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Design Tips: 5 Ways to Create an Inviting Home
Start your welcome vibes at the front door.
Design a bright and cheery entryway with a couple of houseplants or a charming farmhouse inspired sign that says “home” or “hello”. If it’s cold or rainy outside, make sure a coat rack or wall hooks are available to hang their jackets, bags, or umbrellas. You don’t want your guests to feel like they have to hold onto their belongings because there isn’t a place for them to store it.
Use beautiful art and unique accents to entice your guests to explore your home.
Hanging wall art and sprinkling interesting and unique accent pieces throughout your home will encourage your guests to poke around your space, ask questions about you or the piece, and create thoughtful conversations.
Make it easy to navigate around seating areas.
Create a seating area that’s free from obstacles. You don’t want your guests tripping over small ottomans, floor pillows, or side tables. Your guests should feel like they can easily move through your space, making themselves comfortable on your sofa, accent chairs, and dining area.
Incorporate soft textiles in your design.
Smooth and soft throw pillows, warm and cozy throw blankets, and plush area rugs can all help create a welcoming environment. If your goal is to encourage your guests to kick off their shoes, sit back and relax, then bring on the layers of soft textiles!
5 Ways to Use Accent Furniture
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Accent furniture is the piece of furniture that stands out from the rest, but it also ties everything together. It leans more towards decor than functionality. Incorporate accents throughout your space to let your personality shine through your design. Here are 5 ways to use accent furniture in your home:
5 Interior Design Styles from Around the World
England Elegance
English style homes are heavy with ornate details and wood furniture. Warm, ambient lighting, a brick fireplace, and antique furniture gives English design it’s luxurious and elegant quality. Luscious gardens with a curved brick pathway is one of the most charming characteristics of an English inspired home.
5 Creative Ways to Use Wallpaper
Makeover an old dresser of bookshelf by covering it in wallpaper.
Family Friendly Design Tips
Bold & Cozy Seats
Sectionals or chaise lounge sofas are comfy seating options for everyone in the family. Choose a style with clean lines and a bold and rich fabric. The color and texture of a fabric will enhance your design. Poufs and ottomans are also a fun seating option for kids.
Easy But Stylish Storage Solutions
Floating Shelves
Floating shelves add a modern touch and extra storage space. Display your fancy accessories on floating shelves and hang them high enough so that those curious little hands can’t reach it. Be sure to secure items on the shelf to prevent things from falling off.
Make a Stylish First Impression with Your Front Porch
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Essentially, your front porch is the first thing that welcomes you, your family, and your guests, so why not let it shine? Your front porch doesn’t need to be a roomy wrap-around to add curb appeal or additional outdoor living space. All you need is a little TLC, and your front porch can be one of the most well-designed and coziest places in the house. Here are 5 design tips on how to renew your front porch.
First, redefine the purpose of your front porch. Besides welcoming you and your guests, how else would you like to use the space? Is it a place to sit and read a book? Or is it another dining area to use during a warm summer night? Or will it be a place to entertain guests? Defining the space will help you decide what type of furniture and decor you need.
5 Surefire Tips for Mixing and Matching Patterns
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Decorating with patterns is fun and it elevates the style and comfort of your home. Successfully mixing and matching patterns can be tricky, especially when using a variety of colors. We gathered designers’ top 5 foolproof tips for mixing and matching patterns:
To design the rest of the space, find inspiration within the details of the patterns. For example, if you want to match the window drapes to your patterned rug and toss pillows, choose a color that’s in both the rug and toss pillows that you would like to highlight.
5 Design Tips that Help Reduce Stress
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Our living space affects our levels of stress and anxiety. After a busy day at work, coming home — or if you’re working from home — to a messy and dark environment will make it harder to relax and wind down. Follow these 5 design tips that can help reduce the stress and anxiety in your life:
De-clutter & Organize
Tackle the surfaces first and declutter your home. Remember, the bigger the pile, the harder it gets. Once a room is organized, it’s a lot easier to maintain a cleaner space. The goal is to eliminate the visual mess so you can see a brighter and happier home.
Embrace Natural Lighting
Natural light is proven to provide many health benefits. It boosts vitamin D, wards off seasonal depression, and reduces stress caused by florescent lighting. Brighten up your home by cleaning your windows, eliminating dark heavy drapes, and adding mirrors in areas where you can reflect light coming from a window.
Incorporate Soothing Scents & Sounds
Depending on how sensitive you are to smells, a calming scent, like lavender, eucalyptus, or citrus can help you de-stress from a long day. Including scented candles or an essential oil diffuser to your design can create many relaxing benefits.
If you want to incorporate a more spa-like experience in your home, add a mini indoor fountain so you can listen to the tranquil and soothing sounds of a waterfall.
Revamp Your Outdoor Living Space
Whether you have a small balcony or patio or a large backyard, make the most out of your outdoor living space. Take advantage of the fact that you live in California and have the luxury to relax and unwind outside during most months out of the year! A cozy outdoor seating area decorated with toss pillows and string lights or even just adding a simple outdoor dining set will encourage you to be outside more which can do wonders for your mental health.
Houseplants
A vase filled with fresh flowers or a beautiful ceramic pot growing peace lilies are the best way to bring color and life into your home. Some houseplants, like the English Ivy and Spider Plant, are natural air purifiers. It has also been scientifically proven that indoor plants can help you relax and sleep better.
