House decorating can seem intimidating. But with these decor tips, you can transform a dull space into one that feels great and impresses your guests. These tips are equally applicable to apartment design.
Mirrors open up a room
Mirrors add depth to any room, and when you hang them on a wall opposite a window, it’s like adding an extra window to your room because the mirror will reflect the light. As a result, your living room will feel even sunnier and more spacious! Find one with a beautiful frame to add a pop of color and style.
Add mood lighting with lamps
Chances are, the overhead light in your living room is not very atmospheric. Adding a tall floor lamp in a corner, or a soft table lamp next to a chair, will help give your living room a cozy environment. It’s perfect for when the overhead light is too bright, but you want a bit of light to curl up in a chair and read a book, or when you’re entertaining guests and want to create a classy glow. Decorating with lamps is a powerful way to get a stylish living room.
Bring the outside in with flowers and plants
Flowers and plants bring freshness to any room they’re in. Flowers can add a burst of color, and plants help to bring the outside in. An added bonus is that plants act as a natural air purifier, so the air in the room will actually be cleaner and easier to breathe. (In fact, Prevention has documented the health benefits of houseplants!) Try an orchid or small succulent on an end table, or a large potted ficus tree in a corner.
Frame your view with window curtains
Whether you’re blessed with several large windows or just a small one, curtains can help make your windows pop. Contrary to hiding the window, curtains can actually act as a frame for the window in a way that adds style and personality to the entire room. Try floor-to-ceiling curtains in a sunny mustard yellow for a cozy look, or gauzy light blue for added relaxation. Get a handle on your options so you can decide what you want. Jenny Evans’ article Types of Window Treatments is a good place to begin.
Decorate your walls with art
A blank wall can really be livened up with the right piece of art. Don’t fall under the impression that art collecting is only available to the wealthy. Between the internet, flea markets, and art galleries, you should be able to find wall art that matches both your taste and budget. Consider getting three similar prints, and hang them framed next to each other across a wall for a horizontal effect. Or find one big, boldly colored piece of art and give it its own wall. Invest in good framing, and don’t hang the pieces too high – a common mistake. Apartment Therapy has an easy step-by-step for hanging art: How to Hang Your Artwork and Not Screw It Up.
Paint an accent wall for a pop of color
You might drool over Sailor Cerulean or Sunflower Yellow, but don’t have the time or desire to cover all four walls of a room with it. Here’s an idea: choose just one wall and give it color, while leaving the other three walls white. This is a simple but extremely effective way to add depth and color to a room without making it seem too dark or one-dimensional. Because it is only one color, you can feel free to do an unconventional color – like fuchsia. Read Helen Stewart’s article “ Paint Sets the Room Mood ” to choose a color based on the feeling you want your room to evoke.
Other home decorating tips and advice
If you've just moved into a new place, you may feel a rush to get it decorated. But remember: it's worth doing right, and that might take awhile. Don't buy the first curtains you see unless you love them. Likewise, really take some time and thought to decide what kind of wall art you want to hang. Doing so will allow your own tastes and decorating preferences to come through. When you're finished, you'll have a living space that is 100% you and 100% stylish.
Aiden Savino - Aiden Savino is a published poet and essayist with a B.A. in English, and his interests include travel, health, relationships, style, food ...
