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How to home decorating


How to Decorate Your Home - Real Estate Guides

By Tim McKeough

Header photography by Yasu + Junko; styled by Elizabeth Press

Moving into a new home can be one of life’s great joys, but it can also be a time of uncertainty, especially when it comes to decorating. How do you make your space look its best while reflecting your personal sense of style? Do it well and you’ll end up with a comfortable, happy home. Do it poorly and you’ll end up with a hodge-podge of furniture, fabrics and paint colors that never congeal into a pleasing whole. With a little planning, and by following the same steps used by professional interior designers, you’ll have a much greater chance of success.  

Interior Decoration: Laying the Groundwork

To reach the finish line, you first have to know where you’re going. 

Don't Start in the Furniture Store

Many have heard the advice to avoid grocery shopping when you’re hungry, because it leads to poor choices. The same holds true for furniture stores – don’t go shopping in a panic, just because you have an empty home. Yes, you need a sofa. But if you pick the pink-striped sectional just because you like it in the store, without taking measurements or thinking about the rest of the room, you’re stuck with it. The rest of the room will have to be built around that sofa, and if it’s too large for the space it will look forever awkward. 

Start in the room you’re looking to furnish, armed with a measuring tape and a notepad. 

Know Your Measurements

Matching the scale of furniture to the scale of a room is critical. A deep sectional sofa can easily overpower a small room and svelte chairs can get lost in a wide-open loft. Before you start designing, measure the length and width of each room you intend to decorate, along with the ceiling height and elements that could get in the way – stairs, columns, radiators and other obstructions. It’s also a good idea to measure window openings, along with the wall space below, above and to the sides of each one, to get ready for window coverings. 

“The first mistake most people make is that they buy things that are the wrong size – sofas that don't fit in the room, sofas that don't fit through doorways, tables that are too small, desks that are too big, nightstands that hang into the doorway,” said David Kleinberg, founder of the New York interior design firm David Kleinberg Design Associates. Carefully measuring your space can help avoid such problems.  

Create a Floorplan

Once you have the measurements of your room, it’s time to put them to use with a floor plan that gives you a bird’s eye view of the entire home. “Every job should start with a floor plan,” said Alexa Hampton, the president of Mark Hampton, the New York interior design firm founded by her father. “You need to know the space.” 

One option is to draw a floor plan the old-fashioned way, with paper, a pencil and a ruler. However, most professional designers use drafting software like AutoCAD. In between those two extremes are apps that aim to make it easy for homeowners to create simple floor plans (some even automate measurements with your smartphone’s camera, but double-check those numbers), including Magicplan, Floor Plan Creator and RoomScan Pro.

Once you have the outline of the space, start experimenting with the placement of furniture, making sure that the footprint of each piece is scaled to match the size of the drawing.  

Decide How You Want to Live

This is the tricky part, and there are no right or wrong answers. Rooms can be traditional or modern, formal or relaxed, and visually warm or cool. “To the best of your ability, you have to try to discern how you would like to live in a given space,” said Ms. Hampton. “What will you be doing? How many people live there? Are there children? What are your ambitions for how you would like to live?” 

The decoration of a home for someone who regularly hosts large dinner parties, for instance, should be different from a home for someone who eats out at restaurants every night. The person who plans to host lavish fundraisers should have a different living room than the person who dreams only of crashing in front of the TV. 

Copy the Pros

Look in design books and magazines, as well as at online resources like Houzz, Pinterest and Instagram to sharpen your personal style. “Figure out the style that you respond to most,” said Brad Ford, an interior designer in New York City, and develop a dossier of favorite images.  

Once you have images you like, study the details, advised Mr. Kleinberg. “See where pattern is used versus where solids are used, and where color can be used successfully or not,” he said. It will also help inform everything from the type of furniture you might like to a potential strategy for window coverings.  

Tape It Out

To take ideas on a floor plan one step farther, use painter’s tape in the real space to outline where furniture will be placed on floors and against walls. 

“We use blue tape on the floor to box out different elements,” said Anne Maxwell Foster, an owner of the New York interior design firm Tilton Fenwick. “Where will the rug be? Does it need to be cut? How far is the coffee table coming out? Even though we have everything down to a sixteenth of an inch on a furniture plan, there's something helpful about visualizing it in the space, and being able to walk around.”

