How to Decorate a Room: 13 Steps (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-19 22:11

Decorating a room requires creativity and craftsmanship. Fortunately, there are hundreds of blogs, magazines, and books that can guide you in doing so. You can achieve success in decorating a room if you set a budget, study and sketch out new decor before you start changing anything.

Step

Part 1 of 3: Determining Your Decorating Style

Step 1. Determine your style before you start

You can customize and study room decor based on any of these common styles, or combine several of them.

• Country. Both French and American country styles use rustic embellishments with an emphasis on natural wood and paint. The furniture and embellishments look weathered, but you can use a lighter white, pastel, or red.

  

• Minimalist. Unlike most other styles, minimalist decor emphasizes a less ornate room, with only a few key decoration points. The design of the furniture used is more important, because a subtle touch or a transparent coffee table can serve as a work of art at the same time.

  

• Retro or vintage. With this style, you'll have to scour the thrift market for old furniture from decades of years that you like. Try art from the 1960s, or gilded touches from the late last century. The older the item you want, the more likely it will cost.

  

• Contemporary. Take a minimalist style and add some cozy embellishments. Choose 1 light color to make your room more interesting, and plan to display artwork on one or two of your walls.

  

• World Chic. Use rugs, fabrics, vases, and decorations from Scandinavia, Asia, Africa, or America. A room decorated with a cultural touch will wow your guests and show you the places you've been.

  

• Sophisticated. If you like classic style, chances are you like white, black, and gray with some splashes of color in between. Use traditional lamps, and high-quality fabrics to create a luxurious feel.

  

Step 2. Look for blogs, books, and magazines that can inspire you with the style you like

For example, Country Living magazine is a great choice for learning about country decorating, while Handful of Salt is a great blog for contemporary decor.

• Sign up for a public library, and read books on decoration and design. Libraries usually subscribe to national magazines, such as Country Living or Better Homes and Gardens.

  

Step 3. Start creating a Pinterest page

Go to Pinterest.com and create an account. Make a board for every room in your house.

• Look at the pins in your decorating style. If you can't figure out your decorating style, take a look at home decor pins, and pick one you like to help build a style you like.

  

Part 2 of 3: Planning New Decorations

Step 1. Determine your budget

If you plan to change furniture, carpets and wall paint, make sure to provide at least IDR 12,000,000 for each room. If you only decorate the outdoor display, you can provide a smaller budget, which is between Rp. 1,2000.00, 00 to Rp. 6,000,000.00.

Step 2. Choose a room designer app

With the help of smartphones and tablets, you can use apps or websites to plan room decor. Here is a good room decoration application:

• Use the Autodesk Homestyler website if you plan to remodel your room, install new tiles, or change the walls of the room. Visit homestyler.com.

  

• Download the 3D Room Designer app by Crate & Barrel, if you are going to buy furniture or room decoration in general.

  

• Try the “Arrange a Room” app from Better Homes and Gardens. This app is perfect for trying out new furniture and wall paint.

  

Step 3. Make a list of the items you need to buy for the room you are going to decorate

Write "limited budget" next to the name of the item you're budgeting for, and "investment'" next to high-quality furniture, artwork, or painting for which you're on a big budget.

Step 4. Make your own

If you like making crafts, then decorate curtains, make decorative pillows, or repaint used furniture. You can save money and make your room décor feel unique at the same time.

Part 3 of 3: Running the Decoration Process

Step 1. Decide on the paint color first

There are some general rules that you should follow when determining the color of the walls and roof.

• Use off-white if you want to make the room look big and bright.

  

• Try decorating the walls. If you want a certain part of the wall to be a fireplace, or a place to display art, or place furniture, paint that part of the wall a different color.

  

• Use wallpaper instead of paint, if you want to put a pattern in your room. You can use wallpaper on a single wall you decorate, or an entire room. Keep in mind that painting or wallpapering an entire room can make it appear narrower.

  

• Buy paint that comes with a primer and paint. Although the price is more expensive, usually paint like this can last longer.

  

Step 2. Decide on the next floor decoration

Replacing the carpet, or lining the wood or installing a laminate floor is a big job. Consider asking a professional for help to make sure it's done right.

• Laminate flooring looks like hardwood flooring, but is much cheaper and easier to install.

  

• Consider placing the carpet in a certain area. Whether you like hardwood floors or carpet, buying a large rug can change the look of a room in an instant. This carpet can also protect the surface of the floor that is often passed.

  

• Visit a home supply store, such as Home Depot. Choose the type of rug you like, and ask them to finish the edges for you. You can change this rug for half the price.

  

• Do not exaggerate. If you decide to paint your walls a color other than white, or use wallpaper, you should consider keeping your floor neutral.

  

Step 3. Buy furniture

If possible, devote more time and budget to furniture that you use frequently, such as a sofa, sitting chair, or dining table. This furniture can be your "investment" that will give comfort and style to the room.

• Architecture and design magazine Dwell has a guide on how to choose a sofa that fits your style. Go to Dwell.com and search for "shop for a sofa."

  

• Shop at Ikea or Target for complementary furniture, such as bedside tables, TV panels, and bookcases. You can always paint these little pieces of furniture to decorate your home.

  

Step 4. Add the painting

You can buy expensive paintings and frame them, or make your own.

• Instead of buying a piece of art, look for multiple images that complement each other. Attach a vintage-style frame, and then place them together on a single wall.

  

• Consider using colored stickers or designs instead of framed artwork. If you are renting your current residence, then wall stickers are more suitable. Mount it on a blank white wall.

  

• Leave some of your walls blank, and don't be afraid to put all your art on the same wall. This piece of art should be able to decorate your room and provide a major decoration point.

Step 5. Choose a decoration

Pillows, tablecloths, curtains, cots, wine racks, and other displays are the last step. Use a glass tray, or install a hanging mirror if you want to make your room seem more spacious.

• Add a floor lamp to add ambiance to the room. You can buy them at stores like Pottery Barn and Home Depot.
• Fill your favorite vase with fresh flowers or fake flowers. Just like other decorations, flower arrangements can also be done with almost any style.

Step 6. Start slowly and change little by little

You can always add room decor. Decorating a room is a process that is best done over time, rather than done all at once.

If your budget is small, gradually replace the furniture, lighting, and flooring of the room, until the final look of your room is complete