The Do’s and Don’ts of Home Decorating

Do you know the difference between wallpaper and paint? Do you know how to use a color palette? The problem with decorating your home is that there are so many opinions, rules, and ideas about how to do it. So what does work? A well-balanced home is where you pay attention to the smallest details. You must know your tastes and preferences. A small mistake may ruin the overall look of the room. Here is the list of the things that work and don’t work.

 

Choose Complementary Colors

Choosing colors that complement one another and work with your furniture is best when choosing a color palette. It’s also important to consider what mood you want your home to convey–whether warm or cool, bright or dark, etc.–to know which colors will most effectively achieve this atmosphere. If you want to add color splashes in your home, for example, choose something that will stand out and make your rooms feel more inviting. Choose all the sofa upholstery, area rugs, and draperies in the same color to create a cohesive look.

 

Avoid Clashing Colors

Most people go for any color they want without a sense of how it will look throughout the house. The challenge here is to create an environment that flows nicely and never clashes with one another. One-color themes can be successfully mixed into your home if you choose wisely from colors in the same family–such as light blue, greenish-blue, or purplish-gray. Get ideas from the color wheel to find complementary colors.

Where should you start? Begin by assessing the color scheme in your dining room, living room, and bedrooms. If you have a neutral palette throughout these rooms (such as browns and beiges), then it’s okay to use more vivid colors elsewhere–for instance, in the bathroom or kitchen. But if you have a palette of colors throughout these rooms, it’s best to stick with neutrals in the rest of your home. To avoid an “odd man out” feeling, try using one color as an accent or focal point for each room, such as painting an accent color on the walls or using a rug with that color in your living room.

 

Choose a Theme and Stick to It

Sticking with one theme can be difficult because people want their home to reflect themselves. You have two options when it comes down to clashing colors: choosing an overall color scheme or picking out accent pieces that compliment your décor. The latter option is usually the best because it will mix colors from different parts of your home. The theme will also help in choosing paint colors. Themes can be a color to an era, and all will help create a cohesive home décor strategy–don’t forget about the accent pieces.

 

Mix Up Textures, Patterns, and Styles

Don’t forget about textures! Mixing fabrics, wood surfaces, and fabric upholstery can make for an interesting look. But mixing patterns is important to–try pairing stripes with florals or paisleys together to create contrast without making it seem busy. Don’t overdo the mixing, though–stick to two or three patterns if it’s your first time. If you go crazy with mixing texture and patterns here and there, it could even make your space seem cluttered and chaotic. If you want to add an accent piece without taking away from the overall look, go with a pattern or texture that contrasts. For example, use wood furniture as the base of your room and match it up with a softer fabric sofa for some contrast. This way, if you want to add a floral couch or patterned rug, it won’t stand out as much.

 

Set a Neutral Foundation

It will allow you to create contrast in other aspects of your home, but don’t forget about the walls! Paint them in neutral colors that can be mixed with different accents for an eclectic look. And remember: light colors make rooms seem larger and darker ones give off a cozy vibe. They are also easy to blend with decor.

 

Create a Comfortable and Cozy Space

Comfort is the first thing in home decor. When it comes to comfort, one of the best things you can do is invest in good quality, thick, hand-knotted rugs that your family will love walking on (and they’re easy to clean). Don’t choose too small or too large of a rug, as that will make the room feel cluttered. If you can’t find a thick and plush enough rug for your space, get two or three thinner ones to maximize comfort without feeling like too many rugs are on the floor. Also, invest in pillows of all shapes and sizes– they’re one of the best combinations of affordable and comfy, with the bonus of being a great decorative touch.

 

Create a Sense of Warmth in Your Home

You want your home to be warm and inviting for you and everyone who visits. To achieve that, fill it with plenty of natural light (via skylights or windows) and ensure that all the furniture has plush cushions. White couches also work well because they can be easily changed for a new look with throws or pillows.

Make sure that you have at least one fun accent piece–it doesn’t even need to go in the living room! A cool coffee table book and some fireplace rocks are great ways of adding personality without going overboard.

 

Plan Your Furniture

The furniture in your home should be in a way that makes it so you can move around easily. You want to have plenty of space for people to walk and sit down comfortably, but not too much space–it’s important that the room doesn’t feel cramped. Do invest in couches with some personality if possible–any couch will do just fine as long as it goes well with your decor.

 

Don’t Buy Furniture You Can’t Get into Your House

Planning the furniture in your living room can make a huge difference, but you won’t be able to do that if you buy a couch that doesn’t fit through the door! If this is an issue for you, get creative and get a couch that can be deconstructed so you can take it apart and bring in the smaller pieces.

 

On a Nutshell

When it comes to home decorating, there are a lot of dos and don’ts. If you want to avoid the common pitfalls that can come with any remodeling project, be sure to use these tips when buying rugs for your home. RugKnots has all of the perfect options available in their vast selection, so you can find an affordable rug that works for every room in your house! Do you have questions about our products? Contact us today. We would love to help you make some amazing choices on how best to furnish and design your space!