Best décor tips off all time for your home

Whether you’re in the market for a major interior overhaul or you’re simply looking to give your home a quick and easy update, chances are you've spent some time online hunting for ideas and inspiration. Here, we share decorating pointers from our archives and tips from top designers to help you make sense of what good design really means. If you're open to mastering a few basic decorating principles and putting your creativity to the test, you're sure to enjoy a home that's both comfortable and stylish.

USE COLOR IN HALLWAYS

If you tend to be more reserved when it comes to color choices, step outside of your comfort zone by choosing a bold hue, like purple, for a hallway. It's unexpected and can be a chic backdrop for showcasing an art collection.

DISPLAY COLLECTIBLES ON A TABLE

Every room can benefit from accessories that have a history. Rather than showcasing your collectibles on a shelf, set them out on a table. Just be sure your collection is highly curated to maintain a sense of balance in your display.

PLAY WITH TEXTURE

It's easy to gravitate toward the usual suspects like wood and leather when trying to craft a textured living space, but branch outside of your comfort zone. Draw from your own personal style, especially the articles of clothing and patterns you're attracted to.

DON'T SACRIFICE COMFORT

Sure, your eyes may want the most modern, chic couch in the showroom. But your back may not. It's really better to test out seating and take the time to look at the dimensions. If you're tall, for instance, you might want to opt for a depth of between 40 to 42 inches for a sofa.

ALWAYS SHOP FOR A RUG IN PERSON

This is not the time for e-shopping, people. It's just so hard to tell on a computer screen what the color really looks like. You might think it looks red, but in reality, it's watermelon pink. Not to mention the texture of the rug may be totally different than what you were expecting.

NVEST IN THE WALLS, CEILING, AND FLOOR

Everyone expects that they won’t have to repaint the walls or ceiling at least for the following 5-10 years, as well as remake the floor. However, if you do not prepare the walls, ceiling or floor good and don’t choose the right products, you might spend half of your free-time fighting the mold, peeling paint or any other problems. De Wolfe 3D wall panels have a 10-year warranty which proves that up to 10 years you will not have any problems with your walls or ceiling, whether you use them inside, outside or in wet areas. Invest more now and save your time and money in the future.

De Wolfe 3D Wall Panels, Chabel Design

NEVER SETTLE ON ONE "LOOK"

Allow your space to continuously change—as your life does. Remember that your home should always be evolving, just as you are. Constantly pick up new treasures on your travels. Your nest should always be a place of comfort and inspiration, and it's a constant work in progress.

USE CURTAINS AS A BACKDROP FOR ART

Instead of hanging a painting on a bare wall, accent it with a rich, velvet curtain background. Curtains just create a great, calming energy in which you feel very shrouded and comforted, making for a luxurious and restful environment. And being able to put a really great pop of artwork in front of that textural colored backdrop has a lot of impact.

UPHOLSTER ANTIQUE FURNITURE WITH MODERN FABRIC

Make what's old new again by invigorating antique pieces with colorful fabric from the 21st century. Take, for example, the two 18th-century French bergère chairs here, upholstered in a hot pink Maharam fabric. Maharam is a very modern, contemporary fabric company, with velvets that are really bright in color. That color was such a pop of freshness and youthfulness on these old chairs.

BUY TWO GREAT PIECES A YEAR

Rather than renovating your home all at once, buy two quality pieces you love every year. Good things hold their value, and in 10 years you will have a beautiful collection of 20 things.

INVEST WHERE IT MATTERS

If you're on a budget, invest in the pieces that anchor a room. It wouldn't be a bedroom without a bed, it wouldn't be a living room without a sofa, and it wouldn't be a dining room without a dining table.

CHANGE YOUR COFFEE TABLE DECOR REGULARLY

When it comes to styling coffee tables, try this formula: Start with something large in the middle, like a floral arrangement in an interesting pot, or a huge bowl filled with a collection. Then, build out from that with stacks of art books, candles, sculptures or pottery.