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For many DIY designers

Expert Interior Design Secrets to Styling Shelves

September 14, 2020

Styling shelves is a great way to give your unique items the attention they deserve. Framed photos, books, and decorative pieces that you might otherwise keep stored away find a place at the forefront of the room, where they catch the eye.

secrets to styling shelves

Decorating marries style with substance. You can take something that seems purely practical and make it a stylish part of your room’s design. Shelving makes it easy to create a striking atmosphere in a room.

However, shoving everything you own onto some shelves doesn’t always work. You have think about what you want to see when you look at your shelves—and the answer isn’t a wall full of junk. Follow these simple rules to create stunning shelves.

Clear Everything Out

Shelving units are the perfect way to show off your favorite items, but you still have limited space. Choose carefully what you want on display. That doesn’t mean you need to throw everything else out, but tidying the space goes a long way.

After spending so much time curating your shelving, you don’t want to ruin the effect with unnecessary clutter.

Start with Empty Space

Before you start filling your shelves, look ahead and imagine how it might look when you’ve finished.

There will almost always be some empty space exposing the back of the shelves. Consider painting this space or filling it with a fabric or wallpaper. These finishing touches can add new layers of depth and contrast to the shelving unit.  

Choosing Books

Start with the books when you’re styling shelves. If you’re a collector, try grouping them by color. If you have a limited book selection, add bits of color throughout the shelf. Using colors sparingly will make the books you have stand out.

You can stack the books or line them up on the shelf, but never have less than three together or they’ll look sparse. At the other end of the spectrum, avoid putting more than twelve or fifteen books together, or you risk making your shelves look too crowded.

Don’t be ashamed of buying a book for looks alone. Sometimes beautiful book covers can really make your shelving unit pop, and that’s what you want.

Add Sculptures and Vignettes

Sculptures and vignettes can add a lot of character to shelving units, but only if you use them correctly. While pairing smaller sculptures with books will draw the eye, larger sculptures should stand on their own. Putting large pieces in with books or other items can make the space look cramped.

It’s easy to fine unique bits and pieces to add to your shelves. They add personality to your shelves and function as conversation pieces when you have guests.

Balance is key when you’re choosing what to put on a new shelving unit. It’s tempting to fill them with everything you own, but attractive shelves take some thought. Make sure that everything on them has a purpose. By styling shelves with carefully selected items, your room can become its own piece of art.

Filed Under: Accessories, DIY, Furniture, Interior Design Tagged With: decorating, decorator, design, designer, For many DIY designers, home, home design, home interior, interior, interior decorating, interior decorator, interior design, interior designer, living space, professional designer, shelves

Interior Design Dilemmas Solved: 5 Simple Tips for a Stylish Home

June 22, 2020

interior design dilemmas swatch color samples

Everyone wants a beautiful home, but getting a picture-perfect, Pinterest-worthy house is harder than one might think. Our own homes pose interior design dilemmas that can be challenging. 

The good news is even the trickiest interior design problems have solutions. Here are a few of the most common interior design dilemmas and how to solve them.

Finding Your Style

Is your decorating style Farmhouse, Coastal, or Modern? Many people get frustrated because they like so many style elements that they don’t know their true style. 

Instead of worrying about labels, find your own unique style. Find furnishings you love, regardless of their style. Then incorporate a few favorite family treasures. 

Focus on how your family lives in your home. Soon, your style will begin to shine through.

Tiny Room, Big Style

Small rooms create big headaches for many people. Whether it’s a powder room, a tiny bedroom, or a small sitting room, these spaces pose special challenges when it comes to decor.

First, embrace color—the bolder, the better. Paint your tiny room all one color for dramatic effect, and it will actually seem to bigger. 

You can also apply mirrored tiles to one wall. The reflection will give the impression the space is twice as big. 

Disguise Poor Views

Not every view is glorious. Fortunately, a less-than-stellar view is easy to fix—consider floor-to-ceiling draperies. Drapes are a great way to add color and texture and even some extra drama. Go with a sheer version if you need extra light in your living space. 