Develop a Budget

There’s no getting around the math: If you splurge on an unexpectedly expensive chair, you’ll have less money available for the rest of the home. “You want to make sure you're being strategic about how you spend your money,” said Mr. Ford. “A budget gives you a roadmap for how to divide the costs of things between rooms.” You can still make an exception if you find a one-of-a-kind dining table, he noted, but in order to pay for it you have be thoughtful about where else you can cut back. 

Plan the Phases

Finishing drywall, refinishing hardwood floors and painting ceilings is all messy work. If at all possible, it’s better to have this type of work completed before moving any furniture or accessories into the space. 

If it can’t be avoided, seal large furniture under plastic drop cloths and accessories in boxes with tape to protect them. 

Read More About Planning Your Decor

Entryway Ideas

The foyer or entrance hall creates the first impression, so make it count. 

Make a Statement

Don’t hold back. “That room is the power moment when somebody walks into your home,” said Suysel dePedro Cunningham, an owner of the interior design firm Tilton Fenwick. “It can say so much about your personality and design taste.” 

For that reason, a wall finish that might seem like too much for a living room or bedroom may be ideal in a foyer. “It’s a place where you can do a bold color, a lacquer or a wallpaper for a ‘Wow’ moment that you might be scared of in a large living room,” she said.

An added benefit? Statement-making wall coverings and finishes tend to be expensive, but because foyers are usually small, these products can often be installed without breaking the bank. 

Design to Your Routine

With a few key furniture pieces and accessories, you can make your daily arrival and departure sequence a breeze. “Typically, it's not a huge space, so you're working with a limited number of pieces,” said Mr. Ford. If you’re the kind of person who likes to drop everything when you walk in the door, “a console with drawers is great, because it’s a nice place to hide your keys and mail,” Mr. Ford said. Or, in the absence of drawers, a bowl, tray or other sculptural container can serve as a catchall to help keep things organized.  

A bench or a stool or two that slide under the console can provide a place to sit while lacing up shoes while taking up minimal floor space. 

Another helpful element is a wall-mounted mirror, said Mr. Ford. “It gives you one last chance to check yourself before you walk out the door.” 

Plan for the Weather

As the first space people enter when coming from outside, the foyer has to deal with a lot – ice, snow, rainwater, mud and whatever else Mother Nature decides to deliver. To avoid having these things creep into the rest of the home, you need to deal with them at the front door. 

The effort begins even before you cross the threshold. “I like to have a mat outside the door, so people can wipe off their feet before even stepping inside,” said Mr. Ford. 

Inside, you can follow up with an indoor-outdoor rug. An umbrella stand not only keeps umbrellas handy, but also prevents wet ones from draining on the floor. Storage bins or baskets, which can be stowed under a console (if the space isn’t taken by stools), can contain soggy hats and mitts. If your foyer doesn’t have a closet, buy coat hooks or a rack. These are all functional pieces that can serve double-duty as decorative elements as well. 

Dining and Living Room Decor Ideas

The main living areas, whether they are separate rooms or combined in an open-concept space, set the stage for life with family and friends. 

Create the Palette

You can see colors, patterns and metal finishes online, but digital images are mere approximations of what the real things look like. Wherever possible, order color chips, fabric swatches and material samples to be sure finished products will meet your expectations. “You can order samples from most vendors, and it’s always best,” said Mr. Kleinberg. “Some colors blend together,” when viewed on a screen, he added, and it can be difficult to differentiate cool and warm tones.  

Don’t just look at the samples in isolation. Pin them to a board or put them in a tray to see how well they work together. “All greens play nicely together,” said Mr. Kleinberg. “All blues fight.” Putting samples side by side is the way to see if different colors and patterns will live in harmony or tension. 

Ms. Hampton sometimes goes one step farther. “When we’re working on a fabric scheme, we’ll put the fabric on the copier, reduce it, cut it into the right shape for the floor plan and paste it down,” she said, “so we can see how the various fabrics spread through the room.”

Treat the Walls

Paint colors are notorious for appearing different hues in different light conditions (and seeming to change between the paint store to home). This effect is only amplified once you slather it on four walls. For that reason, it’s never a good idea to commit to a paint color when you first see the chip in a store. Look at the largest chip you can get in the room you plan to paint, at a minimum. Better yet, paint large sample patches on walls or on boards that can be moved around and view them at different times of day. 

Note: As long as you test the color before painting the entire room, there’s no reason to be scared of bold, saturated colors. 

Once you have a color selected, choose the sheen. Matte or flat paints offer a pleasant gauzy appearance that also hides wall imperfections, but can be difficult to maintain, clean and touch up. “I tend not to do matte walls, in general,” said Ms. Hampton, who prefers paint with an eggshell or satin finish that is just slightly glossier and easier to scrub. 

