Master the art of styling your home
Imagine walking into a space that makes you soak in positive vibrations and gives your soul a calming experience. That space is your own home. Your home is beyond the walls and furnishings; it is a place that brings you solace. Through the art of styling your home, you can transform your place and elevate it to the next level.
Apart from being aesthetically pleasing, your home should offer comfort, warmth, and functionality. Well, there is a slight difference between interior decoration and home styling. While interior decoration involves knowledge of layouts, materials, floor plan, etc., home styling is the art of personalising a space according to your own style.
This article will provide insights on home styling and decor to turn your home uniquely yours. You don’t have to buy expensive stuff to style your home. You can start by using what you already have by applying these basic concepts.
Declutter before you start styling your home
Decluttering from time to time not only creates a cleaner space but also gives you a calming and therapeutic experience. A cluttered space will also affect your mental and emotional well-being other than creating a physical mess in the house. Having a clutter-free space is far more essential than having a styled home.
Realise that sometimes you get into a habit of hoarding stuff. It’s needless to say, not everything you own will always be put to good use. So, start by separating things into three categories: keep, donate, and discard. Once you get rid of some stuff, having a clear space will give you a clear mind to think and plan. After you declutter, start organising stuff and have storage solutions for everything.
Categorise things lying around and put them in order according to their use. There are plenty of pretty baskets and organisers available in the market these days that can help sort various things. Cleaner surfaces and organised spaces are always attractive to the eyes and mind.
Make things functional
Not only should your house be styled, but it should be functional. Having a working desk full of stylish elements but not having space to work is not of good use. Similarly, your dining table should have dining mats, serviettes, and a tissue paper holder. Your coffee table should have space to put coasters for your guests. Your bedside table should have drawers to keep daily things like charging cables, medicines, etc. concealed. There should be an ease of working around while styling your house.
Define your style
Before you decorate your home, start by identifying your personal style. Whether you are a minimalist or a maximalist, whether you are drawn towards traditional vintage classic decor or like a clean, modern look, whether you like eclectic decor or love rustic farmhouse look. It is very essential to identify what your style is and then invest in styling elements.
Your style will set the tone of your house. Also, other factors that add to your styling journey are the colour palette you choose, the kind of furniture you invest in, the type of upholstery you decide, and the lighting you choose. Your house is an amalgamation of all these, as they identify your personal style.
Styling tips for styling your home
After you have decided on your style, set up the correct spatial arrangement and choose the colours of your liking. There are a few tips you can keep in mind to place your decor items while styling. Begin with whatever you have in store, and try to shuffle stuff here and there to refresh the vibe. You can also make a slight shift in your decor according to seasons and festivities to break the monotony.
Group things together
Rather than scattering your decor items on a surface like a centre table or a console table, try grouping things together. Putting around too many objects will take the attention to all different places without creating any harmony. However, grouping things together will draw attention to a group of decor, treated as one. There can be various things you can group together, like a candle placed on a book with a flower vase/planter on its side.
Rule of odds
Grouping involves a technique. It is believed that a group of odd numbers will draw more attention than a group of even numbers. A single object or a group of odds like three or five items creates interest. The most common is a group of three as they are more natural or harmonious. You can also group a pair of objects, but ensure they are of different heights. For example, a group of three vases of varied peaks or a planter, a candle votive, and a vase put together.
Use elements of varying heights
When you group things together, make sure they are of different heights. Objects of different elevations create visual interest to the human eye. If you do not have such elements, you can use risers such as a pile of books or a box to increase the height of a flat object. Different plants, lamps, vases, candle stands, and cushions can be incorporated while using this rule. Pendant lights of different lengths in a corner of a room are appealing.
Layering different objects
Layering becomes crucial when you are grouping things. You can use various pieces for layering such as table runners, mats, trays, plates, etc. You can also combine two or three concepts together. For example, a group of three pillar candles placed on a tray kept on a table runner. Or a tea light holder resting on a pile of books along with a planter, all tastefully decorated on a tray which is on top of a table runner or a mat.
Ambient light
Another interesting factor in levelling up your style game is the lighting of your space. With the dusk setting in, turn on the ambient lights. Floor/wall/ceiling lamps, dim lights, and candles create a warm and cosy feel. A muted light gives a relaxing aura and is soothing to the eye, as well. Use lampshades at different corners to create a little drama around that space. Light hitting various objects creates beautiful shadows and creates interest for the eye.
Elements for home styling
Let us put together different elements that you can use to style your home and transform it into an inviting space.
Greens: Adding beautiful planters around the corners adds colour and freshness to the house. You can also add water-propagating plants in ceramic vases, jars, or tumblers on your coffee table.
Books: They give a vintage feel and also help as risers for your decor objects. You can refurbish old diaries into art objects and use them for your centre table.
Candles: These are some of the most beautiful decorative objects in the styling domain. Whether they are tea light holders, glass votives, or pillar candles, they add to the beauty of the space.
Flower vases: Vases with fresh or faux plants add height to the table. You can use trays of different materials such as wood, glass, or cane to add layers and group them.
Home linen: You can also use rugs, carpets, runners, and mats for layering. Use cushions of varying heights with different textured covers to add softness.
Fragrances: One of the beautiful factors to make your place more welcoming is how it smells. One can use diffusers and fragrant candles to add fragrance and make it a lot more pleasing.
Much like art, home decor is also a subjective matter, and it should reflect your unique style. The key is to create a space that provides you with comfort and serenity. It is a place that brings you joy and inspires you to do more. With a harmonious blend of functionality and aesthetics, you can make your home a true reflection of your personality. Happy Styling!
Article by: Dr. Manjula Vijh
