Layers bring a room to life! Without them, even the most beautiful space will remain a soulless showroom full of things. It’s like setting a table with gorgeous linens, fine china and spectacular centerpieces and then skipping the food! After many hours spent poring over images of stunning interiors that nail it, we discovered ten small details that breathe life into your living space.
1. Framed Artwork
Bare walls suggest a temporary space. They say, “I’m not putting any holes in the wall because I might have to jet.” Don’t make your guests wonder if you’re on the lam! Framed artwork makes a space feel complete and creates visual depth that imparts a feeling of expansiveness.
2. Photographs
Photos are records of your experiences, so don’t let them languish on a hard drive: print them, frame them, display them. They will invite interaction, ignite conversation and evoke pleasant memories.
3. Pop of Color
Like a shot of espresso, color is energizing. There are so many ways to use it—all of them vitalizing. Repeat the same shade in a tonal range for a bold look, employ the spectrum for a cheerful and dynamic space, or let a single pop of color be the exclamation point in an understated room.
4. Fresh Flowers
Any natural element will add life to a room—literally, in the case of plants. Fresh flowers in particular take it a step further. They are the ultimate luxury: simple, ephemeral and sensual. Whether subtle or extravagant, flowers are like a little love note to your room and the people in it.
5. Personal Artifacts
Make sure your home is filled with things you love! A well-designed space is never complete without your personal history laced throughout. So put out the bookends you got in the flea market in Paris and put your feet up on that antique stool from grandma’s house. These objects will give your rooms a rich, storied patina and become meaningfully intertwined with your daily life.
6. Creature Comforts
Even the prettiest place can look sterile if it’s not stocked with some inviting amenities. A cozy throw draped over the arm of a sofa or a plush pile of embroidered pillows welcome you to settle in and get comfortable. They make your home a space for living, not just for looking. And rooms were made to be lived in!
7. Lamps
No matter how good your recessed lighting, a room needs lamps. A few lamps scattered around carve out intimate spaces and create a dynamic environment where light bounces off of reflective surfaces, illuminates corners and casts shadows.
8. Books
Whether stacked on tables or aligned on shelves, books imbue a room with a sense of possibility. They are reminders of your child’s bedtime stories, your favorite recipes and blissful beach vacations. And their physical structures lend a kind of architecture to whatever space they fill.
9. Surprise!
A clever little niche that creates a shrine to the dog’s dish, a portrait where a mirror should be, a pair of baseball stadium seats in a terribly elegant entryway. Don’t take your décor too seriously. It’s the unexpected and often humorous touches that delight.
10. A Little Clutter
Nothing brings a home to life like living! High-end retailers plant newspapers, hooded sweatshirts and kids toys in their showrooms to give them a whiff of humanity, and you don’t even have to try! A little clutter gives a good-looking room an effortless quality, like wearing your date’s jacket over your evening gown. It’s the mark of a life well lived.
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