this, add some houseplants or a living wall to your home. Some other ideas for adding a natural vibe to your living space include:
Choosing wood-accented furnishings and decorations, especially dark colored wood. This will create a warm feel while adding contrast to the room.
Art from natural scenes can also add to the organic atmosphere of a room. Art can sometimes be pricey; find inexpensive art at secondhand stores and thrift shops.
Avoid too many sharp edges. Sharp edges give a clean, geometric, well defined impression to a room. It's only natural for the furniture of your room to have some edges, but too many of these can make a room feel aggressive, in a manner of speaking.
Furniture with flowing lines and rounded edges can really soften the character of a room and make it feel more relaxed.
Some examples of furniture without sharp edges might include rounded edged bookshelves, seating with softened edges (like couches and chairs that don't come to a point at the edges), coffee tables with blunted edges, and so on.
Account for lighting. Natural light has a direct positive effect on your mood. Use curtains that decorate your windows without cutting off too much natural light. Add mirrors to a room to encourage the spread of natural light throughout the space.
The "temperature" of lighting refers to its tone. Light that is very white is said to have a "cool" temperature, while light that is somewhat orange is said to be "warm."
Light that is too cool can make a room feel stark or clinical. Use warm temperature lighting to cozy up rooms you are decorating.
Install a water feature. Water is associated with a sense of calmness, clarity, and meditation. You can bring these feelings into your home when decorating by adding a water feature, like a small bubbling fountain or a trickling water wall.
If buying a brand new water feature is outside your budget, you might opt for a noisemaker that can make water effects or even a CD with water sounds playing in the background.
Similar to the regular, metrical noises water makes, the sound of ticking can also have a calming effect. If this is true for you, a clock may be a soothing alternative to a water feature.
Method 2 Selecting a Soothing Color Scheme.
Utilize cool tones in your color scheme. Cool tones are green, blue, and violet. These colors, and shades of these, generally promote a soothing feeling. By choosing one of these colors for the base of your color scheme, you can replicate this soothing effect. Avoid overusing too many cool tones, otherwise your room may feel cold and lifeless.
Use green as a base if, in addition to a soothing impression, you also want to convey a sense of rejuvenation or growth.
Blue, when used as your base color, will add a light and refreshing feeling, especially lighter shades of blue. Darker shades communicate a calm sense of dignity.
Violet is the warmest of the cool tones, giving it a vital feeling. It also carries the impression of serenity. Avoid overusing violet to prevent its warmth from detracting from its serene aspect.
Tone down bright colors according to your taste. Bright colors carry a sense of energy. Using bright colors is a good way to balance cool tones so that the overall effect isn't cold and drab. However, you may need to tone down some bright colors to prevent them from throwing off the balance of your color scheme.
When painting, you can soften colors that are too vibrant by adding a little white to them or dull them with some black. Be sure you only mix together the same kinds of paint. Different brands/types of paint may be impossible to mix due to their ingredients.
For example, you can create a cool, refreshing atmosphere with a base of cyan, dark blue, and black. Accent these with beige and a muted red. The red should give this color scheme an upbeat feel.
Accentuate a soft, open feel with pastel colors. Whereas bright colors can be softened with the addition of small amounts of white, adding a substantial amount of white creates a "washed out" effect in a color. This is the basis of pastel colors.
These soft colors create a wide open effect that's useful in smaller spaces. Pastels also impart a comfortable and airy atmosphere.
For example, in a child's play room, you might use a pastel blue as the primary color to give the sense of being under a soft blue sky, and then combine this with pastel green to add a vital feeling to the color scheme.
Create depth in your color scheme. Neutral colors, like white, gray, and black work with most other colors, when used as accents, and are great for adding definition to your color scheme. Earth tones, like beige, brown, and shades of umber and ochre are also sometimes considered neutral colors.
Earth tones tend to add sense of warmth to a color scheme. Beyond this, the natural sense evoked by these colors can bring with them a feeling of tranquility.
Method 3 Accounting for Existing Factors.
Balance design choices with lighting. Rooms that have good lighting will clearly reveal the colors used in it. For this reason, bright rooms might need to be toned down a little with darker colors. Soft, light colors, however, work better for darker rooms.
The direction the windows in the room face also can have an effect on lighting. For example, if a room only receives evening light, this will generally be deeper in color and have a golden tint. This can give colors a muted tone.
Shadows may be cast by trees or outdoor features into the space you are decorating. Generally, you can expect shadows to have a darkening effect on your color scheme. Use lighter cool tones in this case.
Integrate your design with its intended function. Matching your decorating choices to suit the function of a place can make them feel more fitting. For example, even though red isn't traditionally considered soothing, it stimulates appetite, making it an excellent color to add to restaurants, dining rooms, and so on.
Green and shades of this color are great for sitting rooms, family spaces, and even offices.
The natural, soft feeling given from earth tones make these a strong choice for places like bedrooms or rooms without windows.
Dark colors, like blacks, grays, and earth tones can add definition to a room without becoming distracting. These are great colors to use in an office or reading room.
Coordinate with the existing features of your home. You'll likely have to plan your interior decorating around some existing features of your home. For example, re-flooring your home might not be an option, so you'll have to make design choices that match well with your current flooring. Other features you may have to integrate with your design include.
Cabinetry, wall color, fixtures (includes outlets, sink fixtures, door knobs, and so on), countertops, sills, and more.
Bringing natural elements into your interior decorating can help create a relaxing atmosphere. You should consider using natural materials such as rock, brick, sea shells, sea salt, water and wood. You may also want to bring plant life into your home to help freshen the air. To improve natural lighting in your home, you should consider opening your windows as well as using natural mood lighting. By using natural materials, plants and light, you can create a fresh and relaxing interior décor.
Method 1 Using Natural Materials.
Decorate with sea shells. Bring home some sea shells from your next beach vacation or purchase them at a home decorating store. You could use sea shells to make a variety of decorations such as a glass jar with sea shells, a picture frame or a candle holder.
Try creating a glass jar with sea shells. Collect some of your favorite shells and arrange them in a glass jar. Place the glass jar on a mantle place or on top of a shelf. They will remind you of the relaxing smells and sounds of your beach vacation.
Buy reclaimed wood chairs and tables. You can find beautiful furniture made from reclaimed wood. Wood previously used in barns, houses or other architecture is used to make chairs and tables. You can find reclaimed wood chairs and tables at design stores, antique shops or online.
Purchase unfinished wood furniture. You could buy unfinished chairs, tables or other wooden furniture and then apply your own finish. You can find unfinished wooden furniture online or at wholesale shops. Apply natural stains such as linseed oil or paint it to match your color scheme.
You can find unfinished wood furniture at online retailers and some hardware stores. Whereas some retailers are focused on more contemporary designs, other retailers sell very traditional designs. You can also piece together the parts you need by going to specialty retailers for table legs or other furniture components, which you would then assemble yourself.
Put driftwood on your coffee table or mantle place. Search for driftwood the next time you are close to a beach or lake. When you find a nice piece of driftwood, you can cut it to size and then place it on your coffee table to remind yourself of the place you visited.
If it is covered in dirt or moss, you may need to clean it.
You could wrap twinkle lights around the branches during the holidays.
Create a rock terrarium. You could find or purchase some stones and place them in a decorative bowl. You can purchase stones from a home living store or a precious stones shop. If you go on vacation to a rocky beach, you could collect your own stones. Arrange your stones in a small bowl and place it on your dining room table.
Consider wood flooring. Wood flooring is a great option for adding natural elements to your home, especially if you are in the process of renovating. Choose from pine, oak or other hardwood flooring options. You could also add section of wood flooring to a small area of your house. Solid hardwood, engineered hardwood and prefinished hardwood are common options.