Baseboards, moldings, doors and other trim can be painted the same color as the room to make them visually recede, or a contrasting color — usually an off-white in a room with colored walls — to make them more of a feature. Trim can also be painted with a different sheen than the walls. A semi-gloss sheen will bring more attention to moldings while adding durability.  

You should also decide how you want to treat the ceiling. You can paint it white for a crisp feel, or the same color as the walls for a cocooning feel. It’s safe to use a matte or flat sheen because the ceiling is rarely touched by dirty fingers or smudge-creating objects. If the surface is perfectly smooth, it can also be painted with a glossy finish as a design feature that reflects light down into the living space. (If your ceilings aren’t smooth, don’t do it — the glossy sheen will only highlight imperfections.) 

For something unexpected, consider looking beyond paint. Manufacturers offer a multitude of alternatives, including patterned wallpaper, grass cloth, upholstery fabrics, wood paneling and even stone and brick veneer. 

Choose the Furniture

Working from your floor plan and inspiration images, choose the specific pieces of furniture — the sofas, chairs and tables — that will make the space livable. Depending on the desired vibe, you can go in wildly different directions.  

For a traditional room, focusing on a symmetrical layout often helps — for instance, installing a sofa and coffee table centered on a fireplace, with matching armchairs on either side. “A very symmetrical space can be beautiful and formal,” said Ms. Hampton. On the other hand, “if you choose a sectional sofa, it’s probably going to be a less formal space,” she said, with an asymmetrical layout. 

Seat height is also important. Sofas and lounge chairs in the same room should have seats that are at similar heights to avoid some people sitting much higher than others. In general, lower seats offer a casual, laidback feel, and higher seats come off as more formal. 

Whether the space is casual or formal, there is a rule of thumb to keep in mind: The number of dining chairs should roughly match the number of spaces for lounging. “That’s an old truth my father shared with me,” said Ms. Hampton. “If you’re planning to have 12 people at a dining room table, you should have 12 seats in the living room,” for entertaining before and after the meal.  

How Things Flow

No living room sofa or chair should be an island of its own. When people sit down, they almost always need a place to put a drink or book, as well as light to read by. Place a coffee table or end table within easy reach of each seat, along with a table or floor lamp. 

No one wants to stub a toe on a chair leg, so you’ll also want to ensure there are clear walking paths through the living room, and that no furniture blocks part of a doorway or makes it necessary to squeeze by. 

Will your living room have a TV? If so, plan for a wall mount or a media unit to hold it, as well as a path for cables that won’t be unsightly. 

Do you plan to host buffet-style dinners? If so, a credenza or sideboard near the dining table will allow you to serve in one space rather than having guests traipse through the kitchen. 

Add Rugs

A living room with hardwood floors but no rug looks naked. For visual and literal comfort, add a rug.  

There are three common strategies for doing so:

Be generous when selecting sizes. A small rug under the coffee table that doesn’t reach the legs of sofas and chairs will look like a raft lost at sea. The rug should extend about halfway, or fully, under the furniture at its edges. 

Finish With Art and Accessories

The last step to finishing any room is to add art and accessories, but there is no one-size-fits-all approach. In a minimalist space, it might be just a few objects; in a maximalist space, it could involve displaying entire collections and layers of objets d’art. 

Go back to your original inspirational images and study the way those rooms are accessorized. Do they mix candles, boxes, bowls and books together, or is there just one vase on a table? Is there a single artwork above the sofa, or a freeform gallery wall? 

Be sure to consider your functional needs. A tray on an ottoman can contain remote controls. Throw pillows provide extra back support for deep sofas and chairs. A magazine rack can keep reading materials out of the way. Attractive baskets are ideal for tidying up children’s toys in a hurry. 

Bedroom Decor Ideas

Designed correctly, a bedroom can serve as your nightly sanctuary. 

Plan the Furniture

It’s called a bedroom for a reason: the bed is the key piece of furniture. As such, it should be given pride of place in the room, most likely with the headboard positioned against one wall and paths for walking on both sides.  

“Don’t shove a bed in the corner,” if at all possible, said Nick Olsen, a New York City interior designer. “They’re impossible to make, and uncomfortable for two people to use.” 

One exception: children’s bunk beds. Because they already have safety rails that usually only allow access from one side, there’s no reason not to have one in a corner. 

