You don’t have to be (or hire) an interior designer to make your home look like it came straight out of a magazine; all you need is some guidance from the pros to decorate your home flawlessly. You can employ these design techniques using the furniture and decorations you already have, or you can create a fresh, new look by purchasing a couple new pieces from a flea market or your local furniture store.
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Be an Odd-ball
One of the most basic interior design concepts is the use of odd numbers. Odd numbers, especially three, is much more pleasing to the eye than even numbers. For example, if you are hanging a series of paintings above your bed, hang up three or five. The result will be much more balanced than two or four paintings. This also applies to kitchen bar stools, potted plants, and more. -
Go Big or Go Home
Purchasing a large rug can be a huge expense, but the cost is worth it. Placing a small, cheaper rug under your bed or dining room table or in the center of the living room will look just like the price--cheap. When under a table or bed, the edges should always stick out at least eight inches or more. In the living room, make sure the rug is large enough for the edges to be under the furniture while still covering the majority of the floor. -
Trick the Eyes
Even if you don’t have a huge living room, you can always use interior design techniques to give the illusion that the room is larger than it actually is. An easy way to do this is to change the way you mount your curtains. Hang the rod as close to the ceiling as possible and minimally cover the window to make your windows appear to be much bigger. -
Accessorize
Accessories aren’t just for outfits; your home needs them too if you want a detailed, polished look. When decorating an entryway or side table, place your tallest, thinnest piece, such as a lamp, on the left. Then, balance it out with shorter, heavier items on the right side. Keep the eye’s attention by topping off the right side with a medium-height piece. -
Find Your Focus
You can have the most beautiful furniture and art in the world, but if you don’t have a single focal point, your home is not going to look nearly as elegant as it should. For each room of the house, find a piece that you absolutely cannot live without (perhaps a large abstract painting or a textured headboard) and base the rest of your decorations around it. Don’t be afraid to buy other eye-catching pieces, but make sure they are smaller or slightly muted as to not take attention away from your central piece.
