Tip: Modern furniture is beautiful, but it can sometimes look a little uninviting. Soften the lines by adding texture. Toss a fluffy flokati rug on the floor, colorful pillows on your couch, and some organic decorative pieces on the coffee table.
Styling by Gina Provenzano.
Tip: Go funky with details to create unique end tables. Try a tower of art or fashion books, a pile of retro-style suitcases, even a stool.
Tip: Fill a large wall space for a small price. First, you need a piece of fabric that complements the upholstery in the room. Get a stretcher from an art store, stretch the fabric over the wall, and attach it with a staple gun.
Tip: Your entryway needs personality because it’s the first thing people see. First, clear a small space for all your stuff—keys, cell, and mail. Then get creative by jazzing up the wall with colorful paint or wild wallpaper.
Modular Bookcase, West Elm, Colored storage boxes, The Container Store. Styling by Gina Provenzano.
Tip: Working in threes is a great tip for displaying your stuff like the pros. Try coordinating tea pots, potted plants, clocks on a wall, or vases of different heights.
Tip: Color is key when styling your open shelves. Pick two harmonizing hues and mix them up evenly. Use coordinating shapes, organize by size, and don’t be afraid to show off your hardware like colanders, shiny pots, even appliances.
Tip: Jazz up those white walls with some out-of-the-ordinary ideas. Transform your space by choosing a bright paint color for the background and add a fun 3-D element, such as arranging a collection of plates or hanging wallpaper in a patchwork pattern.
Tip: Photos can add a personal touch to your room—as long as they’re displayed the right way. Make a grid with pictures in matching frames; arrange photos on shelves and add family memorabilia; hang black-and-white photos against a colorful backdrop.
Tip: Every room needs a focal point, which is the one thing the eye is immediately drawn toward (it also drives the design of the room). Examples of decorative focal points are a fireplace, a four-poster bed, or an interesting piece of furniture.
Amenity Home Bedding, 3Rliving.com. Styling by Gina Provenzano.
Tip: Wall decals are an instant home-style tip; they’re an easy, inexpensive way to spruce up a room. The decals come on sheets—like temporary tattoos—and are applied by simply rubbing them on the walls. Plus, they peel right off the walls so they’re perfect for that rental (or people who like to redecorate a lot!).
Tip: Some easy and cheap wall art ideas: framing a collection of cool vintage cigar labels; cutting up and framing pages from a photography book; and framing scraps of wallpaper. You can even take snapshots from a recent vacation and arrange them with souvenirs.
Tip: Get creative by stylishly organizing bookshelves by color, rather than size or theme. Mix in objects to give the shelves a sense of texture as well. Most importantly, don’t fill every inch—leave some open space so the look doesn’t appear too chaotic.
by Krissy Tiglias
6/2/08
See more:
Decor Tricks,
style solutions