10 Essential Decorating Tips for Beginners ...

By Kati

10 Essential Decorating Tips for Beginners ...

Decorating: love it, hate it, need some decorating tips for beginners? While some people come alive planning rooms, trying the sofa out against various walls and in various corners and selecting color schemes, others can think of nothing worse than walking round home stores or trying to understand feng shui. What corner do we need to put that bed in again?! If decorating isn’t your thing, make it easier for yourself using these decorating tips for beginners. Once you’ve got it right, you’ll feel right at home.

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1

Save Space!

The best decorating tips for beginners help you save space. Unless you have hundreds of hidden storage units, keeping your room minimalist can be difficult. You might start with a sofa and a TV, but you’ll need somewhere to put the hoover, a cat bed, a coffee table, a plant, somewhere to put DVDs… Soon enough, it can feel that all that spare room you had is gone. Avoid this problem by being realistic about what needs to fit in each room, and using every inch of space wisely. A friend recently turned an old fireplace into a bookcase for her toddler – with a tiny chair next to it, he’s got somewhere to play that’s safe and totally adorable. Top marks!

2

Display Collections

Collections can take a house from looking standard to looking perfect. Ever noticed how those homes in glossy decorating magazines have random selections of objects everywhere? Whether it’s teacups, vases, clay objects or any other collectible display them all together in one place. Opt for different sizes and colors and display an odd number of objects for the best look: not only will it give your house a "Home & Gardens" look, but they are a great distraction too!

3

Mix Colors

The latest kitchen trend? White kitchens. Everything is white and sterile, and while it looks very classy in a showroom, it can look very plain in your house. Brighten rooms up without reaching for the paint by clashing plain colours with brights and neons. A bright yellow and white tablecloth in a white kitchen, for example, can bring it to life. It’s easily changeable, too, so you can keep redesigning your kitchen for a really low cost.

4

Lose the Frame

Looking for things to display? Most people will instinctively look for photos and paintings to hang on the wall. That’s not all you can have, though. Give your home a professional finish by opting for sculptural art and textures instead. I’ve got some gorgeous mirrored butterflies above my computer desk, adding a new feel to an otherwise boring wall, and there are plenty of wire, metal and wooden designs too.

5

Just Add Mirrors

Looking to brighten up a room, make a room seem bigger or just create an impact? Collect some mirrors. Vintage styled mirrors in a variety of shapes can be displayed along either side of a room, opening it up to look bigger and adding plenty of extra light – and the artistic effect is simply stunning. You can also create the look with more contemporary designs. The trick is to opt for mirror designs that are similar but distinctive, to create a put-together but creative feel.

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Warren Buffett
6

Blend Your Fixtures

Need some wall storage? If you’re opting for a stylish bookcase, go old-school with dark woods and heavy designs. For cases that hang on the wall, invest in some paint the same color as the wall and paint the case once you’ve hung it. Blending it in will make the room feel bigger, and make the objects on the case stand out even more.

7

Create Fascinating Displays

Avoid standard clusters of vases, flowers and ornaments and instead put that space to real use. A striking contemporary table can be bought alive by creating a light display – invest in a few different lights, including positionable stage lights and lights that hang from the ceiling, and play around until you find a display you love. It’s a great way to show off a selection of great lampshades, and changing the color of the bulbs can make the room feel seasonal.

8

Choose Themes

Love old ships? Theme your study using old nautical maps on the walls, and old navigation globes on the window sill. Matchstick boats in bottles, a water-worn-look desk and the right wallpaper will finish the look perfectly, and you’ll love being in the new themed room. Do the same for childrens’ bedrooms: boat rooms, princess rooms – whatever they love, bring it to life for them in their room. Well, who wouldn’t want to sleep in a racing car bed?!

9

Focus Walls

Love really bold wallpapers but too scared to give them a try? Opt for one that you really love, and cover one statement wall in it. I helped a friend paper the wall behind their sofa in a bright poppy print – the rest of the room was kept white, with white furnishings and red detailing throughout. It’s classy, distinctive and perfectly matches her personality!

10

Use Your Special Items Daily

I know far too many people who use wonky mugs and scratched plates everyday, keeping the better things that they love for special occasions. Let every day be your special occasion. Invest in crockery in a pattern that makes you smile, mugs with cute characters on them and cutlery that works like a charm. It’ll make you smile every morning, and give you the best possible start to the day. It doesn’t just go for your housewares, either – a great table should be centre-stage so everyone can enjoy it, and don’t keep your favourite sofas covered up – use them and love them!

Decorating can be complicated, especially if you’ve got contrasting ideas to the person you are moving with, but it doesn’t have to be challenging. Check out other peoples’ homes for inspiration, invest in magazines aimed at the budget you are looking at, and try things out. These designing tips for beginners will transform your home in no time! Have you got another great tip? Let me know, I’d love to hear it!

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