How to decorate your house like an interior designer

It’s not uncommon to want a change of scenery now and then. You might consider renovating your space, knocking down and rebuilding your home, or moving house altogether… but one of the simplest and most affordable ways to refresh your surroundings is a home decor overhaul! 

Rather than opting for expensive renovations and building projects, redecorating allows you to reinvent your home and add visual interest to your home without making major structural changes. From new furniture and decorative objects to a fresh lick of paint, redecorating can inject some much-needed colour and character back into the space.

Need some inspiration? Here, we share tips on how to decorate your house like an interior designer, from the living room to the bedroom, alfresco and beyond.

Decorator tip #1: Fresh paint & a feature wall as the focal point of your living room

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Before going furniture shopping for the new living room, we recommend starting with the foundations, i.e. the walls. The walls, furniture, and decorations should be cohesive and consistent, so choosing a new colour is the first step to success!

A neutral block colour will allow you to experiment with vibrant colours through art, furniture, and accessories like candles and rugs. Popular colours in 2024 include:

If you want a feature wall on a budget, we recommend opting for peel-and-stick wallpaper that can easily be removed and replaced when you choose to redecorate again. Consider a feature wall a masterpiece that brings life and excitement to the space — various patterns are available, like flowers and leaves, simple geometric shapes, and more. 

Alternatively, consider saving one wall for a large wall hanging, like a Morrocan rug, a large painting, or a handmade macrame piece. This can add texture to an otherwise unremarkable wall and show off your unique sense of style.

Once the walls are repainted, you can freshen up other essentials, like a stylish new living room sofa, throw pillows and blankets, a coffee table, and more.

Decorator tip #2: Experiment with on-trend hues and mixed materials in the kitchen 

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Mixing too many colours in one room can be overwhelming. We recommend sticking to one main colour scheme and adding a pop of colour to add colour and fun to a space like the kitchen.

Take the kitchen above, for example. The colour scheme is monochrome with blue and natural timber highlights. The blue cabinetry adds character and visual interest to the space, and hue variations like the aqua pottery and vintage silver kettle add an extra hint of character with mixed textures.

If the kitchen is open plan and the dining room is interconnected, you might consider adding a grand dining table and a vase filled with dehydrated flowers to match the colour pop in the kitchen or install a modern kitchen island where your family and friends can gather for meals and get-togethers. 

Decorator tip #3: Add soft, cosy rugs to bedrooms, living rooms, and even hallways

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If it feels like there’s something missing from your new home decor design, it’s probably a rug! Available in all shapes, colours, patterns, and sizes, rugs are an essential part of interior design - rather than leaving the floor boring and bare, we recommend adding a splash of colour to the space with an eye-catching rug.

Moroccan rugs are a popular choice for homeowners all over the world. Inspired by the handwoven designs of the indigenous people of Morocco, today’s Moroccan rugs feature textured weaves, vibrant mismatched colours, and tassels for an exotic addition to any living space.

Shaggy rugs, on the other hand, are perfect for living spaces where comfort and cosiness is a must - think bedrooms and living rooms. Shag rugs have longer fibres and feel soft underfoot, so you can slide out of bed in the morning and feel instant warmth, or spread out on the floor in front of the fireplace and catch up on some Netflix. 

Subi Border Flatweave Rug

Rugs can also be used to decorate your outdoor entertaining area. Take our Subi Border Flatweave Rug, for example - woven from polypropylene, this rug is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. Match the geometric border with neutral outdoor furniture and tonnes of green, leafy plants, and your guests will be drooling over your interior design choices.

Decorator tip #4: Opt for soft lighting for bed/living rooms & task lighting for the reading nook

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Interior designers love utilising soft lighting to create a warm and inviting ambience. It helps set a relaxed and comfortable mood in a space, essential in living rooms and bedrooms. Think decorative ceiling fixtures or pendant lighting with a dimmer switch for reduced glare, increased relaxation, and fragrant candles for added aromatherapy in the evening.

If you choose soft lighting, don’t forget to add task lighting in studies, reading nooks, and hobby areas for focus and functionality. This is a great opportunity to add a stylish lamp to the space! 

Decorator Tip #5: Decorate with lots of house plants for an earthy element

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Having houseplants is a timeless decor trend and makes all the difference in an otherwise lacklustre space. Plants bring an all-natural vibe to your home decor while filling the space with a fresh atmosphere, especially in rooms with ample natural light. 

Monsteras, peace lilies, and asparagus ferns are all popular choices, or for homeowners looking for a more low-maintenance plant project, succulents and cactuses are great, too. You don’t need a green thumb to decorate with plants!

As a bonus, house plants go with almost all home decor designs. For example, ferns add a natural twist to minimalist monochrome home designs, whereas aloe plants and succulents match well with bohemian looks, jute rugs, and macrame, adding more visual interest to the room. 

Finally, indoor plants have numerous health benefits; studies have shown that even a brief encounter with nature can reduce mental fatigue and stress while increasing relaxation and self-esteem, making indoor plants perfect for decorating studies and home offices.

Decorator tip #6: Look for vintage finds in op shops for extra charm

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Character-rich designs will be popular in 2024, combining different styles and eras, opting for vintage finds from op-shops and antique stores, and embracing imperfections. The result is a fun, individualistic look that’s guaranteed to feel like home.

The idea here is to make a home reflect your personality and preferences. This could mean showcasing collections and hand-painted items, displaying art that represents personally, or using colour schemes and different textures that reflect individual tastes.

Incorporating vintage items into interior design is another great way to add a sense of self, history and uniqueness to a space. Vintage pieces, whether they are furniture, art, or decorative items, often come with their own stories and can become conversation starters!

Decorator tip #7: Declutter to make the space feel bigger

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If your home feels a little cramped and overwhelming, you can make the room feel bigger by simply decluttering! Consider binning or donating decorative items and trinkets that no longer serve a purpose or don’t fit into the new decor scheme. From the living room to the bedroom and home library, be ruthless and get rid of the things you no longer need.

The result is a more spacious, polished-look.

Now that you know how to decorate a house like an interior designer, it’s time to shop for the basics

Have our interior decorator tips left you feeling inspired? Then it’s time to get cracking on a shopping list for your home decor overhaul! 

We have a wide range of high fashion rugs available online including Moroccan rugs, jute rugs, shag rugs, and much more. No matter the look you’re going for, you’re sure to find the perfect floor art for your home decor refresh.

Shop the range online now!