Transforming a house into a home is an art.
“Designing a home is more than a materialistic display,” local interior decorator, Peggy Haddad, shares. “How your home feels, and how you feel about your home, influences how much time you actually want to spend there and if you want to invite others into your space.” A well-designed home offers rest, delight, refreshment, and a place to make and keep memories.
Most of us aren’t accomplished artists in this kind of tapestry. We find ourselves needing some practical tools when designing the interiors of our home. Lucky for us, creating a welcoming, beautiful, restful home requires some transferable “science” in addition to innate artistry. Peggy, an accountant turned decorator, offers some practical tips for creating a delightful home.
Deciding on your personal style preference comes first, followed by selecting your statement pieces. Peggy suggests, “When choosing art, you must first consider the size of the room and the contents of other walls. You don’t want two large paintings in one room.” For a big wall, it’s best to have one large work of art or a pair of stackable or side-by-side pieces. A gallery wall, made of multiple frames arranged together, is another great option, as is an art ledge. An art ledge utilizes one or two larger pieces of art and then compliments them with a few other pieces that vary in texture, size, content, and framing.
Personal budget also necessitates important consideration when choosing art. You might be willing to pay top dollar for a unique, one-of-a-kind piece. If having an original piece is less of a priority, and your budget is less flexible, consider an artist-enhanced print. Though replications of original pieces, artist-enhanced prints are still one of a kind, because the artist manually adds unique touches to each print. Art prints found at home goods stores or print shops are an excellent option for decorating your home if budget trumps originality.
Once you’ve chosen your main pieces of art, it’s best to be aware of some frequent mistakes made during installation. “The most common error I see is art hung too high,” remarks Peggy. “The center of the piece should hang 60 inches above the ground.” There are a few exceptions to this rule. Large art hung above furniture should leave about 4-6 inches between the top of the furniture and the bottom edge of the art. The piece should be about ⅔ the width of the furniture.
Curtain installation, rug sizing, and furniture placement account for the other most common design errors. “Curtains should be hung so they barely touch, or ‘kiss’ the floor. Their rods must be at least 8-10 inches above the window frame and extend 6 inches on either side of the window,” Peggy expounds. Rugs are often too small for their space, and furniture should not be pushed up against a wall. Peggy says, “Pieces need a little room to breathe.”
These design hints are just the tip of the home decor iceberg. Though it may be initially overwhelming, cultivating a design for your home can be managed by following some clear guidelines. A little extra intentionality and effort transforms a mediocre, utilitarian space into a haven of rest, peace, and enjoyment.
“How your home feels, and how you feel about your home, influences how much time you actually want to spend there and if you want to invite others into your space.”
A little extra intentionality and effort transforms a mediocre, utilitarian space into a haven of rest, peace, and enjoyment.