Expose brick walls in your house. If you have brick walls, consider exposing them so that you get to see the natural décor of brick. Brick is made from clay, mud and water, which is fired at high temperatures. It has a nice texture and can give a room a very natural feel. You could make an accent wall with exposed brick and then paint the other walls in your house.
If you cannot alter the walls in your home, you could make a brick decoration. For instance, you could purchase a few bricks and stack them in front of a wall or use them to make a bookshelf.
Add a water element to your home décor. Install a slate water wall in one of your rooms to add the soothing feel of a waterfall to your home. If a slate water wall sounds too pricey, consider placing a small water fountain on your deck or on your living room table. You can find water fountains in a variety of sizes and shapes.
You can find water fountains at home décor, online retailers and some larger hardware stores.
Indoor water fixtures range from approximately $200 to $2500.
There are many different types of fountains such as tabletop fountains, fountains that sit on the floor and water fixtures that hang on a wall.
Method 2 Bringing Plant Life into Your Home Décor.
Plant an herb garden in your kitchen. An indoor herb garden will bring the smells and tastes of the garden into your kitchen. It also makes cooking a lot easier. Start by finding a sunny window such as a south or southwest facing window. Place your herbs in small pots on the windowsill and remember to put a saucepan underneath to catch drainage. Enjoy sage, rosemary, basil or other herbs in your kitchen.
Avoid north facing windows for indoor kitchen herb gardens. They do not provide enough light.
Add a spider plant to your bedroom. Spider plants look great in a hanging basket by a window. They have pretty green and yellow stems. They are very easy to maintain. They require bright or moderate amounts of sun.
Water occasionally when they are new and then moderately after one year.
Put a succulent in your living room. A succulent will add a nice flourish to your living room. Consider placing a few succulents on your mantle place, living room table or on side tables. You could make a succulent center piece for your living room table. On another table, you could put glass jars with sand and air plants or succulents on top.
Use cacti in your living spaces. You could place a small cactus on your home office table. If you are more ambitious, you could create a small cactus garden with different sized and shaped cacti in your living room. Play around with the shapes and sizes of the cacti. It might be best to place the small cacti in front of the larger cacti, so you get a sense of depth in your cactus garden.
Get weekly flower delivery. You can purchase a weekly flower delivery service so that you can look forward to fresh cut flowers every week. This is a great option if you live in a rental apartment. Talk to your florist about the kinds of flowers you enjoy and ask about the availability of seasonal varieties.
Method 3 Adding Light to Your Home.
Get more light into your home by opening up the windows. Remove old curtains or replace old windows that don’t let enough light into your house or apartment. With new windows and curtains that let more light into your home, you will feel a lot more connected to nature and the outdoors.
Consider purchasing natural linen or cotton curtains.
Consider the style of curtain you would like to purchase such as sill curtains, which go to the windowsill, or apron curtains that go over the windowsill. Floor curtains go all the way to the floor.
Add windows to your home. You may want to add a few windows to your apartment or house. Consider whether there are any parts of the house or apartment that would offer a nice view of the outdoors such as a pond or a forest. Also, consider what size of window would make sense and the price of the renovations.
Consider purchasing wooden, double-hung windows. This type of window will cost you a bit more up front but should save you money in electricity costs in the long run while adding a natural look to home.
Add a salt rock lamp to your bedroom. Himalayan salt rock lamps are great for mood lighting in your bedroom or living room. They have a soft glow and have a range of purported health benefits. Made from natural sea salts, they are a nice way to bring some natural light into your home.
Use a natural candle holder. You can find beeswax candles and Himalayan sea salt candle holders. Place some candles in natural candle holders in your living room or bedroom for natural mood lighting.
Warnings.
If you have pets or small children, you should avoid certain house plants such as philodendron, pothos, arrowhead, lily, peace lily, dieffenbachia, oleander, caladium, mother-in-law’s tongue and ivy.
Mid-century modern style is a popular look that is both minimalistic and fun. The style is known for its retro furniture, romantic color schemes, and straight lines. You can take different approaches to styling your mid-century modern room depending on your personal style. Start by decluttering your house and maximising the natural light. Choose furniture and accessories that enhance the mid-century look, and keep an eye out in thrift stores and garage sales to find unique items at bargain prices.
Method 1 Changing the Basics.
1. Declutter your area. Whether you are decorating a bedroom, lounge, or a whole house, the area will look more mid-century modern if it is free from clutter. Remove any unnecessary items from surfaces, such as desks, benches, or tables. File any loose pieces of paper, throw out any rubbish, and keep books and magazines in one place. Place small objects, such as art supplies, stationery, or cleaning products, into boxes or cupboards.
Consider giving away any objects that don’t fit with the mid-century modern theme, such as any neon or sparkly items. Keep items like sturdy wooden frames and hardcover books. Just prepare to use them strategically.
Place a few candles on a dresser rather than a myriad of ornaments.
2. Paint the walls white and add a feature wall if you want a dash of colour. The majority of mid-century modern homes have white walls as this allows the statement pieces of furniture to stand out. Paint the interior walls white and if you want to brighten up a room, paint one wall a different colour.
For example, paint 3 walls in the dining room white and paint 1 wall pale pink. If you don’t like white, consider other neutral tones, such as light cream or grey.
The exception to this is areas where you have wooden wall panels, brick walls, or large feature windows. These were often centerpieces in mid-century homes and should be displayed and enhanced, not covered up.
Consider using wallpaper for your feature wall if you want it to have texture or pattern.
3. Open the curtains to maximize the natural light. Most houses get at least some light during the day. Make the most of the light to help create a mid-century modern feel. During the day, open all of the curtains in the house.
If you want some privacy during the day, consider purchasing sheer curtains. These give a light and breezy feel to the house whilst still giving privacy.
If there are any tall trees or hedges that are blocking the light shining through the windows, trim them back.
4. Incorporate wooden features into your home. A key focus of mid-century modern design is including wood into the home. Consider adding wooden flooring, a wooden bench top, or wooden doors to your house. Oak, walnut, and teak are popular types of wood used in mid-century modern design.
Use wooden laminate instead of wood to achieve a similar look at a cheaper price.
Wooden decor pieces such as wooden balls, wooden furniture legs and backs, and wood doors were all prevalent in mid-century homes.
Method 2 Choosing Furniture.
1. Choose a couch with straight lines and a bold colour. Couches and armchairs are big focal points in mid-century modern design. Pick a couch that has relatively straight arms and tall tapered legs instead of a couch with ornate rounded edges. Choose a bold colour to help the couch stand out.
A sea-blue couch paired with mustard cushions would be a great colour choice.
If a new couch doesn’t fit in your budget, consider adding a colourful throw to your current couch.
You can replace your couch's current legs with the quintessentially mid-century tapered wooden legs. These are available affordably from most home improvement stores, as well as online.
2. Add a mid-century style mirror as a statement piece. A mirror has the power to make a room look bigger and lighter. Place a large, round mirror opposite a door or window so that it can reflect the natural light around the room.
Consider choosing a sunburst mirror. These are an iconic accessory of the mid-century era. Find replicas online to save money, or search in thrift stores.
Alternatively, look for a mirror with a minimalist aesthetic. A large, circular mirror with a thin gold frame would also be great for a mid-century home.
Upcycle any mirrors you already have. If you have a mirror with a frame, repaint the frame to match the feature wall or lounge suite colours.
3. Add lamps, pendants, and soft lighting. Lighting is a key feature of the mid-century style. Choose lamps with thin stems to incorporate the clean and minimal lines of mid-century design. Pick pendants that attract focus and have sculptural elements. Look for floor lamps that arch over furniture. Choose bulbs that have more yellow tones rather than blue tones as this will create a softer look.
Consider using multiple lamps per room to create different pockets of light. Limit pendants to one per room as they are a dominant feature.
Look for pendants and lamps at garage sales to find unique designs at a bargain price.
