The Inside Scoop on Design

Decorating your home’s interior can be a lot of fun! And it can really say a lot about your personal style, which is why you’ll want to do it the right way. Interior design shouldn’t be a project you stress about. Rather it should be something you enjoy. So check out some of our design tips below to help you get started…

Basic Interior Design Tips to Get You Started

Be open-minded and explore your creative side. Sky’s the limits when it comes to design possibilities. Play with style, color, patterns, textures and unique design elements.

Be Creative with Color – Forget your fears, and learn to embrace color!

• If you are new to color, here is a good rule of thumb to follow when deciding on the color scheme: 60% of the room should be your base color, 30% a complementary color and 10% as an accent color.
• Make sure it flows with the rest of your home… but have fun with it and don’t be afraid to go bold!!

Focal Points – Start with one eye-catching piece…

• Maybe it’s a work of art, an interesting piece of furniture or a simple adornment.
• Then expand and tie-in the other design elements into your chosen focal piece.

Renew Old Furnishings – Instead of tossing it aside, refurbish the old to make it anew!

• Staining or painting old wood or metal furniture is a great way to transform it into something new. Check out your local home improvement store, where you can find an array of stain colors and types. And you’ll need supplies to sand both wood and metal. Spray paint usually works best on metal, while brush-on works great with wood. 
• Adding glass tops to coffee tables and nightstands makes it appear polished… plus you can add photographs under the glass to really personalize it! Home improvement stores can inexpensively cut glass to the specific size you need for your surface.
• Re-upholster beat up sofas and chairs. To do it on your own you may need patience and several tools, but you can always take it to a specialist. Either way, picking out new fabric is the fun part!
• Add new and unique hardware, including knobs, handles and hooks, to embellish a basic piece.

Family Photos – Use old family photos to decorate and tell your story at the same time! This classic idea adds character and a sense of nostalgia that is unique to you.

• Dig through the old photo albums in the back of your closet… you might be surprised what you find.
• Make a photo collage on the walls, playing with frame colors, shapes and sizes. Mixing and matching can be fun, but you can also go for a cleaner more symmetrical look if you prefer. Using colored matting can help make the pictures stand out as well.
• Add photo frames or albums to a bookcase to break up the space.

Lighting – Use it to your advantage!

• Natural lighting always opens up space, so if you have a small room, the more natural lighting the better. If you want curtains, use a lightweight fabric and put hooks on the walls to hold them back during the day.   
• Then there is task lighting, which if done right, provides all the necessary light for a particular area. This typically means one central light.
• And ambient lighting highlights certain elements in the room to create a desired effect or focal point. Add one near an art piece or in a bookshelf.

Make it Your Own – No matter your style, whether contemporary, eclectic, rustic or other, allow it to reflect your personality. And once it’s all done, sit back and enjoy it!

Enjoy today’s interior design tips?? Comment and let us know! And tune in tomorrow for tips on exterior designing!