Table of contents for Decorating Basics 2022 in Real Simple

IF YOU’RE LIKE US, you thrill to a detailed game plan: Do this research, answer these questions, gather these items—and then get on your way. This almost-scientific approach perfectly fits many home goals, especially cleaning or getting organized. But, as Executive Editor Rory Evans noted as we got to work on this special edition, “Decorating feels more like alchemy and magic—and being in the exact right spot so that lightning can strike you!” (We’re assuming these are bolts of design brilliance, not a stormy disaster!) Rather than give you a precise decorating to-do list, we’ve gathered road-tested tips, designer insights that are practically foolproof, and a collection of our favorite homes that are inspiring and relatable. We also threw in a healthy dose of cheerleading because, in the end,…

IN JULY 2017, when Ingrid Fetell Lee and her husband, Albert Lee, bought their three-bedroom home in East Hampton, New York, Ingrid was writing Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness. For 10 years, Ingrid had researched the things that universally bring people joy (that fleeting feeling, different from happiness, that we get seeing a balloon or flowers). Pulling from science and her industrial-design background, Ingrid found that adding more joy—at home, at work, in public spaces—can make us healthier and happier. It was a given that Ingrid and Albert would design their home with joy in mind, adding hits of unexpected color and highlighting their natural surroundings. “I wanted to create little moments that bring me joy as I move through the house,” she…

ENTRYWAY The area inside your door sets the tone for your entire home, so make sure it feels welcoming. Also outfit it with all the essential items you need each day. “The entryway is one of the most hardworking spots in your home these days, so it’s important to start with a smart setup. Designating a place for everything (shoes, keys) will eliminate friction in your day.”KATIE HOLDEFEHR, DESIGNER LIVING ROOM Invite family and guests to sit, rest, and talk in your home’s gathering areas. Create furniture groupings to cozy up an open-concept space and layer in warmth with natural textures and light. “I always feel most comfortable in spaces that are bold and energetic but grounded in warmth, with wood tones and cozy textiles. A room should feel playful…

SHOPPING SMART DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Research your options in magazines, catalogs, and websites first. Study photos of rooms to spy a look you like, paying attention to the scale of the pieces—for example, how the size of an end table compares to the sofa and how they both feel in the room. MEASURE UP. Create a floor plan so you know what will fit. Also measure your front door, stairways, and any interior doors or archways so you’ll know for sure the furniture can be moved into your home. GET OUT THERE. Online shopping brings a world of furniture options to your front door, but don’t forget to explore local options. Look for bargains at consignment stores, flea markets, outlet stores, and closeout sections in local furniture stores. Always ask…

Artwork brings so much good energy to a room. But getting from a blank wall to that happy place can feel daunting—even for the most confident DIYer. (If you’ve ever left a frame leaning against a wall in the den, you’re not alone!) Whether you want to curate a mix that encapsulates your family’s style or you’re an avid collector who simply needs a nudge to finally populate that big bare wall, here’s a guide through the process. LEAN IT ON A LEDGE If you have ever-changing tastes and an always-expanding art collection, a shallow shelf will let you rearrange your display on a whim (without leaving holes in the wall). STOCK A STAIRCASE An assortment of large posters and smaller prints brings color and personality to a staircase wall.…

“Never underestimate the impact of fresh flowers. A small bouquet that changes weekly can bring a room to life.”JOHN LOECKE, INTERIOR DESIGNER “Beautifully finished drapes or shades are to a room what a great handbag is to someone’s day-to-day dressing. You can certainly function without them, but once you have them, you wonder how you lived without.”PATRICE COWAN BEVANS, INTERIOR DESIGNER “I always try to incorporate meaningful items that tell a story, whether it’s a custom portrait of a pet or a framed family photo.”DANA ISOM JOHNSON, INTERIOR DESIGNER “To add storage to your room, think vertically and hang shelves from eye level up. Stock shelves with decorative boxes and baskets to hide small items, such as remote controls. All you’ll see is the pretty container—not the clutter.”DONNA SMALLIN…

COLOR IS POWERFUL. It’s often the first thing people notice when they walk through a space, and it sets the tone for your home. But when faced with a thick book of paint chips, most people gravitate toward their favorite hues or play it safe with neutrals. Instead, consider the mood you’d like to set in each room. Designers and color experts share their favorite colors to inspire you. Relax With Gray or Blue. Think of the ocean. How do you feel? “Cool, watery colors calm you,” says Jessica Helgerson, an interior designer in Portland, Oregon. That’s why sky blue or a neutral with an undertone (the color that’s mixed with the primary color) of gray or green is common in bedrooms and yoga studios: These shades capture that soothing,…

JUST A SHORT WALK from the beach, this Southern California house is the ideal host: laid-back and thoughtful with excellent taste. Lucky for the landlocked among us, the decorating lessons that make this house stand up to regular renters and sandy shoes also apply to other households: busy families with children and lots of guests, or people who simply long for sophistication without stress or an outrageous outlay of cash. “I’m not one of those people who spends money just to spend money,” says interior designer Christina Fluegge, who transformed this tired house. “There’s no reason to buy expensive things when you don’t have to. Our main goal was to make sure everything in the house was durable enough to withstand renters but still look really nice.” To that end,…

