52 Weeks of Expert Decorating Tips…For The Year We Stayed Home!

We’ve all been staying home a lot more this year, so shouldn’t we complete some projects, updates, repairs, and painting so we can really enjoy our space?

That’s why we’ve compiled 52 ideas—one a week—to give you some inspiration. Have fun trying them in your home!

1. Try some visual tricks to raise your ceilings. Paint them a light colour, hang your curtains closer to the ceiling, use taller furniture, or bring some bookcases or shelves into the room.
2. Go sexy. Every room needs a bit of elegant, mysterious black.
3. Mix something old with something new. Combine some pretty antique pieces with modern ones.
4. Put what you love on display. Show off your favourite collections, books, art, dishes—whatever you like to look at.
5. Less is more. Use a few larger accessories, or cluster a group of smaller ones together to create a cohesive piece.
6. Create the perfect lighting. For ideal brightness and ambiance, the bottom of your pendant light should sit approximately 28”-34” above a counter top.
7. Make mirrors unique. Frame out a large mirror in a bathroom to give it a custom look.
8. Give your rooms some space. Pull your furniture away from the walls by at least 2”. This actually makes your room look bigger!
9. Make a good first impression. A fun or stylish new doormat is a great way to greet your guests.
10. Dine-in style. Accentuate your dining table with flowers, a collection of vases, or grouped candlesticks. Use different heights, shapes and textures.
11. Create a focal point. Rearrange your furniture around a central piece: a stunning view, fireplace, or a cherished piece of art.
12. Let there be light. Add mirrors to reflect natural light within rooms. This can also offer a reflected view of your patio or outdoor garden.
13. Go big and stay home. Upgrade your area rugs to bigger ones. It will make your space feel larger and more expansive.
14. Give your eyes a rest. When hanging art, leave at least one wall bare in a room. Your eyes can take a rest and really take in the room.
15. Layer your light sources. Combine task, ambient, and accent lighting for layered warmth. Make sure your lamps are large enough as well.
16. Utilize units. Display collections on a tray or shelf rather than all over the house for more impact.
17. Open up your door. Paint your front door a fun colour for a welcoming first impression.
18. Move around. Transfer your art from room to room periodically to give your home a fresh new look and feel.
19. Shop at home. Look around you for new pieces. Maybe you have a side table in the spare room that would be ideal in your family room, or a cool chair in the basement that belongs in the living room.
20. Find your favourite. Start your decorating plan with a much-loved piece of art or rug to find your inspiration.
21. Mix up your dishes. Add odd pieces or grandma’s china to your everyday set when you’re setting the table for dinner.
22. Tell a story. Put out coffee table books to share your passions with your guests, whether you love travel, gardening, art, or museums.
23. Try before you buy. Test paint colours on large sample boards before committing to the colour. Move them around the room at different times of the day to make sure you like the effect.
24. Change slip covers seasonally. Slip different covers over your headboard each season to refresh your bedroom.
25. Go large with lighting. Upgrade to larger fixtures to add drama and interest to a space.
26. Double up on tables. Try more than one coffee table in a large room. Two or three nestled together can be functional and pretty as well.
27. Go bold in small spaces. Opt for bright paint colours or cool wallpaper patterns in a powder room.
28. Mix up patterns. When adding cushions, upholstery, or drapery, use one large pattern, one medium, and one small in a central colour theme to start. Adding textiles to a room will both absorb sound and make a room cozier.
    
29. Decant to decorate. Decant your dish soap, hand soap, and toiletries into stylish bottles.
30. Style your shelves. Make your bookshelves stand out with cool shapes, textures, and items from trips.
31. Lean in. Lean art or large mirrors against a wall for an interesting alternative to hanging them up.
32. Put your money where it matters. Invest in the pieces you’ll enjoy most: your bed and sofa.
33. Bring back old bookshelves. Wallpaper or paint the back of your bookshelves for a unique touch and pop of colour.
34. Get a custom cushion. Order an oversized custom cushion in a gorgeous fabric for your bed to add a little luxury to your bedroom.
35. Wrap things up. Add colour, pattern, or texture to bookshelves by wrapping books in leftover wallpaper or wrapping paper.
36. Shower in style. Order a custom shower curtain in a special fabric for a one-of-a-kind bathroom.
37. Float away. Install a strip of mirror to the bottom kick of a bathroom vanity to make it appear to float.
38. Optimize your art. Hang art at eye level or 6”-10” off a sofa.
39. Lighten up on lamps. Wall sconces can be an illuminating space-saver in your bedroom instead of lamps.
40. Rejuvenate your furniture. Paint an old piece of furniture to bring new life to old pieces.
41. Try something new. Explore unexpected colour combos, like blue and red, or red and hot pink, to add interest and energy to any room.
42. Bring the outside in. Integrate florals, branches, moss, stones, and shells into your home decor.
43. Skip the desk. Use a dining table instead of a desk in your home office for a cozier workspace.
44. Put your entry closet to work. Change an entry closet into a fully functioning feature. This could be as simple as removing the doors, adding a bench and hooks, or maybe turning it into a bar area or office space.
45. Stack things up. Pile some of your favourite books beside a living room chair to create a cool side table.
46. Create a reading nook. Whether it’s in the corner of a dining room or your bedroom, set aside some space to kick back with a good book.
47. Style a small space. A console with two stools pushed underneath it creates a functional, space-efficient entryway.
48. Look up for inspiration. Don’t forget the fifth wall! Your ceiling can be showcased by wallpapering it or painting it a dark colour—or maybe a sky blue to make you feel like you are outside?
49. Choose double-duty furniture. You could also use foot stools as a coffee table, a sofa bed as a couch by day, or a Murphy beds to maximize space.
50. Pay attention to detail. Change out those pulls and knobs on your furniture or cabinets and drawers with new ones—you can find everything from antique brass to trendy brushed metal.
51. Group colours together. Try colour-blocking books on your living room or bedroom shelves for a feeling of harmony and order.
52. Mix and match with purpose. Your room will look eclectic yet balanced filled with chairs that are all in the same period, colour, or theme.

If you need assistance or inspiration to complete your projects, contact us. We are here to help!