Decorating a room with intention can take your space from drab to fab. With some thoughtful planning and strategic decor choices, you can create an inviting, functional, and beautiful room that reflects your personal style. Follow these tips to decorate with intention and finally finish that room!
Define Your Vision
Before shopping for decor, define your vision for the room. Consider the purpose of the space, how you want it to feel, and your decorative style. Make a mood board with paint chips, fabric swatches, and pictures from magazines or Pinterest to hone in on your ideal aesthetic. Outline the room’s must-haves and nice-to-haves so your purchases align with your goals.
Create a Decorating Roadmap
Map out how to decorate your room in a logical order. Start with big elements like flooring, window treatments, and furniture placement. Then layer on decorative accents like wall art, pillows, and accessories. Moving systematically from large to small decor items will keep the process feeling manageable. Check completed tasks off your roadmap as you go until the room is finished.
Invest in Key Pieces
Focus your budget on a few key, high-quality pieces. For a family room, splurge on a durable yet stylish sofa. In a bedroom, choose a comfortable mattress and inviting bedding. For a kitchen, spring for a statement light fixture and nice appliances. Quality foundation pieces will withstand wear and visually anchor the room. Then supplement with affordable accent pieces from discount or thrift stores.
Curate Your Color Scheme
Set a color scheme for the room with three colors that complement each other. Choose one dominant hue for big pieces like walls, sofas, or bedspreads. Then incorporate two accent colors in smaller doses on pillows, armchairs, artwork, etc. Refer to your mood board and look for colors with shared undertones. A color scheme creates cohesion and keeps the room from feeling busy.
Layer Lighting
Effective lighting sets the mood of a room. Invest in general overhead fixtures for overall illumination. Then incorporate smaller lamps to create a soft glow in sitting areas or by the bedside. Use dimmers to adjust light levels for different activities. Mix lighting types like pendant lights, sconces and table lamps for visual interest. Position fixtures to highlight decor pieces or architectural elements.
Add Meaningful Artwork
Decorating with intention means using artwork that speaks to you on a personal level. Display family photos and kids’ artwork for a sentimental touch. Choose pieces that reflect your interests, like concert posters or botanical prints. Go for large statement pieces over small scatterings for bigger visual impact. Float paintings above furniture to visually expand the room.
Include Cozy Textiles
Layering textiles adds warmth and texture to a space. Roll out an area rug to define a seating area. Hang curtain panels to soften windows. Add plush throw pillows and blankets to sofas and beds. Use cushions, table runners, and placemats to make hard surfaces more inviting. Repeating fabric patterns and textures pulls the room together.
Organize Clutter Prone Areas
Evaluate what makes your space feel cluttered. Conceal mess with baskets, bins and closets. Designate homes for commonly abandoned items like keys and mail. Install hooks, shelves, and other organizational systems. Edit down your possessions and donate unused items. Neat storage options make a room feel tidy and complete.
Pull It All Together
Stand back and evaluate how your decor choices work as a whole. Do you need more color or textures somewhere? Are the proportions and scale pleasing? Do the furnishings properly fill the space? Make any tweaks needed for a cohesive look. It also helps to live in the finished room before finalizing all decor. Evaluate what is functional on a daily basis. Finally finishing a room you love creates an inviting oasis.
Decorating with clear intention results in a personalized space that supports your lifestyle and makes you feel content. Define your vision, invest in quality foundation pieces, display meaningful artwork, add cozy textiles, get organized, and pull it all together for a beautifully finished room.
Frequently Asked Questions About Decorating With Intention
What are some tips for decorating a room on a budget?
Prioritize higher quality for key pieces you use frequently, like sofas or mattresses. Supplement with secondhand finds from thrift stores. Look for affordable accents like pillows, blankets, and wall art on sale or discount websites. Repurpose furniture you already own in new spaces. Work slowly over time instead of decorating all at once.
How do I choose a color scheme for a room?
Limit your scheme to 3 colors with shared undertones that complement each other. One dominant color for big pieces, two for accents. Look at paint chips and photos for ideas. Use your favorite colors. Refer to the room’s purpose and desired mood. Neutrals like whites, tans and grays work everywhere.
What types of lighting should I use to decorate a room?
Mix overhead, accent, and natural lighting. Use dimmers for adjustability. Try pendant lights, recessed cans, floor lamps, table lamps, sconces and track lighting. Position lighting to highlight decor or living areas. Use smart bulbs to program settings. Add natural light with wide windows, sheers, and mirrors.
Where should I hang artwork in a room?
Hang art at eye level for best viewing, about 57-60 inches from the floor. Position art above furniture to give the illusion of higher ceilings. Group pieces together for impact. Spread out multiple pieces evenly. Float small items in groups down a narrow wall. Follow any decorative lines in the architecture.
How do I decorate a multipurpose room?
Define each area using area rugs and floor plans. Float furniture to create spaces. Use curtains or bookshelves to divide and conceal. Incorporate multi-functional pieces like storage ottomans and fold-out desks. Adjust lighting fixtures as needed. Add pops of color to define spaces. Keep decor flexible and streamlined.
What decor ideas make a room look more expensive?
High-quality foundation pieces like furnishings and lighting fixtures. Cohesive color scheme and materials. Eye-catching statement lighting. Framing artwork, not stapling to the wall. Minimizing clutter. Fresh flowers and live plants. Layering window treatments. Pretty decorative accents on tables. Warm lighting.
Final Tips for Decorating with Intention
Decorating with clear intentions results in a personalized, functional space that supports your lifestyle and makes you feel content and motivated. Define your vision, invest in quality foundational pieces, curate your color scheme, layer lighting, incorporate meaningful artwork and textiles, get organized, and pull it all together. Evaluate how each choice enhances how you use the room. And don’t forget to have fun and express your personal style!
