28 New Decorating Secrets the Pros Swear By
Throw the old rulebook out the window.
1/28 Start with your color scheme.
For a head-to-toe makeover, the first step is creating a palette. "I come up with a basic color scheme for the whole house, and then I take that from room to room," reveals Gary McBournie, a designer based in Boston. "It plays itself out in different ways in different rooms." 2/28 Fake height with low furniture. "Create strong verticals and avoid the horizontal," recommends designer Todd Romano. "I adore large mirrors because they add scale to a room. I also kept the furniture low-slung, so the rooms seem taller."
3/28 Give window trims a splash of color. "Window trim is an often-overlooked opportunity to make a statement," says designer Meg Braff. Jeffrey Bilhuber agrees. "I often end up painting them green, to blend in with the landscape," the eclectic decorator says. "Or sometimes I paint them pitch black, so the muntins practically disappear in the evening."
4/28 Try a high contrast palette. "I'm really into saturated color with white to balance it out so it doesn’t feel over-whelming," says Joanna Gaines, the star of HGTV's Fixer Upper and mastermind behind Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines Paint in partnership with Kilz. Having trouble picking out a bold color? Gaines recommends green, because it's found in nature and timeless.
5/28 Put investment pieces front and center. If you truly love something, you'll want to put it on display. "Use and enjoy your antiques and unique finds, especially in a utilitarian room like the bathroom," advises designer Bunny Williams.
6/28 Warm up a room with mirrors. Mirrored panels like the ones lining this alcove can be elegant — but don't just slap them up, designer Jan Showers warns. Large sheets of mirror will look commercial, so try a sectioned pattern in the traditional French style instead.
7/28 Embrace decorative finishes. "Decorative finishes, like glazes, will warm houses next year," says Doug Wilson, a designer on the upcoming Trading Spacesreboot. Here, a charcoal gray trim breaks up the white, but doesn't stray too far for conservative tastes.
8/28 Don't skimp on the sofa.
Don't postpone a makeover because of naturally messy kids. "Put your money into a comfortable, well-made sofa that you'll have forever," advises Krista Ewart, a designer based in California. "You don't have to deny yourself that expensive designer fabric you love — just put it on something small, like a pillow."
9/28 Neutrals with texture.
Neutral decor can be interesting — just include a variety of materials. "I used a range — from fine-gauge and open-weave linen, to raw silk and taffeta, to cotton velvet and distressed velvet," says California-based designer Ohara Davies-Gaetano. "Not only that, there's also the contrast of matte sheens that absorb the light, and lustrous sheens that reflect it."
10/28 Implement the 50/150 rule.
For the perfect color family, mix one batch of paint 50% lighter than the base and another 150% darker. "That's a failsafe method for striping a wall," says Mary Douglas Drysdale, who designed this bold blue kitchen. "It's also a very architectural way of using color."
11/28 Add velvet decor.
"I don't think it will last too long, but the look of velvet is a big trend," says TV personality and designer on the new season of Trading Spaces, Sabrina Soto. She embraced this material by buying a deep blue velvet couch for her formal living room, but if you want a safer choice, go with a soft gray.
12/28 Go deep in small spaces.
Small living spaces don't have to feel cramped. "See how these living room chairs have smallish arms," says designer Elizabeth Pyne. "Most of their square footage is given to the seat, so you can curl up in them. They feel luxurious and roomy even though they're not big."
13/28 Don't settle for "flood warning" side panels.
"For classic side panels, you really have to go allthe way to the floor," designer Scot Meacham Wood says. "If you're looking at ready-made drapes, make sure that they touch the floor, even if you have to buy the next size up and have them hemmed."
14/28 Favor value-add paint colors.
A temporary space can look beautiful, even with a small budget. "We are so used to having painters sand for ages to produce mirror-smooth walls, but I wasn't about to spend the money to do that in a rental," says designer Max Sinsteden of his bright green entryway. "It turns out the irregular surface just sparkles all the more."
