10 Home Decorating Rules that changed my life!

Ten Decorating Rules to Level Up Your Home Decorating

In this video, Christina from TheDIYMommy.com shares her ten favorite home decorating rules that can transform your home decor and make it more inviting.

Rule 1: Properly Scaled Furniture and Accessories

• Choose furniture and accessories that are properly scaled for your space.

• In larger rooms with high ceilings, opt for bigger scaled furniture to fill up the space.

• In smaller spaces with lower ceilings, select smaller pieces of furniture that fit well in the space.

• Avoid using furniture or accessories that are too large for the room as it can make the room feel disjointed and unbalanced.

Rule 2: Achieve Balance in Your Home Decor

• Strive for balance in your home decor by using visual weight.

• Symmetrical balance involves mirroring a design on one side to the other, such as placing a large piece of art or mirror in the middle of a mantel and decorating both sides identically.

• Asymmetrical balance is achieved by creating a balanced look without exact mirroring. For example, placing a larger piece of art slightly off-center on a mantel and balancing it with smaller objects on either side.

Rule 3: Use Repetition to Bring Order

• Repeat elements like color, texture, or shape throughout your home to create cohesion.

• Repeating an element about three times in each room is ideal for achieving a cohesive look.

• Repetition can be obvious, such as using vintage ducks as decor throughout the house, or more subtle like repeating metallic gold accents.

Rule 4: Create a Distinct Color Palette

• Define a distinct color palette for your home to bring cohesion to your space.

• Incorporate colorful accessories and furniture into your space while maintaining a defined color scheme.

Rule 5: Consider Proportions and Scale

• Pay attention to proportions and scale when selecting furniture and decor.

• Ensure that the size of your furniture and accessories is appropriate for the space they will occupy.

• Avoid overcrowding a room with oversized pieces or using tiny accents that get lost in the space.

Rule 6: Mix Patterns and Textures

• Embrace mixing patterns and textures to add visual interest to your home decor.

• Combine different patterns, such as stripes, florals, or geometrics, while keeping a cohesive color scheme.

• Incorporate various textures like velvet, linen, or wood to create depth and dimension in your space.

Rule 7: Layer Lighting

• Create layers of lighting in your home for both functionality and ambiance.

• Use a combination of overhead lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting to illuminate different areas of your space.

• Incorporate table lamps, floor lamps, pendant lights, or sconces to add warmth and depth to your rooms.

Rule 8: Add Greenery

• Bring nature indoors by incorporating plants into your home decor.

• Choose plants that thrive in the available light conditions of each room.

• Place plants strategically throughout your space to add freshness and life.

Rule 9: Personalize Your Space

• Infuse your personality into your home decor by displaying meaningful items or collections.

• Showcase family photos, artwork you love, or souvenirs from travels to make your space feel unique and personal.

Rule 10: Edit and Declutter Regularly

• Regularly edit and declutter your home to maintain a clean and organized environment.

• Remove items that no longer serve a purpose or bring joy to create more breathing room in your space.

The transcript provided does not cover all ten decorating rules.

Choosing Color Schemes for Home Decor

In this section, the speaker discusses different color schemes that can be used for home decor and provides tips on how to combine colors effectively.

Monochromatic Color Scheme

• A monochromatic color scheme involves choosing one color and using shades of that color along with neutrals like white, metallic, or brown.

• This creates a minimalistic and calming look in the space.

Analogous Color Scheme

• An analogous color scheme involves choosing two colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, such as blue and green.

• These colors can be repeated throughout the space along with a neutral shade.

• This creates a calming look with more visual interest than a monochromatic scheme.

Complementary Color Scheme

• A complementary color scheme involves choosing two colors or shades of colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green.

• These colors can be paired with neutrals to create a bold and fresh look.

• The speaker suggests using subtle shades like pink and mint green for a more exciting combination.

60-30-10 Rule

• The 60-30-10 rule is a guideline for combining three colors (or two colors and a neutral) in a space.

• Choose a dominant color to use in about 60% of the space (e.g., white walls).

• Use a secondary color in 30% of the space (e.g., green appliances).

• Reserve 10% of the space for accents in another secondary color.

Adding Texture to Enhance Coziness

This section focuses on the importance of incorporating textures into home decor to create an interesting and cozy atmosphere.

Importance of Textures

• Lack of texture can make a space feel less cozy or inviting.

• Adding a variety of textures in textiles, furniture, and wall coverings can make the space more visually interesting.

• Smooth textures like metal and glass, bumpy textures like woven baskets or nubby blankets, furry textures like faux fur, and rough textures like wood or stone can be used.

Mood Boards for Color and Texture Evaluation

• Creating a mood board using programs like Photoshop or free sites like Canva can help evaluate the color and texture combination in a space.

• By pulling together paint colors, accent colors, furniture photos, and accessories on a mood board, it becomes easier to identify any lack of texture or cohesion in the colors.

• Mood boards serve as a visual tool to guide room makeovers and sourcing of different items.

Establishing Focal Points

This section emphasizes the importance of establishing clear focal points in home decor to create visual interest and avoid confusion.

Importance of Focal Points

• Having one clear focal point in a space helps draw attention and creates visual hierarchy.

• Complementing the focal point with other elements in the space enhances its impact.

• Avoid having multiple competing focal points that may confuse viewers.

Choosing Focal Points

• Obvious focal points can include features like fireplaces or unique architectural details.

• Furniture arrangement, rug placement, and accent pieces should complement the chosen focal point rather than distract from it.

The transcript is already in English.

Creating an Eye-Catching Space

This section discusses the importance of layout and planning in home decorating.

Layout and Planning

• It is recommended to create a floor plan for your space before starting any decorating. This can be done with pencil and graph paper or using online tools like floorplanner.com or sketchup.com.

• Designing a floorplan helps determine if furniture dimensions and placement will work well in the space. It also helps identify focal points, conversation areas, and appropriate lighting options.

• By laying out the room on paper or computer, you can avoid purchasing items that are the wrong scale for the space or not leaving enough room for walkways. This saves time and hassle later on.

Sourcing Furniture from Various Places

This section emphasizes the importance of sourcing furniture from different places to create a unique and collected look.

Variety in Sourcing

• Avoid solely relying on big box stores for furniture purchases as it can make your space look generic. Instead, explore thrift stores, garage sales, antique stores, Facebook marketplace, etc., to find unique pieces that match your style.

• Create a mood board by collecting photos of different pieces from various sources to see how they complement each other before making final decisions. This adds interest and personality to your home decor.

Attention to Detail

This section highlights how paying attention to small details can significantly enhance the overall design of a space.

Small Details Matter

• Consider the little things like knobs on cupboards, door knobs, hinges, smaller accessories, and hooks on walls. Choosing cohesive elements like brass-colored knobs can create a more high-end and well-designed look throughout your home.

Importance of Sampling Paint

This section emphasizes the importance of sampling paint in your room before making a final decision.

Sample Paint in Your Space

• Avoid choosing paint based solely on a small chip from the store, as it can look different in your actual space with varying lighting and exposure. Purchase sample pots of the desired paint color and paint a large piece of Bristol board. Tape it up on the wall you intend to paint and observe it for several days under different lighting conditions to get an accurate idea of how it will appear in your space.

These ten decorating rules provide valuable insights for creating visually appealing and well-designed spaces. By following these guidelines, you can enhance your home decor and achieve more satisfying results.