Simple styling: A counter offer.
Hey everyone! I’m so overwhelmed with the response that I had to the room makeover post last week. I can’t wait to do another makeover style blog/video for you but good things come to those who wait, so hopefully you’ll like these posts in the meantime.
Today, i’m bringing you a smaller post on simple styling tips and tricks to elevate your home. You don’t need anything fancy to make your space feel ‘put together’ and it really is possible for anyone to have a Pinterest worthy abode!
I’m doing a crossover with my Instagram page as well! The final styling will be put here but if you’d like to see this step by step then head over to Instagram stories and have a look (give me a follow if you like it!) All of the styling in this post were just from items I already had in my own home, nothing new was purchased but you may see a DIY or two in there! Lets dive right in….
Coffee (table) and contemplation…
The most used space in the home besides a kitchen is the living room. When you want to relax after a long day, this is where you go right? A tidy and clean space can help to create joy and part of this is creating beautiful styling moments throughout. The coffee table is usually (although not always) in the centre of the room, complimenting your furniture and providing much needed space for beverages. It doesn’t always have to be a ‘table’ in the literal sense, it could be a footstool or just a stool as a side table. Either way this surface can have a facelift to enhance your cosy room!
There are a few tips to think about before you begin. I like to use; different textures, different shapes, different tones and different heights. Most of these are straight forward but a ‘tone’ would be using light and dark in contrast but can be different colours. An easy tip for selecting ‘heights’ is to think about a forest…stay with me! So you have the lake (lowest item at the front) the shrubs (middle item in the middle) and the trees (tallest item at the back). You can create this by literally selecting products that vary OR you can put items on books or other bases to create this variation.
Starting with a base can anchor your vignette, using: a tray, bowl, plate or books gives you a solid beginning. Candles can help to set the mood in your home and bring low light in the winter months, think hygge! Another big tip to elevate your home, generally speaking, is to incorporate greenery. Plants can bring in much needed air purification and they look great in any room. Using a plant on your table is a nice way to tie in the space, it can also be artificial if you don’t have a green thumb! A decorative objet can be added or garlands can be used (I DIY’d the one above), but layering is the key! A vignette doesn’t always have to be tall. By eliminating the taller item and layering to a mid height, you can still create something beautiful. Bowls work really well in these vignettes as they can act as a catchall or just something decorative.
Don’t be so hard on your shelf…
Shelf styling is very similar to creating a vignette. Layering in different heights creates depth on an otherwise flat surface but you’re working with multiple shelves normally so here’s some new tips! When working with a shelf unit, an easy way is to think about these shapes; a diamond, a bow or a zig zag. If you have an odd number of shelves the diamond or the bow would work best. For the diamond; style the top in the middle, the next shelf on the left and right and the third back to the middle. For the bow, you just reverse that so the top starts on the left and right and so on. If you have an even number of shelves the zig zag works best, layer on the left or right and the next shelf down can be in the middle or the opposite side you chose for the top, work your way down in this zig zag. Balancing colours, textures and tones through the shelves as a whole creates cohesion. Odd numbers are aesthetically pleasing to the eye so working in 3’s, 5’s and 7’s depending on the width of the shelf will help keep clutter at bay!
Minimal:
You’ll notice the odd number guide is used in the middle of this shelf, adding draped greenery always looks beautiful on shelving. Minimal styling utilises space and you’ll notice that the top and bottom only have 2 objects. It’s okay, using odd numbers is a guide not a rule! The top is a set which keeps it cohesive and the blue is popped through the shelves, as well as the white tone on all 3. The bottom shelf is mirrored from the top shelf and they all showcase varying heights. This uses the diamond shape but can easily be moved around to create the bow shape we spoke about above.
Balanced home:
A strong middle shelf at eye level can draw you in. Balancing the darker tones on alternate shelves draws the eye either side of this too. As the bottom shelf is dark, using taller objects on the top shelf can help to draw the eye up again. Shown on the top, using similar shapes but varying textures helps to keep it looking cleaner. The neutral tones are showcased in the middle as a contrast. You don’t need to have a plant on the shelf, it helps but it’s not necessary as you can see here. Soft textures can also be used, such as the throw on the bottom. On a longer shelf this could be a zig zag shape.
Maximalist:
If you like to collect ‘stuff’ then this one is probably for you but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Following the odd number guide we can see 3, 5 and then 7 at the bottom. Using glass textures can help to create space even if you’re running out of it. Books can face forward if they tie in a colour scheme and plants don’t always have to be tall or draped! Utilising sets here de-clutter naturally, bonus points if they vary in heights! Adding decor on decor, as seen on the bottom can also help. This would still be considered a diamond shape just with fuller top and bottom shelves.
Thanks for checking out this post as always! I hope I’ve passed on some of my knowledge from years of styling to you all. Styling really is all about having fun though, so have fun! Come and say Hi 👋🏻 on my Instagram and give me a follow. Remember to check out stories for a visual guide on this styling.
If you try out any of these simple styling tips then let me know or #thecoastalnative on any pictures on Instagram! I’d love to see what you create!
Next week, I’ll be back with something even more creative! ✂️🍁 I hope you all have a lovely rest of the week and I’ll see you soon!