17 Decorating Tricks Designers Use in Every Room
Decorating a home starting from scratch or giving your current space a refresh is undeniably exciting.
Budget limits, countless decisions, and a timeline that stretches on can make it easy to feel stuck or unsure of your next move.
And while Pinterest is great for inspiration, it doesn’t always show you how to turn those beautiful images into a space that actually works for you.
I know firsthand how challenging it can be to design a room from beginning to end.
That’s why, I’ve gathered some of the most effective decorating tips designers rely on in every room.
If you’re struggling to bring your vision to life, these expert strategies will help you approach your space with confidence and decorate like a pro.
1. Start with organization
A well-designed home always starts with organization, regardless of your decorating style.
Before you head out to buy new furniture or décor, take the time to declutter what you already have.
Go through your space carefully and be honest with yourself—if you don’t truly love an item or use it, it’s time to donate it or let it go.
Beginning with a clean, organized foundation not only makes your home feel instantly more refined, but it also gives you a clearer vision and more flexibility when planning your new layout.
2. Decorate in odd numbers
While symmetry can be visually pleasing, too much of it can make a room feel stiff or predictable.
One simple designer trick is to style accessories in odd numbers, which helps create a more relaxed, dynamic look. Groupings of three or five tend to feel more balanced and engaging to the eye than even-numbered arrangements.
Try placing three candlesticks on a mantel, layering five pillows on a sofa, or stacking three books on a coffee table for a space that feels effortlessly styled rather than overly arranged.
3. Use a variety of textures
Texture is one of the most powerful tools designers use to create spaces that feel warm, layered, and inviting.
Regardless of your color palette, a thoughtfully designed room should incorporate a mix of textures—think linen, velvet, wood, stone, ceramics, and woven materials.
These varied surfaces add depth and visual interest, making a space feel rich and complete, even when it’s built around a simple, neutral color scheme.
4. Pay attention to scale
Scale is one of the foundational concepts 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 how your sofa compares to your coffee table or how both fit within the room.
When furnishing, aim for pieces that feel proportional to one another and to the room itself.
Oversized, bulky furniture can overwhelm a small space, while items that are mismatched in size can make a room feel unbalanced.
Choosing furniture with the right scale helps create a space that feels comfortable, cohesive, and intentional.
5. Anchor furniture with a rug
One of the most common design mistakes is choosing a rug that’s too small for the space.
When a rug is undersized, it can make a room feel awkward, unfinished, and far from professionally designed.
Designers understand that the right rug size anchors the entire layout, which is why they often opt for a larger rug than most people expect. Ideally, all of your furniture should fit comfortably on the rug with a bit of 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 to create a cohesive, well-defined seating area.
6. Think about how you want to live in the space
Designers focus on creating spaces that are both beautiful and practical for everyday living.
Decorating isn’t about designing a museum-like room where nothing can be touched or used—it’s about shaping a space that supports how you actually live.
Before purchasing furniture or décor, consider how you plan to use the room and which pieces will make daily life more comfortable and enjoyable.
A lamp beside the sofa is essential if you love reading at night, while extra accent seating is a smart choice if you frequently entertain guests.
When function leads the way, the design naturally falls into place.
7. Choose a focal point
Great design gives the eye a place to pause. Creating a focal point helps anchor the room and provides a natural starting point for the overall layout.
This focal point might be an existing feature, like a fireplace, a large window, or a striking architectural detail.
If the room lacks standout features, the focal point can be something you introduce yourself—such as a large piece of furniture, a statement artwork, or a bold lighting fixture.
Once you establish the focal point, arrange your furniture and layer in décor around it to create a space that feels intentional and visually balanced.
8. Use the rule of thirds
The rule of thirds is a simple yet effective technique designers use to create visual balance.
It works by 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.
When you picture this grid, aim to distribute visual weight evenly from top to bottom and side to side.
No single area should feel too heavy or empty. Using the rule of thirds helps create compositions that feel harmonious, intentional, and pleasing to the eye.
9. Decorate with items that feel personal to you
Before designers ever begin decorating, they take time to understand their clients’ personalities, interests, and lifestyles so the space feels truly personal.
You can apply the same approach in your own home by surrounding yourself with items that reflect who you are.
Display meaningful objects from your travels, hunt for unique vintage pieces at flea markets, collect books that speak to your interests, and incorporate textures and materials you genuinely love.
The goal isn’t to recreate a room straight from the internet, but to design a space that feels authentic, layered, and unmistakably yours.
10. Invest in furniture you love
When furnishing your home, patience truly pays off. Because furniture is often a significant investment—and can take time to be delivered—it’s far more important to choose the right pieces than to rush the process.
Furniture should serve your everyday life while also reflecting your style, not simply exist to fill empty space.
Taking the time to find pieces that fit your home and your needs will always be worth the wait and the cost, resulting in a space that feels intentional and well considered.
11. Trust your gut
Your first instinct is often the right one.
Decorating decisions—like choosing a paint color or selecting the perfect accent chair—can feel overwhelming when there are endless beautiful options.
More often than not, though, the idea you’re initially drawn to ends up being the best fit. Trust your gut and commit to what feels right to you.
As you make more choices and see them come together, you’ll naturally refine your personal style and grow more confident in your decorating decisions.
12. Bring the outside in
One detail you’ll almost always see in professionally designed spaces is greenery.
Whether real or faux, plants instantly add color, texture, and life to a room.
No space truly feels finished without an organic element, so 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 work just as well and are an easy way to bring warmth and 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 helps showcase your furniture and décor in the best possible way. When decorating, don’t rely solely on the overhead lighting that came with your home.
Instead, layer in multiple light sources—such as table lamps, floor lamps, wall sconces, or statement ceiling fixtures—to create depth and highlight different areas of the space.
Thoughtfully chosen lighting not only improves functionality, but a beautiful fixture can also 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.
Choose pieces that genuinely move you—or create your own—and display them at eye level to achieve the best visual impact.
Hanging artwork too high or too low is one of the most common decorating mistakes, so proper placement makes a big difference.
Art is a powerful way to express your personality and tastes, and thoughtfully chosen pieces can make your home feel more personal, warm, and inviting.
15. Don’t over-design
Pinterest can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to decorating.
Use social media as a tool to spot patterns in what you’re drawn to—whether that’s certain colors, styles, or layouts—and to spark new ideas.
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.
16. Edit, edit, edit
Designers understand that less is often more.
When you start with a simple color palette and strong foundational pieces, a room only needs a few thoughtful details to feel complete.
Accessories should enhance the space, not overwhelm it. If a room begins to feel crowded or overly fussy, it’s usually a sign that it’s time to edit and scale back.
A restrained approach helps create a space that feels calm, polished, and intentional.
17. Bring in an element of surprise
When it comes to design, there are no strict rules—only guidelines meant 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 things up often makes a space more compelling.
An unexpected pop of color in a neutral room or a bold piece of furniture or art can add personality and visual interest.
This is your home, and it should feel fun, expressive, and a little spontaneous—your design choices can reflect that same energy.
