Autumn is here, with the beautiful changing of leaves, the smell of pumpkin spice lattes, and the warmth of our favorite sweater. We could definitely feel the change in the air!
Of course, this also means that your home has to keep up with the season. But that doesn’t mean you have to change every part of it! Just stick with the classics and only add some key decorations.
So, if you want your home to stay classy and elegant all-year-round, here are 9 classic decorating tips we swear by.
1. Set The Tone at The Front Door
If you want your house to make a great first impression, paint the front door a fun, glossy hue. Try orange or yellow, which are associated with joy and warmth—one thing that should go: an outdated screen door. Get rid of it or replace it with a storm door with full-length glass that you can switch out for a screened panel.
2. Paint Wall Colors Light and Neutral
Stick to colors like white, beige, or gray, especially on the first floor, where flow is important. Neutral walls give you excellent decorating flexibility, allowing you to switch up your accessories easily. If you have two small rooms next to each other, painting them the same neutral color helps them feel larger.
3. Living Area: Make Sure the Sofas Talk to the Chairs
Arrange your living space furniture in groupings that invite conversation, with a sense of balance and intimacy. One common mistake to avoid: pushing all the furniture against the walls.
4. Let The Sun Shine In the Kitchen
Window dressings should be functional and elegant: like sheers paired with full-length panels. If your room gets a lot of sun, opt for light colors that won't fade. We recommend cotton, linen, and silk blends for panels because they tend to hang well.
5. Hang at Least One Mirror in Each Room
Mirrors can make a room brighter. Make sure to put them perpendicular to windows, not directly across from them, to let the light bounce.
6. Scale Artwork to the Walls
The middle of a picture should hang at eye level. Also, take scale into account; for a large wall, go big with one oversize piece or group smaller pieces gallery-style with 2 to 4 inches of space in between.
7. Layer Lightings
Every room in your house should have three kinds of lighting: ambient, which provides overall illumination and often comes from ceiling fixtures; task, often found over a kitchen island or a reading nook; and accent, which is more decorative, highlighting, say, artwork.
8. Anchor Rugs Under Furniture Feet
In a living room, all four legs of the sofa and chairs in a furniture grouping should fit on the rug. At the very least, the front two legs of the couch and chairs should rest on it.
9. Use Visual Tricks to Raise The Ceiling
If your ceilings are on the low side, paint them white to make the room feel less claustrophobic. Hang curtains higher than the windows to trick your eye into thinking the room is taller. Try vertical stripes; the lines visually elongate your walls! Leaning a large mirror against a wall can also do the trick.
If you’re ready to have your dream, classy home, contact us at (704) 802-1488 for a showing of our new builds!