15/28 Look to the ceiling to brighten things up.
Kitchens with floor-to-ceiling cabinets can look dark, but here's how to fool the eye: Designer Caitlin Moran will paint the ceiling a slightly paler version of the walls, so the room seems brighter even with just a few windows.
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16/28 Mix, rather than match, your tableware.
Matching can be so overrated — and expensive. Look online (and in thrift shops) for beautiful sets of antique china and silver flatware, recommends Williams. You'll save money and the place settings will feel more special to guests than brand-new ones.
17/28 Let gold and silver hangout together.
Metallic finishes already add plenty of sparkle, but the sheen will make a bigger impact in a variety of colors. "I don't know why people don't mix gold with silver more often — they look so smart together," says designer John De Bastiani. "The key is to use a lot of both; you can't be shy with one or the other."
18/287 Think of a straw rug as your perfect basic.
You might think of straw as an outdoor textile, but it'll look just as good indoors. "Straw, jute, rush — natural materials and neutral tones are they always chic," says Braff. "They're the white T-shirt of interior design."
19/28 Go big with dark color.
Taking the plunge on a strong hue can be intimidating, but the best way is to dive in head first. "One of the most successful strategies is to paint a strong color on everything, from the baseboard and crown molding to the walls," says Garrow Kedigian, a designer based in New York. "It works well because it's not contrasted against a different trim color."
20/28 Pile on the pillows for extra luxe.
One pair of pillows always looks skimpy, says Melissa Warner, a California-based designer. Use two pairs, in contrasting patterns, colors, and textures. De Bastiani agrees: "I don't do dinky accents...small pillows look like something that came with the furniture."
21/28 Fake square footage with a glass shower.
Most people opt for a frosted glass or an opaque curtain for extra privacy, but there's something to be said for transparency. Glass shower doors, like in this guest bathroom by designer Amy Meier, add instant square footage. To complete the illusion, run the floor tiles straight into the stall. "It makes the room feel larger," adds designer Alla Akimova. "If I had changed materials, it would have interrupted the space."
22/28 Put thought behind your mirrors.
When hanging mirrors, think carefully about what they'll will reflect, advises Showers. You want to pick up a great scene, like a pretty chandelier.
23/28 Be generous with your kitchen backsplash.
Eye-catching tile can make a statement in the kitchen as well as in the bathroom. Cover as much of the wall as the budget allows, recommends designer Angie Hranowsky. Matthew Quinn, also a designer, agrees: "It feels more like a French bistro this way," he says of this blue-gray backdrop
24/28 Play the field with dining room seating.
Dining room benches might not be conventional, but they sure are cozy. "You automatically feel more friendly when you're sharing a seat," points out designer Thom Filicia. "It could quickly become corporate if you were looking at a room full of chairs." Vicente Wolf, also a designer, agrees on mixing it up: "You wouldn't have eight identical chairs in your living area."
25/28 Anchor a room with skirted furniture.
Too many chair and table legs can make a room "nervous," advises Warner. A skirted piece or two will make the space more grounded, and provide additional storage like in this office designed by Miles Redd.
26/28 Try a "more is more" mindset.
It's counterintuitive, but the trick to pattern is to use more. "It's all about symmetry," reveals Meg Braff. She uses prints in pairs, so that there is the same textile on one side of the room as on the other. "It's comforting to the eye — you don't have to 'work' to take it in," she adds.
27/28 Let space size dictate furniture placement.
If the size of the space mandates where the furniture goes, think about the pieces strategically. For example, if a bed has to go against a window wall, choose a headboard that still lets sunlight in, like this Florida bedroom by Todd Romano.
28/28 Welcome guests with a bar in plain sight.
Cleaning up clutter can be a good thing, but there's one thing hosts should never stow away. "Show, don't tell, what you're serving with a well-appointed bar," says Bunny Williams. "Guests feel more at home when they can help themselves."
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