The Art Of High Low Style Mixing {7 Tips}

August 27, 2018

Anytime someone new comes over to my house I get asked the question, “where did you get that?” I think the question comes up because when you look around my house you’ll notice that my decor has been curated over time and has a personalized look and feel. I’ve decorated our house to reflect the things we love and because of that, it’s has its own flair.

My decor is a mix of styles, a combination of vintage and new, plus a combo of high-end pieces and budget friendly finds.The art of mixing high & low furniture and decor is one of the keys to designing a beautiful room. Here are my tips on how to mix high and low like an Interior Design Pro!

THE FORMULA TO HIGH LOW STYLE MIXING

Tip # 1: Invest money in the furniture pieces that will get used the most.

Don’t skimp on statement furniture that you and your family will be using on a daily basis. Look for high-end furniture like a sofa or dining chairs that have solid construction and long wearing fabrics. Quality pieces will elevate the style of a room and make inexpensive accessories look glam.

Tip # 2: Be an equal opportunity shopper because finding the right item is more important than where you bought it.

An equal opportunity shopper simply means being open to shopping a variety of stores for the items you want. Shop your favorite high-end retailers as well as budget friendly big-box stores that might have identical or similar items for less. And don’t count out consignment or thrift stores which can be a great source for high-end looks at a fraction of the cost.

I originally purchased this large blue and white ginger jar from a high-end furniture store. When I decided a needed a second one to flank my fireplace, I went bargain hunting and found the almost identical jar online for $50 less.

Tip #3: Mix materials and finishes to make a room appear more luxurious than it really is.

Adding texture into your decor is an easy way to elevate the style of a room. Choose accessories that incorporate a variety of elements like wood, fabric and metal for a layered and custom look. When a room has visual interest, it automatically looks and feels more polished and sophisticated.

The pieces on my bookshelves include an antique brass bowl (high-end), blue and white pottery (mid to low-end) and a disco ball that I bought on clearance (cheap). The mix creates a curated look that feels like a grouping of treasures collected over the years.

Tip #4: Don’t be afraid to UpStyle a low-end piece with high-end details.

I’m sure you’ve all seen how an inexpensive pieces from Ikea can be UpStyled to look like a high-end piece with a few simple enhancements. A coat of paint, new hardware or the addition of trim work can give a simple piece high-end style. When you’re out shopping and see an inexpensive piece evaluate its potential and how a little refurbishing could give it a whole new look.

A new set of brass knobs elevated the look of this black Ikea cabinet. And $30 worth of fabric transformed a pair of $11 thrift store ottomans in to accent pieces that look like the cost a lot of money.

An empty room is a story waiting to happen, and you are the author!

Tip #5: Invest in a few original pieces like artwork or handmade ceramics.

An original piece of art or handmade craft can be a worthwhile investment and elevate the style of a room. Original pieces don’t have to cost a fortune these days. You can find original oil paintings at antique stores or have a new piece commissioned from sites like Minted for less than $500. Etsy is a great source for handcrafted pottery and wood decor for as little as $20.

TIP #6: Group high and low-priced decorative items by color.

Color is a unifying element and will create a sense of equality between items that are grouped together. Group pieces of similar color on a tabletop or pillows from the same color family on the sofa. To keep things visually interesting, look for items with different patterns or materials so things don’t look to matchy.

A place setting is a great place to experiment with pulling a color theme together. With this pacesetting, I used blue and white as the theme but combined different patterns to create the interest.

TIP #7: Decorating your home is a marathon, not a sprint!

A room looks best when it is curated over time. Incorporating things that you love and that will make your home feel unique and special.

What tricks do you have for creating your personal decor style?

*****

For more decorating tips check out these posts…

10 Components To A Beautiful Home

Color Rules

10 Ways To Add Color To Your Decor

Anatomy Of A Well Style Room–Revisited!

April 20, 2018

The key elements are in place and now it’s time to add the finishing touches to your decor. Where do you start with styling a room and what elements are needed to pull everything together?

Today I’m answering that question and outlining the key components to a well-styled room.

The first step in to putting the finishing touches on the decor of a room is to have a plan. Developing a vision for the space even before furniture has been purchased will go a long way to creating the space your desire. Create an inspiration board with fabric and color swatches, photos of accessories you like and images that reflect the overall feel you want the space to have.

