Beginners GUide: Home Decorating
You’re all grown up with a real job and a place of your very own. As you embark on life’s journey, you dream of inviting friends and family over for cocktail evenings or dinner parties. Sadly, your home still looks the way it did when you were a mere uni student.
Home décor is constantly evolving, so sometimes you need to revert back to square one and start fresh. Whether it’s your first time decorating on your own, or just looking to update your space, we all have to start somewhere. Luckily, I’ve compiled some tips, tricks and inspiration for your home decorating needs – something easy to follow if you’re a beginner. Decorating your home may seem daunting, no matter how big or small. While it can be a lot of work, it can also be fun, and when you take it step-by-step, your room will come together.
So, let’s get into my guide to your decorating process as a beginner.
Choose your Style
Before you start decorating, you should choose your home decor style. There are countless styles to choose from including traditional, modern, minimalistic, rustic… the list goes on! This could easily be the hardest decision you’ll have to make when it comes to your home decorating so think about your personality and interests. If you are more drawn to the look of clean lines, you might lean towards more minimalistic. If you prefer bright colours and patterns you could go for a bohemian look.
Your home décor should reflect your personality so choose something you’d be happy to see every day. You could also do some research to decide which type of interior style is your favourite.
Create a Plan
You should absolutely create a plan for your home. Are you decorating your entire house from scratch, or only updating a room or two? To avoid overwhelming yourself, sit down and create a plan for each room.
We all have to start somewhere. My advice is to pick one room and continue from there. Maybe start with your bedroom, it’s one of the most personal rooms in your home and you’ll spend a great deal of time in it. Another place you spend a lot of time in is the living room, so you could also start there.
Choose a Colour Palette
Once you’ve selected our décor style, you’ll also want to come up with a colour palette for your room. Remember, your colour palette should reflect your chosen style. The minimalistic style often uses white, black, and neutral colours whereas boho incorporates lots of jewel colours like ruby, sapphire, and emerald.
The best place to start is figuring out whether you want warm or cool tones in your space. You are also free to mix it up throughout the house – don’t feel you have to stick to the same colour palette throughout your entire house.
Your colour palette should also follow the 60-30-10 rule. This is a classic home décor rule that helps create the perfect palette for your room. 60% of your room should be our dominant colour and be applied with things such as your wall colours (accent walls being the exception) and larger décor pieces like a sofa or rug. 30% of your room should be a secondary colour. This should be different enough from your dominant colour but should still complement one another. This colour is then used in other furniture pieces, curtains, and linens. Finally, 10% of your room should be your accent colour which is then used for throw blankets, framed artwork, and other trinkets around your space.
Have it Flow
This is a crucial step when it comes to interior design. You don’t want a farmhouse style in your kitchen with contemporary in your living room – it wouldn’t flow. While no one is going to stop you of course – you do you – I would suggest letting your style flow through your entire home.
Once you have a plan, start with bigger pieces first which will make all the little décor pieces easier to find. These important pieces could be a sofa for your living room, a bedframe for your bedroom, a table for your dining room. These are the items that will make a statement in your room so don’t skimp on them!
Investments in the essential furniture works like your go-to black dress or favourite jacket – they’re the foundation for everything else.
Get Familiar with Basic Design Elements and Principles
The principles of interior design can be a little daunting however you can make sense of these basics. Think about the placement of furnishings that provide visual weight in the room. If you like the traditional style, symmetry will be your friend; modern interiors lean towards a more asymmetrical look.
A focal point is an element intended to catch your eye when you enter a room. You want it to stand out from the other design elements. It can be anything from an accent wall, to a large window or even an artwork.
You also want to incorporate the principles of scale, proportion, colour, and texture. Proportion makes a visual connection to the shape and size of similar items.
Add your own Personal Touch
Adding your own personal touch to your home will help it stand out when you, or your friends and family, walk through the space. This could include photos, scented candles, family heirlooms, or any personal artwork (maybe your kids or your own). All these things can take your home to the next level.