- 1). Look for ordinary items that you can either use in an unusual way or replace with a more unique item. Consider creating a desk out of an antique door or form the base for a coffee table from a grouping of colorful milk canisters filled with marbles.
- 2). Go to sample sales, flea markets and craft shows to find one-of-a-kind decor. Ask craftsmen to create custom pieces for you if you find something you like but would like to put a different spin on it.
- 3). Invest in a piece of stunning sculpture made from nontraditional materials. Place the sculpture in a highly trafficked area of your home.
- 4). Paint your home with bold colors, or colors that are not frequently used in mainstream decorating schemes. Try painting one wall bright yellow, orange or turquoise, and using accent pieces in a complementary color to create contrast. You may also want to experiment with grays or black.
- 5). Surround yourself with objects that are uniquely you. Display your collection of Portuguese Baroque candlesticks or French gargoyles proudly. Mix collections to suit your aesthetic.
- 6). Decorate your floors. Paint them with a bold geometric design or arrange carpet tiles in a creative pattern. Take a page from New York's Standard Hotel and tile a floor using pennies or another coin.
- 7). Use lighting in an unexpected way. Rather than rely on standard overhead lighting and reading lamps, group hanging lights together in living spaces and scatter sconces strategically along a wall. Place spotlights behind furniture and plants to highlight art on the walls or to simply provide a burst of light in a dark corner.
next post