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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
A well-designed room looks expensive even if it isn’t. Before you invest in decorative try to come up with a theme or scheme for the room. Once you have identified what you want your room to look like, search for economical pieces that look classy and expensive. If you’re not having much luck finding pieces in stores, you can make your own. The following steps provide some ideas and advice, get started at step number one below.
Designing a Room that Looks Expensive.
Choose a unifying theme. A well-coordinated room will look expensive even if the elements of the décor are cheap. Choose a theme that will tie together your room. This will help you look for inexpensive pieces while making it seem as though you have paid an interior decorator. Rooms that seem confused, cluttered, and mismatched have the look of cheap rather than luxury even if the pieces are lovely. For example:
A beach-themed room would have pictures of the ocean, shell decorations, and a blue-green palette.
A rustic, woodsy theme would have wood detailing, paintings of landscapes, and an earthy palette.
Industrial themes use repurposed items, steel accents, and sharp edges to give the room a more modern edge. Gray, brick red, and black are popular colors.
Minimalism is a popular and trendy design scheme where you use as few pieces as possible to decorate your room. Simple furniture and white or neutral colors will make the room look as though it could feature in a magazine, likes Home and Garden, but the style is inexpensive to recreate.
Focus on a neutral color palette. Stick with white or light neutral shades, such as brown or gray, for the base color. Your walls and larger furniture pieces should belong to this color scheme. For example, you might have beige walls with white doors and gray furniture. Your feature elements will stand out against neutral colors more, which will make them seem more prominent. Some neutral colors you can mix and match include:
Gray.
Slate Blue.
Taupe.
Soft yellow.
Off-white shades like ivory and cream.
Coffee brown.
Tan.
Beige.
Add accent pieces. Accent pieces are small decorative items that contrast with your neutral color scheme. They are usually either brightly colored or patterned. Accent pieces can be easily and cheaply be replaced if you ever change your style. Make sure all of your accent pieces are the same color for maximum effect. Some items you might consider for accents include:
Vases.
Pillows or cushions.
Blankets or throws.
Picture Frames.
Ottoman.
Tablecloths.
Flowers.
Figurines.
Striped, dotted, or chevron patterned objects.
Choose a focal point. A focal point is a piece of furniture, art, or object that is the primary decoration in the room. Having one grand piece will draw attention to it, making it seem important and pricey. A room in which there is no clear focus tends to feel cheap. [2] Some good focal points for a room include:
A large painting.
A unique table.
Two retro mod chairs.
A wall decal.
Full-length book shelves.
An ornate mirror.
Consider getting rid of dated details. To some, the key to making décor seem expensive is to follow modern trends. To help your room remain stylish and cool, you should reduce the dated elements of its décor. Some common out-of-style elements include:
Vertical window blinds.
Formica tables.
Clear plastic furniture.
Furniture painted to resemble marble or stone.
Broken or damaged items such as torn posters, cracked vases, or splintered wood.
Obviously, antiques can lend an expensive looking touch to any room, especially if it is an family piece you have inherited and haven't had to pay for. As long your antiques are in good condition and tie in with the rest of the room's dėcor, keep them. Don't ditch them just because they are old. It "is" possible to combine modern and antique pieces in a room.
Avoid clutter. Ironically, having less" clutter in a room makes the overall impression that of luxury. You do not want a room that is filled with furniture and decorative items and resembles a second hand shop. Limit how many decorative pieces display. This creates the impression that you spent more on a few, expensive items instead of buying many cheaper items. When placing your decorative items around the room, keep a little bit of space between each item.
Decorative shelves should ideally not be crammed with items. It's tempting to fill that space with stuff. Instead, only fill 1/2 to 3/4 of the space, leaving some empty space.
Keep your surfaces, such as coffee tables, counters, and TV stands mostly clear.
Choose only one or two items to place on these surfaces.
For example, you might keep a lamp on a side table with a single picture frame but nothing else.
If in doubt, remove. Try taking out a piece of furniture. See what happens if the coffee table is simply moved to the another room. Or see what happens if you remove throw pillows/cushions. You may find that less is more.
Finding Cheaper Alternatives.
Visit thrift stores. Thrift stores, charity shops, consignments, estate sales, and antique stores will often have old vintage or antiques items that are much cheaper than new. This is a great way to get inexpensive but quality items, such as wooden tables or embroidered chairs.
Old wooden furniture can always be repainted. If you find a piece that is chipped or faded, you can paint it to match your color palette.
You may find interesting and unusual items in these stores and shops. These will seem expensive because they are unique. For example, you might find a lunchbox from the 60s with old superheroes on it, or you might discover an antique milk pail that you can use for flowers.
Shop online. Websites like eBay, Craigslist, and Gumtree allow people to sell their old furniture and decorative items. Search through these sites to see if you can snag a deal. It may take a little while to find the perfect deal, but you may be able to score a truly expensive piece for very little money.
