5 designer tricks
As I venture further into the world of interior design, I’ve gained the utmost respect for the designers that make homes come to life. They are incredibly talented, organized, creative, and hardworking, and they have an amazing ability to see the potential in any space. Many go to school to study design but plenty of others are self-taught - they learn on the job and gain experience with every completed project. And while not all of us can afford a total kitchen renovation or to install a clawfoot tub, there are a few designer tricks I want to share that you can implement right now that will instantly elevate the look of your space.
Trick #1:
Place a wooden stool next to your bathtub or outside your shower. It’s chic, functional and gives you a place to rest things like towels, brushes, soap or (let’s be honest) a glass of wine.
Photo credit: http://www.kellybehun.com/interiors
Splurge: https://www.luluandgeorgia.com/products/arlene-stool
Steal: https://www.serenaandlily.com/dip-dyed-stools/m10423.html
Trick #2:
Try using one long runner in your primary bathroom rather than 2 bath mats. It’s a more elegant look, a great way to add a pop of color, and when was the last time you saw a beautiful unique bath mat..? Exactly.
Photo credit: https://katelesterinteriors.com/
Splurge: https://ruggable.com/products/damali-black-white-rug?size=2.5x7
Steal: https://ruggable.com/products/damali-black-white-rug?size=2.5x7
Trick #3:
When arranging furniture in your living room, aim to create areas of conversation. Imagine you’re having 6 of your best friends over: you don’t want everyone crammed in on the couch sitting in a line, right? You need chairs facing each other, extra seating like a bench or pouf, and enough table space for everyone to set drinks and plates down. Designers don’t just pick furniture, they try to think about how their clients will live in each room.
Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/laurensmythdesign/?hl=en
Trick #4:
Layered lighting is the key to ambiance. Canned lighting or other overhead lighting is never enough. The secret to a cozy home, especially after the sun goes down, is having lights at varied levels - above your head, at eye level, and below your waist aka ambient, accent and task lighting. Think sconces, floor lamps and table lamps. Designers will often place all of these in one room. (Bonus points for installing dimmers!)
Steal: https://www.colorcord.com/collections/wall-sconce?variant=30176529940582
Trick #5:
When decorating above the bed, our first instinct is usually art. But designers love to be creative and use other tricks like leaving the wall bare but installing a statement chandelier that takes up the visual space. Or painting a stripe or circle behind the bed to give the room a unique look. Plus, paint is a super cost-effective way to have an impact on a room and it’s also the easiest to switch up when you’re ready for a change!
Photo credit: https://www.iconicdesignbuild.com/
