Don’t knock yourself if something doesn’t turn out right the first time. Even seasoned experts learn as they go. After talking to 30 home experts, we learned that even they made mistakes early on when it came to style and decor. Some of the top takeaways that we learned are less is more, invest in your furniture and don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. We interviewed 30 home experts to find out the 30 best things they learned about style and decor before they were 30. Liz Walton, Owner and Principal Designer of Liz Walton Home believes that “as a designer, we are exposed to so many fabulous products and we want to impress our clients with something creative or exotic, but we must identify the best use of our time in regards to the projects needs at hand.” Same goes for individuals. Get the bones of the project done, and work on accents and decor at your own pace. Plus, is there really such a thing as perfect? If you’re a home decor lover, you know that there’s always something out there that you’re going to find and love. Take a step back and appreciate the hard work you’ve put in. When it comes to accessories and decor, she likes to scour stores like HomeGoods for unique accent pieces. “I prefer to save money on items such as accessories and decor when I see the budget dwindling. As a designer who wants to style the best space possible for their client, I want to maximize the budget, so I go to stores like HomeGoods and hunt for all my project needs,” she says. If you’ve never tried, you can find everything from great high-quality, standout patterned accent chairs to wow-worthy wall decor to bright ceramic vases that give a beautiful pop of color from HomeGoods and other discounted home stores. “Great design is not about how much you spend, but rather about how you spend to bring all the pieces together,” explains Smith. “Do not go shopping without a design plan or at least have some parameters or know what you are looking for. So many clients have told me they have purchased multiple things they loved at a particular store but it turned out to be so wrong for their room, their project or their space” she says. Whether it’s the wrong scale (too big of a couch and won’t even fit in the doorway) or a wrong hue (looked pink at the store but it’s really orange) or just doesn’t go with the vibe or feel of the whole space, Stevens insists that you make a plan beforehand and have all measurements to make the process run smoothly. “One of the best tips I learned by 30 was when you buy something new, you should get rid of something old. I don’t mean go and toss grandma’s china, but there’s a reason you chose to buy a new accent chair, rug, or even a cute new coffee mug and that reason likely isn’t because you want to become a hoarder,” says Meichtry. To help you stick to this rule, try to design your home with simplicity in mind. “If you design with open shelves in the kitchen, you can avoid this all together. There’s no room for hoarding when your space is limited and your mug collection is on display,” she says. “Limit accessories and family photos to three max per area,” she says. Showing off your family or decor pieces is okay, but having too many pieces can look cluttered. A subtle way to show off photography without having it feel too overwhelming, is by printing images in black and white. They feel less busy and add cohesion to your space. “Trust your instincts and never be afraid to change things up throughout the creative process,” she says. “Even as a professional interior designer with a decade in the industry under my belt, there are still times when we’re in the midst of installation and something stirs up a new idea and I run with it (and convince my clients to join me!)” That’s how the ceiling in this dining room ended up a daring shade of cobalt to contrast the neutral beams. Edgar Blazona, founder of BenchMade Modern made the mistake of spending quite a bit of money on a splashy, bright and colorful sofa when he was younger. “Once the sofa arrived at my doorstep, my taste had already slightly changed. And, once the sofa was in my apartment for a significant period of time, I realized my mistake,” he says. “This large piece of furniture was an eye-catcher, sure, but it also defined the room without giving me an option to change it. What’s more, the sofa was expensive, so it’s not like I could quickly swap it out for a new one,” he says. Blazona quickly learned that a sofa in a more neutral color was the way to go, as it could be accented with pillows, throws, and area rugs. “You can easily add in bright and splashy, or add in seasonal or holiday touches, with minimal expense to change the look and feel of the room,” explains Blazona. I have a garden with rosemary, oregano, sage and roses among others. It’s so satisfying to have fresh roses on your table, or you give an arrangement to a friend that you personally handpicked,” says Martinez. Even better, when you get to cook with your own home grown ingredients, it makes your meal feel even more special. “Now that I am living in a bigger house and have moved to the US I would love to have them here to read again, to remind me of another time in my life and to make our shelves look a little more homey.” While you can still have a good purge, sometimes storing items for later use will benefit you in the long run.