If there’s space, install nightstands on both sides of an adult bed for convenience. They could be simple small tabletops, tables with a single drawer for storing essentials, or something larger. “Consider whether you need extra storage space,” said Mr. Olsen. “You can use two dressers for nightstands,” to provide space for folded clothing. 

Do you like to watch TV in bed? If so, you’ll want a dresser, cabinet or console table near the foot of the bed that can hold the TV while providing additional storage (unless you plan to mount it on the wall or spring for a motorized stand). 

Many designers also like to put a single chair in the corner of a bedroom, not only as a place to rest but also as a landing pad for tossed clothing and personal accessories when you’re in a hurry.  

Make It Soft

Because the goal is to create a space that feels calm and inviting, a bedroom is probably not the place to use bold colors or graphic wallpaper. “I would avoid anything that feels aggressive,” Mr. Olsen said. “Even though I like bold colors in my decorating, I like paler tones in the bedrooms: gentle blues, greens and yellows.” 

Some designers even upholster bedrooms walls for a literal soft touch.

Underfoot, Mr. Olsen advocates adding some kind of textile to warm up cold, hard floors – either wall-to-wall carpeting, a large rug that extends underneath the bed or smaller rugs on either side of the bed, and perhaps at the foot of the bed. 

Make the Bed

There are many different ways to make a bed, and the subject of whether or not you should use a top sheet has been the subject of fierce debate in recent years. Much comes down to personal preference and whether you desire a bedroom that feels casual or formal. 

It’s possible to make a bed with nothing more than a fitted sheet over the mattress, a nice duvet and a couple of pillows. But for something a little more formal, you need more layers. 

Mr. Olsen has a very specific way of making a bed, which he says was passed down to him from the designer Miles Redd, who learned it from the doyenne of decorating, Bunny Williams. “I do a fitted sheet, a top sheet, and some kind of blanket, which varies in weight based on the season – a cotton blanket for summer or a wool blanket for winter,” said Mr. Olsen. “Then, four standard-sized pillows, usually down, which I stack. Then a decorative pillow stacked against the standard ones. Then, I do a down duvet with a cover folded at the foot of the bed.”

Mr. Olsen recommended keeping the sheets simple – perhaps hotel-style white linens with a subtle embroidery detail at the edge – and bringing in color and pattern with the top two pillow shams and decorative pillow. 

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The Best Sheets

L.L.Bean 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set

If you like a cool, crisp feel to your sheets, these are comfortable, very breathable, and reasonably priced.

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The Best Bed Pillows

Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Pillow

Moldable and adjustable, with excellent support for back-, side-, and some stomach-sleepers, this is also one of the most affordable pillows we tested.

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The Best Comforter

L.L.Bean Baffle-Box Stitch Down Comforter, Warm

Sleeping under this comforter was a delight: It felt lofty and warm, but breathable and includes L.L.Bean’s excellent satisfaction guarantee.

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Control the Light

The ability to control light – both natural and artificial – is important. 

If you’re sensitive to sunlight when sleeping, you want to have the ability to eliminate it completely. The best way to do so is with a blackout roller shade or a Roman shade with a blackout lining. However, sunlight will still usually leak into the room at the edges of the shade. To block it, add curtains with a blackout lining. 

At night, it’s helpful to have layers of lighting. An overhead light allows you to illuminate the whole room quickly, but may not do much to set the right mood. 

A pair of lamps on bedside tables usually offers a more appealing glow. Many designers use table lamps as well as wall-mounted lamps, either hardwired or plugged into an outlet, on either side of the bed. The table lamps provide an ambient glow, and the wall-mounted lamps provide directional light for reading. “It’s nice to have both, but they shouldn’t compete for attention,” said Mr. Ford. “You want a super simple table lamp and a really decorative sconce, or vice versa.” 

In terms of control, “Every light should be on a dimmer,” said Mr. Olsen – good advice for every room of the home.  

Kitchens and Bathrooms

Customizing these spaces can add personality without requiring a gut renovation.  

Evaluate Cabinets and Counters

Changing kitchen counters is no small undertaking, but switching from an inexpensive material, like laminate, to a luxurious one, like marble, granite or quartzite, can significantly change the overall appearance of a kitchen or bathroom.

The kitchen backsplash is another area ripe with opportunity. Even if you leave the existing counters in place, you can add or replace an existing backsplash using a favorite tile made from ceramic, glass, metal or cement. 

If kitchen cabinets and the bathroom vanity cabinet are simple and in good shape, it’s often possible to paint them a new color for a different look. If the cabinet doors have a design that looks dated, you can sometimes keep the existing cabinets carcasses, and replace the doors only. 

