Are you looking for some fresh ideas for your home decor? There is an abundance of style and design concepts floating around. Narrowing ideas down to just one that will reflect your personal style and stand the test of time can be a real challenge. To help you create the ideal decor in your home, we have pulled together a collection of modern, classy decorating ideas for every corner of your home. Read on to find your design inspiration!
Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the places in your home that gets the most traffic. Kitchens need decor that is both durable and stylish. A couple of small changes in your kitchen can make a world of difference. If your kitchen is feeling dated or just in need of a refresh, try these changes…
- Change the Hardware
Simply changing the hardware on your cabinets and drawers can make your entire kitchen look different. This is a very affordable and unobtrusive do-it-yourself update. Take an inventory of the hardware in your kitchen and make sure to jot down the measurements you need. You can shop around online or visit local home and hardware stores to find the perfect new look. Clean, minimalist metallics are a classic option. Flat black finishes are also on-trend for eclectic and modern farmhouse decor.
- Paint Cabinets a New Color
Want to take your cabinet makeover to the next level? Grab a paintbrush. Painting cabinets a new color will make tired old cupboards look new again. You can stick with a basic neutral, or go bold with a bright hue like blue or red. Whatever color you choose, make sure it’s something you love and that ties in with the rest of your decor.
- Update Your Windows
If you haven’t updated your window treatments in a few…years, then it’s probably dating your kitchen. Make the switch to a more fresh, modern look with shutters. These look more clean and contemporary than heavier window treatments and won’t hold onto smells from the kitchen. They also let in natural light while still providing some privacy.
- Add a Backsplash
With today’s DIY tile options it has never been easier to add or update a backsplash in your kitchen. Opt for a neutral color of subway tile or mosaic tile for a look that will last for years. If the walls of your kitchen are currently cloaked in wallpaper, then replacing the under-cabinet areas with a tile backsplash and painting the walls a solid color will completely transform the appearance of your kitchen.
Dining Room
Many times dining rooms are used for formal occasions and gatherings. The rest of the time a dining room sits pretty in the background. Because of that, you want to make sure your dining room is attractive and easily put to use when you need to impress.
- Paint the Walls
You can add definition and warmth to your dining room space by painting the walls a different color than the adjacent rooms. Add an accent wall with an interesting wallpaper or deep color, or paint the entire room bright and bold. This is an area of your house that tends to be more formal, so you can get away with a bit of extra flair.
- Add a Light Fixture
Speaking of formal, did someone say chandelier? A gorgeous light fixture creates an ambiance for the dining area and lends a luxurious feel to the space. The possibilities are endless when it comes to lighting. Just be sure to choose something that feels true to your personal style, is a shape that compliments the shape of your dining table and the height of your ceilings, and isn’t overly trendy.
Living Room
Ah, the living room. Cozy, functional, and it gets lots of love. Most people have one or two things they love about their living room, like a cushy sofa or a massive TV. Figure out what you will not part with and what you could do without. Then go in and edit until its just right!
- Change Up Your Textiles
All the textiles and soft things in your living room add color, texture, and depth. This includes throw pillows, blankets, rugs, and anything else small and soft. Many times these are the most colorful and patterned pieces in the room. Changing them out can make a huge visual impact. Commit to a palette, then plan within that to mix and match textures, patterns, and solids. For throw pillows, add in various shapes and sizes for dimension. For blankets, try different materials and weaves. Keeping to a common palette of 2-3 colors will pull it all together and refresh your entire living room.
- Raise the Roof
No, not a construction project. Instead, you can employ some clever tricks to give the appearance of higher ceilings and a more spacious living room.
First, you can paint the ceiling a color that contrasts the walls. This creates a sort of optical illusion that makes the ceiling feel higher.
Second, you can add floor-to-ceiling curtains. By hanging your drapes as high as possible, you’ll make the walls appear taller. This also has a dramatic look that’s very high fashion. As an added bonus, you can choose a rich, sumptuous fabric with a subtle (or not-so-subtle) pattern that adds a layer of depth to the room.
Third, take your walls vertical. Paint vertical stripes or apply wallpaper with vertical stripes. Hang pictures and mirrors in vertical lines. Just as with dressing to appear tall and lean, vertical lines make the room feel taller and the ceilings higher.
- Add Contrast
Does your living room feel rather dull? Maybe there’s not enough crisp contrast to bring out its character. Try things like painting the walls a darker color and leaving the window trim and moldings white or cream. Add a pop of solid color with a throw pillow or bright blanket. Paint an accent wall in a deep, rich hue. Any – or all – of these ideas will add a healthy dose of contrast to your living room.
