17 Decorating Tricks Designers Use in Every Room
Decorating a home from scratch or refreshing your current space is an exciting journey.
However, with budget constraints, endless decisions, and a seemingly never-ending timeline, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or stuck when figuring out your next step.
While Pinterest offers endless inspiration, it often falls short in showing you how to transform those dreamy images into a space that actually works for you.
I get it – designing a room from start to finish can be tough.
That’s why I’ve compiled some of the most effective decorating strategies that designers swear by for every room.
If you’re finding it hard to bring your vision to life, these expert tips will guide you through the process, helping you approach your space with confidence and decorate like a pro.
1. Start with organization
A beautifully designed home always begins with organization, no matter your decorating style.
Before rushing out to buy new furniture or décor, take a moment to declutter what you already own.
This step will give you a clearer sense of what you truly need and allow your space to feel more open and functional.
Take a close look at your space and be honest with yourself—if you don’t truly love or use an item, it’s time to donate it or let it go.
Starting with a clean, organized foundation not only makes your home feel instantly more polished, but it also gives you a clearer vision and greater flexibility as you plan your new layout.
2. Decorate in odd numbers
While symmetry can be aesthetically pleasing, too much of it can make a room feel rigid or overly predictable.
A simple designer trick to avoid this is styling accessories in odd numbers. This creates a more relaxed, dynamic vibe. Groupings of three or five often feel more balanced and visually interesting than even-numbered ones, adding a touch of liveliness to the space.
Try placing three candlesticks on a mantel, layering five pillows on a sofa, or stacking three books on a coffee table. These small touches will give your space an effortlessly styled look, avoiding the feel of something too contrived or overly arranged.
3. Use a variety of textures
Texture is one of the most effective tools designers use to craft spaces that feel warm, layered, and inviting.
No matter your color palette, a well-designed room should feature a blend of textures—think linen, velvet, wood, stone, ceramics, and woven materials. This mix adds depth and richness, making the space feel more dynamic and welcoming.
These varied surfaces bring depth and visual interest, making a space feel rich and complete—even when it’s centered around a simple, neutral color scheme. The combination of textures creates layers that keep the eye engaged and the space feeling dynamic.
4. Pay attention to scale
Scale is one of the key principles designers learn early on, and for good reason.
It refers to how the size of one element relates to other pieces in the room and to the space as a whole—like the relationship between your sofa and coffee table, or how both fit within the room itself.
When choosing furniture, aim for pieces that feel proportional to each other and to the room. This creates a harmonious balance, ensuring that no single item overwhelms the space or feels out of place.
Oversized, bulky furniture can easily overwhelm a small space, while mismatched items in size can make a room feel disjointed and unbalanced.
Opting for furniture with the right scale ensures your space feels comfortable, cohesive, and intentional—where everything fits together seamlessly without one piece dominating the room.
5. Anchor furniture with a rug
One of the most common design mistakes is choosing a rug that’s too small for the space.
An undersized rug can make a room feel awkward, incomplete, and far from professionally designed. Opting for a rug that fits the area properly helps anchor the room and ties everything together, giving it a more polished and intentional look.
Designers know that the right rug size is essential for anchoring the entire layout, which is why they often choose a larger rug than most people expect. Ideally, all your furniture should comfortably sit on the rug, leaving a little space around the edges.
At the very least, the front legs of key pieces—like sofas, chairs, and side tables—should rest on the rug. This creates a cohesive, well-defined seating area and helps the room feel more grounded and connected.
6. Think about how you want to live in the space
Designers focus on creating spaces that are not only beautiful but also practical for everyday living.
Decorating isn’t about crafting a museum-like room where nothing can be touched or used—it’s about shaping a space that enhances how you truly live, making it functional and inviting while still reflecting your personal style.
Before buying furniture or décor, think about how you’ll use the room and which pieces will make daily life more comfortable and enjoyable.
For example, if you love reading at night, a lamp beside the sofa is a must. If you frequently entertain, adding extra accent seating is a smart choice.
When function guides your design decisions, everything else will naturally fall into place.
7. Choose a focal point
Great design offers the eye a place to pause. Creating a focal point helps anchor the room and provides a natural starting point for the entire layout.
This focal point could be an existing feature, such as a fireplace, a large window, or a striking architectural detail, giving the space a clear center of attention and guiding the rest of the design.
If the room lacks standout features, you can create a focal point yourself—whether it’s a large piece of furniture, a statement artwork, or a bold lighting fixture.
Once the focal point is established, arrange your furniture and layer in décor around it to create a space that feels intentional, cohesive, and visually balanced. This will help guide the flow of the room and make the design feel purposeful.
8. Use the rule of thirds
The rule of thirds is a simple yet powerful technique designers use to create visual balance.
It involves mentally dividing a space—whether it’s an entire room or a small vignette like a coffee table—into three columns and three rows, forming a nine-box grid.
By placing key elements along these lines or at their intersections, you create a more dynamic and harmonious layout that feels balanced and engaging.
When you envision this grid, aim to distribute visual weight evenly from top to bottom and side to side.
