1. Pick the paint color last.
I get calls all the time from homeowners who want to pick a paint color before they move in.
I get the logic.
Why not arrive to walls with a fresh coat of paint? Of course you can do it this way, but in my opinion it’s not ideal.
There are thousands of paint colors with various tints, tones and shades.
And each one looks different from home to home, because light sources vary, meaning what looks good in your current home might not in your new one.
2. Give your furniture some breathing room.
Resist overcrowding a room. Gracious living means space to maneuver with ease.
This is really great news if you are working with a tight budget.
You don’t need to fill up a space with lots of furniture.
Spend more of your budget on fewer but better-quality pieces, and your room will look better than if it’s stuffed to the gills with flea market finds.
3. Hang artwork at the right height.
Galleries and museums hang artwork so that the midline (center) of each piece is 57 inches to 60 inches from the floor.
(The average human eye level is 57 inches.)
4. Resist the urge to be too theme-y.
For example, the Cape Cod look is a very popular request.
You know the hallmarks: beadboard, a blue and white nautical palette, some sailboat paintings.
But this has been done so many times, it lacks individuality
5.Create a focal point.
There are leading roles and supporting cast members in any production.
The same holds true in design.
Choose your star and make it the focal point to anchor a room.
Allow other items to take a secondary role.
Don’t ask everything to have a leading role; it will just result in visual noise.
6.Consider sight lines. Your focal point should be free and clear from one room to the next, so that it feels like you’re being drawn between them.
That’s why the best spot for a focal point is usually directly across from the entrance to the room.
7.Edit your collectibles. Don’t hang on to a piece that just doesn’t fit.