4. Choose wooden furniture to give a natural look to the space. Choose shades of wood that mirror the colours of wood found in nature. Natural pines and medium-browns work well. Consider adding a wooden coffee table, wooden chairs, or wooden shelves. If you want more minimal amounts of wood, choose a couch with wooden legs.
If you have wooden furniture that has been painted, consider sanding off the paint to expose the natural wood.
Don’t be afraid to use laminate. This can create a wooden look at a lower price.
Look out for wooden furniture in thrift shops. This is a great way to get quality furniture at a lower price.
Method 3 Adding Accessories.
1. Place a few pieces of bold art on the walls. The mid-century modern style is fairly minimalistic. Avoid placing too much art on the walls and cluttering the space. It is best to pick a few favourite pieces for the walls in each room.
Large graphics painted with oil on canvas are a great mid-century option. Metal wall plaques fit with the theme.
Abstract metal and stone sculptures are also good artistic accessories for this style.
2. Choose indoor plants to bring a feeling of life to your space. A key theme of mid-century modern style is the blending of the indoors and outdoors. An easy way to achieve this look is by adding indoor plants to your rooms. Consider adding plants at different levels to bring a natural look. For example, place one plant in a hanging basket and another on a coffee table.
Peace lilies are a timeless looking plant that improve air quality. Cacti are another timeless option.
Plants with hanging vines or droopy leaves work best in hanging baskets.
Plants are integral to the mid-century look. If you can't keep real plants in your home, invest in some fake plants to get the look.
3. Choose bedding and pillows with bold patterns. Repeating patterns and geometric shapes are an iconic part of the mid-century decorating style. An affordable way to introduce these to your house is through accessories. Add patterned cushions to your bed or couch to bring detail and color to the rooms. Alternatively, pick a patterned bedspread that makes the bed the focal point of the room.
Avoid having patterns on both the bedspread and decorative pillows. Similarly, avoid pairing a patterned couch with patterned cushions. Patterns look best when paired with plain items.
Consider buying fabric and then the sewing cushion covers or bedspread yourself. This is a great way to find the pattern you want and save money. If you can’t sew, ask a friend or family member that has good sewing skills to help you.
4. Pick a neutral-coloured rug that has an interesting texture. Mixing different textures in your home is a great way to enhance the mid-century style. Look for a rug that has a different texture to the carpet and couches. Try to get a neutral-colored rug so that you don’t draw away from the furniture in the room.
A shaggy rug would work well in a space with a velvet couch. Sisal and jute rugs also compliment this style and are very durable.
Purchase a rug from a home department store or keep an eye out at garage sales.
Tips.
If you working with a low budget, keep an eye out for big sales throughout the year.
Search thrift shops to find authentic retro items.
The mid-century look is very popular, so you can find a lot of modern items made to fit the aesthetic. Take a look at your local discount home goods and furniture stores for inspiration.
When decorating your home office on a budget, try to be as creative and resourceful as possible. Make your own shelving to inexpensively create storage and workspace areas. Look around your home and repurpose furniture you already own. Customize those pieces to maximize their use-value and aesthetics. If you do need to buy new pieces, look for gently used items at consignment shops, estate or yard sales, and surplus stores. Maximize your efficiency and make your office a pleasing place to work with inexpensive accessories and organizational habits.
Method 1 Choosing Affordable Office Furniture.
1. Repurpose furniture from other areas in your home. Office furniture typically makes up the bulk of the decor budget. Do your best to reuse pieces from other areas in your home in order to increase savings. Look for customizable items that can offer both design solutions and a personal touch.
For example, you can use a sturdy coffee table to provide a seating area that doubles as storage space. Find inexpensive cushions or even a pet bed large enough to cover the tabletop in the clearance section of a home decor store. Place woven baskets or other storage bins you might have on hand under the coffee table to store files, books, or other necessities.
If you have an extra dresser on hand, put it in the office to store supplies and paperwork. Consider downsizing your wardrobe to free up a storage piece in your bedroom.
Or, repurpose a kitchen or dining table as a desk. This will give you plenty of space to arrange your equipment (computer, printer, etc.) and work materials.
2. Use shelving to solve storage, workspace, and cost limitations. Create your own shelving with affordable wood panels and brackets from the hardware store if you have basic woodworking skills. Alternatively, you can look for deals at department stores or online. Inexpensive shelving can not only offer storage solutions, it can also provide you with desk space, which can be among the costliest office furniture pieces.
Run shelving horizontally along an entire wall for multiple workstations. Use the area underneath for storage containers, a trash bin, and office equipment like a printer or shredder.
To create bookcases, stack shelves horizontally on top of one another 12 inches (30 cm) apart. Add file folders, baskets, and other storage containers along with your books.
3. Purchase gently used furniture to cut your budget. If you do need to purchase a desk, file storage, or other office furniture look around for good second-hand pieces. Search online for estate sales in your area, and look for local organizations that host estate sales. Check websites for options to sign up for email lists so you won’t have to drive around your city looking for sales.
Look around consignment shops, thrift stores, and furniture surplus stores in your area for deals on items that fit your taste and needs.
Make sure you have your space’s measurements on hand, and bring a tape measure with you to be sure you purchase items that fit your office.
Get creative with your use of second-hand items. For instance, use a buffet table to house your printer or turn a large basket into a decorative trash can.
4. Remember that an ergonomic chair is important. If there’s one office furniture item to spend a bit of money on, it’s the chair. Sitting for long periods of time is tough on your back, legs, and overall health, so look for an ergonomic office chair that fits your budget.
You may be able to great a great deal on an ergonomic chair from a company that’s going out of business, such as an office building or doctor’s office.
Look for a form-fitting chair that offers both sturdiness and flexibility. Go for height adjustable options that offer lumbar, neck, and head support.
A new ergonomic chair can cost thousands of dollars, but with some patience, you can find a secondhand option for a fraction of that price.
Using a kitchen chair or other uncomfortable option might be a decent solution while you look for a good budget-friendly piece, but it’ll compromise your productivity and health in the long run.
5. Mix up pieces instead of purchasing a matching set. Purchasing a matching office furniture suite might offer a quick decor fix, but will drastically increase your cost. Be patient as you furnish your office using a mix of repurposed and secondhand items. It might take a matter of months, but you’ll end up saving hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
In addition to drastically reducing your budget, avoiding a matching suite will also give your workspace a more personal feel.
Method 2 Accessorizing Your Home Office.
1. Avoid splurging on accessories. There’s really no need to spend much money on office accessories, if any at all. Look around your house for items like framed photographs, houseplants, and knickknacks to add some personality to your workspace without spending money.
This is another opportunity to repurpose items. For example, use a pretty rock as a paperweight and cut a few flowers from your garden to put in a vase on your desk.
Given a little time, you’ll probably accumulate more accessories than you need. You might receive a gift like a stress ball or Zen garden to place in your office on your next birthday or holiday. If you have kids, they might make you something in school you can put on your desk.
2. Create your own large-scale wall designs. Instead of spending hundreds on office art, you can paint your office’s walls a bright color, and create a focal wall using painter’s tape to make stripes or by putting up wall decals. Consider designating a large wall area as a blackboard brainstorming area, using inexpensive chalkboard paint to create it.
Affordable wall decor options also include your diploma or certificates. You can also print out and frame inspirational quotes or sayings.
Check out second-hand stores for inexpensive framed art or prints that match your taste.
Choose patterns and colors that both motivate and relax you. Avoid using too many dark colors, which can lead to decreased productivity.
3. Prioritize function when choosing lighting accessories. Ensure you have enough light to see well so you don’t strain your eyes. To improve both efficiency and aesthetics, you’ll need lighting options other than the room’s overhead light. However, you don’t have to break your bank by purchasing top of the line lighting accessories.
For your desk, consider reusing a small lamp from elsewhere in your home.
Look around consignment shops or home decor or department stores’ clearance sections for reduced-price floor and desk lamps.