In the case of a cheap bathroom vanity, it’s often economical to replace the whole thing. Many companies offer prefabricated vanities, complete with matching tops and sinks.  

Focus on Things You Touch

Simply replacing cabinet pulls with new hardware can significantly change the look of a kitchen or bathroom. The kitchen and bathroom faucets are also no place to skimp – you touch them every day, so choose models that not only look good, but also have handles that feel reassuring when you turn them, and heads that offer the functionality you desire. 

In a bathroom, this line of thinking extends to accessories as well – quality towel bars, robe hooks and toilet roll holders can all give the room an upgraded appearance at minimal cost. 

Refresh With Textiles

There’s no point in having nice towel bars if they’re holding frayed or mismatched towels. Recycle your old ones and buy new towels and washcloths in a single solid color (you deserve it). For a decorative accent, add patterned hand towels. 

If there’s a mildewed shower curtain around the tub, replace it with one made from a pleasing material like linen, or a glass panel.  

If the bathroom or kitchen floor leaves something to be desired, but you don’t want to go to the trouble or expense of tearing it out, you can cover it with a large woven vinyl rug or mat from a company like Chilewich or Bolon. 

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The Best Bath Towel

Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towel

This is the softest towel we tested—it feels like a plush towel from a luxury hotel and comes in a wider variety of sumptuous colors than any other we found.

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Don't Forget the Powder Room

Because it’s so small and used infrequently, a powder room is the perfect place to let your inner decorator run wild with bold colors and wall coverings.  

“If you entertain, it’s so much fun to make it an unexpected, cool element,” that will surprise guests, said Mr. Olsen, who has designed powder rooms with wild wallpaper and mirrored wall panels. 

That sentiment was echoed by Ms. Maxwell Foster: “Find a wall treatment you love, and just go for it.” 

Finally, remember that decorating should be fun. By starting out with a plan, and following the same steps used by the pros, you’ll make the experience significantly less stressful that going at it in a haphazard fashion. And, hopefully, you’ll end up with the ultimate prize: the home of your dreams. 

55 Chic Home Decorating Ideas

1

Find Another Spot for Flowers

Alison Gootee

If you constantly keep a vase of flowers in your kitchen or living room, extend that love for fresh blooms throughout the house. It's the perfect excuse to invest in a new vase for your bedroom or bathroom. In this New York apartment designed by Katie Ridder, a globe-shaped vase adds a nice bubble detail. Or if the upkeep for real flowers is too much, go for faux alternatives.

2

Swap Out Art

Shade Degges

Whether you have a few tiny frames—like in this bedroom designed by Jae Joo—or medium-sized ones on a gallery wall, you can easily swap them out with fresh finds. Tear our pages from a coffee table book, or stop by a flea market for new works.

3

Add a Mirror

Robert Peterson / Rustic White Interiors

Place a large mirror above your mantel as HGTV star Alison Victoria did in her Atlanta loft, or dedicate another empty wall space—whether it's in your hallway, entryway, or bedroom. Not only will it look good, but it'll make the room feel bigger and brighter.

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4

Refresh Coffee Table Books

Paul Costello

If you can't resist a good coffee table book, bring a new one into your collection. Or if you keep them in various parts of your home, simply rearrange your stacks for a new look. Here, in a living room designed by Barrie Benson, the four stacks could easily be given a new layout and order using only the books on the table.

5

Attach Decor to a Shelving Unit

Genevieve Garruppo

Don't have any more room on your walls for art? No problem. Hang anything from paintings and sconces to plants and bookmarks on a shelving unit. Here's a tutorial for how to hang art on bookshelves to guide you through the process—which includes tips from designer Marissa Bero, who has pulled this move in plenty of home libraries, including the one seen here.

6

Set Up a Cozy Reading Spot

Heidi Caillier Design

No designated reading nook? No problem. If your home doesn't have any leftover real estate to convert into a reading nook, design your formal living room to serve double duty as a cozy lounge area. Here, Heidi Caillier strategically chose furniture with fabrics and shapes that are both sophisticated and homey, perfect for entertaining or unwinding alone.

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7

Don't Be Afraid of Black Paint

Farrow & Ball

The soft black paint color in this bedroom makes it feel special and intimate in ways you'd never be able to achieve with a lighter hue (this specific shade is Farrow & Ball Railings). The eclectic furniture lends itself nicely to the darkness, too, adding a more lived-in and homey vibe.

