The Bramwell Brown Blog
How to Do Home Decoration: 7 Simple Steps
Home decor can be a challenge, and it’s no wonder that professionals often have a lot of education and practical experience working with spaces and decor. Knowing how to decorate for a specific room or home can be a challenge. However, arming yourself with knowledge and shortcuts can help you go far in decorating like a professional.
Check out some of the tips below to get started on cultivating a new space.
1. Give yourself time
Home decor doesn’t need to be done in one weekend. In fact, it might be best if you set an ongoing timeline for certain spaces. By giving yourself some time, you allow yourself an open window to decorate as you find pieces and decor that you like. This can help you build up the theme of a room over time by not rushing out and buying items that you like, but rather by considering carefully whether or not this next piece will match with the style you currently have.
2. Start with big-ticket items
In order to know how everything will fit and to set the theme of your room from the start, begin with the bigger pieces that will help you to stage the room the way you want. Think about the furniture you want and where it will go. If you already have pieces that you’re using, consider updating it with reupholstering or if you’re on a tighter budget, think about sofa covers that you can use to refresh the look.
Rugs and drapery can also set the tone of your space. These items are not as expensive as furniture and can be changed out every now and then, and they will help define the colours and style of your room. You may want to stick to more neutral colours if you’re planning on getting smaller decor items that are the focus of the room. Otherwise, the rugs and drapes are great ways to kick off the themes you want to play on.
3. Use DIY to stay within budget
You might be wondering what to prioritize if you’re under some budget constraints, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to compromise what you want.
Buying thrift and updating it with some creativity and paint can go a long way in refreshing the look of a dated piece. You could consider doing something with your existing decor by finishing it in a different style--maybe pastels, black and white or a darker stain can help transform your old side table into something completely new
You can also make smaller items if you’ve got some crafting skills. Try making a paint-pour artwork that you can hang, or find a DIY kit that guides you through making colourful pillar candles. There are endless crafting opportunities to make new and personalised decor that can liven up your home.
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4. Pick one or two bold pieces
If you’ve found something that absolutely speaks to you but doesn’t seem to fit in, consider it anyway. It can be a focal piece that you can later decorate around, or exist on its own as a conversation-started. Perhaps that means going for the giant baroque mirror or an abstract sculpture to change the perspective on the room.
Pick bold decor that you won’t tire of and that is able to move up or out of the way. Wall hangings and objets d’art are great choices because they won’t take up too much space and cause you to resent having it in your home.
5. Blend the old and new
Mixing and matching styles from different time periods can draw the eye in interesting ways, and feel fresh because of the new combination. You might try pairing old antique chairs with a minimalist table, or using rustic end tables beside a new sofa or modern bedframe.
This technique works well if you don’t want to break the bank. You can thrift or browse antique shops for a set of older furniture or check furniture shops for sales on new “old” decor that can save some money when you pair it with your current furniture.
6. New lighting
You can opt for getting new lighting fixtures to change the look and feel of a room. Choosing something different from what you have right now can go a long way in setting a new tone. Soft, diffuse lighting is best for relaxing, while targeted, bright light can be great for working and studying. You might want to try adding a lamp to an end table to offer an interesting glow, or renovate your current lighting to be updated to something more fitting.
If your budget doesn’t have room for new fixtures, consider the bulbs themselves. Changing the bulbs to a softer light, or different colours can have a huge impact on how you view your space. LED bulbs are efficient and have become better able to cast softer shades of white rather than the brilliant light that they did when first introduced to the market.
7. Address ceiling space
The ceiling is often neglected as a space to use and set tone. However, it’s an ideal space to continue your decor theme. With paint and a design, you can make sure that the ceiling shares the tone of the rest of the space.
You can consider texturizing the ceiling with drywall mud or skip that and opt for visual texture with swirls or patterns of colour that complement the current colours of your room. Choose lighter colours than the colours on your wall to use on the ceiling, otherwise you might risk your entire space looking dim if the ceiling is too dark in tone.
With these thoughts in mind, take some time to consider what is a reasonable challenge for you to do to spruce up your space. You can set your budget first, and keep in mind that your decor and style can grow over time so you don’t need to end your decor when your money runs out, but rather think of what you can include now that can accommodate future styles later. Decorating is an experience that doesn’t need to be rushed, so take some time and have fun with it!
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