10 Fool-Proof Decor Tips to Improve Your Interior Design Skills

Most of our homes are works in progress – budget and time are two big factors, but our own design knowledge can also be a constraint. Fortunately, these timeless home-decor tips will show you how to improve your own interior-design skills to create a home that truly reflects who you are.

HGTV Canada

1 / 10

Tip #1: More or Less

Having minimal décor in a space doesn’t necessarily make it overly minimalist. Rather, limiting decorative items can keep a room feeling calm and harmonious. For calm, breezy vibes without lacking in personality, stick to complementary colours while creating visual interest with textures and mixed materials from that same palette.

A white wall with two black and white framed pieces of art and black curved bench in a house designed by Sarah and Bryan Baeumler as featured on HGTV Canada

HGTV Canada

2 / 10

Tip #2: Art Vandelay Yay

No matter your age, the best time to start your art collection is right now. How do you pick the right art for you? Here’s the great news: There is no right or wrong when it comes to art. Browse everything from art galleries to thrift stores to your favourite artist’s online print shop. Pick pieces that call to you and fit within your budget. Over the years, your collection will start to tell the story of your life and your evolving tastes. No matter the style of your home, fresh home interior design includes art on the walls.

White functional mudroom with lots of storage and a pretty corner bench with white and gold finishes and pops of rose and beige in the throw pillows all add a modern touch as featured on HGTV Canada

HGTV Canada

3 / 10

Tip #3: On the Out and Out

Clutter-free space is one of the quickest ways to make a room feel fresh and functional. Try your hand at the “one in, one out” method of decorating – for example, if you buy a set of hand-turned coffee mugs to display on your kitchen’s open shelving, the old set has to go. Not only does this narrow the field of what you spend money on, but it also makes sure you’re only keeping what you truly love and use.

Dining area with banquet seating, wainscoting on the wall, streamlined chairs and a simple shade chandelier gives the room a polished and intimate vibe as featured on Property Brothers: Forever Home on HGTV Canada

HGTV Canada

4 / 10

Tip #4: Build Up the Bones

While there’s no denying that decorating a space is the fun part, making sure said space is structurally sound is truly the most important part. Fix the leaky roof, replace heat-leaking windows, and switch out the warped floors. Once these essential items are off your list, you can take your time to see what makes sense decor-wise and go at your own pace. It’s important to ensure the bones of your house are structurally sound before you invest in decor. Not doing so can mean incurring huge costs in the long run. After all, long-term damage to your house can not only hurt your home, but can also ruin design elements like wall paint, textiles, and decor.

Basement renovation includes a stunning family room with wide plank wood floors, a woven rug, a large blue and white printed armchair with white throw pillow, and built-in bookshelves behind as featured on HGTV Canada

HGTV Canada

5 / 10

Tip #5: The Art of Sitting

Large pieces of furniture (that is, appropriately large for your space) can help anchor a space. These pieces create the initial foundation for any decor scheme. So, when buying large furniture, invest in high-quality pieces with upholstery that is versatile enough for you to style off of for many years to come.

Modern kitchen painted in mint-ice-cream green with a build-in mini bar, kitchen island with white countertops and two globe pendant lights, wood floors, and a dining area with a large wood table and leather chairs as featured on HGTV Canada

HGTV Canada

6 / 10

Tip #6: Colour Me Beautiful

When choosing paint colours for your home, skip the yearly and seasonal trends and go with your gut. After all, this is your space, so use the colours that make you happiest. Just remember this important tip: Keep it to one palette of complementary colours per room (as mentioned in Tip #1).

Fun nursery with a crib that converts into a bed, original hardwood floors, exposed original chimney stack, coral feature wall with added wainscoting, and custom art on the walls as featured on HGVT Canada

HGTV Canada

7 / 10

Tip #7: Three’s Company

If you’re a maximalist, you don’t have to worry about this tip. But for fans of sleek styles, clutter is the killer of clean, serene interior design. So how do we curb the urge to put up all the things without stripping our home of personality? Try sticking to groups of three – three frames, three objets d’art, three decorative books. This keeps displays contained and visually easy to digest.

A charming kitchen with dark blue cabinets and a long eat-at island with white countertops, and a dining room with a wooden table and chairs and modernist light fixture above

HGTV Canada

8 / 10

Tip #8: Professional Mixologist

Never buy all your furniture and accessories from the same place. Fresh home interior design comes from mixing and matching different vintages and styles. Think modernist spaces with French antiques thrown in, or layering mid-century and authentic farmhouse furniture. After all, a perfectly designed house doesn’t look like a showroom – it looks like a home.

Luxurious master suite with a large bed, natural material headboard, woven rug, bedside table, floor lamp and wall art uses a neutral colour palette and comfy furnishings to evoke relaxing vibes as featured on Property Brothers on HGTV Canada

HGTV Canada

9 / 10

Tip #9: Never Be Bored

In the bedroom, invest in a neutral-coloured bed and headboard. When you feel like a style change, rather than replacing a whole bedroom suite, you need only switch up the pillows, sheets, throws, or rug.

A blue clawfoot bathtub with antique taps featuring English gold stands in an all-white room with modern brick tile on the wall, and a large window as featured HGTV Canada

HGTV Canada

10 / 10

Tip #10: Befriend Colour

While a neutral colour palette is touted as the go-to for making a home feel relaxing, bold colours absolutely belong when it comes to fresh home interior design. Whether it’s a dab of unexpected blue, a splash of butter yellow or a stroke of calming sea green, colour (when used sparingly and appropriately) has the power to enhance mood and bring a room to life.