8

Style an Empty Fireplace

Reid Rolls

Rethink how you style an empty fireplace. In this texture-rich environment, interior designer Leanne Ford turned an empty fireplace into a little gallery to display pottery and artwork.

9

Treat Your Windows

Victoria Pearson

Adding the right window treatment can make all the difference. We're especially into Roman shades with a fun pattern. "It goes against decorating 101, but using small patterns together can be easier on the eye," says interior decorator Kristin Panitch, who designed this dreamy pink cloud of a bedroom.

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10

Re-Style a Bookshelf

Fiona Lynch

From the inky stained wood to the modern side chair and clean-lined ladder, this home library designed by Fiona Lynch is a gorgeous contemporary take on traditional design. You could fill it with books—or you could add in decor accents and accessories like vases and sculptures to break up the monotony of a wall of books. Or, color-coordinate your books. Not only will it feel more cohesive, but if you've got a lot of bright colors in your collection, they'll stand out even more.

11

Set up a Breakfast Nook

John Gruen

Breakfast with a view? We're in. This one is country-chic and just a touch rustic but still polished. It also proves you don't need to have an actual built-in nook to achieve the right vibe.

12

Spruce up Your Entryway

If you don't have a grand foyer—or you do but it needs some love–introduce a small console table. For a formal yet modern aesthetic, opt for a traditional table and then hang modern abstract art above it. Then lean some portraits against the wall for a laid-back take on the gallery wall.

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13

Just Add Sheepskin

Leanne Ford Interiors

If any area in your home is feeling austere, sheepskin throws are the easiest solution. They bring in warmth, texture, and comfort while also being super affordable and easy to move throughout your space as your needs and moods shift.

14

Swap Out Your Throw Pillows

Studio Ashby

Throw pillows are the easiest way to freshen up in the bedroom or living room. Introducing a new color, print, or shape with a throw pillow can make the whole space feel new again.

15

Bring a Stool Into the Bathroom

Annie Schlechter

Slide a stool next to the bathtub. Not only will the extra surface space help with organization, but it's also a great way to make the whole space feel more luxe.

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16

Show Your Powder Room Some Love

Peter Murdock

It's easy to overlook a room when it's super tiny, especially because there simply isn't enough useable space for décor. But it's definitely possible—and well worth it—to show these nooks some love. Take this powder room, for example. With a light blush pink wall color and a surrounding gallery of eclectic artwork, the small room packs a lot of punch.

17

Install a Canopy

Fantastic Frank

If you want to transform your bedroom into a palace fit for royalty, add a canopy. This white gauze fabric hangs so beautifully and brings an ethereal look to the minimalist bedroom.

18

Swap Accents Seasonally

Nicole Franzen

Plaid? For winter? Not even close to groundbreaking, but we're still here for it. Swapping out accents seasonally will also get you excited for what's to come.

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19

Get Inspired by Nature

Leanne Ford Interiors

This space is rich with texture, which creates warmth and dimension. There's also plenty of character even though it's sticking to a strict color palette. For a similarly inviting and grounded environment, get inspired by nature. Think seagrass, rattan, jute, wood, brushed concrete, and marble.

20

Reupholster Your Furinture

Nicole Franzen

Reupholstering your furniture will automatically freshen up an entire space. And if you love eclectic decorating, take notes from this impeccable living room. All the juxtaposition in this room is working so well—the angular mirror, vivid orange art, marble fireplace, rustic stool, and geometric pottery are all unexpectedly complemented by the softness of the blush pink chairs.

Hadley Mendelsohn

Senior Editor

Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.  

15 cool ideas — INMYROOM

Interior decor

Do you want to update and decorate the interior, but are afraid to lose money? Leave all doubts, because you can make a house beautiful and cozy almost for free. We talk about everything in order in this post

When it comes to decor interior, many of us mistakenly believe that home comfort is an expensive pleasure. It's time to dispel this myth, because you can decorate the interior and give it the missing zest almost for free. Bright candlesticks, festive garlands and colorful lamps - we tell you how to make decor items from improvised and seemingly unnecessary things.

Idea #1: Colors of autumn

Go for a walk in the park next weekend and collect a herbarium from autumn leaves. Dry the leaves and, armed with a brush, decorate them with rainbow patterns. Now you can safely hang them on the doors and windows of the house!

Idea #2: from childhood

Collected leaves can also be used to make funny figurines of animals and birds. To do this, simply glue the leaves to colored paper with painted eyes and ears. Children will be delighted!