Try to provide two to three lighting accessories so you can customize the room’s light levels. Including more lighting options is better for your eyes and improves the room’s feel. Warmer, shaded sources of light like desk and floor lamps are preferable to fluorescent overhead lighting.
Method 3 Maximizing Efficiency on a Budget.
1. Make sure that you only have to spend money on decor. The first way to stick to a low budget when designing an office space is to choose a room that doesn't require a significant amount of structural work. There are only so many design solutions you can achieve through decor alone. Think about how the room’s layout and level of finish will contribute to your efficiency.
For example, when you choose your office space, make sure the room has enough electrical outlets for your needs. Two outlets and affordable power strips should allow you to plug in your computer, printer, cell phone charger, at least two light sources in addition to the overhead light, and any other objects that require electricity.
An interior room without a window might make you less likely to want to work in that room, thus decreasing your productivity. Likewise, budget-friendly decor options can’t do much for an unfinished basement room. Make sure your space is clean and free of leaks or structural issues in order to encourage efficiency.
Even a nook in your bedroom or living room can offer more inexpensive, ergonomic, and efficient options than a larger spare room lacking outlets, insulation, multiple light sources, and other necessities.
2. Go for budget-friendly storage options instead of minimalism. From planning your budget to picking out furniture and accessories, your number one priority should be storage. A minimalist office look might be trendy, but splurging on stylish decor options that lack storage will max out your budget, decrease your efficiency, and limit your ability to keep the space organized.
Take the time to declutter and organize your things so you only store what you actually need.
Keep your budget in check by optimizing the storage space you already have available. If you're using a spare bedroom as an office, use the closet for storage to hide clutter. Install shelving for better organization if there aren’t any already present.
Ensuring everything in your office has a designated place and keeping your spaced organized are among the easiest and most affordable ways to maximize your efficiency.
3. Improve productivity with inexpensive candles and air fresheners. Making sure your office smells nice is among the most budget-friendly ways to increase efficiency. Believe it or not, recent studies suggest a more fragrant office not only improves comfort, but encourages productivity.
Experiments show that scents including lavender, rosemary, jasmine, and lemon encourage efficiency.
Remember inexpensive candles, oil diffusers, and other fragrant accessories can also be visually pleasing additions to your home office. You can choose scents that relax you or energize you, depending on your preferences and mood.
Nothing transforms an ordinary room faster than adding some metallic. Not only does it brighten up your space, it instantly adds a touch of glamor and modernity. However, like with many trends, it’s important to keep from going overboard. A sophisticated room can turn into a funhouse with just a few too many metallic accents. If you’re interested in using metallic in your home décor, there are a few design techniques you should keep in mind.
Part 1 Adding Accessories.
1. Start small. If you’re new to this trend and haven’t played around with metallics before, don’t go big right away. Try adding a few small pieces to a room first, just to get a feel for how it works in your home – and to confirm you like metallic décor! Adding a metallic gold vase as a table centerpiece or hanging up a mirror with bronze trim are examples of ways you can add a bit of bling to your space without feeling overwhelmed.
2. Purchase versatile items. If you aren’t a professional interior decorator, you might not have a grand vision for your space. That’s OK! You can always buy a few items that can work in several places around your home, and you can play around with them. Look for pieces that can work in your bedroom or your living room, or the bathroom or the kitchen. You can move things around and experiment.
A metallic picture frame is a small touch that can add a lot to a space, but can also work in virtually any space. The same goes for metallic lamps, trays, bowls, and so on.
3. Try out things that aren’t permanent. If you aren’t ready to fully embrace this trend yet, why not purchase a few temporary metallic accessories? For example, consider using fun golds and silvers in your holiday or seasonal décor. You can find festive throw pillows, table settings, display trinkets, and so on. If you still love the metallic trend when the season or holiday ends, you can get some décor that is more permanent.
4. Use one metallic statement piece. If you don't want to fill your home with various metallic pieces, or simply only have one metallic piece that interests you, why not just use it solo to make a statement? Whether it's a metallic tea tray on your coffee table or one metallic piece of art on your mantle, one statement piece will draw the eye immediately. You don't need to add metallics to every corner of the room to embrace this trend in your home.
Part 2 Choosing your Metallics Wisely.
1. Consider the different types of metallics. After all, not all metallics are created equal. A shiny, smooth gold will create a different effect in a room than a hammered gold. Any metallic with an antiqued finish will look darker and older, and a metallic with a brushed finish will be more matte. If you’re not interested in traditional gold or silver, don’t overlook copper and bronze décor! Also, don’t be afraid to mix and match metallics to create a lot of interest.
Again, if you aren’t sure which one you’ll prefer over time in your home, try out a few smaller, temporary pieces! You can get an idea for your personal preference without committing to anything or shelling out a lot of cash.
Don’t buy a certain type of metallic simply because it’s recommended with your color palette or someone suggested it. Choose a metallic that you personally love, and you won’t get sick of it.
2. Gather inspiration from the professionals. If your space needs a makeover, try heading to Pinterest before heading to Home Goods. You can also find decorating ideas from interior design magazines and websites. Even if you have experience decorating your home, it never hurts to check out what other people are doing. You can see how the professionals are using metallics in homes, and you might discover combinations or ideas that you never considered.
3. Repurpose things you already own. Giving your own furniture or décor a metallic makeover is a great way to save a little money and extend the life of your belongings. Instead of tossing that plain wooden dresser you’re sick of, give it a makeover. A coat of black or white paint with some metallic knobs or accents will make it look like a whole new piece. The same goes for old chairs, tables, desks, and so on. You can find metallic spray paints in every hue at a home improvement store.
Part 3 Balancing Out the Space.
1. Pair metallics with soft fabrics. To bring balance to the room you’re decorating, it’s a great idea to pair opposites. In other words, try blending your metallic décor with soft fabrics. A vibrant gold bowl placed on a faux fur place mat creates a beautiful contrast. Adding a metallic throw pillow to a soft velvet armchair strikes that same balance.
Not only do these pairings create balance, but they also allow the metallic element to really stand out.
2. Use a neutral color palette. Using metallics to decorate your home is a pretty bold choice, and it’s typically best to let those elements be the focal point. In order to do this, try to keep the rest of the room fairly neutral. Pair your metallics with colors like gray, white, cream, black, and so on. Not only is this extremely modern and on trend, it’s also much more welcoming and “livable.”
Pairing some already flashy metallic décor with colors like hot pink or electric blue is certainly a bold choice, but you’re likely to get a bit sick of it after awhile.
3. Let the metallics have the spotlight. The other tips have alluded to it, but the key to using metallic in your home décor is to let those pieces have the spotlight. By keeping the rest of your décor neutral, soft, and simplistic, you’ll ensure that your space doesn’t become overwhelming. For example, if there’s a metallic coffee table that you love, go for it! Just keep the couch and rug neutral, and let that table have the spotlight.
The added bonus of keeping your spaces pretty neutral is that you will be able to swap different metallic pieces in and out as you like!
Home decor in general is, of course, a matter of personal taste, so when you're looking to decorate the house for winter, the best guide to follow is your own gut. However, an important first step is to decide which areas to focus on, both in your home overall and then within each room. Finding ways to emphasize warmth will then make your home that much comfier during the coldest months. And for those of you who take your shoes off indoors, layering rugs during the winter is a further way to add warmth while adding seasonal variety to your decor.
Deciding Where and How to Decorate.
Choose which rooms to decorate. If you have the budget, time, and inclination to overhaul your home entirely, feel free to go wild. If not, however, prioritize rooms that see the most use. Don't waste time and money on, say, your bedroom, which hardly anyone but you will see. Instead, focus on areas like your.
Living room.
Family room.
Dining room.
Kitchen.
Bathroom(s).
Pick a color scheme. If you're a purist, bring the outside in with seasonal colors that emphasize cold. If, on the other hand, you want to make your home a comfy hideaway from the elements, go the opposite route with warm colors. There's no right or wrong, so follow your instincts and please your own taste.
