When it comes to designing your home, whether you’re remodeling or building from scratch, it’s a chance to unleash your creativity and bring your personal vision to life. This is what makes the role of an interior designer so enjoyable and crucial.
However, it can be challenging to narrow down your design preferences and decorating ideas to create a cohesive theme. That’s why we’re here to share some top interior design tips to help you infuse glamour into your new home while still reflecting your unique style.
These design tips are versatile and can be applied to any room in your house, whether it’s the bedroom, living room, dining room, bathroom, kitchen, parlor, or any other space you want to spruce up. Let’s break it down by components today, allowing you to customize the placement based on your preferences.
1. Embrace Whimsy
Whimsical wallpapers aren’t limited to children’s rooms. While they are great for aiding in brain development and providing comfort, a whimsical wallpaper can also serve as a captivating focal point in any room.
You don’t have to go overboard with crazy patterns; instead, choose something that resonates with you, adding that special touch to your decorating ideas.
2. Give Life to What You Have
Remember the saying, ‘One man’s junk is another man’s treasure’? Well, it doesn’t necessarily have to be someone else’s belongings. Take a look at the items you already have—old furniture, wood pellets, discarded curtains, upholstery, or anything else—and consider repurposing them.
Transforming junk wood into a coffee table or bedside table is just one example. Another option is to revamp an old side table by adding some linen and cushions, turning it into a stylish addition to your seating area. A bit of do-it-yourself creativity can go a long way in converting old and seemingly useless items into new, attractive pieces of home decor.
3. Add Character with Murals and Wall Art
We all know that art can enhance the charm of any room. All it takes is a bit of creativity and a desire to liven up your home with wall art.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on extravagant pieces to make a statement. Think about the stunning murals you might have seen in New York’s tunnels or even on the streets. Why not pick up a brush and try painting one yourself?
If you don’t consider yourself an artist, you can explore art auctions or support emerging artists. It’s the personality that matters, not necessarily the artistic technique.
4. Showcase Your Best Items with a Focal Point
You can adopt a minimalist theme for your home and still infuse glamour into it. Who says minimalism can’t include unique and exclusive items?
Embrace a simple lifestyle and find home decor at flea markets, but create a focal point for your standout pieces. Whether it’s something you crafted at Woodshop, a beautiful painting gifted by your spouse, or an antique breakfront you acquired, highlight it by dedicating a specific section as a focal point.
5. Bring Rooms to Life with Lighting
The right lighting can transform a dull room into a vibrant space. Consider using LEDs for a trendy and colorful atmosphere. Pendant lights can add a romantic touch, and DIY sconces or string lights can provide a unique flair. Chandeliers, regardless of room size, can evoke an elegant ambiance.
While artificial lighting is essential, natural light has its unmatched charm. Invest in glass windows and skylights to allow natural light and refreshing airflow in your home, effortlessly brightening up your living space.
6. Bring the Outdoors In with Natural Elements
Building on our previous point but with a unique twist, incorporate natural elements like plants, wooden accents, succulents, and more into your design. These not only add vibrancy to your home but also serve as excellent sources of air purification and positive energy.
Furniture items like coffee tables, dining tables, and headboards crafted from natural wood can introduce a rustic and minimalist aesthetic, creating an inviting atmosphere. Opting for clean-cut designs on these pieces allows you to achieve a modern room design.
6. Infuse Creativity into Switchboards and Fixtures
Explore the world of innovative switchboards and fixtures for your kitchen and bathrooms, as the market is continually introducing fresh designs. Embrace these new trends to turn mundane rooms into futuristic design marvels that can inspire others.
7. Add Elegance with Antiques
No one can deny the charm of an antique furniture piece or a vintage area rug when it comes to enhancing your space. Not only do they exude elegance, but they also look sophisticated in any setting.
Consider placing antiques in your living room or parlor to spark interesting conversations with guests. Introduce an antique bookshelf to your home office or study simply because you appreciate its aesthetics. Even in your bedroom, incorporating antiques can serve as a reminder that you are a treasure, just like the exquisite piece in front of you.
9. Bring Life to Dull Spaces with Color
When faced with a dull room, the solution is simple: add some color. When selecting the color palette for your interior design, don’t stick to conventional paint choices. Take it up a notch by blending swatches and incorporating gradients.
The 50-150 rule, a favorite among interior designers worldwide, suggests that a touch of color can transform walls or furniture and breathe new life into them.
10. Elevate Your Design by Paying Attention to the Ceiling
Ceiling patterns are the latest trend in interior design. You don’t have to resort to mirrors (which can be hazardous), but consider enhancing your ceiling with a customized paint job, murals, effects, or even wallpapers.
Choose patterns that complement the room’s theme, whether it’s floral, topographical, meteorological, astronomical, or any other style you prefer.
11. Embrace Asymmetry in Your Decor
Move beyond symmetry and introduce a bit of asymmetry to your decorating ideas. Experiment with alternative design trends or incorporate gradients and textures into the overall room. Balancing items of home decor with textiles on the walls or using geometric patterns without clear lines can be alluring and attractive.
12. Play with Illusions and Effects
Effects aren’t limited to the ceiling; you can introduce them with creative lighting or DIY patterns on the walls. Explore ideas from sources like ‘Blossom’ for inspiration.
Consider DIY lampshades that create illusions of different cities or creatures, reminiscent of shadow puppets. You can easily make them at home or find unique pieces at flea markets.
13. Create Your Own In-Home Bar
Transform your home into a social hub instead of spending a fortune at city bars. Designate a corner in your open-planned kitchen or living room for a home bar. Opt for a wooden bar island, ideally with a built-in sink. Fill the shelves behind it, add some warm yellow lights, and voilà—a cozy hangout spot right in the comfort of your home.
14. Use Tall Furniture in Compact Spaces
In small or low-ceilinged rooms, incorporating tall furniture pieces can create the illusion of a more spacious living area. Consider using bookshelves, cabinets, or floor-length textiles hanging from the ceiling like a tapestry.
15. Add Quirky Textures and Upholstery
Enhance your seating area with textured upholstery. Not only does it offer comfort, but it also boosts the aesthetic appeal of your furniture.
16. Embrace Trendy Metals
Copper fixtures, stainless steel appliances, metallic frames, and brass lampstands are all the rage. They can give your room a rustic and elegant look simultaneously. Consider incorporating steampunk design trends into your living room or dining room for an extra touch.
17. Harness the Power of Curtains
Window treatments are not limited to windows anymore. Instead of suggesting blinds and shutters in living spaces, we recommend using long curtains made of high-quality textiles with incredible designs.
Hang them from the ceiling as room dividers, bunch them around the window, or install them around a tub or shower stall for a touch of elegance.
18. Expand Your Space with Reflective Surfaces
It’s incredible how reflective surfaces like mirrors and glass decor items can visually enlarge a small room. The reflective quality of light helps brighten corners in compact spaces, creating the illusion of additional square footage where it’s lacking.
19. Embrace Alternative Seating
Take inspiration from minimalist and Asian home designs by incorporating pillows and cushions around the coffee table. Extend this concept to include day beds, foldable furniture, soft rugs near the fireplace, and low-seating options for a versatile and comfortable seating arrangement.
20. Embrace Dark and Deep Colors
Contrary to common belief, a monochromatic dark theme can be both trendy and practical. Dark color schemes lend a modern and optimized feel, perfect for futuristic living.
With the addition of gradient lighting and wall art, you can leverage dark hues for improved efficiency and style.