Search online for less expensive replicas. If there is a more expensive piece that you have your eye on, you might be able to find a cheaper replica online. Search for words that are associated with the original piece.
For example, you might type, “cheap crystal chandelier” to see what pops up.
Print out your own art. If you can’t afford originals of art, you can buy prints from the internet. If the artwork is in the public domain, you can even print out your own copy at a print shop, and frame it yourself. This is a great way to get quality reproductions of famous art pieces in your own home without paying a fortune.
When sending the work to the print shop, make sure you send an HD copy so that you get the best image possible.
You can also tear out images from an old calendar and frame them. This is a great way to reuse an old calendar, and the images are all professional quality.
Repurpose items. You might find interesting pieces that can be used for a different purpose than intended. These pieces can be a focal point for your room if you choose. Transform your old furniture, or keep an eye out for things that can become tables, wall hangings, or accent pieces. You might.
Use an old luggage trunk as a coffee table.
Hang antique dinner plates on the wall.
Drape an old quilt over a chair.
Frame vintage fashion magazines images.
Make shelves out of old wooden planks.
Position a TV on a painted crate.
Making Your Own Décor.
Assemble your own built-in bookcases. Floor-to-ceiling length bookshelves may seem expensive, but you can replicate the effect without purchasing high-end custom furniture. Measure your wall. Instead of building one giant bookcase, purchase four identical smaller bookcases that will fit in that space. Place two side by side for the base, and stack the other two on top. Be sure to bolt all four bookcases to the wall for stability.
Wallpaper the inside of your bookcase. An easy way to add a customized twist to an old bookcase is to wallpaper the back of the shelves. Find a wallpaper that matches your theme or color scheme. Cut the wallpaper to size of the backing of each shelf. Paste it on using wallpaper paste. Let it dry before you put items back on the shelves.
If you are using the bookcase to display decorative objects like vases or figurines, you might want to choose a solid color for the wallpaper, so that more attention is drawn to your collection.
If you are just using the shelves for books, you can choose a bold pattern, such as chevron stripes, polka dots, or a floral design. This will make the shelves an accent piece in their own right.
Paint your own tile backsplash. Small ceramic tiles are great for decorating the backsplash of kitchens or bathrooms, but decorated tiles are expensive. Plain white ceramic tiles, on the other hand, can be cheap. With a little time and effort, you can turn tiles into something stunning and extravagant.
Find a stencil of a design you like, such as a fleur-de-lis or a bird. Press the stencil down on the tile, and paint over the design. Let the tile dry, and you have an easy, beautiful tile. You can then adhere it to the wall using tile mastic.
Good places for painted tile backsplashes include underneath cabinets or above a countertop. Do not paint the tiles on your floor or along your shower or bath. Too much water damage can ruin the paint.
Use fake flowers instead of real. Fresh flowers are beautiful, but they can become costly. Instead, look for convincing fake flowers. Put together your own centerpiece, and arrange them in an inexpensive vase. You have an easy, reusable centerpiece.
Go for flowers that look as close to real as possible. You might even be able to find ones that also feel soft and natural. Your guests probably will not know the difference.
You can swap out flowers for each season and event, reusing the same flowers every year. Friends probably will not notice, but it will make it seem as though you are constantly updating your centerpiece.
Artificial flowers can easily become dusty. If so they do not look luxurious. Also, this can be problematic for allergy sufferers and asthmatics
Fill a vase to make a centerpiece. Vases are easy to find, and they can be relatively inexpensive. To help jazz up an empty vase, you can fill it with some small items. This will add a touch of character to your décor without costing a ton of money. Some things you can fill it with include:
Potpourri.
Shells.
Pieces of coral.
Marbles.
Buttons.
Sticks.
Wine corks.
Repaint frames. Nice picture frames can be expensive, but you can manage a high quality look without paying a lot of money. Find inexpensive picture frames at a dollar store, craft store, or thrift store. Paint the frames with a color or design that pleases you.
Gold and silver paint are easy to find if you want a more distinguished shade.
You can add words as you like such as “Sisters” or “Friends Forever.” This will make it seem personalized.
Painting designs on your frames gives them a unique look. You can paint stripes, dots, or other easy geometric shapes.
Tips.
The most important thing is that the room looks good to you. If you like the way the room looks, you do not have to worry so much if it appears expensive or not.
While you should invest in good furniture pieces, such as sofas and tables, you can go cheap on accessories, like pillows and artwork, without people noticing.
If you are making your own décor, you should choose projects that you know you can complete at your skill level.
Always measure your space before buying new décor or furniture to make sure that it will fit.
Try leaving a little bit of space between furniture and other objects to make the room seem larger than it is.
