50 Chic Home Decorating Ideas

No designated reading nook? No problem. If your home doesn’t have any leftover real estate to convert into a reading nook, design your formal living room to serve double duty as a cozy lounge area. Here, Heidi Caillier strategically chose furniture with fabrics and shapes that are both sophisticated and homey, perfect for entertaining or unwinding alone.

The soft black paint color in this bedroom makes it feel special and intimate in ways you’d never be able to achieve with a lighter hue (this specific shade is Farrow & Ball Railings). The eclectic furniture lends itself nicely to the darkness, too, adding a more lived in and homey vibe.

Rethink how you style an empty fireplace. In this texture-rich environment, interior designer Leanne Ford turned an empty fireplace into a little gallery to display pottery and artwork.

Adding the right window treatment can make all the difference. We’re especially into Roman shades with a fun pattern. “It goes against decorating 101, but using small patterns together can be easier on the eye,” says interior decorator Kristin Panitch, who designed this dreamy pink cloud of a bedroom.

From the inky stained wood to the modern side chair and clean-lined ladder, this home library designed by Fiona Lynch is a gorgeous contemporary take on traditional design. You could fill it with books—or you could add in decor accents and accessories like vases and sculptures to break up the monotony of a wall of books. Or, color-coordinate your books. Not only will it feel more cohesive, but if you’ve got a lot of bright colors in your collection, they’ll stand out even more.

Breakfast with a view? We’re in. This one is country-chic and just a touch rustic but still polished. It also proves you don’t need to have an actual built-in nook to achieve the right vibe.

If you don’t have a grand foyer—or you do but it needs some love–introduce a small console table. For a formal yet modern aesthetic, opt for a traditional table and then hang modern abstract art above it. Then lean some portraits against the wall for a laid back take on the gallery wall.

If any area in your home is feeling austere, sheepskin throws are the easiest solution. They bring in warmth, texture, and comfort while also being super affordable and easy to move throughout your space as your needs and moods shift.

Throw pillows are the easiest way to freshen up in the bedroom or living room. Introducing a new color, print, or shape with a throw pillow can make the whole space feel new again.

Slide a stool next to the bathtub. Not only will the extra surface space help with organization, but it’s also a great way to make the whole space feel more luxe.

It’s easy to overlook a room when it’s super tiny, especially because there simply isn’t enough useable space for décor. But it’s definitely possible—and well worth it—to show these nooks some love. Take this powder room, for example. With a light blush pink wall color and a surrounding gallery of eclectic artwork, the small room packs a lot of punch.

If you want to transform your bedroom into a palace fit for royalty, add a canopy. This white gauze fabric hangs so beautifully and brings an ethereal look to the minimalist bedroom.

Plaid? For winter? Not even close to groundbreaking, but we’re still here for it. Swapping out accents seasonally will also get you excited for what’s to come.

This space is rich with texture, which creates warmth and dimension. There’s also plenty of character even though it’s sticking to a strict color palette. For a similarly inviting and grounded environment, get inspired by nature. Think seagrass, rattan, jute, wood, brushed concrete, and marble.

Reupholstering your furniture will automatically freshen up an entire space. And if you love eclectic decorating, take notes from this impeccable living room. All the juxtaposition in this room is working so well—the angular mirror, vivid orange art, marble fireplace, rustic stool, and geometric pottery are all unexpectedly complemented by the softness of the blush pink chairs.

This probably isn’t what you want to hear since we don’t think of cleaning up as fun, but adding a few pieces that ease organization can make a huge difference. Consider installing coat hooks or bringing in a stylish coat rack coat by the front door. Then place a small folding chair underneath it to sit on when you take off your shoes. This will prevent those dreaded (and previously inevitable) clothing pileups.

For a graphic statement, color-block your wall. Paint half of it a bold color or opt for two neutral tones. Here, black creeps up about a quarter of the way while the rest is a nice shade of steel gray, creating an understated-yet-unique statement.

