Many think that tackling a decorating project will be a huge challenge that takes weeks or even months to get your furniture and colors right. Even when you’re finished, it may not look just right. Clashing colors, démodé furniture, and the feeling as if your room is missing something are some of the regular challenges homeowners face. It’s easy for you to get that designer decorated look by following some of our simple pointers to get your started:

Photo: Elle Espana

Pick your colors first. Once you have a color palette in mind, you’ll be able to pick out decor, furniture, paint, and accessories to pull off the look. For 2017 we are seeing tons of earthy, warm, and natural hues like harvest-influenced yellow, warm red, as well as cement grey and snow white. It’s an interesting combination and I’m excited to see how designers will put together rooms using this palate.

Photo: The Every Girl

Make your walls seem taller with oversized mirrors. I am obsessed with huge mirrors and what a dramatic difference they can make for a room. They reflect light and make a space look bigger and brighter, as well as visually enlarge a room making it look twice the size!

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#ff0073″ class=”” size=””]BDB Tip: You can even choose one of those huge mirrors that are too large to be hung on the wall and instead are meant to be leaned against the wall. These provide a really pretty and glamorous feel to a space and give your room that designer seal of approval.[/perfectpullquote]

The Decorista Tumblr

Don’t forget to use coupons. Even professional designers look for the best deals they can get on furniture and accessories. You can save bundles shopping at great retailers such as Bed Bath and Beyond or BensonsForBeds. Pick the decor you love, enter the coupon code, and watch your savings pile up. This is a great way to save some extra cash on something that may be out of your budget like a beautiful Persian rug or some gorgeous designer sofas.

Remember to mix up your textures. If your room is filled with neutral colored decor, add visual interest by integrating different textures. For instance, in a room filled with cream woven baskets and brown bamboo shades, hot fuchsia raw silk throw pillows would break up the color and rough texture throughout the space.

Photo: Home and Fabulous

[otw_shortcode_quote border_style=”bordered” background_color_class=”otw-pink-background” color=”#ffffff”]Suzy’s Tips: I have seen designers use hot pink pillows to pick up bland looking rooms all the time. There is something about fuchsia that brings a sense of energy and youthfulness that other colors just simply cannot. I am not a fan of decorating with pink, but when using it in limited quantities like a small flower arrangement or a splash of pink in a painting, really makes this color a dramatic statement.[/otw_shortcode_quote]

If you have a room that’s small and doesn’t get much natural light, remember that painting the walls a dark color will make the space feel more closed in. If you want to avoid this, go with a lighter shade. Painting your whole home dove grey seems boring, but this color can look very luxurious if done right. The right light grey opens up a home and makes it look huge! Installing wall moldings throughout and decorating with opulent furniture can make this color look very, very, classy.

Photo: Fifi Cheek Blogspot

Photo: Atmosphere Interior Design Inc

Working as a professional blogger and running a business from home is not as fun and simple as it may look! The idea of being your own boss and running your own business can seem like a blast, but the truth is that it comes with a lot of hard work, and requires a great deal of dedication. The biggest challenge is staying motivated and focused when you have distractions all around you.

The best way to help yourself stay motivated working at home is to decorate your office. By creating an office space that is entirely your own, you can end up with a place that is free from distraction, and focuses on drawing attention to the things that inspire you most. For example, your home office should inspire tranquility and peace, but it should also be a place where creativity runs free. This is one of the many reasons why using historical art or artifacts as part of your interior design can be effective.

Why Use Historical Art Pieces?

Even if you may not appreciate it, art makes up a significant influence in our daily lives. Hang up an incredible piece of artwork above your computer to change up the atmosphere of your entire office and give you a deep source of inspiration. Art can be incredibly freeing, especially if you choose pieces that represent someone who you regard with high respect and esteem.

Photo: Boswell Construction

For example, the Raab Collection is filled with pieces from crucial events and eras across history, as well as figures that are bound to inspire you to greatness. When you’re struggling to continue with a particularly difficult piece of work, looking up into the face of Abe Lincoln, or Albert Einstein could give you that boost of creativity that you so desperately need. It’s also a great way to decorate your office and show your patronage to your country.

Choose the Ideal Time Period

If your job requires a great deal of persuasiveness, vigor, and determination, a piece of art work taken directly from World War 2, the Civil War, or even an image of the world’s most incredible military leaders, can help to inspire you to greatness, and light a fire in your blood. The right image placed on a wall with orange and red energizing shades offers a bold emotional response that is sure to get your blood pumping.

Photo: Jessica Jubelirer Design

On the other hand, if your career demands mental clarity, you might try painting your walls in cool shades of green and blue, and decorating with images of American history, presidents from the past, and leaders from the worlds of art, religion, and science.

What’s more, purchasing a historical document to place on your wall gives your office space a sense of importance – reminding you of the value of your work, even when you’re starting to doubt yourself. Nothing is more valuable than a boost in confidence when levels of self-esteem begin to run low. Looking at blank walls does not inspire confidence!

Create a Space that Supports Mental Comfort

Since your home office is likely to be the place where you spend a particularly large amount of your time, mental and physical comfort are paramount. A lot of people place a great deal of focus into purchasing the perfect chair or desk, but they forget to invest in the artwork that will help to keep them motivated throughout the toughest work days.

Photo: Raji RM & Associates

Remember, you don’t have to pile pieces throughout your office in order to feel the benefit since that could give you a cluttered feeling and even become a distraction. Even a single inspirational piece can be enough to change the entire feel of your office space, helping you to achieve the success you crave, and help keep you moving constantly in the right direction.