Ever seen a great room in a decor magazine or show and wondered, “man, how do they make it look that good?” The answer is simple: trade secrets!
Designers and decorators have written and rewritten the book on making their clients’ homes feel more comfortable and complete; and they all have go-to tricks that deliver big impact. Maybe they’re not really secrets per se, but since I don’t see them in most of the homes, they must really be secret! Here are some of my favorite:
Empty corners or spaces make a home feel unfinished. Don’t let weird corners baffle you, fill up those awkward and unused spaces in your home. Don’t fill them up with clutter though, fill them with useful items and give that space a function!
Image via Rarooms.com
Here, the homeowners left this space just off the kitchen open and empty, making it an easy spot to rest a bicycle. Once we filled the space with a small table and chairs, the space felt more complete and the English basement condo felt more like a home than the bike!
It’s amazing how little light people have in their homes. It’s so easy and relatively inexpensive to light a room yet it is seemingly always overlooked! Add more lighting (ceiling, floor, table lamps) to each room! Lighting can make a low ceiling feel high and turn a dark corner into a fun play area. A typical 20’ ft wide family rooms should have at least 150 watts , and 300 watts is better. And in the bedroom, make sure the lamp is at least 60 watts and the shade will send light to the space where a book or tablet would sit on your lap. Makes reading in bed much more comfortable.
Image via Rarooms.com
Color isn’t really a secret, but I have visited so many homes with white walls that I feel like it is!! Don’t be afraid to add color to your walls! Dark colors on walls give rooms depth, character and ALWAYS invoke conversation. They are GREAT choices for rooms where you entertain or meet people – basements, family rooms, dining rooms and kitchens. Make your friend and family notice your walls, because they will if they have color! Have fun with it – its only paint! It’s only as permanent as you decide it needs to be!
Image via Rarooms.com
Get inspired – stumped on what to do to a room? Look around and identify an inspiration piece – a piece of art, vase, article of clothing, area rug (see below), or souvenir from a recent or memorable trip. Don’t try to mimic someone else’s room or design, start with an inspiration piece and pull your room from that piece. It is amazing how an inspiration piece will help you make smart design decisions around color, and materials.
Even if you still need a designer to help you pull everything together, there is better chance that you will like the outcome of the room if you identify a great inspiration piece and let that guide you and your designer in your selections for the space.
Here’s hoping these tips can lead you to a comfortable and inspiring living space!
Written by:
Roslyn Ashford
Professional Designer & Stager, www.rarooms.com