Cold color schemes include white paired with either blue, burgundy, emerald, gray, plum, or silver.
Warm colors also include white, as well as browns, reds, and yellows.
To find colors that match your paint, furniture, and other decor, use online color palettes.
Add seasonal decorations. If you celebrate Christmas, you're probably already starting the winter off by decorating for that. But whether or not you celebrate that holiday, search the aisles or online for decorations that don't tie directly into the holiday. Use these to decorate your home throughout the winter season, even after you've packed all the Santa stuff away.
Items to look for include figurines, framed pictures, snow globes, wreaths, and garland.
Neutral designs include snowmen, sleighs, winter villages, and bare or snow-covered evergreens.
Use small touches to drive winter home. Again, if you want to go hog-wild about it, feel free to make your home a winter wonderland with any number of appropriately themed decorations. But if time, budget, and space is limited, use them wisely. Consider:
Choosing one fanciful item to stand out as a seasonal centerpiece in a given area, like a model winter village to top a mantelpiece, bureau, or window seat.
Replacing everyday items with seasonally decorated ones, like dish- or hand towels, salt and pepper shakers, and placemats.
Investing in seasonal pillow cases, blankets, comforters, and/or even sofa- and armchair covers to quickly punch up areas like bedrooms, living rooms, and dens.
Choose decorations that transition from season to season. Between school and holidays, both fall and winter can be busy times of year, so plan ahead to minimize work. As you decorate for each season and/or holiday, use items that will still be appropriate as you roll over to the next so you can minimize work. For instance:
Red, yellow, orange, and brown scream autumn when bunched together, but each is a warm color that can help make your winter home more inviting. Say you decorated your living room with throw pillows in all four colors for fall. Simply take away the yellow and orange ones and leave the red and brown pillows.
Hanging wreaths with bare branches is a popular way to decorate for both fall and winter. Simply swap the autumn leaves with more winter-appropriate flair like holly leaves, oranges, or leaves painted in cool colors like blue or silver.
Evergreen garland and pine cones are Christmas favorites, but on their own they work just as well for the whole winter.
Making Your Space Feel Warm and Cozy.
Provide literal warmth with fire. If your house has one, use your fireplace! Rearrange the furniture to make the hearth the centerpiece of that room. Make a blazing fire a daily, nightly, or weekly ritual with your loved ones.
If your fireplace is inoperable, stack some bright firewood in the rack anyway to suggest the idea of a nice warm fire.
Set out candles. Whether or not you have a fireplace, light candles to add the flickering glow of flames to your home. Choose candlesticks or holders that enhance the winter theme either by color, design, or both. Enhance the effect by burning scented candles that fill the house with pleasing smells that highlight the season.
Gold or brass candlesticks provide warm colors and reflective surfaces, enhancing the light and suggestion of warmth.
Mugs, bowls, and jars filled with readymade candles and decorated with seasonal designs are also widely available.
Popular scents for winter include cinnamon, cloves, oranges, pine cones, and various types of wood.
Alternatively, you can also use LED candles if you're worried about fire risks or forbidden to use candles.
Add throws to seating areas. Drape throw blankets over the backs of your couches and armchairs. Arrange throw pillows in the corners of each one, too. If you have an accent chair, pile extras on the seat so family, roommates, and guests can help themselves as needed. Don't be mingy with them; the more, the better!
Choose neutral-colored throw pillows and blankets to use year-round. This way, you can easily dress up each seating area with just a couple of new winter-themed blankets and/or pillows.
Change your curtains. Make an instant dramatic change to your home by hanging curtains selected especially for winter. Choose whichever color or design highlights the season best for your tastes, but favor thick, heavy fabrics to suggest more warmth and protection from the cold outside. For the best insulation, choose thermal curtains, which are designed to prevent heat from escaping while also blocking drafts from the windows.
If you miss the sunlight in winter and still want to let it in without keeping the drapes shut all day, you can also find thermal-backed vertical blinds that allow more light to pass through with minimal heat loss.
Layering Rugs for Extra Coziness.
Determine the best spaces to layer rugs. Assess how much visibility the floor area receives in each room. Favor open areas over small, cramped ones. Use layered rugs where they will stand out and be noticed, rather than areas where furniture blocks them from view.
Larger rooms like the living room or den are generally ideal for this. Depending on the square footage and the amount of furniture inside, master bedrooms can also be a likely candidate.
Layered rugs can also be used in smaller spaces with little or no furniture, like hallways or bathrooms. However, expect rugs to possibly wear out faster here due to concentrated foot traffic.
Select your rugs. Maybe you're buying both at once, or perhaps you're trying to pair a new rug with one that you already own. Either way, make sure the base rug and accent rug complement each other. Make your selections according to.
Size: whether you're choosing an accent rug, base rug, or both, aim to have at least one foot (30.5 cm) of the base rug revealed along each side of the accent rug. With the base rug, always err on the side of too big if you're unsure of how large a rug you should select.
Supporting role versus starring role: favor neutral rugs for your base. Let the accent rug shine by choosing a base rug that won't upstage it. At the same time, make life easier by going with a base rug that can be used year-round while you switch accent rugs by season.
Contrast: make the accent rug pop out even more by pairing it with a base rug that contrasts it. Use color, pile height, shape, texture, or a combination of these features to make your selections more eye-catching.
Lay out your rugs. For areas like hallways or bathrooms without furniture, simply center the rugs in the open floor space. In more heavily furnished rooms, use your rugs to define specific spaces within that room, such as a sitting area in your living room, or the desk area in your home office. This may take a little trial-and-error depending on the sizes of your rugs, the open space available, and the surrounding furniture. For example.
One rule of thumb is to cover at least two feet (61 cm) of both rugs with the furniture surrounding it. Let's say your rug is being placed at the foot of a single 3-seat sofa in the living room, with no other surrounding furniture. As long as you're happy with the amount of rug visible, this should be fine.
Now let's say you're framing the rugs with an L-shaped couch. Covering two feet on either side of the base rug may look fine, but doing the same to a small accent rug may not. Here, you may want to pull the accent rug out from underneath on one or both sides..
Now say that you also have a coffee table to go with your L-shaped couch. If it's solid wood (as opposed to glass and see-through), you may wish to pull either the accent rug or both rugs further out from underneath the couch so they are more visible.
Pastel colors are comforting and whimsical. Though they have been used in homes for years, pastel colors have become a popular color palette. Pastels are often used in a child's rooms or beach house, but they can be used in any room in your home. You can start by adding splashes of pastels, paint with them, or decorate with pastel furniture.
Method 1 Starting with Splashes of Pastel.
1. Look for pastel accessories. If you only want to add small touches of pastel to your home, then adding small accessories is the best way to do it. For example, in the kitchen you could put out a light blue butter dish. In the living room, look for light green coasters. In the bedroom, add a lampshade in a light pink or purple color.
For a bold look, choose all pastel accessories. Or, simply add a few here and there.
2. Add pastel pillows. A good way to add a touch of pastel to your home is to put pastel throw pillows on your couch, chair, or bed. Consider the colors that you already have in your room when choosing pillows. Choose colors that would pair well with the existing colors in the room. If you have a lot of neutral colors in the room, almost any color will work, like light pink, green, blue, or yellow.
Colors like light yellow and purple are great for creating a relaxing environment.
You could also put a pastel throw blanket on your couch or bed.
3. Put out pastel tableware. To add pastel to the kitchen, buy pastel plates and cups. This will add a touch of pastel to the kitchen without being too overwhelming. You can leave them set out on the table to show off at all times, or only set them out when a meal is being served.
Look for pastel tableware at any home decorating store, or at big-box stores.
For a feminine and glamorous feel, pair the pastels with metals like gold and brass.
