The Quick Start Guide for Decorating Your Home Like a Pro

Learn how to decorate your home with this quick-start guide, full of pro tips for creating beautiful, comfortable, and personalized spaces.

I used to have a love/hate relationship with decorating. I loved the idea of having a beautiful home that reflected my style and personality. I read decorating magazines like they were romance novels, and I could spend hours daydreaming about all the pretty home furnishings I’d use. I felt such a rush of excitement when a new decorating idea came to mind.

But when it came to turning those ideas into reality? That’s where the frustration started.

No matter how hard I tried, my home never looked the way I wanted it to. I made so many decorating mistakes. And the more I cared about having a well-decorated home, the more overwhelmed I felt.

Over time, I started learning what works and what doesn’t. I studied decorating and interior design, made a lot of changes, and slowly built up the knowledge that helped me finally decorate my home with confidence. Now, I’m sharing the best of what I’ve learned so you can start decorating like a pro—right now!

This quick-start guide is packed with practical, simple tips to help you learn how to decorate your home with confidence. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been decorating for years, you’ll find plenty of helpful ideas here to make decorating easier and more enjoyable.

If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure about how to decorate your home, you’re in the right place.

Know Your Decorating Style

One of the most important things for a home decorator to understand and embrace is our unique style. Knowing your decorating style provides a framework and direction for every decorating decision we make. Without this understanding, you’ll always find the decorating process challenging.

Did you know our styles and preferences evolve over time? As we change, so do our tastes. What you currently believe to be your style may not actually be your ideal decorating style right now.

It’s important to take the time to truly understand what you love and what doesn’t appeal to you—what makes you comfortable and what doesn’t. This is the first step toward becoming a confident home decorator! Knowing your decorating style is the first step in learning how to decorate your home in a way that feels right for you.

5 Steps For Finding Your Unique Decorating Style will help you discover your personal style and how to use it.

Fill Your Home With What YOU Love

Decorating is all about translating your personality and style into your living space. Your home should reflect who you are, filled with items that you love and that make your life comfortable and enjoyable. There is nothing more disheartening than walking into a home and finding it devoid of personality, giving no clues about the people who live in it. If your home feels impersonal, it might be because it doesn’t truly reflect you.

When you fill your home with what you love, every corner tells an ongoing story about your life. Personal touches, whether it’s artwork you’ve collected over the years, family photos, or unique souvenirs from your travels, add character, charm, and warmth. Your story and the story of the loved ones who live within can be told through furnishings that have special meaning to you, too. Your home should bring you and others joy and comfort, showing off your tastes and passions.

When you know how to decorate your home with things that matter to you, the result is always more personal and welcoming. This not only creates a beautiful space but also one that mirrors your personality and lifestyle. A home like this will always feel more inviting and genuine, making you and your guests feel right at home.

Timeless Decor: Why It’s Probably the Best Choice For Your Home is a good read if you love decorating with timeless elements.

Put Comfort First In Every Room

Creating comfort and a welcoming and inviting atmosphere is essential to enjoying your home. While decor is important, comfort should always be the first concern. Comfortable furnishings, soft textures, and practical layouts all contribute to a home environment that supports a sense of well-being and happiness.

One of the greatest benefits of a comfortable home is its ability to foster a sense of belonging and relaxation. A welcoming atmosphere encourages family and friends to spend quality time together, whether it’s sprawling out on the couch to watch TV, curling up with a good book, or gathering around the table for a family game night. When your home is designed with functionality, it becomes a sanctuary where everyone feels at ease and can fully enjoy their time.

If you knock on my door on any given day, you will probably find me in comfy clothes and an apron. And that’s perfect for our not-so-perfect home. We live very comfortably and casually here. This relaxed approach to living makes our home a true reflection of our lifestyle—one where comfort and practicality are valued just as much as aesthetics.

Incorporating comfort into your home decor doesn’t mean sacrificing style. Ultimately, a comfortable home is a happy home, providing a nurturing environment where everyone can thrive.

How To Mix Decorating Styles The Right Way

Mixing design styles in your home is a fantastic way to create a space that truly reflects your personality and tastes. By blending different styles, you can highlight the various facets of who you are and what you love.

You can combine elements from different periods, cultures, and aesthetics to create a unique and personalized home. Whether you love the clean lines of modern design, the warmth of rustic elements, or the elegance of traditional pieces, mixing these styles can create an interesting home that feels authentic and true to you.

Another reason to mix styles is to prevent your home from feeling monotonous or one-dimensional. A carefully curated mix of styles can be exciting, engaging, and just so attractive.

7 Easy Tips For Mixing Decorating Styles is a must-read!

Use The 80/20 Decorating Rule

Now that we’ve talked about mixing decorating styles, let’s look at how to do it well.

The 80/20 rule is a valuable guide to keep in mind when mixing styles in your home. This principle suggests that 80% of your space should be dedicated to one predominant style, while the remaining 20% can be composed of the other styles you love. This approach is one of the smartest ways to learn how to decorate your home with balance and interest.

