10 Tried & True Decorating Tips

I love love LOVE reading/hearing advice and tid bits from established designers. I still have so much to learn so I try to absorb every little thing that I can. I came across this Southern Living article on Pinterest and thought it had some really good tips, not just for designers but for everyone! Just the other day my mom asked me how on earth she is supposed to hang the new drapery panels she just got - so here is the answer to that and more from editor-in-chief of Southern Living, Lindsay Bierman. Enjoy y'all!


PS - I am totally summarizing his advice... click here for the full article :)

1. When you want a room to be a warm white - sans peachy/yellow tones - go with Benjamin Moore Ivory White (925). Plain and simple! 

2. Fool proof sofa styles: A square armed tuxedo and a Charles of London - both styles work well in almost all decor 

Charles Of London Sofa

3. If you can't afford the Oushak rug of your dreams, go for a sea grass rug instead - it is way cheaper and almost as fabulous (this one even has a great geometric print)!

4. As your budget increases, you can toss a dhurrie or flokatis rug over the sea grass to soften it up a bit.

Love this look...

5. Hang your curtain rods about 2 inches from the ceiling or crown molding - hanging drapery close to the ceiling makes the room and window look much bigger.
6. It looks best to extend your curtain rod 4 inches outside of the window casting (excluding finials).

7. Hang an outside mount roman shade to align with the top of your drapery panel, and lower it just enough so it covers the very top of the window casting - the room looks proportioned and the window looks super tall. 

8. Hang your chandelier about 33 inches above the table. 

9. If you want to upgrade your countertops to stone, go with the 2 inch thickness versus the standard 1 and 1/4 inch thickness. 

10. His last tip is catered more to his Southern readers:) A great alternative to the chunky, plantation shutters are more refined, customizable shutters by ShutterBlinds.com.

I hope this helps some of you delicious readers! Have a great night... Go Miami Heat :)