Have you ever come across the beautiful interior of luxurious homes while you were browsing or searching online? The type of homes I'm talking about are so beautiful, that you just have to sit back in awe as you take it all in. It is that same "in awe effect" I like to see and feel when I enter any room within my living space.
By looking at the gorgeous interiors of homes online, this helps me to come up with my own ideas as to how I would incorporate the decor within my home. I can do this by:
- Choosing the exact or similar decor in a different shade of the same color or, by choosing a different color altogether.
- Adding specific elements to the decor so that it will not be exactly the same as the original decor I saw.
- Deciding on what would be the best area to place the decor in, so that it will be complimenting to the overall style that is already in place.
When I speak of Hints of Luxury, I am referring to the kind of decor that is beautiful, elegant, and made very well (decor that's durable and does not look cheap). When the decor is of good quality, it will last for a good period of time. These types of items will basically eliminate the need for buying the same type of item multiple times.
I think the best way to create your own style of Hints of Luxury, is by doing the following:
1. Start Off With What You Already Have
I feel that if you keep the decorative items that you are fond of (the items that you really like), that can actually be your starting point of creating that luxurious look you desire.
I also feel that when you keep the items you like, it also makes it all that much easier, to choose the additional decorative items, that will compliment the items you already have.
To make sure that we are on the same page, the items that fall under home decor are items like:
- Curtains
- Furniture
- Wall Decor
- Baskets
- Ottomans
- Vases
- Flowers
- Throws (that lay on couches, chairs, love seats, etc)
- Throw Rugs
- Bedding (sheets, blankets, pillowcases, quilts, etc.)
- Pillows (throw pillows are included in this category)
- Lamps
- Candles
- Table Settings (place mats, dinnerware, silverware, napkin holders)
- Candle Holders plus so much more.
2. Get Rid of What You Do Not Want
Before you start giving away or throwing out all of your decorative items, stop and make sure you are not giving away:
- items that have sentimental value,
- items that are valuable,
- and the items that can be reused (items that have multiple uses).
These are the type of items that are not easy to depart from. When the time is right for you, you can pass them on, sell them, or dispose of them whenever you feel you are ready to.
Now on the other side of this, if you want to start off with a clean slate and get all new decorative items, then it's time to get rid of the old ones because they no longerBy keeping those unwanted decorative items around, will continuously interrupt the harmonious flow you already have in place.
3. Consider The Amount of Money You Want To Spend.
There is no need to try to keep up with the Joneses (unless you want to), especially if you cannot afford to do so. For some, "above your means spending", can lead to a financial mess and being stressed. I don't know about you, but I would have to say, No Thank You. I don't need that.
I feel that when it comes to the amount of money you want to spend, it should not be based on what others feel you should spend because, their level of affordability can be a lot different from yours. So..., the amount of money you want to spend, should (and always should be) based on the amount you feel is best for you.
There are three affordable ways you can go about this.
- You can choose to make the type of decor you want,
- You can choose to buy quality decorative items that you actually like, and are within your budget, or,
- You can choose the option to purchase one decorative item at a time (I like this option because I can still get what I want without overspending).
Now, while you are shopping try to keep in mind that just because an item is expensive does not mean you cannot have it. Sometimes it just takes a little more time to acquire it.
Don't let a price tag stop you from getting your Taste of Luxury, because you are supposed to surround yourself with the beautiful things that you are connected to. At the same time, don't forget you can always save up for what you want.
4. Choose The Items You Like And Feel A Connection To
If you are a comparative and selective shopper like myself, then you already know that just because an item is inexpensive, does not mean it is not made well. These items are usually not well known.
Most of the time I look for discounted (on sale) items that are
- Good in Quality (durable),
- Beautifully Designed,
- Flawless in Appearance,
- Available in a Variety of Colors
Do not short change yourself by settling for items that you do not like just because they are on sale. Now if you like the items and they are on sale, then that is a win/win for you!
5. Visualize and Create
One way to help you remain focused on specific details within your space, is by taking pictures. A good set of photos can serve as reminders of the area you intend to work on.
Don't get me wrong, I believe that taking mental pictures of your space is great. But, when it comes to specific details within particular areas of that space, physical pictures can be extremely helpful. They can help you capture every single detail especially, the details you don't need or want to forget.
In order to get a great set of pictures, make sure the lighting you use is bright enough so that the colors in the pictures will closely resemble the colors you actually see within your space.
You also want to make sure that you adjust your focus (on your camera) enough so that each subject you need to include within each picture, is clearly defined.
When a picture is clearly defined it is much easier to tell what each subject is. For example, a very good photo will help you to easily determine the background from the other subjects in the foreground (this is referring to the subjects that are in the front positions of the photo or, the subjects that would be the closest to you as you are looking at the photo) of the same photo.
A good way to keep the image of your design fresh in your mind is by also using your pictures as your designing map. You can do this by putting an X, a Circle, or any kind of mark on the areas (on your pictures) where you want to place your decorative items.
By doing the step previously mentioned, this will help you to remember where you need each item to go.
Now, all that is left for you to do is to put every item in its space.
I hope that this post has been most helpful in many ways.
Until Next Time, Enjoy Loving and Living Life