Simple Ways to Elevate Your Home
Sometimes we find ourselves out of love with our space and know it needs a change but a large reno project is out ofthe question right now. You still want to do something to your space to make it better and bring it back to a place you want to be in but you just don’t know what or how.
You can absolutely take your space to the next level without a full reno — enter decorating and styling. First, let me explain the difference.
Interior design focuses on the form, function and flow of the space. This includes floor plans, cabinetry layouts and details like kitchen and bathroom elements. It’s the fixtures and fitting specifications. In other words, it encompasses items that are foundational or fixed, installed and usually more permanent.
Interior decorating doesn’t include structural changes, but focuses more on the finishing touches. It’s the drapery and window treatment, upholstery and furniture. All the changeable items inside the home. It takes the designs and floor plans and fills them in. You can also think of it as space planning and laying out the pieces within the rooms.
Interior styling is the arrangement of the accessories and art in the room. It’s how we add the items and display them together to create a scene, tell a story, or create a mood in your space. It’s how you express yourself even more in the space and give it your personality. Styling is about how you create inspiration for yourself around your goals and dreams.
All three of these areas work together and build on each other. They layer one on top of the other — just like when you bake a cake. The cake itself is the foundation, the structure and form. Then we add the filling and the icing to create the next layer, making it more beautiful. Then finally we add the style — the piping, sprinkles and florets for final layer that creates the theme or look.
As interior experts, we create the same layers with your home, and you get to choose where we start and work in one or all the areas. But if a reno is out of the question (i.e. interior design) and you really don’t want to invest in new furniture and big-ticket items right now (i.e. interior decorating), the easiest way to elevate your home instantly is to focus on the styling.
Why is styling the easiest?
You can use what you already have
It doesn’t have to involve a big budget
You can use some of what you have and add some new
My best tip to keep things simple: Edit as you go, even moving things from one room to another to give a new look. You can rearrange items you already have. This technique doesn’t cost anything and doesn’t have to take much time.
Styling your space (or spaces) is an easy way to enhance your home so that when you look at something, it makes you feel good again. Do some inner exploring to help guide your styling and help cultivate a space that will reflect who you are, inspire you and move you forward in creating the life are working towards Who do you want to be? How do you want to live?
With your vision and intention ready you can start curating the space. Some questions to ponder and help you along the way:
What mood do you want to create in the room?
What items do you already have that would fit your vision?
Include pieces that reflect your personal style and/or story
Keep editing and adding until everything is there with an intention
Make sure everything is in keeping with the rest of the room to create an overall balance and flow
Play with things until they feel right and make you feel happy and inspired. Like Marie Kondo says, it sparks joy!