4. Set out pastel planters. You can use planters to decorate both the inside and outside of your home. If you can't find pastel planters, you can paint them on your own. Set them outside of your door, or put your indoor plants inside of them. You can choose one color, or choose an array of colors for a cheery look.
Put a few planters in various sizes and pastel colors together for a fun, colorful vignette.
5. Buy a pastel bedding set. A pastel bedding set will add more than just a splash of color to your room, but it won't overtake the room if it is the only pastel. Look for a bedding set with a comforter (or duvet cover), sheets, and pillowcases. They can be in a solid color, or in a design, like stripes. If you don't want all of your bedding to be in pastels, just buy a comforter.
Pastels can add a soothing effect to your bedroom.
If you don't want the bedroom to appear to “girly,” you can choose pastel colors like light blue and green.
Method 2 Painting with Pastels.
1. Use stencils to create a pastel design. If you don't want to commit to painting your entire wall, you can use stencils to add traces of pastels. You can find stencils at many art and home improvement stores. Choose a stencil in the design of your choice. Buy a pastel paint in any color, like light purple or yellow. Hold the stencil up against wall and paint the color onto the wall.
Stencils are usually made of flexible plastic. Stencils in the shape of flowers and geometric patterns are especially common for walls.
Make sure not to get paint outside of the stencil.
You can stencil an entire wall, a single strip or section, or anything in between.
2. Choose a pastel color for the molding if you want a subtle look. Painting the wall molding in your home is another way to add some color to the room without painting the entire wall. You can choose to paint just the molding near the ceiling, or all of the molding in the room. Consider the color your wall is before choosing a pastel color.
For white or black walls, any color will do.
For blue walls, consider a light yellow.
For red walls, consider light blue or pink.
3. Paint one wall to create a focal point. Painting one wall in a room is a way to make the pastel very noticeable without taking up the entire room. The best wall to paint is the one that is directly in front of you when entering a room, or the wall that the couch side tables are in front of. Choose a color like light blue or green for a relaxing vibe. Choose light pink if there are reds in the room that you'd like to tone down.
4. Paint the room in pastel colors for a bold look. It is also an option to paint the entire room in a pastel color. If you do this, you should only have a few other pastel details or none at all. Too much pastel can take over the appearance of the room. That may, however, be your goal. Choose a color that can go with a range of furniture, like light blue or light yellow.
Painting a room in a pastel shade can make a small room appear larger.
Method 3 Decorating with Pastel Furniture.
1. Paint chairs for an accent feature. Update wooden patio or kitchen chairs with a fresh coat of paint. If you don't already have wooden chairs, you can look for some at vintage shops or yard sales. You can choose to paint all of the chairs one color, or use a different color for each chair.
Light green, pink, and purple would look nice together for patio chairs.
2. Paint cupboards to spice up your kitchen. Painting cupboards is a way to add an accent of color without a large commitment. You can update your own cupboard, or choose to buy one from a yard sale or vintage shop. If you're painting one that is wooden or a different color, make sure to use a white primer first.
3. Reupholster the furniture in solid pastels for an understated feel. If you don't have furniture that you can paint, it is an option to reupholster old furniture. You can reupholster on your own, or you can take it in to have it reupholstered. If you aren't sure how to reupholster furniture, then it is best to take it to a professional. If you are reupholstering on your own, make sure to purchase fabric made specifically for reupholstering furniture. It will only be a decorative piece of furniture if you don't.
You can find upholstery fabric at arts and crafts stores, like Jo Ann's, and at most fabric stores.
You can find upholstery fabric in several types of materials, like leather, wool, cotton, linen, polyester, and wool.
4. Choose printed pastel furniture for a fun look. If you don't want a solid shade of a pastel color, look for furniture that incorporates pastels into the design. You may want to look for a chair that is mainly light pink, but has black stripes. Or, you can look for a black chair that has yellow polka dots. If you're reupholstering furniture, look for fabric that has pastel shades in the design.
Another example of printed pastel furniture would be a couch with a paisley pattern in pastel colors.
If you don't want to change your furniture, you can add pastel ottoman in front of your chairs and/or couches in a pastel color, like light blue or green. The light colors, however, would be more likely to show dirt.
Tips.
Put out flowers in a light pink or yellow flowers to add a temporary, but noticeable touch of pastel to your home.
Using a lot of pastel colors can create a feminine look, which can be balanced out with dark, solid colors, if desired.
You can use pastel to tone down brighter colors in your own, or use it to contrast dark colors.
Warnings.
Using too much pastel can make the interior in your home look childish or like an Easter egg. Unless you desire this look, try to not use too much pastel in one room.
Eclectic interior designs are perfect for anyone who wants to put a fun, creative spin on their home decor. Eclectic means combining different time periods and styles. This results in unique décor, like colonial with a bohemian flare, rural meets modern, or Neo-classic with a trendy urban spin. But it can also be tricky to pull off. While there’s no set rules for eclectic homes, some tips can help turn this mismatched style into a cohesive, unified look.
Method 1 Buying Statement Pieces.
1. Search for one-of-a-kind furniture and knicknacks. Your furniture should help bring your different styles together. Look at different time periods for ideas, like furnishing your living room with a chintz armchair and a mid-century sofa. Hand-made pieces are perfect for eclectic rooms. Go with family hand-me-downs or something you can pick up at a garage sale. This feels creative and personal, which is exactly what eclectic style is about.
2. Make a focal point out of an eye-catching decoration. Maybe it's a painting, chandelier, antique, or special piece of furniture that gets guests talking. Only use one focal point per room. Any more is too confusing and distracting.
A statement piece can also help you to develop an eclectic style for a room. Choose your piece, and then build the rest of the décor around it.
3. Show off your interests and hobbies. Eclectic style is about your personality. If you’re a photographer, make a gallery of black and white photos. Bookworms can fill their rooms with bookshelves, or even use end tables made out of books. Hunters can mount deer heads on the walls. Whatever your hobby, find a way to make it part of your design.
Keep in mind that an eclectic home should look curated and collected. Use pieces that show off your style to achieve this look!
4. Decorate with objects that reflect your history. Your home can tell your story. Decorate with Mexican pottery from your vacation to Oaxaca, Celtic crosses to honor your Irish heritage, and potted cacti from your college years in Arizona. Blend these different parts together. Use family heirlooms like your grandmother’s antique lamp mixed with pop art from your favorite movie.
Even your main style can come from your history, like rustic chic in honor of your grandparents’ farmhouse.
Avoid lots of matching items and brand new pieces. Collect a variety of new, used, and reused pieces over time to make your home look eclectic.
5. Let your style say something about your values and personality. Throw in a splash of bohemian to reflect your free spirited side. If you’re forward-thinking, go with elements of modern style. If you enjoy the simpler side of life, go with a classic, Victorian, or a colonial theme. Your style should be based on who you are, and what you believe in.
Method 2 Unifying Elements.
1. Choose 2 or 3 styles so your design doesn't get too complicated. Eclectic doesn’t mean over the top. It’s easy to get caught up in blending so many styles and objects, but that can turn your home into a messy eyesore. Try sticking to 2 styles (3 max), usually with 1 dominant style and the other complimenting it.
For example, a vintage main style with a hint of rustic charm.
You can create an eclectic style using a minimalist or maximalist approach. Go with the approach that suits you!
2. Pick a single go-to color scheme to unite the room. Eclectic style only works if you connect the mismatched styles. Color schemes can pull a room or house together. Neutral colors are your best bet. Use a neutral like gray with gold or pastel colors to make the room look cohesive.
Don’t use too many different colors, or colors that clash. That's more gaudy than eclectic.
Opt for a single bold color, such as green, to unite the items in your room. Just make sure to be consistent with your color choice.
3. Furnish each room with a variety of textures. Different textures bring out different styles. Try combinations like a shag rug next to a metal coffee table, or a soft, modern sofa beside a hand-carved Victorian writing desk.
