Decorating Like a Designer

Ever walked into someone’s home and thought, “Wow, did they hire a professional?” I know I have! Truth is, you don’t need an interior design degree to create spaces that look straight out of a magazine. After years of trial and error (and yes, some embarrassing decor choices I’d rather forget), I’ve picked up a few tricks that transformed my home from “meh” to “amazing.”

Ready to trick your friends into thinking you’ve hired a professional designer? Let’s get started! 🙂

Light It Up: The Magic of Strategic Lighting

Let’s talk about the unsung hero of interior design – lighting. Seriously, you could have the most expensive furniture in the world, but with bad lighting, your space will still look like a dungeon.

Ditch Those Builder-Grade Fixtures

First things first – those standard light fixtures that came with your home? They’re basically the equivalent of wearing plain white sneakers to a black-tie event. Not terrible, but definitely not making a statement.

I learned this the hard way when I kept wondering why my living room felt so… blah. Then I swapped out that boring overhead light for a modern pendant, and BAM! Instant upgrade.

Pro tip: You don’t have to spend a fortune here. I’ve found amazing statement pieces at Target and Amazon that look way more expensive than they actually are. Your secret’s safe with me!

Create Layers of Light

One ceiling light isn’t cutting it, folks. Think of lighting in three layers:

• Ambient lighting (your ceiling fixtures)
• Task lighting (desk lamps, reading lights)
• Accent lighting (wall sconces, table lamps)

When I added a couple of table lamps to my living room corners, the whole vibe changed. The room suddenly felt cozy and intentional rather than flat and boring.

The Warmth Factor

Ever been to someone’s house where the lighting made you feel like you were being interrogated? Yeah, that’s because they went with cool white bulbs. Rookie mistake!

Quick fix: Swap those harsh bulbs for warm ones (look for bulbs around 2700-3000K). Your space will instantly feel more welcoming, and honestly, everyone looks better in warm light. Win-win!

The Rule of Three: Your New Design BFF

OK, this is where I’m going to let you in on a little designer secret that’s stupidly simple but works every time. The rule of three. Why three? I have no idea, but it just works!

Group Objects in Threes

When I first heard about this, I thought it was nonsense. Then I tried arranging my coffee table decor in groups of three instead of random clusters, and wow – instant designer vibes.

Try these combinations:

• A tall candle + medium-sized plant + short decorative box
• Three picture frames of different sizes
• A stack of books + small plant + decorative object

The key is varying the heights. Trust me on this one!

The Triangle Technique

Want to know what separates amateur decorators from pros? Thinking in triangles. When arranging your groups of three, imagine placing them in a triangle shape.

I used this trick on my bookshelf, creating little triangular arrangements instead of lining everything up in rows. My friend (who’s notoriously stingy with compliments) actually asked if I’d hired someone to style my shelves. Victory!

Size Matters: Scale Your Decor Correctly

Let’s talk about one of the biggest mistakes I see in people’s homes – ignoring scale. IMO, this is what makes a room look “off” even when you can’t quite put your finger on why.

The Rug Situation

Please, I’m begging you: Stop buying rugs that are too small! That postage-stamp sized rug floating in the middle of your living room is doing you zero favors.

Your rug should be large enough that at least the front legs of all furniture in a seating arrangement can rest on it. When I finally invested in a properly sized rug, my living room instantly looked more cohesive and intentionally designed.

Wall Art Proportions

Tiny art on big walls makes your space look like a college dorm. There, I said it.

For above-sofa art, aim for pieces that are about 2/3 to 3/4 the width of the furniture below it. I learned this after hanging what I thought was a “statement piece” above my couch, only to realize it looked like a postage stamp on the wall.

Bold statement: When in doubt, go bigger than you think you should with wall art. I’ve never regretted going larger, but I’ve definitely kicked myself for choosing pieces that were too small.

Furniture That Fits

Anyone else guilty of trying to cram too much furniture into a small space? Just me? Well, I’ve learned my lesson.

Better to have fewer, appropriately-sized pieces than a room stuffed with furniture. Your space needs to breathe, people!

Color Coordination: Creating Palettes That Pop

Ever walked into a room and felt immediately at ease? Chances are, there was a well-thought-out color palette at work. This doesn’t mean everything has to match perfectly – in fact, please don’t do that unless you want your home to look like a furniture showroom.

The 60-30-10 Rule

This changed my decorating game forever:

• 60% dominant color (walls, large furniture)
• 30% secondary color (accent chairs, curtains)
• 10% accent color (accessories, artwork)

When I applied this to my bedroom, using navy as my 60%, light gray as my 30%, and mustard yellow as my 10%, people started asking for decorating advice. Me! The person who once thought matching my bedspread to my curtains was the height of sophistication!

Test Before You Invest

Learn from my mistakes: Do not, under any circumstances, choose a paint color based solely on how it looks on a tiny sample card. I once painted an entire room a color that I thought would be a subtle sage green but ended up looking like Shrek’s complexion.

Paint large swatches on your wall and look at them at different times of day. Or use peel-and-stick samples – they’re a lifesaver!

Mix Patterns Like a Pro

Mixing patterns used to terrify me until I discovered this simple formula:

• Include one large-scale pattern
• Add one medium-scale pattern
• Finish with one small-scale pattern

The key? Make sure they share at least one color. When I applied this to my throw pillows – using a large floral, medium stripe, and small geometric pattern – my couch went from boring to boutique-hotel-worthy.

The Details: Where Your Design Really Shines

You know what separates amateur decorating from professional design? It’s all in the details. These are the little touches that make a space feel finished and intentional.

The Power of Texture

A room with only smooth surfaces feels flat and uninspired. Add textural elements like:

• Chunky knit throws
• Woven baskets
• Velvet pillows
• Natural wood elements

When I added a sheepskin throw to my sleek leather chair, the contrast immediately elevated the whole corner of my living room.

Styling Your Flat Surfaces

Bookshelves, coffee tables, and console tables are your chance to show off your personality. Here’s my fail-proof styling formula:

For bookshelves:

• Books (shocking, I know)
• Personal objects or souvenirs
• Plants or natural elements
• Decorative objects in varying heights

Here’s the trick: Don’t fill every inch! Leave some breathing room. When I stopped overcrowding my shelves, they immediately looked more curated and intentional.

The Finishing Touches

Want to know what really makes a home look designed? It’s the small details that most people overlook:

• Matching hangers in your closet
• Coordinated hand soap dispensers and hand towels in bathrooms
• Plants in pretty containers instead of plastic nursery pots
• Hidden cords and cables

These might seem insignificant, but together they create that polished look that screams “a designer was here!”

Bringing It All Together

So there you have it – my top five tips for decorating like a designer without actually being one. To recap:

• Light your space strategically with warm, layered lighting
• Use the rule of three to create balanced arrangements
• Pay attention to scale and proportion
• Create a cohesive color palette using the 60-30-10 rule
• Focus on the details with texture and styling

The best part? None of these require a huge budget – just a bit of thought and planning. Once I figured these out, my home transformed from “thrown together” to “thoughtfully designed.”

Remember, your home should reflect who you are. These aren’t rigid rules but guidelines to help you create spaces you love. So go ahead, channel your inner designer – you might surprise yourself with what you create! And if all else fails, just add another plant. That’s what I do, and so far, no one’s complained. 😉