4 Secret Designer tips to instantly elevate your space

When I tell people I have an interior design firm, one of the most common questions I’ve received is – Where’s the best place to get nice furniture, but cheap?!

Ok, let me digress for just a bit. I HATE the word cheap. Don’t get me wrong, a girl loves a deal, but finding something at an affordable price is much different than buying something that’s CHEAP. Cheap implies quality, not price.

Now, where was I? Oh yeah, designer tips to elevate your space.

After hearing this question a few times and probing, I started to realize what they’re really asking is how to make a room feel elevated on a budget. So, if you find yourself not quite ready to redo your whole room/home, here are 4 tips that will instantly make your home feel elevated.

1. Lighting

Now this is an important one and often overlooked. The difference soft white vs daylight vs bright light can make on the space is almost impossible to believe until you see it. I won’t go into a deep dive on this now, but try switching out those bright white bulbs, for a soft white, in rooms that get a lot of natural light and see the difference. However, if you don’t get a lot of natural light (i.e., like my old “garden unit” condo in Chicago that I adored but was SO dark), soft white may make your space too dark and feel smaller.

2. Layers

One of my favorite decorating hacks to elevate a space are (notice the plural tense) comfortable, soft, plush throws. Brownie points if you have different textures. In my home, a couch or sofa isn’t finished unless it’s draped in my favorite throw. At least two on a sectional is a must in my book.

3. Negative Space

In the design world, a space without furniture is considered negative space. Sometimes, decluttering or just moving pieces of furniture the proper distance from each other (remember, you want at least 2-3 ft of space for traffic flow) will take your room from garage sale to elegant.

4. Texture Play

Now, this is a difficult one, and not something I’d normally recommend you do on your own, but implementing different textures instantly elevate a room. And if done right, it’ll

feel timeless. Linen, velvet and boucle are some of my favs. I say this is a tricky one because you have to truly know the fabric to know if it’s right for your space. For instance, if you’re a type A, slightly OCD person like myself, natural linen is not your friend. It’s absolutely beautiful, but 100% linen is never without wrinkles.

I’d love to hear from you. Shoot me an email at DeNeatra@TLEinteriors.com and let me know if you liked any of these tips.

Xoxo

D