Personalizing Your Home: Lisa’s Design Tips and Transformations
Welcome everyone! Lisa here, bringing you more design tips to personalize your home! In a blog post two months ago, I introduced Love by Lisa Design and offered assistance with small projects. I wanted to tell you about a client that did just that, and the work we did to transform her space. She told me she had a dining room and a living room that were already furnished, but she wanted some finishing touches to make it feel more homey. Fortunately, she lived nearby, so we met and we came up with some great ideas! She ordered some pieces I suggested online and I spent a couple of afternoons shopping on her behalf.
From House to Home: The Power of Finishing Touches
This project was extra fun because she already had an excellent foundation of furniture, including some of the same pieces we have at our Vista Lago house! The space simply needed to be filled in to achieve the desired effect, which could be done through the addition of objects like books, greenery, and candles to fill in the gaps. Sometimes freshening up your space really can be as simple as that!
Console Table - Before
Console Table - After
Dining Room Delights: Creating an Inviting Space for Gatherings
In her dining room, we simplified the table setting to create a space that was usable for large groups of guests as they love to be hosting and having people in their space often. We wanted a super simple setup so that people could eat and they could serve there without the hassle of moving a bunch of stuff. We added greenery and candles to the dining room table to create a simple, inviting space. In the entryway, we gave her the gallery wall she’d always dreamed of so she could display pictures of her kids and her family. To complement the wall, we added a bench with some simple decorative pillows to create a welcoming space for when you first walk into the home. One of my favorite things about this client was that the focus on her space wasn’t just for her. The big focus was creating this space that others would enjoy, feel comfortable in, and love just as much!
Entryway - Before
Entryway - After
Living Room Revamp: Rug Upgrades and Stylish Accents
Moving to the living room, I did one simple little trick that works every time. I upgraded the rug. Easy, I know. When designing a space, it’s super important to make sure that the rug fits the room. Although her previous rug wasn’t bad, it was too small and dark for the space. I found a larger, lighter rug with different color tones that complemented the sectional couch so much better. Working with the furniture she already had, I added a table with lighting, a tall green plant, all-new pillows, and a throw blanket. We also included these stylish ottomans that she loved because they were light and easy to move around if any of her guests needed extra seating.
Living Room - Before
Living Room - After
My favorite part of this design was the gorgeous buffet table from Pottery Barn in her dining room. She had a painting gifted to her by her late mother, so of course I wanted to incorporate this piece and make it special. Since the buffet table had nothing on it, we leaned the painting against a mirror on it and added decorative items such as candle holders, a lamp, books, and other decorations. This simple area made for a special tribute to her mother, working seamlessly with the design of the space. I love when people want to personalize their spaces with details like that. It’s something no one else can replicate but it's such an important area in their home I know it will be appreciated for years to come.
Dining Room - Before
Dining Room - After
Design Tips and Tricks: Unleashing the Potential of Your Space
Now that I’ve given you the lowdown on my most recent project, I’ve broken my process down into three tips and tricks for all of you!
- Utilize what you already have. By repurposing her living room rug in the dining room and rearranging some things, we achieved a fresh look, feeling, and texture while still preserving the feeling of being at home. All it takes is something little! For instance, I took some of the beautiful books she had, took off their covers, and used them to decorate!
- Don't be afraid to mix! Different patterns and colors give depth to a room. In her living room, we combined a floral textured rug with pillows that had different shapes and striped ottomans to add dimension. The cohesive color tone tied it all together perfectly!
- Keep it simple. I think that our Deep Creek vacation home does a great job of emulating this concept. Every space should have a focal point, so there's no need to clutter every wall because the eye doesn’t know where to go. By incorporating greenery, candles, and personal photos, you can transform a space completely.
Throughout my projects, I’ve learned the importance of flexibility in decorating a space. Sometimes, I wasn't sure where certain items would fit best, so I had to play with them. I’ve just learned to overbuy to experiment and move things around, and then return things I don’t use (pro tip). I enjoyed this project because it taught me how easily a space can be transformed without breaking the bank. We didn't need to paint or buy much new, sometimes decluttering and reorganizing completely reinvigorates a space!
The best part was hearing how much my client loved the new design. When she told me she felt like her house was really a home for the first time, I knew I had done my job right! I can’t wait to hear about the transformations you make to your spaces with these tips!