Decorating is a way to showcase your personality as well as the personalities of those who live in your home. It’s about the colors you choose, the furniture you select, and the accessories that you display. While design is subjective, there are some basic rules of thumb that should be taken into consideration when decorating your home.

Today a lot of people like to decorate their own spaces but may be unsure about what to do. Here are a few suggestions to help you make the best use of your space.

Ignoring Windows

Besides adding the finishing touch to your space, window treatments can help block harsh sunlight as well as provide privacy and add warmth to your space. Even if you have blinds, it is a nice touch to add drapes to your window.

When selecting fabric, consider the mood of the room. The fabric you select should complement your furnishings and not compete with the.

To make your space look bigger, hang your drapes as high as you can go. Go to the ceiling if you can. This simple trick makes your ceilings appear higher than they actually are. Don’t skimp on width. The general rule of thumb is that curtains should be 2 1/2 times the width of the actual window. You may want to be able to close your window treatments at times. Extend your rod out at least 4 inches past the window frame, up to 12 inches if you have the space. This simple trick will give the illusion that your windows are wider than they actually are. Also when they are open, the window will not be blocked by the drapes.

Don’t be afraid to let the window treatments touch the floor, even puddling if you wish. Puddling gives more of a formal, romantic look to your space so decide if this is what you really want. Otherwise, just glazing the floor is the perfect length - a half inch or so is good.

Make sure the hardware you select complements both the window treatments and the style of the room. Remember don’t skimp on hardware.

Hanging them high and wide will increase the way the window size is perceived. Whatever you do, don’t hang your window treatments too short. Curtains that are two short look awkward and out of place.

Floating Rugs

Buying a rug can be a difficult task for a lot of people. If you have a wide-open space, rugs can help define spaces. Hardwood floors often look naked without a rug. The basic rule of thumb for purchasing a rug is to buy a rug that is large enough for your space. Your furniture should be able to sit nicely on the rug. Wayfair has some nice dos and don’ts if you are purchasing a rug. The biggest rule though is that at least the front legs of the furniture should be able to sit on the rug. Buying a rug that is too small is the biggest mistake you can make when it comes to rugs.

Hanging Artwork Too High

Another mistake that many people make is hanging their artwork too high. This has always been a pet peeve of mine, especially now that my livelihood comes from my artwork. There are many dos and don’ts for hanging artwork and you can read about them here. But the biggest rule of thumb is to hang artwork at eye level, which is about 60 inches from the center to the floor. Yes, you heard me correctly. 5 feet. If you are hanging furniture about furniture, it should relate to the furniture and be hung about 4 – 6 inches above the piece. Also, make sure that the piece is large enough to fill the space. The 2/3 rule is a good one to remember.

Another option for hanging artwork is to group artwork together. There are a few basic guidelines for that as well. Ask yourself:

Does your artwork have a common theme? For examples, are you hanging family pictures? Is your artwork nature-inspired? When viewed as a whole, will it make sense? One thing you don’t want to do is hang your artwork too far from each other when hanging as a group.

Do the colors and frames complement each other? Personally, if I am hanging frame art, I want all my frames to match in style and color. That doesn’t mean that they all must be the same, but they should complement each other.

Too Much Color

Color is a very personal choice when it comes to decorating. Some people love color, and you can tell from their homes, while others prefer more subtle hues. My recommendation is to put your color into the pillows and accessories, like window treatments but leave the walls and largest furniture pieces solid and subtle. Pillows are a lot easier to change out when you grow tired of the color than buying a new sofa or painting the room. Be careful of bright colors too. A little bit of yellow goes a long way!

If you have any decorating questions, just let me know. Next week I’ll discuss 4 more decorating mistakes that people make.

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Until next time,