Bedrooms
There is an endless number of creative decor ideas when it comes to your bedroom. Make this space into your own dreamy oasis with personal touches that make you most comfortable.
- Jump Into (a New) Bed
Change your bed, change your bedroom. The bed may be the single largest piece of furniture in your home. Make it a good one! Get a big, regal tufted headboard for a classic look, or go minimalist with a simple platform bed. Use the bed as the centerpiece of your bedroom to inspire the decor throughout.
- Bring On the Pillows
Load up your bed with bright and patterned pillows to add a pop of color and liven up the room. You can also add a runner across the foot of the bed to accent this addition.
- Add Soft Lighting
Floor and table lamps that cast a soft glow are absolutely perfect for winding down in your bedroom. Choose design-forward pieces that add a sense of architecture and definition to the space. Also, have fun with the lampshades. Go for an unexpected color or shape that turns your light fixture into a subtle work of art.
- Opt for Sumptuous Fabrics
The investment you make in your sheets, pillows, and comforters is an investment you will literally touch each and every day. In short: high-quality bedding is worth the money. Not only do luxurious fabrics look nice, they feel nice. The right bedding will look attractive, feel good to the touch, and help regulate your temperature while you sleep. There’s nothing like nestling into a super-soft cocoon and drifting off to dreamland in a cozy bed.
- Go Tech Free
It’s a safe bet that you don’t see glowing screens pictured in your favorite home decor scenes. Not only can screens be an eyesore, but they can also actually disturb your sleep. Design around going screen-free in your bedroom for a better night’s sleep. Get a nightstand that conceals your phone. Install your TV in a wall unit that can be closed to conceal it.
Bathroom
A little extra TLC for your bathroom can keep it feeling bright and airy, never dingy or utilitarian.
- Add Artwork
One or two pieces of artwork in your bathroom can make a world of difference in its appearance. If you don’t have many colors in your flooring, cabinets, or fixtures, then you can use the artwork as an opportunity to pull it all together and add a dash of color.
- Put Up Patterned Wallpaper
Wallpaper has had a renaissance of sorts in recent years. Take full advantage and paper your bathroom. Since bathrooms are a small space you can get away with daring patterns and colors. Just keep the rest of the decor simple and let the wallpaper shine!
- Update Fixtures
If you have a little more time and money to invest, updating your fixtures can transform the look of your bathroom. Change out your sink faucet, shower fixtures, cabinet hardware and towel racks to a sleek new modern design. There are some phenomenal looks you can achieve with black, warm metallics like bronze and gold, and cool metallic finishes like silver, chrome, and pewter. This one change can dramatically alter the appearance of the bathroom overall.
- Frame Your Mirror
Is your bathroom mirror unfinished? What an opportunity! Get a custom frame for it, or switch it out for a uniquely shaped framed mirror. Framing your bathroom mirror adds polish and finish the look, making more like a piece of artwork than just a reflective surface.
Bonus Rooms
Here are a few extra ideas for all the other nooks and crannies in your home.
- Make a Reading Nook
Do you have one awkward corner in your house that doesn’t really have a purpose? Turn it into a reading nook. Add a chair, a lamp, and a small table or shelf for books and, voila, your awkward corner has a reason for being.
- Curate a Gallery Wall
Sometimes in the mission to preserve every memory, our walls can end up a mish-mash of framing styles that appear more “random bargain bin” than intentional design. You can keep your memories on the wall and add a dash of style by creating a gallery wall. Re-frame your pieces in frames that match one another – either in color and/or style – and hang them in a structured arrangement. You can find plenty of videos online to help you shape and arrange your very own gallery wall. Add in a hanging sculpture or two to mix up the texture of the wall and make it even more design-forward.
- Don’t Forget Hallways
If your hallway is looking sparse, then perk it up with a couple of key pieces. Keep it simple and chic with a large piece of art, a floating shelf, or a slim table with collectibles. These small additions keep your hallway design looking purposeful and presentable.
There are so many fun and interesting ways to update your decor. The key to fabulous, timeless decor is to seek a style that feels true to you and invest in quality pieces that will last and look great for years. If a piece doesn’t resonate with you or feels too trendy, then skip it. The very best, most stylish homes are ones that are both handsomely decorated and a deep and intimate reflection of the people who live there.
Whether you’re overhauling every room in your home or just making a few adjustments here and there, we hope you’ll find inspiration in these ideas. Tell us about your home improvement projects. Which ideas do you like best? What home decor change do you think has made the biggest difference in the appearance of your house interiors?
