Styling isn’t just for amping up your outfit.
Over the last few years, the concept of styling the home has gotten popular.
Making this happen is the rise in home decorating and makeover reality shows and glossy magazines that demonstrate how people can add panache to their home by simply putting together a well-curated collection of accessories.
Shops have followed suit, offering artier, edgier and certainly more modern home furnishings and accessories than seen in decades past.
With inspiration in abundance and greater access to resources, people have embraced home styling to spruce up the little spaces of their apartment.
Here’s how you can cop the same strategies that the professionals use and add some sophistication to your home—making it wonderful to live in, look at, and lounge in with family and friends.
(Photo by CasaSugar)Your entranceway
The small space of your foyer allows you to showcase your personality and style with just a few pieces. It also gives friends and family a little welcome, with subtle touches like an umbrella rack, a mirror or a collection of personal photographs.
Style your foyer with these essentials that can be found in a variety of styles that fit your own decorating preferences.
· Table. A wide entrance allows you to opt for a long console table that can sit flush to the wall opposite your main entrance, while a smaller space can look even cozier with a small-sized round table that will fit your entryway.
· Lighting. Setting lamps over a console or partnering a small round table with an elegant floor lamp allows you to set the mood in your entrance. Positioning some candles where there is space is also a great way to welcome guests.
· Mirror. Whether you hang a large frame on the wall, or opt to fit a small one in amidst a collage of paintings or photographs, having a mirror at your entrance is a great way to give yourself a final check before leaving the house.
· Tray or plate. Drop off your keys or loose change in a dish by your entrance and they’ll never go missing again!
(Photo by Potterybarn.com)Your coffee table
Take a second look at your coffee table. Are your decorative pieces in need of an upgrade? Should you switch up the (unread) books you stack on it? Have your artificial flowers become dusty? Here are a few ideas to freshen up your coffee table toppers.
· Plants. Fresh flowers may seem like a hassle, especially for everyday living, but consider picking up a bouquet at the supermarket or even some potted orchids at the nearby plant shop when you have guests coming over. Having fresh flowers shows you put effort into sprucing up your home to make it more welcoming.
· Candles. They always add a freshness to any room—try to stick to subtle scents that won’t mask the aromas of the food you’re about to serve!
· Books. Have a good mix of standard coffee table books, personal photo albums or even some hardbound editions you can’t live without. The books you put on display say a lot about your personality!
· Accent pieces. Conversation starters sometimes come in the form of an old antique piece, a fun souvenir from your travels, or a special photograph.
Slideshow: Design bloggers' decorating obsessions for 2013
Photo by: Francesco Lagnese
Glazed Ceramic Lamps
"Lamps have become a fashion accessory for the home, the jewelry of a room," Beth Connolly of Chinoiserie Chic says. "I adore gourd-shaped lamps in
... more Photo by: Francesco Lagnese
Glazed Ceramic Lamps
"Lamps have become a fashion accessory for the home, the jewelry of a room," Beth Connolly of Chinoiserie Chic says. "I adore gourd-shaped lamps in rooms with chinoiserie elements. Designers seem to favor the solid colors, although blue and white Chinese designs add a class element."
Living room design by Alexander Doherty
See more:
Biggest Decorating Mistakes
Designer Tricks for a More Comfortable Home
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Have any home and organizing questions for the author? Email her at chinggaylabrador@yahoo.com
Chinggay Labrador is a freelance writer and stylist, contributing articles on beauty, lifestyle and design to local magazines. Her background in architecture has her profiling trends and homes throughout the region. A travel junkie who likes to frequent Japan and Korea, Chinggay is the former editor-in-chief of Sparkling, a quarterly K-Pop publication and is also the author of “Popped and Popped, Too,” books based on the fun, frivolity and friendship centered on Korean Pop music.
