Styling Your Living Space
I absolutely love new and unique ways to bring character into my living space! I’ve truly embraced my living space evolving as I do. I feel at peace when I come home after a long day to a space that reflects my tastes, is esthetically pleasing, functional and offers pleasant, relaxing scents.
When it comes to my taste in home decor, I typically stick to the following themes: neutrals, warm lighting, metallics, patterns and faux fur.
I enjoy sticking to themes that are neutral, yet elegant, because it’s easy to switch things up for the holidays, when I want to add a pop of color or when I want to add in fresh florals and greenery.
Are you trying to decide how to decorate and level-up your living space? Here are some ideas:
Pick a theme, trend or color palette for your space FIRST.
Understand that you do not have to buy everything in one day, but if you have a general theme in mind it will be easier to keep an eye out for unique finds when you head out to shop or browse online. The key is to always keep an eye out for pieces that would work perfectly in your space! If you are hunting for a gray, velvet armchair… tell your friends and loved ones, that way you'll all have your eyes peeled for that fab find.
Make a list of the main pieces you’d like to find and stick to it (for the most part).
With a list, you’ll be less likely to buy any and everything you see when you shop and stay on budget. You can always spice up your space with small accent pieces as you go to add character.
Accept hand-me-downs from family and friends!
My mom gave me the Room’s To Go couches featured in these photos for my first post-grad apartment and they’re probably 12-15 years old now. Throw blankets and pillows bring them right back to life! I also keep leather cleaners on deck to make sure they always look fresh.
Check Facebook Marketplace, local thrift stores and garage sales for staple pieces.
They say one person’s trash is another person’s treasure! It’s true — see if you can find a bargain on that one piece you’ve been dreaming of. Even if you find something that’s not quite what you had in mind, you may be able to find a steal and repurpose it to exactly what you desire. The key is to be creative and think outside of the box!
Make frequent trips to stores such as HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, Kirkland’s and Michael’s.
HomeGoods is my go-to (if you know, you know) and when I was in the decorating phase I made trips a couple times a week just to browse as new merchandise came in. Even though I’ve been in my space for two years now, I keep a brief list of things I’d like to find for my home and revisit it every time I take a trip to heaven, aka HomeGoods. You literally never know when the one thing you’ve been searching for will be there waiting for you!
Invest in home fragrances, candles, plug-ins… or all of the above.
If you are someone who is away from your home most of the day, fill your homes with scents that are relaxing and rejuvenating at the end of the day. Some of my favorite scents that fall into this category are: lavender, rose and vanilla. If you’re a person who works from home or you’re a stay-at-home parent, fill your home with scents that keep you energized and focused. Scents in the citrus family work wonderful to accomplish this!
Ultimately, I believe in creating a space that brings you peace! At the end of the day, your living space should bring you a sense of comfort and serenity — for me, that’s incorporating neutral colors and warm lighting. What do comfort and serenity look like it your living space?
Most importantly, when styling your space you should identify with the esthetic you’ve created, it should bring you joy and it should celebrate you!
