5 Tips for Decorating Like a Designer

hi friends my name is Jennifer I've been a designer for over 20 years and today I'm going to give you five tips on how to decorate like an interior designer so let's get [Music] started so before I jump into giving you my five tips be sure you're subscribed to the channel and following me on Instagram so whether you're starting from scratch or you're looking to refresh your home mastering the art of interior decorating can seem like a daunting task well in today's video we're diving into the world of interior design and I'll be sharing five practical tips that will have your home looking like it's straight out of a magazine so grab a pen and paper Because by the end of this video you'll be armed with a knowledge to decorate with confidence and style number one lighting choosing lighting is crucial in interior design as it significantly impacts the Ambiance functionality and overall Aesthetics of a space when possible I recommend replacing Builder grade light fixtures with a more unique selection to immediately elevate a space Builders often choose fixtures that are well cheaper but more importantly they choose fixtures that are plain why well because they want to provide the homeowner with a fixture that can go with any Decor style so Builder grade fixtures rarely have any character or Charm to them by selecting a new fixture that leans more towards your personal Decor style you'll give your home a custom designed look and listen you don't have to spend a lot of money on a light fixture for this strategy to work in fact even Amazon and Target have great options just make sure you don't go too small an undersized fixture will put the space off balance another incredibly important aspect of lighting is layering lighting has a direct correlation with emotions consider how overhead lighting makes you feel it can be jarring and sterile and cause harsh contrast in the space now what about when you turn on lamps that feels much better it's softer warmer and more inviting I recommend having a minimum of three lamps in a space but depending on the size of the room you could do more another great tip to enhance your space is to select the right light bulb this is so important I highly recommend selecting warm light bulbs in instead of cool white cool white bulbs can make your home feel like a doctor's office rather than a welcoming and warm home so my recommendation is to select bulbs that are 3500 Kelvin number two use the rule of three balance is so important when decorating your home so what is the rule of three in a nutshell the rule of three suggests that things grouped in three are more natural harmonious and Visually appealing but wait I thought balance means symmetry well yes and no you can have balance with Symmetry and asymmetry for instance and this is a very simple example but let's say you have a sideboard in your dining room space you have two lamps on each side and a floral in the middle that is beautifully balanced so when styling shelves mantel or tabletops designers often group objects in threes for example placing three vases on different heights together or three decorative objects with varying textures can create a visually appealing arrangement I recommend using this Rule and wall decor as well let's say you have a large wall above your sofa well you could use three mirrors with the middle one raised just a little bit higher to draw the eye up this is a wonderful way to to use the rule of three you could also select a large piece of artwork and then put two sconces on either side of the art do you see how that makes it feel more complete so when in doubt use the rule of three there are always exceptions but this rule is a great way to minimize over accessorizing and reduce that cluttered Feeling by arranging items in groups of three designers avoid a symmetrical and static look which can feel too formal or predictable in essence the rule of three is a versatile guideline that interior designers use to bring Harmony Balan and visual interest to a room all right number three use properly scaled Decor using properly scaled Decor is essential in interior design to ensure that furnishings and decorative elements harmonize with the size and the proportions in a room often times people are afraid to go large with their decor items or furniture they choose art that is way under scale hang their drapes too low and choose lamps that are too small it's a very common theme when I go to see clients for the first time but it goes back to the balance we talked about with a rule of three it's very important to create proper balance to give your home that Designer feel so be careful When selecting items for a room a room with all small scale furniture can feel cluttered while an oversized piece in a small room can dominate the space so when choosing Furniture think about the space is all the weight in the bottom half of the room then you may need to consider a large bookcase or a heavier wall decor to draw the eyes up and balance the space don't be afraid to do this especially with something like bookcases a unique bookcase not only balances the weight of the room but it can give a custom feel to the space as well plus it gives the opportunity for accessorizing with personal items you love go large with your wall decor as well it's incredibly common for people to select wall decor that is way too small and that can make a space feel very incomplete or aimless designers select larger wall decor items because it fills the wall up and it eliminates those blank boring spaces of wall so consider upscaling your wall decor to give a more luxurious designer look by paying attention to scale and proportion interior designers ensure that every element within a room contributes to a cohesive and harmonious design it's about striking the right balance between functionality Aesthetics and the unique characteristics of the space number four cohesive color palette choosing a color scheme is a fundamental aspect of interior design that sets the tone enhances the atmosphere and it ties together the overall look of his face for a truly designer look mix patterns and colors but keep them cohesive a great rule of thumb is that your palette throughout the space should never be matchy matchy but always coordinate this should actually give you some Freedom rather than needing to perfectly match every pillow drape and rug you want them to go well together this means you need to plan out your color scheme but we will get to more of the planning in tip number five so how do you do this well first you need to select your color palette maybe your space is already painted or you already have a piece of furniture or textile you need to work with well Pinterest is a fantastic tool for those who struggle with coming up with cohesive colors just search blue color palette or natural or neutral color palette and there are thousands of beautiful examples of colors and patterns that work well together Pinterest can work as a great inspiration for landing on a cohesive color scheme and along these lines don't be afraid to mix patterns this is a great strategy of a good designer for instance Stripes go wonderfully with Organic I patterns incorporate texture and patterns throughout Fabrics rugs and accessories to add depth and interest to the color scheme mix different textures to prevent monotony and enhance visual appeal you can mix contrasting patterns and colors in a way that feels intentional and it will prevent a space from feeling too plain but rather designed with a professional eye ultimately the color scheme should reflect your personal style and preferences don't hesitate to experiment with different combinations until you find the one that resonates with you and compliments your space number five pay attention to the details and plan them well the key to a great design is the details and rarely do they just fall into place they need to be intentionally planned and chosen planning the details of a design is a crucial step for interior designers to ensure that every aspect of a space contributes to its functionality Aesthetics and overall Ambiance so I highly recommend using a tool like canva to make a mood board what is a mood board well very simply put it's a collage of images that showcase a planned project I use mood boards every single day to show clients my plans for their space and it's a truly vital tool to ensure a design comes together in a mood board you can arrange images of items you want to use in with your design and really see how they'll look together play with your designs in canva and pay attention to the details like The Fringe of a pillow tying Into The Fringe of a chair or the light blue of the drapes coordinating with the blue in the artwork or the rug do not Overlook the details they can make or break a good design so create a mood board in whatever platform you prefer and take your time planning out your space this will also help you avoid buying things unnecessarily and coming home to realize they just don't work with the scheme when you properly plan you'll know just what to look for it's also important to incorporate personalized elements that reflect your taste and interest such as artwork family heirlooms or custom-designed Furniture Pieces by meticulously planning and attending to every detail of the design process interior designers create spaces that are not only visually appealing but also functional comfortable and tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of their clients you can do this too by evaluating your own needs and preferences and finding ways to incorporate these elements into your space I hope you find these decorating tips helpful and inspiring for transforming your own space remember decorating is not just about making a room look good but creating a space that reflects your personality enhances your lifestyle whether you're tackling a complete makeover or making small changes don't underestimate the power of thoughtful design choices be sure to like this video If you enjoyed my tips and subscribe to my channel for more decorating ideas and inspiration I'll see you in the next video have a a wonderful day [Music]