SOME OF MY FAVORITE DESIGN SECRETS

SHH… DON’T TELL ANYONE

DARKER CEILING If you have a low (9ft or lower) ceiling, paint it a dark color! Black is one of my personal go-to’s. I know that goes beyond logic but it makes the ceiling “disappear” in a way, making your ceiling appear taller. This “night sky” back

DARKER CEILING If you have a low (9ft or lower) ceiling, paint it a dark color! Black is one of my personal go-to’s. I know that goes beyond logic but it makes the ceiling “disappear” in a way, making your ceiling appear taller. This “night sky” background allows for emphasis on all other light-colored elements in the space. People will notice your art, statement fixtures & furnishings. Not your ceiling height, or lack of.

STICK WITH YOUR DESIGN PLAN Create your plan and stick with it. This will save you money as well as from the stress of returning items. Browse Pinterest, home decor magazines, or books and create a plan from there. A color palette + style and as you

STICK WITH YOUR DESIGN PLAN Create your plan and stick with it. This will save you money as well as from the stress of returning items. Browse Pinterest, home decor magazines, or books and create a plan from there. A color palette + style and as you shop for interior products whether it is surfaces, furnishings, accessories, or paint colors, make sure it matches your original plan.

MEASURE YOUR FURNITURE Before you head out to go shopping or spend hours online staring at the computer screen, be sure to measure to see the size of the furniture you are desiring for the space. Rule: Side Tables 1-2 inches lower than a sofa or

MEASURE YOUR FURNITURE Before you head out to go shopping or spend hours online staring at the computer screen, be sure to measure to see the size of the furniture you are desiring for the space. Rule: Side Tables 1-2 inches lower than a sofa or armchair Height of coffee table no more than 3” lower than the seat of the sofa If you have already purchased your side tables and they don’t exactly fit the correct height… Too Tall: Move 5 inches away from the sofa Too Low: Add a larger, taller centerpiece

FORGO TOWEL BARS While they are best for certain spaces, towel racks are more for decorative purposes than functional reasons. Hooks are more practical for a family. Each person gets their hook to hang their towel on and they have so many decorative

FORGO TOWEL BARS While they are best for certain spaces, towel racks are more for decorative purposes than functional reasons. Hooks are more practical for a family. Each person gets their hook to hang their towel on and they have so many decorative hook options out there, you can still add style to your space using them.

PLUMBING “If at all possible when renovating, keep your plumbing in the same place. It’s very expensive to move and you would need to move vent stacks (hidden in the wall) as well.” — Jil Sonia McDonald, Jil Sonia Interiors

PLUMBING “If at all possible when renovating, keep your plumbing in the same place. It’s very expensive to move and you would need to move vent stacks (hidden in the wall) as well.” — Jil Sonia McDonald, Jil Sonia Interiors

LIGHTING “Please do not rely on recessed “can” lights to light up your room! They cast unflattering shadows on people’s faces and are even rumored to accentuate the look of cellulite! A mix of sconces and lamps is best. But at the very least, invest

LIGHTING “Please do not rely on recessed “can” lights to light up your room! They cast unflattering shadows on people’s faces and are even rumored to accentuate the look of cellulite! A mix of sconces and lamps is best. But at the very least, invest in a pair of large-scale lamps (around 30″ high or more).” — Joanne Dimeff, Joanne Dimeff Interiors

BE INSPIRED BY YOUR STYLE One of my favorite secrets/tips: look in your closet for style & color inspiration. The colors you are most drawn to while shopping for clothes are most likely the clothes you feel the most comfortable in… and yourself. Allo

BE INSPIRED BY YOUR STYLE One of my favorite secrets/tips: look in your closet for style & color inspiration. The colors you are most drawn to while shopping for clothes are most likely the clothes you feel the most comfortable in… and yourself. Allow this to influence the color & style when designing & decorating your home.

MIRRORS Decorative mirrors are one of the decor elements that I cannot get enough of! They act like a window in a bedroom, allowing more light inside and making the space appear larger, more open.

MIRRORS Decorative mirrors are one of the decor elements that I cannot get enough of! They act like a window in a bedroom, allowing more light inside and making the space appear larger, more open.

PAINT SAMPLES “I personal shop for clients frequently and one thing I have found to be very helpful is to “measure” color with paint samples. This works in a few ways. If I am consulting at the home of a new client and know that I will need the exa

PAINT SAMPLES “I personal shop for clients frequently and one thing I have found to be very helpful is to “measure” color with paint samples. This works in a few ways. If I am consulting at the home of a new client and know that I will need the exact color of their sofa but they have no swatch to give me, I open up my box of paint samples and find the closest possible match to “measure” it. I immediately make a note of it and put the actual sample directly into the file. Although I do also take a photo of it, I prefer not to rely on the photo for actual color representation. Similarly, if I have purchased an area rug for a client but my shopping is not yet complete, I will use paint samples to “measure” all the various colors of the rug, clip them together, label them, and put them in the file to continue my shopping. This way I can make sure I have a perfect representation of the rug right in the file while I am shopping for pillows, accents, etc. This is so much more convenient than trying to haul around large bulky items while you shop!” — Beth Batke, Final Touches Redesign

HOW TO HANG SMALL ARTWORK Off-center a small piece of art on a wall and connect it (group it) with a small piece of furniture such as a reading chair or a console (instead of plunking it in the middle of the wall) Off-center a small piece of art in

HOW TO HANG SMALL ARTWORK Off-center a small piece of art on a wall and connect it (group it) with a small piece of furniture such as a reading chair or a console (instead of plunking it in the middle of the wall) Off-center a small piece of art in relationship to a sofa. Balance is then created by carefully placing decorating elements such as pillows and throws on the sofa, together with the empty space on the wall on the other side of the art. The empty space then becomes part of the entire grouping (sofa + art + empty space + decorative items on the sofa) Group small pieces of art together on one wall instead of spreading them around the room. In this way, they become one bigger piece, creating a more impressive design impact. The empty walls now become a place to rest the eyes, which is important to have in a balanced design. — Livia Drennan, Your Story by Design