Freshen up a bathroom by giving the walls a fresh coat of white paint. If that sounds like too much of a commitment, use a magic eraser to touch up smudges. It’s bright, refreshing, and the perfect blank backdrop for a fun gallery, as seen in this bathroom designed by Alexander M. Reid.

You don’t have to wallpaper your entire room—just pick a wall and accent with it. It’s fast, easy, and makes a big difference.

This eclectic home designed by Sean Scherer is a treasure trove of antiques, whimsical fabrics, and fearless decorating. It’s also a masterclass in layering. Why use just one rug when you could have three? Layer rugs in varying colors, prints, and textures to add visual interest to your floor.

If the walls in a hallway are feeling tired or lackluster, add a gallery wall. Bring in antique frames, or hit up a thrift store or flea market, and arrange a ton of hand mirrors into a gallery wall.

Putting a colorful throw blanket at the end of your bed or flung over the sofa is an easy but transformative design trick. It’s also a great way to experiment with colors and prints before fully committing to them.

Make a simple wall a little more exciting with oversized artwork. Choose large-scale photography or something abstract and vibrant to really make a statement.

If there’s anything that can single-handedly polish off a room, it’s a light fixture. Case in point? That brass pendant light. It feels much more refined and sophisticated than a table lamp would and contrasts with the more traditional elements throughout the bedroom.

Can you imagine how simple this bathroom looked before it had a bright blue floor? The quick change allows the tub to take center stage. We’d want to soak in there all day long.

See more at Nicole Franzen.

You’ve been there, done that with fabric drapery and Roman shades, so swap your window treatment for an alternative texture, like bamboo. We’re swooning over this wild bathroom.

Does anything make a statement like something shiny and gold? Add a metallic light fixture, sculpture, or vase to instantly upgrade your room.

Jonathan Scott, home design expert and brand ambassador for Stearns & Foster, recommends owning two sheet and comforter sets, so you can swap them out by the season. “In winter, you want warm and inviting bedding, like faux fur and bulky blankets,” he says.

See more at Nicole Frazen.

Wallpapering a small room or closet with give it a surprising edge. Do the whole room, or just use scraps to line drawers, cabinets, and backsplashes. You could also opt for a statement ceiling.

Designer Zim Loy discovered Harkerware on eBay: “There’s tons of it, and it’s so cheap!” She started collecting it for her dining room, then covered the whole wall with plates to create the same effect as one big piece of art. (Here’s how to hang your own plate wall).

Floating furniture away from the walls creates more intimate seating. That means all you have to do is shift your furnishings a few inches to totally transform the vibe in a room.

See more at Amber Interiors.

Printed, colorful textiles add so much personality. And as if the bright colored rug and sleek mounted lights weren’t enough, this bedroom has also got a seriously swoon-worthy pendant. The Moroccan-inspired fixture adds eclectic appeal, and helps anchor the space.

See more at Amber Interiors.

The copper tub is obviously the star of this bathroom, but it doesn’t have to feel dated. A ladder and cool, bohemian rug help it feel more modern.

See more at Amber Interiors.

The super easy way to switch up your furniture game? Buy a slipcover.

If you’ve got a marble top coffee table, take it off and place it on the floor. Prop it up with some books for a bohemian update.

See more at Nicole Franzen.

Boho? Rustic? Traditional? The rug you choose can instantly change the whole aesthetic of your room.

See more at Amber Interiors.

Swap out your formal chairs (in this case, bright blue and green ones) for a few rustic metal ones. This creates a more casual atmosphere in the dining room.

For the entrance hall of this Pennsylvania farmhouse, designer Jeffrey Bilhuber opted for a curtain instead of a door. The deep yellow fabric pops agains the regal blue wall color and adds rich texture to the space.

Open shelving allows for fast and easy decor changes. Blue accents stand out against a neutral palette.