If your problem is outdoors in a patio area, consider growing a wall of vegetation such as a row of bushes or shrubs. Even climbing vines can be trained to grow against a trellis. This option can provide a naturally stunning solution to a problematic view.

Create Rooms in an Open Floor Plan

Open floor plans create a light, airy feeling, but they can also be impractical. Sometimes you need to create a little more privacy for sleeping or study areas.

Freestanding bookcases can solve the problem. They create a visual barrier, similar to walls. Bookcases come in a variety of heights, so you can find one that gives the right amount of privacy. As a bonus, bookcases provide extra storage space. 

Another option is folding screens, which can be put in place and removed as needed. Likewise, a curtain hung from the ceiling provides quick and easy privacy. 

Boring Windows

Window treatments are a primary interior design dilemma. Many people aren’t sure what to do about their windows, so they stick with neutral blinds.

Consider replacing vertical blinds with draperies for an updated look. You can call attention to a seating area or other focal point with carefully placed draperies. 

Roman shades and valances can also create a polished look for windows, especially when crafted in a print fabric. 

Filed Under: DIY, Interior Design Tagged With: design trick, For many DIY designers, home interior, interior, interior decorating, interior design, interior design tips, interior designer, professional interior designer

Starting an Interior Design Project the Right Way

June 1, 2020

starting an interior design project

Starting an interior design project can be incredibly daunting. If you’ve never done any significant redecorating before, you may not know where to start. Plus, with interior design, there’s often a fine line between nailing it and failing it.

Here’s how to avoid a décor disaster and make sure that you come in on budget.

What to ask before you start an interior design project

Before starting, make sure you are absolutely clear on the following questions.

  • Will you hire professionals or DIY everything?
  • Who will use the space, and how will they use it?
  • What are the problems and opportunities of the space as it is now?
  • What is your budget?
  • When do you want to complete the project?
  • What are the risks that might stop you from completing the project on time or within your budget?
  • Have you allocated extra money for unforeseen expenses?
  • What resources (including people) will you need for the project?

Create a mood board

Now you can move on to the fun part of starting an interior design project. Mood boards help you to visualize how your ideas will come together.

A popular way to create a mood board is by using an online app such as Pinterest or Canva. You can also make one by pasting images on canvas or stiff cardboard. Many designers like to pin items to corkboard so they can move things around.

Your mood board can include magazine images, paint swatches, and textures like fabric or carpet.

The best thing about using a mood board is that it costs very little. It should actually save you money by helping you make smart design choices.

Decide if you will hire an interior designer

An interior designer can help you with the following tasks.

  • Choosing color schemes and layouts
  • Visualizing the end result
  • Sourcing materials and furniture (often at a discounted rate)
  • Communicating with tradespeople
  • Scheduling the activities needed to complete the project
  • Lighting design

If you decide to hire a designer, your next job is to choose one. Ask people whose homes you admire for references or stalk local style gurus on Instagram.

A good designer will ask similar questions to the ones we covered earlier. You also need to love their previous work and feel comfortable talking to them.

Avoid common interior design mistakes

Starting an interior design project without a professional shouldn’t mean flying blind. Some common pitfalls that DIY designers often make include:

  • Choosing rugs that are too small for the designated space
  • Installing lighting that is too dim or too bright or only having one source of light
  • Hanging artwork at the wrong height
  • Going overboard on a theme
  • Not defining a clear focal point in a room

Fundamental advice to help you nail your interior design

Lastly, we’ll cover the two most important things you need to know.
First, cut the clutter! Most of us have far too many things. Getting rid of items you don’t need or love will make the single biggest impact on your home. It will also make it far easier to redecorate.

Second, have fun—even if redecorating seems like a huge challenge. Starting an interior design project in the right frame of mind will make everything easier.

Filed Under: DIY, Interior Design Tagged With: design elements, design trick, For many DIY designers, home interior, interior decorating, interior decorator, interior design, interior designer

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