10 TIMELESS INTERIOR DECORATING HACKS
rounding up 10 OF MY FAVORITE styling Tips & tricks for an elevated home
There are some decorating tricks that just always work—no matter the style or space you’re working with. The 10 I’ve included in this post are some of those, and they help add balance, beauty, and personality to any room. I keep coming back to these decorating hacks again and again and I’m certain you will too!
Below, I’m breaking them down one by one so you know how to put them to use and decide which one is right for your space. Let’s dive in!
01. Creating Contrast in a room
Contrast is truly the secret ingredient that turns a good room into a memorable one. It’s what makes a home feel dynamic, layered, and thoughtfully put together. Why? Because when everything is too similar and there’s NO contrast—say, all light tones or all smooth materials—the room can quickly start to feel one-note and well, a bit boring. Even if each piece is beautiful on its own. Adding contrast is what gives a room that “finished” and captivating look, inviting the eye to move around and take everything in.
But, contrast doesn’t mean filling a space only with opposites; it’s more about adding those subtle elements to keep things interesting. Picture a room with soft, warm neutrals. Introducing a dark wood accent table, an iron-framed mirror, or a few black candleholders would create instant contrast and depth without disturbing the harmony.
And remember, contrast isn’t just about color—it can come through different shapes, mixing styles, or a blend of beautiful textures too. For example, a soft and comfy velvet sofa next to a smooth marble table will create a beautiful friction and balance.
02. always leave enough empty space
Empty space or negative space as designers like to call it is the empty areas around your furniture and decor. And it acts like “breathing room” that keeps your home from feeling cluttered and overwhelming. Giving your pieces a little room to breathe makes a room feel much more intentional and balanced. It also allows each item to truly shine instead of competing for attention.
So, when styling shelves or a coffee table, leave a few spots open rather than filling every inch. And the same goes for when furnishing a room too. You’ll be amazed at how a touch of negative space can make the overall look of a home more beautiful.
Try This: Take a fresh look at your shelves or furniture layout and see if it’s time to remove one or two items. Sometimes, less really is more, and you’ll find that with a little extra room, each piece gets its moment to “breathe” and be appreciated.
Make sure you leave enough empty space around furniture and decor to not clutter your space
03. group your decor and furniture pieces
When furnishing and styling a room, grouping items together rather than spacing them out evenly on a surface creates a much more natural and balanced layout and avoids that “scattered” look.
For instance, instead of lining up decor pieces with equal space between each, try clustering them in groups. And make sure you’re doing this with your furniture arrangements too—like gathering the sofa and armchairs in one cozy area in your open concept space, rather than spreading each piece along separate walls. In short: grouping items makes a room feel more collected and helps the eye to move smoothly around the space.
And as a bonus, this approach helps create those essential empty areas we talked about in the previous section.
Quick Idea: Try grouping those smaller decor items on your bookshelf or tabletop rather than spreading them out, even if they vary in color and shape. It keeps things organized and adds a polished touch to your display.
04. The “triangle rule”
Arranging your decor in a triangular shape creates a natural balance and flow, helping each piece stand out while looking cohesive and intentional. This is one of those easy styling tricks that instantly elevates your decor arrangement.
How It Works: Place three objects (or groups of smaller items) with different heights to form a triangle shape, both from the side and from above. On a round coffee table, for example, try a tall vase, a medium-sized sculpture, and a smaller candle. This variation in height keeps things interesting without looking overly staged or symmetrical.
Bonus Tip: On larger surfaces like a console or a long shelf, apply the triangle approach both across the entire arrangement and within groups. This setup creates a full, inviting look without feeling cluttered, giving your decor a naturally balanced feel.
Items grouped in a triangle formation feel visually appealing to the eye
05. Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is a classic design principle that helps create balance by dividing a space or surface into thirds. This approach guides you in placing items in a way that feels pleasing to the eye. I love using this technique for everything from arranging artwork to styling shelves and even organizing larger furniture layouts.
For example: When selecting a coffee table, aim for one that’s about two-thirds the width of the sofa. This ratio creates a balanced look that feels connected without overpowering the seating area. Similarly, when arranging decor on a shelf, divide it into three sections and vary the height and textures of objects in each third to keep things interesting.