Keep a balance of soft and rough textures, with a few objects of each.
Choose art, rugs, and furniture in a variety of different textures to add interest to your space.
4. Chose a color palette, furniture, and decorations that fit the same mood. Think of how you want to feel in each room. You might want one room to unwind, and another to host parties. Keep that in mind when you decorate.
Keeping your furniture in the same general style allows you more freedom to change up your other décor, such as accessories, accent pieces, and art.
If you’re going for something whimsical, fill the room with plants, bright colors, and unique, bold patterns. For something more cerebral, go with bookshelves, vintage furniture, and calming colors.
Method 3 Arranging a Layout.
1. Buy practical furniture that fits your needs. Don’t get so caught up in style that you forget the actual purpose of the room. Remember that you’re living here, so it needs to be functional. A living room should be relaxing, and a breakfast nook should have space to cook. Pick furniture that fits those needs.
For example, get a dining room table that has space enough for your family, not just one that looks stylish.
Comfortable living room furniture is also very important. For example, you might find a really interesting sofa that would look great in your home, but you may regret this purchase if the sofa is not comfortable.
2. Spread out the furniture so the room isn't too crowded. Balance is the key to eclectic rooms. Too much furniture looks cluttered, especially if it’s all bunched together while the other half of the room is empty. Spread out the furniture evenly, so the room looks neat and smooth.
Clutter looks messy, not eclectic, and makes it hard to get around.
3. Remember to leave some empty spaces. You want your interior design to be unique, not overwhelming. Don’t overdo it. Keep it balanced with empty space. Empty space can help put the focus on the decorations that you want to show off. If one wall has a photo gallery, leave another one bare.
Macrame, or the art of knotting lengths of cord into elaborate patterns, enjoys a rich history in household decorating. Its nearly endless variety of configurations makes it perfect for hanging, covering and draping, and it can easily be fashioned to complement the unique size and shape of other items. Whether you’re weaving macrame accessories yourself or just on the lookout for new ideas at the boutique, you have a vast number of options open to you. Here are just a few ways you might incorporate this timeless style into your home.
Hanging Macrame Wall Art.
Mount a macrame tapestry. A tapestry can add an element of hand-spun elegance to any room in your home. Use tapestries to make blank, uninteresting sections of wall more eye-catching. You could even hang one above the headboard of your bed or behind the sofa in the living room to tie the room together.
Attach the tapestry to a wooden dowel (or a slender tree limb, for more of a natural look) to make it easier to hang and keep it from sagging.
Make one-of-a-kind macrame wall art the focal point of your living room wall.
Design a unique dreamcatcher. The classic dreamcatcher is a staple of many homes, and represents peace, restfulness and positivity. Rather than displaying an ordinary dreamcatcher woven from wire, try out a softer approach with the macrame version. The gentle fabric braids will bring you even more of a sense of comfort when you stop to admire it.
Put the finishing touches on your dreamcatcher using beads, feathers and other decorative touches.
Dreamcatchers are one of the simpler projects you can start with if you’re just learning how to macrame.
Make macrame curtains. Replace boring window covers with floor-length macrame drapes. You could choose a dense weave for privacy, or go for a loose fringe to beautify your window space while still admitting a soft glow of light.
You could even rig your macrame curtains up to runners so that you can draw and open them as you please.
Put up a room divider. Hanging room dividers are typically made with noisy beads, but a macrame version can help create privacy without all that irritating clacking. Rather than keeping the doors in your home shut, simply tack the divider to the door frame to make your living space feel more open and inviting.
Tie a couple beads onto the end of each strand to give the cords some weight so that they’ll return to their original position.
Use partitions to cover entryways and create separation between rooms that are close together.
Decorating Furniture with Macrame.
Embellish ordinary lampshades. Take a dusty old lampshade from dull to delightful with a simple macrame cover. These covers can easily be knotted to fit shades of different shapes and sizes, meaning any light in your home can benefit from a custom fit.
Make your own DIY lampshades by knotting the cord around a wire frame that’s been shaped to fit over a lamp or ceiling light.
Incorporate shells, beads or tassels to add complexity to your lampshades.
Weave clever furniture covers. If you’re unhappy with the look of your loveseat or recliner but aren’t in a position to buy a new one, some macrame accents may be just what you need to make you fall in love with your seating situation again. Drape an enchanting pattern over the back of the piece to give it a whole new decorative appeal.
You could even resurface a worn out seat or foot stool with a new handmade finish.
Make your own pillows and blankets. Top your sofa or favorite easy chair with an assortment of throw pillows you designed yourself. Keep a cozy throw blanket or two handy for when you have company. Choose a softer fabric for your furniture accessories to ensure optimum comfort.
You can use ordinary macrame cord for these projects or draw on recycled materials, like old t-shirts.
Create themed sets of blankets and pillows using different knotting patterns and color combinations.
Lay out a macrame table runner. For long or spacious dining tables that look awfully empty, use a knit runner to break up negative space. You can then use the runner as a place to arrange flowers, candles or a centerpiece while leaving the place settings free for serving home cooked meals.
Leave a long fringe on both ends of the table runner for an elegant drape.
Bring out your macrame table runner for springtime events or whenever you need to inject a little brightness and ornamentation into your dining area.
Outline a mirror or portrait. Hide an uninspired frame with a tight macrame wrap. Textile frames provide a pleasant contrast to the focal point of the frame, and they go perfectly in homes decked out with rustic or vintage decor.
Be sure to remove the glass and backing from the frame before trying to tie the cord into place.
Creating Crafty Containers.
Make hanging planters. This bohemian gardening solution is a hit among contemporary interior designers. The macrame weaves are shaped into nets to nestle lightweight planters in, then suspended from the ceiling at various heights. Hanging planters are a wonderful method of presentation for home gardening projects, and can also free up valuable space around your porch or patio.
Hanging macrame containers aren’t just for plants—they can also be useful for tea lights, bird feeders, or even craft art and decorations.
Make sure the cord and knotting style you implement are strong enough to hold objects with a little weight.
Wrap a vase or candle holder. Give plain display pieces some much-needed flair by enveloping them in a web-like exterior. The macrame can cover the entire outside of the piece, or encircle the center in a sleek band. You’ll quickly turn old, outdated items into conversation starters.
Wrap and hang unused glass bottles or mason jars to convert them into minimalistic miniature flower vases.
The same thing can be done for bins, jars, kitchen storage canisters and any number of similarly shaped containers.
Create custom baskets. Fabric construction can make almost anything more charming, including simple storage containers. Wind sturdy cord around a premade basket frame to give it a tight structure, or make the whole thing from scratch. When you’re done, you’ll have a quaint carrier perfect for holding fresh fruit, bath accessories or the daily mail.
Use a firm type of cord that will be able to hold up to frequent handling while retaining its shape.
Include handles to make your baskets easier to tote from place to place.
Tips.
Stock up on cord in different colors and thicknesses to use in macrame projects.
Look for vintage-inspired macrame designs in home goods stores and thrift shops.
Handle macrame items delicately to avoid damaging or unraveling them.
Most finished pieces can be machine washed in warm water, then hung up to dry.
Check online craft resources like Pinterest and Etsy to collect ideas on how to work macrame into your home decor.
Warnings.
Don’t overdo it. While one or two macrame pieces will lend character and break up the uniformity of ordinary furniture and accessories, too much can start to look tacky.
Books are a great way to brighten up a room, display your interests, and change the style of your home. To display books, start by choosing the right bookshelf for your space. Vertical bookshelves can save you space, while smaller bookshelves are good if you want to save your wall space for art. Arrange your books based on how often you read them, or by color for a more aesthetically-pleasing look. You can also use books decoratively throughout your home by stacking them in window sills or under lamps and candles. Make sure that you set out a good coffee table book as well that accurately represents your space!
