Interior Decorating: An A-Z System For Your Home

Identify your home style by exploring eight major design styles and learn to blend influences you feel drawn to, discovering your unique design direction.

Explore farmhouse style in classic distressed and modern refined forms, featuring weathered furniture, barn board accents, porcelain apron sinks, and soft neutral color schemes.

Explore the bohemian style's carefree, colorful, and eclectic charm by mixing textures, mismatched furnishings, jewel and earth tones, natural fibers, and layered rugs to create a cozy, culturally rich look.

Embrace the contemporary style with softened curved lines, neutral tones, and pops of color. Use geometric art, metal and glass accents, and bare walls to create a sleek, balanced space.

Discover the mid century modern style, blending 50s influences with contemporary design through neutrals, pops of color, glass, brass and steel, and globe lighting.

Explore the traditional style's warm palette of beiges, browns, bronze, and wood tones with earthy greens and peach, heavy rolled-arm furniture, drapes, chandeliers, and gold accents.

Discover the minimalist style that emphasizes function, open space, and neutral color schemes. Learn how texture, lighting, and simple, straight furniture create a clean, calm, clutter-free home.

Explore the scandinavian style’s earthy neutrals, light wood, and bright lighting, and contrast true nordic soft hues with new nordic jewel tones, wicker lighting, and mid-century influences.

Explore the coastal style's airy look with large windows and minimal treatments. Use sandy colors and ocean accents like coral, robin's egg, seashell pink, navy, sea foam green, whitewashed woodwork.

Start with two neutrals from your style palette to set a cohesive color scheme for every surface, using your worksheet to match the decor style.

Identify two neutrals for each interior design style, from farmhouse browns with whites to bohemian whites or grays, and write them on the worksheet.

Identify two dominant colors from your room’s neutrals and fixed elements to energize your palette, then apply style-specific two-color combos for farmhouse, bohemian, contemporary, and more.

Finalize a color scheme with neutrals and colors that reflects your personal design style, forming a foundation for all future decor and for all surface choices.

master the fireplace mantel with the layering within a triangle method, a three-step design that harmonizes shapes and proportions for mantels, cabinets, and shelves, aided by a two-copy worksheet.

Learn how to create the anchor piece in a three-layer design, using a mirror as the largest focal element, and pull the color palette across a neutral mantle.

Explore the weight layer by placing midsized objects with width and height on either side of an anchor piece, using symmetry or asymmetry to balance visual weight and layering.

Apply the optional filler layer to fill bottom space under the anchor piece, vary heights, group in threes, avoid straight lines, and layer art for mantle depth.

Apply the symmetrical fireplace design using the triangle layering technique, placing the largest anchor piece, weight items about halfway up, a middle item, and two matching side items.

Establish a balanced cooler color scheme for your mantle with pastel green and blue, paired with white and grey neutrals, while ensuring white space for a triangle layout.

Style mantels of different lengths by using a larger anchor piece or tri-group, measure width, keep space at the ends, and hang the anchor 4–6 inches above.

Use the triangle layering formula to decorate a console table with asymmetrical and symmetrical designs, anchoring a mirror and balancing greenery, lamps, and color balance with textures.

Use a triangle layering technique on a single shelf; push anchor left for balance and add a weight layer with cream, green, and golden brown for an asymmetrical, cohesive look.

Use the triangle layering technique above kitchen cabinets or hutches, with a longer anchor piece, a weight layer of plates and art, and filler bowls for a symmetrical farmhouse look.

Apply the triangle layering technique to seasonal decor, keeping the anchor piece in place while you switch wreaths, garland, and color schemes using only key items for a Christmas look.

Learn which accessories and decor items to use for every layer and design style across mantles, consoles, shelves, and above cabinets using the same technique.

Learn to decorate a farmhouse mantel with three layers, including anchor pieces. Choose neutral items like windows, wreaths, signage, and greenery to create a cohesive modern farmhouse look.

Discover bohemian mantel decor in three layers: anchor pieces like a gold mirror or large map, greenery and art for weight, and candles and books for filler in jewel tones.

Embrace the contemporary style by keeping it simple with two mantle layers: an anchor piece, like a large mirror or bold artwork, and a weight layer of bold, neutral accents.

Curate a mid century modern mantle with a geometric anchor piece and starburst accents; layer weight with curved vases and plants, then add vintage 50s accessories for the filler.

Explore the traditional style by layering decor: anchor pieces like still-life oil paintings and ornate mirrors, with tall floral arrangements, lighting from rod-iron sconces and candlesticks, and filler items.

Discover the Scandinavian style by balancing minimalism and warmth on a three-layer mantle: anchor pieces like a mirror, a weight layer of art and candlesticks, and driftwood fillers.

Create a coastal style fireplace mantle by layering three zones: anchor pieces like a large framed map or mirror, mid-layer accents, and seaside fillers such as shells and driftwood.

Master bookcase styling using a simple seven-item formula—jars, books, bookends, boxes and baskets, full plants, framed art, and small decorative objects—to create depth, dimension, and a clean, uncluttered look.

Discover tips for a triangle-based shelving method to create balance across two bookcases, using five triangles, a simple color palette with a main color, a secondary color, and neutrals.

Explore the triangle method by placing objects across two sides, using a wood secondary color and a soft pastel pink main color to create balanced, uncluttered decor.