Idea #3: fruity mood

A little paint and the old bag will be like new! Moreover, drawing a symmetrical pattern is easier than you think: you only need half a fruit. Dip it in paint and get creative.

Idea #4: Welcome!

Making an autumn wreath is not difficult at all: just wrap branches around a wire frame in the shape of a circle and decorate it with acorns, ribbons, maple leaves and mountain ash. Now it remains to hang a wreath on the front door.

Idea #5: a holiday is coming to us

Started a home party? Decorate your home with a colorful garland made from autumn leaves. To do this, simply paint them in rich colors and hang them on windows, doors or stairs.

Idea No. 6: Oscar for the idea

Let an elegant pumpkin vase become a festive table decoration. It is not so difficult to make it: the main thing is to carefully cut the pulp and the core of the pumpkin. Put flowers in the resulting hole - and an unusual vase is ready!

Idea #7: the best surprise

What holiday is it without presents? Make them truly special with the original packaging. To do this, simply wrap gifts in wrapping paper or pieces of cloth and decorate them with rowan branches.

Idea No. 8: from the heart

In addition, you can always make a gift with your own hands - for example, a stylish candlestick. You will need branches, a regular glass and some glue. Gently glue the branches to the glass, put a candle inside - and give the candlestick to your family and friends.

Idea No. 9: all the colors of the rainbow

And by gluing multi-colored felt balls to the coasters, you will not only make them more functional, but also complement the kitchen interior with bright juicy accents. Now home evenings will become even more comfortable!

Idea #10: cat house

A little inspiration and you can make a funny flower pot with cat ears out of an ordinary bottle. To do this, cut off the bottom of the bottle (do not forget about the ears) and paint it in the color you like. The case is small: it remains to draw a cat's muzzle.

Idea #11: under control

It's no secret that a beautiful interior starts with order. It is not difficult to direct it: just cut cardboard boxes and paste over them with multi-colored paper. Now all the important little things will always be at your fingertips!

Idea #12: beautiful doesn't mean expensive

Don't know what to fill an empty wall with? We suggest to be creative and decorate it with corrugated paper. To do this, cut the paper into small squares, and then use the bottle to glue the panels directly to the wall. The interior will become more voluminous, and therefore interesting.

Idea No.

13: eternal beauty

Corrugated paper can also be used to make a delicate bouquet of roses. Even a child can handle this: wind the paper around a thin wire and glue paper petals to it. Spread the buds and enjoy the beauty of a bouquet that will never wither.

Idea #14: take the height!

Surprise your child with an airplane made from clothespins and popsicle sticks. This will take just a couple of minutes: just glue the sticks to the clothespin and color the resulting plane.

Idea No. 15: Gatsby style

A little glue and multi-colored glitter - and an ordinary glass will be exclusive. The main thing is to let the glue dry properly, otherwise fingerprints will appear on the shiny surface.

ideas for a cozy interior - INMYROOM

You just moved into a new house, and the interior seems to you not cozy enough, and you don’t have money for quality repairs. Do you know how decorate the room? Designers believe that a cozy house is the one that smartly and beautifully designed. No matter how the room would be furnished, its empty walls can ruin the whole interior. Also, the design will appear unfinished. Therefore, a good solution would be to try to decorate it. Not at all necessary use the services of specialists, but it is better to try to do it on one's own.

Wall painting

Wall painting is considered one of the most beautiful ways to decorate a room, so it is not surprising that even in the old days masters covered the walls with unique frescoes. Also, by painting the walls, you can achieve an increase or decrease in space. Unlike those distant times, the painting technology in our time has not only remained the same, but has become even simpler. This is due to the fact that today only modern types of paints and materials are used to decorate walls.

Before starting wall painting, you need to carefully consider what exactly should be depicted on them, and make sure that the pattern is harmonious with the overall design of the room. Cosiness and harmony in the children's room will help to create large solid elements that should be very bright. While the living room is better suited large The drawing is only on one wall.

The next step is primer, putty walls, that is, preparation for the painting itself. Only after After that, you can start decorating the walls with drawings. Draw right away paints on the wall is better if you have artistic skills and you are sure you will do well. Otherwise, you can download lots of stencils from the internet. Their use is first, the stencil is applied to the wall, then circle it with a pencil or paints and only then the outline of the stencil begins.

Photos, paintings, mirrors, clocks

Another way to beautifully decorate a room to create coziness is photos, paintings, mirrors and clocks. Previously, you could see black and white family photos on the walls, because they look very hospitable and cozy. To achieve complete harmony, you need to combine different photos, experiment with their sizes and the color scheme of the frames, because pictures that are the same in size look completely inharmonious, boring and unattractive in one row.

