Four Tips for Finishing Your Room

Is there a room in your home that feels a little off? If you can’t put your finger on what needs to be changed, there’s a good chance you need to rearrange (or add) accessories. Pillows, throws, books and photographs are just a few of the items professional interior decorators use to make a space feel pulled together. You can do this yourself using items you probably already own by implementing a few simple tips.

Carefully Curated Odd Groupings

Most people naturally understand the idea of grouping like items or a series of collectibles together. What’s harder to understand is how to do this in a way that looks planned rather than cluttered. To create the best visual impact, professional decorators arrange collections in odd numbers, most often three or five pieces, arranged in a triangular pattern (low, high, low).  This composition naturally draws the eye in to the display, while leaving enough open space to remain appealing.

Layered Textures

Professional decorators almost always layer textures in a room to create depth and you should too. This means using decorative accessories that contrast with each other. For example, if you have a smooth leather sofa, you might accessories with a soft, cable knit throw and nubby Dupoini silk pillows. On a rustic table, you might combine smooth, clear glass vases with a reflective mirrored tray and prickly pine cones. Don’t forget to apply this texture layering concept to your floors as well—adding a printed or textured throw rug, for instance, over a smooth hardwood floor is a common way to bring warmth and focus to a space that feels too open and empty.

Play with Color

Adding color to a room doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming and can be the key step to moving your room from bland to “wow.” Start in easy stages: choose one color to incorporate in with art work, pillows and a decorative accessory. Place it in three or five places around your room, so that the eye will be drawn to the color in natural pops and you won’t have to worry about oversaturation.

Personalize for Personality

Be sure to add personality to your rooms by including items that have personal meaning. Print out some of your favorite digital photos and display them together in similar frames (in odd groups, of course!) around your room. Stack a handful of your favorite books horizontally on a side table and, if you knit, keep a basket of your favorite yarns next to your sofa. These personal touches are the difference between a room that feels unique and inviting, versus staged.