Build the second triangle by introducing white neutrals and brown textures, dispersing color from the first shelf, and using patterned bases to create a balanced triangular rhythm.

Master the third triangle by evenly dispersing books in horizontal and vertical arrangements, adding a creamy neutral, greenery for height, and balanced accents with bookends.

Place pink boxes on the bottom shelves to anchor and ground the main color, creating balance with the top items and completing the fourth triangle.

Add greenery to shelves with full plants of varying heights to create visual rhythm across the left shelf, right shelf, and the three-book area.

Fill the final two spots with framed art and disperse color in a zigzag to balance shelves, using a modern country palette of wood tones, white, cream, and soft pink.

Learn why varying heights, odd-number groupings, and mixing vertical and horizontal items boost visual interest in interior decorating.

Apply the same five-triangle design to different size bookcases and shelving units using the provided worksheet, preserving height, size, color scheme, and style.

Switch decor seasonally by keeping larger neutral items like baskets, boxes, bookends, and neutral vases, then swap in autumn or Christmas greenery, flowering branches, art, and autumn/winter color schemes.

Start fresh by emptying the bookcase, group like items by size and color, and pair bases to reassemble a cohesive display; use the provided prep worksheet to simplify shopping.

Discover items for bookcase and shelving decor: bases, jars, bookends, books, boxes and baskets, plants, framed pictures, and small accessories, and learn to adapt them to any style with flair.

Explore classic and modern farmhouse styling by balancing shelves with white and wood tones, using items like wooden bowls, white ceramics, woven baskets, and a wooden cutting board.

Explore the bohemian style for bookcases, mixing woven, metallic, and colorful items with greenery, books, vases, textures, and travel-inspired accents to create a balanced display.

Style a contemporary shelving unit by placing a characterful top-left item and color-coordinated bottom pieces, then add clear glass jars, neutral ceramics, greenery, and geometric art.

Explore mid-century modern shelving decor by mixing neutrals with color pops, repeating metal finishes for cohesion, and arranging geometric, minimalist items on a wooden or metal bookcase.

Explore the traditional style for shelving with rich wood tones, carved bookcases, leather-bound books, and paired decor like china, vases, sculptures, globes, and oil paintings in gold or bronze frames.

Embrace the minimalist style by selecting functional pieces that preserve open space on a shelf or bookcase. Use one item on each bottom shelf with neutral colors and clean lines.

Discover how to achieve a Scandinavian look on your bookcase with minimalist accessorizing, natural materials, and mid-century modern accents like wood, stone, and subtle ceramics.

Explore coastal style decorating for your shelves and bookcases, using driftwood, seashells, glass jars, nautical accents, and coordinating greens and art to create a seaside look.

Learn an easy layering method for coffee tables and other surfaces that balances practicality and beauty. Use provided worksheets to sketch colors, neutrals, and a centerpiece.

Apply a four-step layering method to decorate a coffee table with a tray foundation, books, a tall item, an accessory, a half-size piece, and an optional fifth piece for balance.

Take precise measurements for each item using the provided worksheet, noting height and three-fourths up for the tallest piece, and bring a measuring tape to the store to record colors.

Decorate the two bunching or nesting tables by applying the same design to the larger table and a simpler version to the smaller one, using two objects with alternating heights.

Explore decorating under your coffee table with a large centerpiece, half-sized companions, baskets, boxes, books, and poufs for varied height and easy access.

Apply farmhouse centerpiece formula on dining or kitchen tables, layering a tallest item, a riser, and a small accent, using pink, green, white, and brown neutrals for balanced top-to-bottom look.

Use the decorating formula for end tables or nightstands: arrange a lamp with books, a green plant, a gold frame, and a small green orb for balanced neutrals.

Use trays, books, flowers or plants in a vase, and accessories on coffee tables and surfaces; add one half-size item, a wide item, and optional smallest item to suit style.

Explore farmhouse coffee table styling by selecting layered items—tray choices, books, greenery, and vintage accessories—balancing neutral colors for classic and modern farmhouse looks.

Explore bohemian coffee table styling with layered textures, color, and mix of vintage and new books, greenery, trays, and eclectic accessories to create contrast and depth.

Explore contemporary coffee table design across layered, neutral setups with pops of color, featuring boxy wooden or glass tables, clean trays, glossy books, and minimal accessories.

Choose mid-century modern coffee table items by layering a wood or glass surface with peg legs, add a tray, neutral books, and greenery with brass or gold accents for contrast.

Explore the traditional style by selecting warm wood coffee tables in deep tones, coordinating glass tops, trays, leather-bound books, florals, greenery, and single-metal accents for a timeless centerpiece.

Master minimalist coffee table styling with clean lines and few items; choose steel, glass, or black pieces with marble tops, neutrals like black, white, gray, beige, and a greenery accent.

Embrace the Scandinavian style with a slim mid-century modern coffee table—wood or glass top with light or white legs—paired with greenery, neutrals, and simple natural textures.

Style coastal coffee tables with light wood or white finishes and bamboo or rattan accents. Use blues, greens, coral, whites, and linen alongside seashells, driftwood, flowers, and palm plants.

Feel confident tackling design projects and create a space that is uniquely yours, balanced, and cohesive. Reach out with questions or leave a review via email.