No area should feel too heavy or too empty. By using the rule of thirds, you create compositions that are harmonious, intentional, and visually pleasing, guiding the eye through the space in a balanced way.
9. Decorate with items that feel personal to you
Before designers start decorating, they take time to understand their clients’ personalities, interests, and lifestyles to ensure the space feels truly personal.
You can apply this same approach in your own home by surrounding yourself with items that reflect who you are—whether it’s meaningful artwork, personal mementos, or pieces that resonate with your style and values. This makes the space feel uniquely yours.
Display meaningful objects from your travels, search for unique vintage finds at flea markets, collect books that speak to your interests, and incorporate textures and materials you genuinely love.
The goal isn’t to replicate a room straight from the internet, but to create a space that feels authentic, layered, and unmistakably yours—a true reflection of your personality and experiences.
10. Invest in furniture you love
When furnishing your home, patience truly pays off. Since furniture is often a significant investment—and can take time to be delivered—it’s more important to choose the right pieces than to rush the process.
Furniture should not just fill empty space; it should serve your everyday needs while also reflecting your personal style, making your home both functional and meaningful.
Taking the time to find pieces that fit both your home and your needs will always be worth the wait and the investment. The result will be a space that feels intentional, thoughtfully curated, and truly yours.
11. Trust your gut
Your first instinct is often the right one.
Decorating decisions—like picking a paint color or choosing the perfect accent chair—can feel overwhelming with so many beautiful options. Trusting your initial gut feeling can help cut through the clutter and lead you to choices that truly resonate with your style and vision.
More often than not, the idea you’re initially drawn to ends up being the best fit. Trust your gut and commit to what feels right for you.
As you continue making choices and seeing them come together, you’ll naturally refine your personal style and gain more confidence in your decorating decisions. The process becomes easier as you align your space with your vision.
12. Bring the outside in
One detail you’ll almost always find in professionally designed spaces is greenery.
Whether real or faux, plants instantly add color, texture, and life to a room, bringing a touch of nature indoors and enhancing the overall atmosphere of the space.
No space truly feels complete without an organic element. Consider styling fresh herbs in the kitchen, placing a potted fiddle-leaf fig in the living room, or adding a simple vase of greenery to your coffee table.
Fresh flowers are another great option—they’re an easy way to bring warmth, color, and a sense of freshness into any room.
13. Make lighting a top priority
Good lighting has the power to completely transform a room.
Beyond adding personality and atmosphere, it highlights your furniture and décor, bringing them to life in the best possible way. When decorating, don’t rely solely on the overhead lighting that came with your home. Instead, layer different light sources—such as table lamps, floor lamps, and sconces—to create a well-lit, inviting space.
Instead, layer multiple light sources—such as table lamps, floor lamps, wall sconces, or statement ceiling fixtures—to create depth and draw attention to different areas of the space.
Thoughtfully chosen lighting not only enhances functionality but also serves as a decorative element. A beautiful fixture can act as a piece of art, setting the tone and mood for the entire room.
14. Add art
Art instantly elevates a space and is a staple in almost every professionally designed home.
Select pieces that truly resonate with you—or create your own—and display them at eye level for the most impactful visual effect. Art adds personality, character, and a personal touch that transforms a room from ordinary to extraordinary.
Hanging artwork too high or too low is one of the most common decorating mistakes, so getting the placement just right can make a big difference.
Art is a powerful way to express your personality and taste, and thoughtfully chosen pieces can make your home feel more personal, warm, and inviting. Properly placed artwork not only enhances the room but also helps create a cohesive and welcoming atmosphere.
15. Don’t over-design
Pinterest can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to decorating.
Use it as a tool to identify patterns in what you’re drawn to—whether it’s specific colors, styles, or layouts—and let it spark new ideas. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by endless inspiration, focus on what resonates with you and use it to guide your own design choices.
Just be careful not to cram every inspiring image into a single space.
The goal is for your home to feel thoughtfully curated and uniquely yours, not like a collage of every trend you’ve ever saved. Instead, focus on creating a cohesive look that reflects your personal style, blending inspiration with authenticity.
16. Edit, edit, edit
Designers know that less is often more.
Starting with a simple color palette and strong foundational pieces allows a room to feel complete with just a few carefully chosen details. By focusing on quality over quantity, you create a space that feels both refined and effortless.
Accessories should enhance the space, not overwhelm it. If a room starts to feel crowded or overly fussy, it’s often a sign that it’s time to edit and scale back.
A more restrained approach allows the space to feel calm, polished, and intentional—giving each piece room to shine without competing for attention.
17. Bring in an element of surprise
When it comes to design, there are no strict rules—just guidelines to help you make confident choices.
Your furniture doesn’t have to follow a single style, and finishes don’t need to match perfectly throughout your home. In fact, mixing different styles and materials often makes a space feel more dynamic and interesting, adding personality and depth.
An unexpected pop of color in a neutral room or a bold piece of furniture or art can bring personality and visual interest to your space.
This is your home, and it should feel fun, expressive, and a little spontaneous—let your design choices reflect that same vibrant energy. Don’t be afraid to add unique touches that make the space feel alive and truly yours.
