Making a Memorable Home

I moved out on my own for the first time when I was fresh out of college. Although I moved into this incredible apartment with granite countertops, an open floor plan, and beautiful views; I had little desire to decorate or apply really any effort to my home. I guess I figured, “if it’s not functional, it’s not needed.” 

That all changed when my incredible best friend, a former beauty queen, moved in with me. Let me tell you, there was not a thing in that apartment this girl did not move. My books were realigned to look nice, plants started popping up out of nowhere, and anything that didn’t look pretty suddenly found a discrete new home. Although the first shock of everything shifting was a bit startling, I started to notice a big difference in the way my friends communicated about my home. All of a sudden the people entering our apartment would look around and almost immediately compliment us on our “Pinterest-like” aesthetic. On more than one occasion I overheard conversations about how great visiting my house was and when people did visit, they wanted to stay.

This experience really shook my vision of decorating and taught me the power/positive impact interior design can have on a home. 

We’ve all been at the start of this journey at one point or another. Fearful of making mistakes in decorating, we instead settle for what we have or even convince ourselves we like it better without the fancy decorations (even though we secretly spend hours on Pinterest night). Decorating can play a key role in turning your house into a real home. It can transform a plain space into a memorable oasis conducive to building community.

In everyday life this is important but when it comes to selling a home, it is invaluable.

To ease your fears I’ve gathered some key interior design tips that I’ve learned in my own journey to help you with your first steps to a new interior design.

5 Rules for Interior Design

Start with a Neutral Palette

Bright colors and bold accents go in and out of style rapidly (remember when we all loved red, white, and black??). Neutrals are lasting and timeless. Start your room off with a neutral palette that will be consistent and lasting. Pops of color are easily achieved in replicable items such as books, floral arraignments, and accessories.

The 10-30-60 Rule

An easy way to decide when and where color should be added is using the 10-30-60 color rule for dominant, secondary, and accent colors. As the name suggests; your dominant color (a neutral) should cover about 60% of the room. The secondary color, a little bolder, should be used repetitively without overpowering. Your boldest color, the accent, should be included sparingly and with intentionality.

Think Vertically

Artwork, wall décor, and tall plants help to bring the eye up off the ground or coffee table. Also, storing items vertically on shelves or other creative options keeps them off the ground or on low areas, preventing the home from feeling cluttered and messy.

The Rule of Threes

Styling surfaces can feel intimidating. Too few items can leave the space feeling sparse and awkward, but too many items can cause clutter. When in doubt, follow the rule of three. Odd number groupings are more appealing to the eye than even ones. Placing three cohesive items in a space can help to create this dynamic. 

Don’t Over-Theme

Everyone loves a good beach-themed room; however, when everything is covered in is shells, sand, umbrellas, and flip-flops it starts to look ridiculous. Keeps obvious references to a theme at a bare minimum with accent pieces and try to enhance the feel of the room over the theme.

Looking for some inspiration or a creative piece to get you started? Visit Madrona Blossom! They are an incredible boutique on Front Street in Coupeville. Their cozy décor and helpful associates are sure to spark some inspiration.