There are many options for the location of photos and paintings, depending on their size. Can be around one large picture to arrange many small ones. Also on the wall hang just one, but a large picture. It all depends on imagination and desires of the owner of the house. Moreover, when choosing a design, it is worth considering the atmosphere. the room they will be in. For example, the bedroom will be beautiful look romantic photos, common ones are more suitable for the living room family, and for children - cheerful, cheerful photos. Also, as room decorations should use panels, but it is worth remembering that they are better hang at eye level.

Mirror also considered a good option for decorating a room. The effect of warmth and comfort in the room is created provided that the mirror is hung so that it reflects photographs, paintings or panel. For mirrors, you should choose an interesting frame or make it independently, for example, using wooden clothespins, acrylic paints and varnish.

How to decorate a house with appliqués

The easiest, simplest and most original way to decorate a wall in a room is a pattern on the walls from the remnants of wallpaper and stickers, that is, an appliqué. Using this method, you can create any pattern and pattern, as well as beautiful inscriptions by drawing them on a computer and carefully sticking them on the wall. But it is worth remembering that bright applications are suitable for children's rooms, and in other rooms you can use pastel colors. If you do not pick up contrasting wallpapers for the application, then the pattern may not be noticeable enough. Using this type of wall decoration, you can not only slightly change the look of the room, but also radically transform the interior of the room.

Embroidery, textiles, pillows

Another way to decorate a room with your own hands is embroidery. If you love and know how to embroider, then this will be very easy to do. With the help of embroidery, you can enliven the interior of the room and make it more harmonious, giving completeness. The location of the embroidered paintings depends only on the individual taste and desires of the owner of the house.

The easiest way how to decorate a room - these are sofa cushions. They can also be used for contrast, and to complement the color scheme of the room. Color, fabric, cushion pattern depends on the desired effect and the interior of the room. For the best result it is advisable to experiment, but, of course, do not forget about the style of your rooms.

Paper decoration ideas

Not only pillows or paintings can decorate a room. There is an affordable and easy way: use paper. What options?

Paper home decoration is an easy way to make a change in your interior. It will also serve as an excellent temporary solution, hiding a stain or dent on the wall, imperfection of the furniture.

Curtains for home decoration

Curtains play an important role in the interior of a room. Their change often drastically changes the look of the room. Now there is a huge selection of curtains for every taste, because their choice will not be a big problem, but will significantly help in changing the interior. When choosing curtains, it is worth remembering that they should be several tones brighter than the walls of the room. Also, do not forget about the retainers for curtains, which should fit the overall interior of the room.

Decorating a room with shelves

A functional and aesthetic way to decorate your home with your own hands is to use shelves. How to do it?

Do not forget two rules: for the shelves to really decorate the house, they must contrast with the wall, and the objects on them must be arranged harmoniously, without chaos.

Lighting

Lighting is a great way to decorate a room and plays one of the most important roles in decorating. Just changing the lighting will help to achieve huge results in decoration. After all, it is a large amount of light that is a frequent technique used by designers. Lots of natural soft light in your bedroom or living room will help you relax, while a cool color in your office will help you concentrate.

Plants, flowers

It is known that flowers and plants are not only the main source of oxygen, but also a beautiful and modern decoration for the room. With the help of plants, you can refresh the room, make the interior more natural and natural. But you need to use flowers in moderation and try not to overdo it, otherwise the room will look like a greenhouse. Flowers are chosen depending on the color and size of the plant. But it is worth remembering that plant species are selected not only depending on your taste, but also depending on the conditions needed by certain types of flowers. Some like a lot of moisture, others a lot of sunlight or shade, so this feature should also be taken into account.

DIY crafts

There are different ideas on the Internet for decorating a room with your own hands by creating a variety of crafts. Here are a few of them.

Circle painting

A very easy way to decorate a room with your own hands is a bubble painting. To create it, we only need a tablet, scissors, a large brush, matte decoupage glue, white acrylic paint and papyrus paper of the desired colors. First you need to paint the tablet with a layer of white paint and dry, then cut out circles of different sizes from papyrus paper and distribute them on the tablet according to your tastes. Next, glue the circles and gently smooth them with a brush. The bubble painting is ready. Also, instead of circles, you can use completely different shapes to your taste.

Images from Instagram

Use a brush and glue to stick photos from Instagram on a square tablet, after printing them out and cutting them out.

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