Method 1. Displaying Books Creatively
1. Use an architectural feature of your home to shelve your books. If you have unused cabinet space in your kitchen, remove the doors and stack books there. If you have a fireplace you don’t use, it can make a unique space to store your reading materials. Alcoves that are designed for vases or paintings can be a great space to stack books vertically. This will make unique features feel consciously used and make your home feel lived-in.
A good method for displaying books is to use bookshelves to store most of your books, then use architectural features to display a few smaller sets of books.
2. Set out some coffee table books that represent your personality. Coffee table books refer to books that sit on top of tables in common spaces. They’re the first thing that someone will pick up when they start poking around your home, so pick a book or two that represents who you are and what your home is like. If you have a sleek, modern home, a book about abstract art or design will work. If you have an older home, a book about medieval history or fine wine will match your home’s vibe.
Coffee table books are typically bigger. Smaller books will look like they’ve just been left at the table unintentionally.
Pick colors that don’t clash with, or match, your table. If you have a black table, a white or red book will work. Avoid brown if you’ve got a wood table.
3. Use books as a stand for a lamp or candle. To give your home some character, stack 4-5 books on an end table and use it as a stand for a lamp, candle, plant, or statue. Select books with covers that won’t clash, and place your biggest book on the bottom. Stack your smaller books on top of one another to create a gradual incline.
If you’re short on shelf space, this is a good way to use the leftover books. Especially since you’ll use up some of your bigger books creating a stable stand.
You can also stack the books and leave nothing on top of them. This will turn your books into a kind of decorative touch, and it’s a good way to give an area some color. Wrap your books in twine to give them a chic look.
4. Treat your window sills like bookshelves and stack books there. Window sills that are wider than 5–6 inches (13–15 cm) can easily be used as bookshelves. Stack books horizontally along your window pane using the frame of the window as your bookends. This is a simple look that will easily give your room a unique look and attitude.
One variation that you could choose is to stack your books vertically in one corner of your window sill. This will allow you to access the window while still storing your books.
5. Use your books to create mosaic patterns or cubes of color. Grab a group of books and stack them by color to create a gradient on top of a piece of furniture or your window sill. You can also use a combination of vertical and horizontal stacks composed of different colors to create a sequence of color cubes. If you have a bunch of books, you can use them to create a simple mosaic on your shelves.
6. Store older books in prominent locations, like mantles and tops of furniture. If you have any older collections or texts, store them in locations of admiration where guests will notice them. The top of your TV stand, above your fireplace, on your window sill, or on top of an armoire. Get some decorative bookends to compliment the vintage vibe of your older books.
You can even frame some iconic covers and use them as pieces of art throughout your home.
Method 2. Arranging Books on Shelves
1.Sort your books based on genre or category. Set non-fiction texts on one set of shelves, fiction on another set of shelves, and poetry or expository books on a different set of shelves. Another option is to arrange your books by genre. Set science fiction, romance, and adventure books on separate shelves to create a theme for each individual shelf.
Place your most interesting books at eye level to give guests something interesting to look at.
Another way to sort books by category is to set unique collections aside and multiple editions together in different parts of a room. This will give them the prominence and space that they deserve.
2. Order your books alphabetically or based on unread material for quick access. An easy way to arrange your books is to put the texts that you’ve read at the bottom of your shelves and the books that you haven’t read near the top or at eye-level. With this order, you’ll have an easier time finding something to read. You can also simply arrange your books alphabetically to make it easier to find specific books.
This is a good default option if you don’t have strong feelings about the order of your books.
3. Arrange your books based on their color for a sleek, modern look. Arranging books based on the colors of the covers has become a popular trend in recent years. Start at the top left of your shelves with your red books, then start adding orange and yellow. Add your green books followed by the teal, blue, and purple. You can also reverse this order to start with your cooler colors for a more modern look.
Stick your black books on the very bottom or use them to separate your colors.
If you have floating shelves, put one color on each shelf.
A common variation on this arrangement is to put single colors on individual shelves and fill in any empty space with boxes, plants, or other trinkets.
4.Use trinkets, trophies, and plants to create variation on your shelves. If you can fill your shelves out with books, go for it. However, if you don’t have enough books to fill a bookshelf entirely, fill in the empty spaces with lamps, trinkets, statues, and plants. Place your items asymmetrically all over your shelves to avoid any unwanted patterns.
5. Break up your shelves by stacking some of your books vertically. This will create some visual variation among your books. For every vertical row of 10-20 books, stack 4-5 books with the covers facing up. You can use these stacks to create a symmetrical pattern on your shelves, or to create an asymmetrical pattern that will break up the monotony of your shelves.
6. Put contact paper on top of or behind your shelves to give them texture. Contact paper is an adhesive paper, similar to wallpaper, that can beautify your dull bookshelves. Get 1-3 rolls of contact paper with patterns that match your room. Use a utility knife to cut each length to size and peel off the paper on the back before laying the contact paper down on each shelf. Stack your books on top of the contact paper to give them an interesting background!
You can use drawer liners instead of contact paper if you don’t want to glue anything.
You can also use contact paper to cover the back of your bookshelves to give them a unique background!
Method 3. Choosing Shelves for Your Space
1. Choose vertical bookshelves to fill a wall or if space is tight. Tall bookshelves create the impression that your books are towering over you, but they can also save space by occupying less square footage than wider shelves. Get some tall bookshelves if you’re trying to fill a small wall or have a smaller space. This will keep you from taking up a ton of space with shorter bookshelves.
If you have any recessed walls, consider getting bookshelves that fit into the recessed areas perfectly so that the wall becomes flush with your shelves. This will make your room feel bigger, even when you’re actually taking up space.
If you’re trying to make a room feel bigger, get white bookshelves instead of black. White makes a room feel open, while black absorbs light and will make your shelves look bigger than they are.
2. Get smaller bookshelves if you want storage space above them. The benefit of smaller bookshelves is that you can store things on top of the bookshelves. Smaller bookshelves are also a good choice if you have a wall with molding in the middle that sticks out of your wall. You may also want shorter bookshelves if you have a ton of art and need as much wall space as possible.
The space above a set of smaller bookshelves is an excellent choice for a gallery wall.
3. Choose stackable cubes to customize how your books are displayed. Stackable cubes are 12 by 12 in (30 by 30 cm) storage boxes that can be arranged in any way that you want. If you are the type of person that enjoys changing their interior space and rearranging furniture, stackable cubes are a great choice. You can stack them into a square, rectangle, or create a graduating staircase of cubes.
Stackable cubes are often marketed as storage cubes. You can use milk crates instead of stackable cubes if you want a more DIY or upcycled look.
There are cloth boxes you can by to convert individual cubes into drawers. Get a few cloth drawers to create some variation in your cube bookshelves.
Another option is to arrange them in a symmetrical pyramid. This is a bold design that can really make a room feel unique.
If you have vinyl records, these stackable cubes are the perfect size for them. This makes stackable cubes a good choice if you want to display your records alongside your books.
4. Get floating shelves to stack smaller reading collections. Floating shelves are shelves that are installed into the drywall without any supporting fixture underneath them. Floating shelves are neat and modern-looking, but they typically have a lower threshold when it comes to how much weight they can hold. Get floating shelves if you have a smaller collection of books and want to achieve a contemporary look.
Floating bookshelves are kind of tricky to install if you don’t have a level. Consider enlisting a friend that’s good at building things to help you if you aren’t good at home repair or furniture installation.
You shouldn’t install floating bookshelves if you live in a rental unit. If they ever break, you’ll end up ripping a huge chunk of drywall out.
If you get longer floating shelves, pick up some decorative bookends that match the overall aesthetic of your room. If your home is older, large bookends made out of brass or metal will look good. If you’ve got contemporary furniture choose some simple, geometric bookends.
Tips.
There are no hard rules for displaying books. As long as you’re happy with the way your room looks, you’ve done a good job displaying your books!
