Whether you have just moved in or have been in your home for years, you may want to shake up the interior design. How your house is decorated is a form of self-expression. Your home should look and feel how you want it to. However, changing the look of your house can seem daunting, as large-scale renovations are expensive and can drag on for months. Thankfully, there are plenty of low-cost, quick ways to make a big impact on your homes design. Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference. Simply adding a piece of furniture, painting a wall, or changing a light fixture in a space can make a room feel brand new. Here are some interior design tips and tricks to transform your home and create your dream space.
1. Mix and Match Different Elements
When designing a house or room, we each have different design “rules” that we think cannot be broken. One of these “rules” claims that different elements, like wood, metal, plastic, and so on, should not be mixed. However, there is no such rule stopping you from mixing and matching to your heart’s content. If you want to combine silver, copper, plastic, and wood in your space, there is nothing stopping you. Do note that putting a variety of elements together will create an eclectic design not everyone will care for, but that does not mean the outcome will be messy or lacking focus. Ultimately, design and aesthetics are subjective, so design your home how you want it free from worry.
2. Mirrors
Mirrors can create some optical illusions that give interior designs a boost when used strategically. The mirror does not need to be human sized to make an impact either. Mirrors can make a small space feel larger and add natural light. Mirrors can also replace wall art to fill any empty wall space. Play around with the placement of mirrors to figure out how you can get the most value.
3. Tell Your Story
As you go through life and move from place to place you collect heirlooms, furniture, and other items. Each of these items tell part of your life story and reflects who you are, your style, and your personality. Do not be afraid to display objects you’ve gathered over the years alongside anything new. A modern couch can work wonderfully in the same room as an antique desk. The same goes for art and fabrics. Be smart about where you place different items within a room to avoid an overly chaotic design but tell your story through interior design.
4. Slipcovers
Slipcovers might have a negative connotation, but that reputation is undeserved. Slipcovers are an easy and inexpensive way to change the look of your furniture. If you are not in love with the fabric on a couch, look into a slipcover before you reupholster or replace the couch. Slipcovers also protect furniture against dirt and spills meaning your furniture can take more of a beating without getting damaged. You can also easily wash slipcovers, making them ideal for frequently used rooms.
5. Lighting
Good lighting can make a huge difference in a room. Natural light is better than light bulbs, but natural light can be tricky to come by. Lighting can change the overall appearance and feel of a room. Use different lighting solutions to create the ambiance you want in your home. Lights hung in the center of a room such as a chandelier provide ambient lighting for the entire space. Track lighting on the other hand can be used to highlight specific elements in a room such as a painting or portrait, a special vase and variety of other objects. Use recessed lighting in floors and ceilings to create a soft illumination in specific areas of your home. Both natural and man-made lighting are essential to any home. Finding the perfect combination of lighting will only enhance your interior design.
6. Plants
House plants are an easy way to add some color and texture to a space, but they also have a practical use. Many plants clean the air and help balance humidity which makes them useful decorations. Be careful when selecting plants though, as some plants require much more effort to keep healthy than others. Some basic research can point you in the right direction so that you don’t accidentally buy a plant you are not capable of keeping alive.
7. Paint Color and Room Size
If you are trying to make a small room feel larger, there are a few things you can do. Large windows help but adding windows to a space is a cumbersome project. A simple way to make a room feel larger is to paint the walls with a soft light color. Conversely, darker colors will make a room feel smaller. Coordinate your room size with paint color to achieve the desired effect.
Interior design is a form of self-expression. How you decorate a space shows off your personality and style. With these interior design tips and tricks, you can easily express yourself without investing a large amount of time or money.