Many people have homes that are decorated in a very predicatable and boring way that says nothing about their personality.
These people often copy an entire room's design out of a magazine (boring and seen it before) or pick up popular mass produced items at their local store and add them to their room's design hoping it will magically make their entire room look magazine quality (not gonna happen).
If you have a room that is nice, but not too exciting, here are a few ways to add personality and interest to a boring room.
photo courtesy of Wicker Furniture flickr.com/photos/wicker-furniture/8476236590/
Declutter
Clutter makes a room feel heavy and claustrophobic while adding unneeded stress to your life.
It is impossible to have good design with clutter.
Ban all clutter from your room before you start decorating.
Start by getting rid of stuff - either donate it, repair it, repurpose it, recycle it, or trash it.
Be honest about the last time you used these items and don't get stuck on how much you paid for each item several years ago because its value several years ago is probably much more than its value today.
Everything that tends to be not put away needs to find a permanent home.
Storage solutions for mail, keys, cell phones, purses, backpacks, and other daily used items should be introduced.
You can add decorative baskets, furniture with integrated storage, cute wall hooks, a decorative tray, behind door storage, or just clean out existing spaces to find more storage space.
Avoid Trendy Items
Avoid mass produced accessories, artwork, furniture, and other materials that are overly popular right now.
Everyone has seen them.
Everyone is getting tired of them.
They will soon make your home feel dated.
Instead, create your own trend using one of a kind vintage or unique items that are not mass produced.
Shop at flea markets, garage sales, and estate sales to find truly unique one-of-a-kind pieces.
You can even take an older item or mass produced item and modify it to be special and unique adding something to it or taking something away from it.
Consider painting it (metallic spray paint can work miracles), adding new knobs, shortening the legs, removing the fringe, changing the frame, or other modifications to give the item a new personality.
Not Everything Needs a "Wow"
Feel free to use a few plain items that are well made but do not make you say "wow".
In order for something to be a focal point, other things must take a back seat.
Avoid Matching Furniture
Furniture sets are easy to purchase because you know they will work together in your home, however they are boring.
Instead of going the easy route, select unique furniture to add personality to your boring room.
Make sure to know the dimensions of your room before purchasing furniture because furniture that does not fit the room properly looks awkward and functions poorly.
If you currently have furniture sets, consider mixing them up by taking pieces from one room and changing them with pieces in a different room.
Another option is to modify them in some way, such as painting or reupholstering a few pieces.
You can even swap pieces with your neighbor.
Mix old pieces with new pieces, formal items with informal items, and antiques with vintage items to make your room special.
You don't have to stick with one particular decor style - decorate your home with decor in your own special blended style of things you love.
Avoid Cheap
Do not decorate your home with anything that is not expected to last at least 5 years.
Cheap items makes your room look cheap.
Feel free to get high quality items on sale for an inexpensive price, but avoid all poor quality items that are not well constructed.
Select sturdy items that might not be as fashionable or trendy, and refinish them to complement your decor style and taste level.
Feel free to shop for pre-owned items at thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, garage sales, estate sales, and more.
Color
Ban the beige and add some bright and bold color to your home.
Don't select colors that are currently in style since anything in style will soon be out of style.
Select a color or colors that you love and go for it.
Don't be boring!
Pattern
Don't be afraid to mix and match different patterns to create a unique mix that shows off your personal style.
The designer trick for mixing different patterns is to use one larger scale, one medium scale, and one small scale in similar colors.
Texture
Are all of the items in your room a similar texture?
If so, consider adding items of contrasting texture.
Add rough items and smooth items as well as shiny items and dull items.
You can use rough burlap, soft velvet, shiny mirror, and sparkly crystal.
Nature
Adding a touch of nature to a room brings it to life.
You can add a living tree, some fresh flowers, or a bowl of fruit to resuscitate your boring room.
All rooms need something that is living or mimics something living (except maybe a closet).
Architectural Changes
If your room have little architectural detail, then add some.
You can add intricate crown molding, unique flooring, awesome light fixtures, special tile, or other changes that show your personality and design style.
Good Lighting
Different lighting is needed for different activities, such as reading, cleaning, putting on makeup, or trying on clothes.
Don't rely on one light source in the middle of the ceiling of your room.
Start by adding a dimmer switch to your overhead light, then add additional sources of light to make your room more interesting.
You can add a table lamp, a wall sconce (or two), and/or an uplight (which is especially good in the base of an indoor tree) to the corner of your room so you can have proper lighting.
What Makes You Happy?
Decorate your home with what makes you happy in order to add your personality to your home.
If you love dogs, then add quirky yet professional looking artwork that has dogs.
If you love French antiques, then decorate with French antiques.
If animal print is your thing, then add a bit of animal print.
There are no rules.
Be artistic and have fun with your decorating.
