Perhaps the most exciting part of the homebuying process next to closing on your loan is decorating your new home! If this is your first time owning a home, then you’re in for a treat because unlike renting, home décor options are limitless when you own! If this isn’t your first rodeo, you may have a more pointed idea about what you want in an interior design scheme. Either way, this guide is meant to provide some direction on identifying your own personal style and give you tips on how to execute it!

Choose Your Style There are so many different styles to choose when decorating your home. Maybe you know what you like but you don’t know what to call it. Or maybe you like random characteristics of all styles (eclectic style). There are a multitude of styles to admire: mid-century modern, shabby chic, cape-cod, rustic, vintage… the list goes on and on.Here are two great ways to pinpoint your style, and since they are both fun and free, why not do both?

Pinterest – If you don’t already have a Pinterest account, signing up for one is easy and free! Create a new board for your home, browse the Home Décor category, and start pinning! Pin rooms, paint palettes, furniture, wall décor and anything else you would like to see in your home. Don’t think – just pin.

Once you’ve built up a significant number of pins, you should be able to look through and identify common themes. If you’re boards consist of sharp edges, geometric shapes, clean colors and simplicity, you might just be into mid-century modern. If you’re seeing every shade of white paired with distressed wood, you might be into shabby chic. There are so many styles to discover and love.

Another way to find your style is to grab a coffee and spend a few hours exploring your local home stores. Check out stores like Ikea, Pier 1 and Crate & Barrel. They will each provide a very different experience and give you access to tons of style options and room set-ups that incorporate different looks.

FurnitureYour furniture should be timeless. Why? Because usually it’s one of the most significant investments that you will make when decorating your home. Do you want your furniture to be able to work in every room, most rooms, or just one room? How often do you want to be able to change things up and redecorate?

Try to scale your furniture to match the size of your room and the style you choose. You don’t want too bulky furniture in too small a room or dainty furniture in too airy a room. You want the furniture you choose to compliment the room, not dominate or detract from it.

RugsIn addition to adding decorative flair to any room, rugs are also important in configuring the layout of your room.

Rules of rugs are easy to follow:

• In a large room, you want a large rug with furniture floating in the center.

• For a small room, center a smaller rug placed under a coffee table, or to denote a seating area.

• If your furniture is placed up against a wall, place the front two legs on the rug with the back legs off.

• You want to keep the edge of your rug a foot to a foot and a half from the edge of the wall.

LayoutThe layout of your home is one aspect you may want to consider when creating a specific vibe. Cottage style lovers may be drawn to a cozier look, while fans of mid-century modern may go for a very structured and symmetrical layout.

The layout of your home does not have to be defined by your style, but it should certainly be considered as you begin fashioning your home.

Wall ColorWall color is one of the larger decisions you will have to make when decorating your home. Whether you’re painting or wallpapering, flinging color on walls is no easy task so you’ll want to get it right the first time. There are things you’ll want to consider:

• Create a flow - If you’re addressing more than one room in your house, try to create a flow from space to space. You want to be drawn from one room to another!

• Consider lighting and undertones – This can be tricky and can sometimes call for a more trained eye, as different colors can have different undertones depending on the light. Get to know your space and both the natural and artificial lighting in the room – observe some swatches under different lights throughout the day to be sure your sandy beige doesn’t look like a pinkish peach.

• Know your finishes - You’ll want to use eggshell paint in living rooms and dining rooms. Satin belongs in kids’ bedrooms, foyers, play rooms, and other high-traffic areas. Semi-gloss is good for trim, chair rails, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Flat paint should be reserved for low traffic areas, like adult bedrooms and other no-kid zones, and on ceilings.

Paint palettesWall color is one of the larger decisions you will have to make when decorating your home. There are so many options, and advantages and disadvantages for each option.

Wall choice

Bold colors

Neutral palette

Statement walls

Wall paper

Advantage

Make a big statement

Works with many different colored pieces

Only one wall can be changed easily

Creates a custom look

Disadvantage

Furniture choices are more limited

Can be plain if not properly acces-sorized

Furniture choices are more limited

More difficult to change than paint

Wall Décor

The wall décor you choose can make a big statement. It should be cohesive to the style you choose without being too matchy… unless, of course, you are going for the eclectic style – then, the more disjointed, the better!

Hanging art & mirrorsWhatever you choose to hang, get this: there are rules to hanging art and mirrors. For real. If you ever saw a piece of art or a mirror hanging on a while that just didn’t look right… it was probably breaking one of these rules:

• Check your hanging height: art should be eye-level with the center of the picture or canvas between 56” and 60” from the floor.

• If your hanging a group of pictures together, keep the gaps between them at about 2” and 2 ½”.

• Keep 8” or 9” between the bottom of your art work and the tops of sofas.

Finishing Touches

The other bits and pieces that tie a room together are where it’s at. We know you’re eager to unpack and unwind in your new home, but paying mind to the finer details of a room can go a long way!

Window Treatments

Whether you like curtains, blinds, or both, window treatments can make a room. We’ve got advice for both:

• Curtains - Mount curtain rods 5” to 7” above your window casing to create height around your windows. If it’s width you’re after instead of height, extend your curtain rod out 3” to 6” wider than the window casing.

• Blinds - If you prefer the look of blinds, there are dozens of options to choose from. Roman, Venetian, plantation, and more – peruse your local home improvement store to find out about installation for each type.

LightingLighting is super important in any room. You will want accent lighting to direct the mood and atmosphere for each area of your house. If you prefer an overhead light in an area like your living room, also consider working a floor lamp or a well-placed statement lamp into your design as well. Try to use incandescent bulbs as often as possible, as it creates soft, yellow-white light.

StylingStyling shelves, tables, and sofas can bring a fun or fancy energy to a room, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Cramming books into a book shelf or piling pillows onto your chaise lounge don’t have to be a hap-hazard afterthought as you’re unloading into your new home. Here are a few tips to decorating purposefully:

• Organize books by color. This can add visual interest to otherwise boring collection of shelf items. Pull out books that go with the color scheme of a room and stack them horizontally, topped with a small, colorful plant or picture frame. Books + plants + frame = an award winning formula every time.

• Create a fun mix of throw pillows. Mix bold patterned and solid, oversized pillows with a medium fill. You want your pillows to be fluffy, but not puffy.

• Take a good look at the things you own. Before you go to a home décor store, pour over the boxes of knick-knacks you’ve accumulated through the years to see what has the potential to be the statement piece of a shelf or table. You could be sitting on interior design gold and you don’t even know it!