Next, clear the room of all your current accessories so that you are starting with a clean palette. Take time to go through the things you own and decide which pieces you really want back in the room. Use only the items that work with your design vision and that you love, otherwise the room won’t bring your ultimate joy.

Once all the key elements like furniture and window treatments are in place, create a plan for accessorizing. Pull the existing items you’ve kept back into the room and begin placing them where you want. Once that is done, take stock of the room and create a list of the new items you need to buy. New pillows, a throw and even something a simple as a decorative tray can make a space come alive.

As you place accessories around the room keep these tips in mind:

Place accessories so that they enhance the focal point within the room, not compete with it. Hang a dynamic mirror over the mantel instead of placing it on another wall within the room.
Create groupings with your tabletop decor to add impact and interest. And remember that smaller accessory items look best with grouped together versus scattered around a room.
Group items of different sizes to create visual movement. Use books to elevate objects and create balance.
Spread collections around the room unless you have a dedicated display piece for them.
Accessorize so the eye has different levels to look at. This includes accessories on the floor, walls and in even the lighting at the ceiling.
Incorporate a living element like a plant or flowers to add softness and a sense of energy.
A well-styled room is about balance. Don’t fill every square inch of space–leave spaces where the eye can rest.
Use color as a unifying element within the room.
Every accessory mix should incorporate a variety of finishes, textures, materials, styles and a touch of black to help visually anchor the room.
Add a corky element to delight, surprise and bring a sense of playfulness to the room.

Don’t rush the styling of your home. The accessories and finishing touches are often the elements that take the most time but have the greatest impact of how the room looks and feels.

“An empty room is a store waiting to happen, and you are the author.”

Every room in your home is different so look at each area for what it has to offer and make the most of each space so in the end you’ll have a well-styled home.

all images via Domino

You Can’t Pour From An Empty Cup (ushering in the new year)

January 5, 2017

Hi there friends. You may have noticed that it’s been quite here on the blog since Christmas. I took a break during the holidays to relax and enjoy the season which I did in a major way. After Christmas I found myself motivated to clean, purge, organize and refocus. Boy does it feel good. So good in fact that that’s what’s been keeping me away from the blog.

Part of my end-of-year clean-up has included outlining my goals for the year, both personal and professional. I want to reach new heights this year with my design business, my Etsy shops and also here on the blog. All of that starts with clarity and a refueled spirit about what I want to achieve and how I want to go about achieving it.

When it comes to the blog, I am going to be making some changes, all in an effort to bring you fresh, informative and inspirational content. I’m still outlining exactly what they will look like so that’s why there has been radio silence. As a creative person, there are times when my creativity is soaring and other times when I’m feeling empty. Slowly but surely the my cup is filling up and I’ll be back Monday ready to tackle the new year with a vengeance.

Until then, enjoy this round-up of some of the most read posts in 2016. I love that some of these are oldies but goodies.

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HOT TOPICS FROM 2016

You all seem to love my Design Guide posts so I’m planning to deliver more in 2017. If there are specific design challenges you’d like me to address, just leave a comment.

Design Guide: How To Style A Sectional Sofa

Design Guide: Styling A Super Sized Sectional Sofa

Design Guide: Curtains 101

It seems lots of people are looking for tips and ideas to decorate their bathrooms so if you fall into that category, you’ll want to check out the next two bathroom posts.

Anatomy of Accessorizing A Bathroom

How to Make Your Bathroom Look More Expensive On A Budget

Even in the design world Michelle’s quote of “when they go low, we go high” has meaning. Check out my tips of decorating the tops of bookcases and armoires.

5 Decorating Tips for Tops of Bookcases & Armoires

Upholstered Headboards: The Pros and Cons

The Great Frame Debate

I love pulling together these part shopping , part design Product + Inspiration posts so you’ll continue to see more of these in the new year.

Product + Inspiration: Hemnes Shoe Cabinet

Of all the posts I’m sharing today, this one really surprised me. The ideas of living small is gaining in popularity and the TV show continues to be a top rated show. Not only do I love seeing how they pack tons of style into such a small space but the show if filled with design ideas and inspiration for everyone.

The Tiny House Movement

Happy New Year!