Your living space should be a safe haven for you and your family. A place where you feel comfortable, at peace, and happy. The items you surround yourself with, and the way you style your space, can impact your mood and day to day life immensely.
Not only does taking the time to style your living space indicate how much you care for the space, and the people sharing the space with you, it also can give you a feeling of ownership. Your emotional state can be directly impacted by how you feel in your living space.
It can feel overwhelming when you first embark on styling your home. We want to make this process enjoyable for you!
So, where do you start?
Find the Focal Point
If you aren't sure where the focal point is in any given space, simply walk into the room and notice where your eye is immediately drawn to. This is the focal point and each item in the room should compliment it. Focal points provide a great starting point for decorating a room. If you don't have a focal point, you can even create one!
An accent wall, a large piece of artwork or furniture piece, or windows framed with curtains, can all act as focal points. After determining the focal point, you can go ahead and start decorating, using the central point as a way to create balance. The focal point doesn't have to be the "center" of a wall or room, but can still anchor the room, as you decorate around this point.
Pay Attention to Measurements
Make sure to measure your space before heading out for a decor shopping spree. Whether you prefer a minimalist approach or a space filled with furniture and curated pieces, it is still important to measure wall space, space between window trim and corners of the room, space above fireplaces, or doorways, etc. You may also want to leave room for a specific purpose such as highlighting a decorative element nearby.
Lighting, Lighting, Lighting
As you decorate, you'll notice that lighting can affect the style you are going for. Ambient lighting is the general lighting used to illuminate the room. This can be provided by natural light streaming in through windows, or an overhead light. Task lighting is for specific tasks like reading or an overhead light above an island in a kitchen. Accent lighting is used for highlighting various items, such as adding a sconce near a framed piece of art.
Lighting can be used to give a room depth, change the mood in the room, call attention to pieces that you want highlighted, and used as decor itself!
Most Importantly, Have Fun
During the process of decorating your home, pick pieces that make You feel good, or that mean something to you personally. After all, you'll be the one enjoying the space! Adjust design principles and guidelines according to your personal preferences. And don't be afraid to play around with furniture layouts, layering decor pieces, color, etc. You can always move things around again, repaint, or start over!
At the end of the day, what matters is that you enjoy your space. IF you're looking for more guidance or a great place to start buying decor pieces (or add to the pieces you already have) visit Garden House Vintage Market. We're located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and have over 10,000 square feet of all types of antiques, vintage goods, architectural salvage, primitives, vintage clothing, furniture, garden decor, and vintage-inspired home decor.
Whether your style is farmhouse, cottage, shabby chic, boho, mid-century, or traditional we have something for you! Come and see our inspirational vignettes to get ideas for your home and visit our garden shop to add live plants and topiaries to your decor.