06. create layers when decorating
You might have heard of layering in design before, but what does it really mean? In short: layering is about adding variation to a room by combining different textures, patterns, and materials. It’s a bit like creating contrast, but with the added goal of bringing everything together so the space feels cohesive rather than a mix of separate items.
I like to think of layering as piecing together a puzzle, where each part contributes its own character to the overall look.
Layering Trick: Start with foundational pieces, like a sofa or bed, then add smaller layers around it—cushions, throws, and decor items. This approach creates a look that feels intentional and cozy, with each piece adding to the room’s richness and depth.
07. use an odd number of items
There’s something about using odd numbers of items that brings a beautiful and effortless vibe to a room. For example, arranging your decor pieces in groups of 3, 5, or 7—feels balanced without looking staged.
When styling, I often use odd numbers to give a relaxed but curated look. Whether it’s three frames on a wall or five candles on a table, odd-numbered groupings often bring much more flow and energy than even-numbered ones. It’s a simple rule, but it works nearly every time.
Try It Out: The next time you’re arranging decor on a tabletop or even a wall, start with an odd number of items. It creates visual interest in a way that feels natural and inviting.
08. The Art of Focus
Directing focus is all about drawing attention to certain items in a room so that the space feels purposeful and the overall look comes off just as you want. This also helps the eye move smoothly through the space, letting you enjoy the overall design more. One of the most common decorating mistakes I see though, is a scattered focus, where too many items compete for attention. So, this trick is definitely one to keep in mind!
Here are some easy ways you can direct focus and make sure all those favorite elements in your home really gets to shine:
A standout shape: If a room has mostly straight lines, a round or curved piece will feel more captivating in relation. For example, a round coffee table in a square living room with a rectangular sofa will catch the eye and add softness.
Contrasting textures: Mixing textures grabs attention. A velvet pillow on a linen sofa, for instance, will stand out more than one made from a matching material.
Mixing colors: A different color can instantly make something stand out. A dark dresser in a mostly light room, for example, will become a natural focal point.
Playing with proportion: Mixing up object sizes adds dimension and draws the eye where you want it. A large sectional sofa, paired with a sleek and minimal coffee table, will feel even more cozy and inviting compared to when standing alone.
Strategic placement: Positioning a favorite piece in an unexpected or more beneficial spot, like a unique lamp on a pedestal in an empty corner, makes it shine much more compared to when paired with decor pieces on your console table.
Pro Tip: Combining these qualities, like choosing a furniture piece with a standout texture, shape AND color will add up and make it stand out even more than when only using one contrasting characteristic. It sounds simple but it’s easy to overlook when you’re in the middle of the process.
Mixing textures and colors is a wonderful way to make sure the right qualities stand out in a room
09. Creating visual Balance
Balance in a room is like a natural rhythm—it keeps everything feeling calm and well put together. And without it, one side of a room can start to feel too heavy, while the other side looks bare. And here’s the secret to a balanced feeling: it’s all about distributing the visual weight equally.
When I’m working with a larger piece—say, a sofa—I balance it out by adding something with similar “weight” on the opposite side. Note that it doesn’t have to be a piece of the same size, color or shape; sometimes a pair of armchairs, a bookcase with beautiful decor, or even large artwork on the wall can provide enough presence to keep things from feeling lopsided. And you can totally apply this principle to the different ends of a shelf or console when styling too!
Keep in Mind: Balance doesn’t mean perfect symmetry. Two sides of a room or surface don’t have to be identical—just make sure that you feel a sense of harmony when assessing the overall look.
10. Grounding your space
Last but not least, ground your space. Grounding is all about adding structure to make a room feel connected and complete. Without your grounding pieces, a space will quickly feel disconnected, just like everything’s just floating around without purpose.
One of my favorite ways to ground a room is with a large area rug. Not only does it anchor the furniture pieces, but it also creates a cozy, defined section within the room. Placing books or trays as a base for smaller decor pieces has the exact same effect!
Quick Tip: Grounding pieces are often the bigger, sturdier items in a room, like sofas, a bed, tables, or rugs, that provide a feeling of stability and balance.
