Top Decorating Tips for a House to Home Transfomation You Can Do Today
Posted by Yaphet Howard on
Our Secret Top Decorating Tips for a True House to Home Transformation!
- Figure out your vision for the space
- How do I create a look that feels consistent in the room?
- Make a Plan with your Style in Mind
- Safe doesn’t have to be boring
- The art of the centerpiece
- Start shopping around
- How to handle aesthetics: Art, Rugs and Lighting
- Make it personal to you
Moving into a new home is stressful. There are creaking sounds you don’t recognize, everything feels so pristine you don’t want to touch it, and now you have to figure out if the TV should be mounted or on a tv stand. Decorating your new house from scratch can be an overwhelming ordeal but we’re here to help.
Now we know what you’re already asking yourself. Should I get a sectional or a three-seater? What size rug should I get and where does it go? Do the curtains match the wall paper? A blank slate is intimidating for anyone. However, if you have a plan to navigate your budget and your style like a pro, you’ll find making the final decision much easier. Where to begin is the hardest part, and below you’ll find all the steps to make it a walk in the park.
- Figure out your vision for the space
This is the easy part where you get to build the vision of your space in your mind. First decide what room you want to focus on (one at a time, your home isn’t going anywhere), then start looking up pictures on google, instagram, pinterest, and even home tours on tiktok. There is no wrong place to gain inspiration and you’ll be able to find a collection of items and terms that catch your eye. Did you like the entryway table or the customized sofa? This is a perfect time to start just listing things you like and don’t like, building up an image in your head as you go.
Keep in mind that you have to live here. If you focus on having a picture perfect living room, you may forget that you didn’t give yourself anywhere comfortable to sit. You want a living room, not a showroom. Making the entire house match styles is a myth and your better off without it. Remember this is your house and you can make it look however you want! Once you have a rough idea of what you like and don’t like, you can begin deciding on where it’ll all go.
- How do I create a look that feels consistent in the room?
Measuring the space you plan to use will be your first step in planning for the real thing. Measurements can be really tedious to get yet will make the biggest impact on creating a cohesive space. That three piece sectional may look nice until it’s completely filling up the entire room, and blocking the front door. Measure twice, cut once, and save on return shipping.
Creating a cohesive style is similar to matching colors. A Victorian area rug might look out of place surrounded by a modern sectional. It’s not bad to mix and match, but this can easily descend into a hodgepodge of furniture. Picking a style and sticking to it will cause all your selections to harmonize with one another, truly transforming your space into a talking piece for your guest.
The wall color can strongly influence how the rest of the room is perceived, but it’s the easiest thing to change after you’ve got your more desired furniture pieces. We recommend saving painting choosing a paint color as a final step.
- Make a Plan with your Style in Mind
You thought over some pictures that you like and you have an idea of what furniture pieces you’d like to add. When deciding what furniture you want, you’ll want to start with the biggest items and work your way down. This will be your centerpiece whether that be the king sized bed in the master bathroom or your dining room table set highlighting the size of your kitchen. Have you always wanted a sectional or a sofa with a chaise lounge? This is the time to pull out a pen and paper and start mapping how the space will be used. A good rule of thumb is at least three feet walking room and ten to twenty inches between the couch and the coffee table.
Don’t limit yourself on budget just yet as you’ll work on the list as you begin shopping around. Your goal is to form your ultimate wishlist of what you want to fill the space. As you decide on color tones and different styles, remember that the biggest piece in the room will likely get the most use and therefore quality matters most.
- Safe doesn’t have to be boring
Don’t limit yourself to what others are doing as the most interesting rooms are the ones that set their own trend. Neutral rooms aren’t a bad thing and can be achieved with gray and white schemes. Some include bisque sofas or cream dining sets. If you don’t have an idea for a room, a neutral color palette could be a good way to add longevity to the style of a room. This can be incorporated in guest rooms to get easy style points when inspiration is in short supply.
Avoid the temptation of keeping up with the Jones because it means spending like them too! Unless you plan on redecorating every room in your house every year, trying to follow trends can be a timely and expensive process. It’s okay if you like a style and decide to stick with it, but the consequence could be a dated appearance that you don’t want to show. You want a home that you feel comfortable in, not just looks great in photos. You can creature your own looks with the pieces you enjoy and look good while doing it.
- The art of the centerpiece
The largest piece in the room doesn’t have to be the only thing catching the attention of your guest, and mastery of this knowledge can elevate any space. Starting with the main focal point, then slighting shifting focus using a rug or a piece of art. Art and rugs help fill the room either acting as the lead or playing a support to your true eye catcher. This can be a chair or a pillow, it depends on what you find yourself gravitating toward.
One amazing piece can inspire the entire look of a room. Perhaps the modern peacock velvet sofa you placed with your white coffee table allows for a blue and white scheme that creates a calm sea breeze feel. Yes, a room can be a centerpiece for your entire home. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so here is where you should let your instincts guide you on what you find most pleasing. Learn the general designer’s guide, then follow the direction your heart tells you.
- Start shopping around
Now is where you can have fun shopping around for your dream home. It will be wise to plot out a list of everything you want to get and a total budget for what you plan to spend. Add an additional twenty percent to your budget for unexpected expenses, such as shipping or if you need an installation service. You want a shopping list detailing every item you need to buy. Make sure you’ve measured at least twice or risk having your room looked crammed together.
While shopping you’ll likely come across some items you really want to buy but are outside of your budget. Don’t cross them off but instead start a short list of splurge items that you believe could serve as an expensive statement piece. Splurge-worthy furniture can have a defining impact on a space, giving it a timeless charm that will last through the decades. Stick to your guns but allow yourself some wiggle room when you find that piece that just has the It-Factor.
- How to handle aesthetics: Art, Rugs and Lighting
The final look of your home will be something that happens over time, not over night. Things like accent tables, throw pillows and art are pieces that may catch your eye from unsuspecting thrift stores or online limited purchases. Don’t force yourself to make every aesthetic decision immediately, instead adding as you become more accustomed to your home. Keep a list of inspirations and desired pieces as you go and add them to your collection as you go.
It’s best to create your own look by avoiding obvious pattern matching and adding proper lighting. Lamps are great in pairs and best decided when you know which space is used most often. Art and Rugs are great at filling in empty spaces like doorways or mantel walls. You’ll decide on the essentials more quickly, but give yourself some breathing room when trying to figure out what the final look of your home will be.
- Make it personal to you
Don’t forget that your goal is to have something you like. There are those who buy the showroom floor and those who have bought furniture from every era. Every person is going to have their own unique view of what their dream home looks like and that should encourage you. The truth is there is no right look outside of what you think looks nice.
It’s important to plan ahead so that it all fits together, but after that, you’re free to choose the look, style and design of final product. We love seeing pictures of your bubblegum pink sofas accenting a beautiful study or someone splurging on a Pininfarina sofa set for their sun room. Anyone can be their own professional designer and we think that’s awesome. We look forward to seeing what your dream home's final look!
Bonus: Enjoy your new look
You worked hard, now it's time to sit back for a change. Relax and watch some Netflix because you earned it.