1 Choosing a Too-small Rug A rug that’s on the puny side makes any room look fragmented and feel choppy. THE FIX: Go beyond the edges of your biggest piece of furniture. If you have a standard 7-foot sofa, choose a rug that’s at least 9 feet, which will extend about a foot past each side of the couch, says New York City designer Elaine Griffin. (Stuck with a small rug? Layer it on top of an 8-by-10-foot or 9-by-12-foot solid jute or sisal rug.) For a bedroom, choose one that’s at least 1½ feet wider than the bed (an 8-by-10-foot or 9-by-12-foot rug for a queen- or king-size bed and a 6-by-9-foot rug for a full-size bed). In a dining room, pick a rug that extends at least 3…

Apply Nailhead Trim Nailhead trim can add a sophisticated touch to a contemporary piece. Stick on pieces of painter’s tape where you want the nails—along the base of the sofa, for example. Use a spacer (like Dritz Home Space & Set Tool, $12; joann.com) to ensure the spacing is even. With a rubber mallet or a hammer wrapped in a towel, tap each upholstery nail about halfway into the fabric. Check that the nails are straight, then remove the tape and tap them all the way in. Change the Legs Switching out the sofa legs can upgrade the whole look. Prettypegs.com has a great selection of shapes and finishes for many furniture brands, including Ikea. If your sofa’s legs are permanently attached, home blogger Ashley Poskin recommends painting them…

PATRICE COWAN BEVANS is an interior designer in San Francisco and Switzerland. pcbinteriors.com JUSTINA BLAKENEY is an artist and owner of Jungalow. jungalow.com KARL CHAMPLEY is a Los Angeles-based designer, builder, author, and TV host. karlchampley.com JOY CHO is a designer and founder of Oh Joy! @ohjoy TIMOTHY CORRIGAN is an interior designer with offices in Paris and Los Angeles. timothy-corrigan.com SUYSEL DEPEDRO CUNNINGHAM is a New York City-based designer with Tilton Fenwick. tiltonfenwick.com VANESSA DE VARGAS is a Los Angeles-based furniture designer and interior decorator. turquoise-la.com HOPE FALLIN is the owner of Hope Fallin Color & Design in New Jersey. hopefallincolordesign.com CHRISTINA FLUEGGE is an interior designer and owner of greige design. greigedesign.com SHAVONDA GARDNER is a designer and blogger. sgstyleblog.com NICOLE GIBBONS is an interior designer and…

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GORGEOUS wallpapers are all over Instagram, but when most of us click “like” on those perfect pics, we believe they’re so beautiful that they’re far out of our reach. Luckily, companies are now making pretty papers that are much more wallet-friendly and accessible to DIYers. “If you can assemble Ikea furniture,” you can ace a peel-and-stick wallpaper project, says artist, author, and Jungalow blogger Justina Blakeney. “Start with a small project that will give you confidence,” says Chasing Paper founder Elizabeth Rees. Some companies, including Chasing Paper, offer 2-by-4-foot panels so you can work in smaller sections. Each panel’s pattern will seamlessly blend into the next—helping you avoid the struggle to line up florals or stripes. York Wallcoverings now offers Sure Strip, a water-activated adhesive that lets you slide…

1 METALS ARE MAGICAL Metal objects—in this case, shelving—bounce light around a room, making it look airier. For extra reflectiveness in this family/guest room, Beth Penn replaced the top and bottom shelves with mirrored glass. 2 GET A TALL COFFEE TABLE Look for one that’s 28 inches or so (the average table is more like 16) to draw the eye upward. An open base and a glass top add to the spacious feeling. 3 GOT A WALL? THERE’S YOUR OFFICE You don’t need a spare room to set up an organized work space. Beth carved out hers along one side of the family/guest room, lining the wall with a slim DIY desk—an 11-inch-deep sustainable-pine plank (from timelinewood.com) mounted with brackets. Whiteboard paint turns the wall into a message board. Choose chic, non-officey chairs…

PAGES 30–37 WIDE-OPEN WELCOME PAGES 30–31 Artwork Watercolor III by Kate Roebuck—onekingslane.com. Rug—rugs2go.com. Sconces Arc Midcentury—westelm.com. PAGES 32–33 Coffee tables, upholstered chairs Allister, sofa custom, dining sideboard and table—greigedesign.com. Black lamp Delilah, chandelier Jonathan Adler Meurice—robertabbeylightingstore.com. Dining chairs DSW Midcentury Modern Side Chair by Devoko; amazon.com. PAGES 36–37 Twin beds simple bed frame—westelm.com. Framed art—clareelsaesser.etsy.com. Primary bedroom headboard custom—greigedesign.com. Bench large black wrap bench—cb2.com. Sconce Curvilinear—westelm.com. PAGES 42–59 SHOWHOUSE SECRETS PAGES 42–43 Mirror Simply Arched—shadesoflight.com. Shelf Marble Wall-Mounted Shelf—cb2.com. Sconce Peak—lucentlightshop.com. Artwork Rocky Coast by Janel Galve—minted.com. TV console Bestå—ikea-usa.com. Cane triple door fronts—norseinteriors.com. Rug Hendesi Heriz Abalone—ruggable.com. Paint On Tour—backdrophome.com. PAGE 44 Media cabinet Sorren—mcgeeandco.com. Chandelier Cynara Grande—circalighting.com. Swivel chairs Kemper, sofa Arne, side table Pascal—jaysonhome.com. Coffee tables Wade—rejuvenation.com. PAGE 45 Sofa Harmony, table lamps Industrial Outline—westelm.com. Coffee…