Most of us are drawn to more than one design style and like to use them in our homes. However, achieving a balanced mix requires a bit of thought. The 80/20 rule provides an easy formula that works every time because it has been tried and tested with amazing success. By choosing one style to be the dominant theme, you create a solid foundation for your decor. You can then incorporate elements of other styles in smaller doses, adding items that are different and captivating without overwhelming the space.

Using the 80/20 rule helps ensure that your decor feels intentional and well-balanced. It allows you to express your personality while maintaining a well-designed look in your home.

Decorate With A High/Low Mix

A cousin to mixing decorating styles is the High/Low mix. I think this is my favorite way to decorate!

The High/Low mix is a smart decorating strategy that combines more expensive, high-quality items with budget-friendly finds. This way of decorating allows you to create a stylish look without breaking the bank. By strategically adding more expensive pieces alongside affordable options, you can achieve a balanced and cohesive aesthetic that feels polished, interesting, and personalized.

One of the main benefits of the High/Low mix is that it allows you to invest in key pieces that stand the test of time. These high-quality items, such as a classic sofa or a statement lighting fixture, become the foundation of your decor. You can fill out your space without overspending by pairing these with less expensive accessories or accent decor. This is a way to maximize your style by adding depth and character to your home and minimizing your budget.

Why Less Is Often More In Decorating

The “less is more” approach to decorating is a timeless principle that emphasizes simplicity, good taste, and functionality. In a world where many home decorators tend to overdecorate, this philosophy encourages a more thoughtful and restrained approach. Overdecorating can lead to cluttered, overwhelming spaces where individual pieces lose their impact. When too many items compete for attention, the overall appearance can feel chaotic and disjointed, taking away from the beauty of each element.

Editing your decor is so important as it helps create a balanced and calm environment. Each item can shine and contribute to the room’s overall attractiveness by carefully selecting and curating pieces. A well-edited space is easier to maintain, feels more spacious, and allows for better flow and function. It also gives you the opportunity to highlight your most treasured items so they are noticed and appreciated and not lost in a sea of unnecessary decor.

This way of decorating can really transform your home into a more inviting and restful place where beauty and simplicity coexist. Decorating With Less will give you more designer tips and easy concepts to use in your home.

Keep Your Home Neat And Tidy

I think you knew I was going to say something about clutter and being organized.

Keeping clutter at bay is the best way to make sure that everything in a room has a designated place is key for maintaining an organized and lovely home. Clutter can quickly accumulate, believe me, I know, creating a chaotic and stressful environment. A tidy space, on the other hand, cultivates a sense of calm and order, making it easier to relax and enjoy your surroundings. When every item has a home, it not only looks better but also makes it easier to find things, saving you time and reducing frustration.

I feel better when my home is tidy and organized. I’m more focused, productive, and in control of my space. By regularly decluttering and putting everything back in its place, my home not only looks better, but I also feel better.

Declutter Your Home In 15 Minutes A Day is a plan I have used for decades, and it works!

Create A Whole Home Color Palette

Choosing a cohesive color palette for your entire home creates an easy-to-live-in home. One of the primary advantages is that it creates a unified color story for your home, making it feel more put together and consistent. By sticking to a tight color palette, even if your decorating styles vary from room to room, the overall look remains cohesive. Brilliant, right? Creating a cohesive color palette allows different styles to blend seamlessly, preventing the space from feeling disjointed.

A well-chosen color palette also helps your home flow, moving your eye smoothly from one room to the next. This makes the transitions between spaces more natural and pleasing.

Having a consistent color scheme makes it easier to move furniture and decor items from one room to another without worrying about color clashes. I think this is one of the whole home color story’s biggest advantages! Having the flexibility to move items from one room to another gives me design options and allows me to update and refresh a room without buying new furnishings.

You might like to read How to Choose A Color Palette for Your Home.

Use Contrast To Add Interest (But Don’t Overdo It)

Juxtaposition involves placing contrasting decor elements next to each other to create visual interest and highlight the unique qualities of each piece. Juxtaposition can add depth, character, and a sense of balance to your space.

For example, pairing a sleek glass coffee table with a vintage armchair can create a striking and memorable contrast that draws the eye and makes each piece stand out. And a vintage chandelier over a modern round dining room table has the same effect.

The beauty of juxtaposition lies in its ability to highlight the diverse aspects of your personal style, making your home feel interesting and thoughtfully curated.

However, it’s important to use juxtaposition judiciously. While mixing contrasting elements can be exciting and visually stimulating, overdoing it can lead to a confused space. A room should still maintain a cohesive feel, with a clear sense of purpose and harmony. To achieve this balance, consider the overall atmosphere you want to create and make sure that the juxtaposed elements complement rather than clash with each other.

Think of this post as a quick-start guide filled with foundational tips to help you learn to decorate your home with more confidence and clarity. These ideas are meant to give you a solid starting point to create a home that feels collected, comfortable, and truly you.

I can’t wait to walk through this with you, one smart decorating concept at a time. You’re not just decorating—you’re building a home you’ll love living in every day.

Happy Decorating!