Decorating & Design
50 Decorating Tips To Make Your Home Look Magazine-Worthy
Updated on January 8, 2024
Why do magazine interiors look so perfect? Talented designers and stylists, great lighting, and professional photography is the honest answer. But in the age of Instagram, where practically everyone is snapping shots of their spaces, we’re pulling back the curtain and sharing tips torn straight from the pages of House & Home. Click through for clever decorating moves that will make your home look like it belongs in a magazine.
Mix Old With New
Magazine stylists are masters who love layering in vintage pieces with new purchases. House & Home is filled with updated Victorians, bungalow makeovers and renovated heritage homes. “I love the simplicity of this pendant in contrast to the ornate plaster medallion,” says designer Samantha Sacks of this renovated Victorian home in Toronto.
Impressive Entries
In the foyer, trompe-l’oeil circus stripes create a spirited energy that set the tone for the entire home. “I use the word ‘wit’ in decorating and it scares people because they think of kitsch, but wit is just about making someone smile,” says homeowner Victoria Webster of her Rosedale home.
Monochromatic Walls
For a magazine-approved look, design a moody and monochromatic library by enveloping the room with one color on the bookshelves, molding and walls.
Invest In Timeless Pieces
Fashion designer Tu Ly is passionate about filling his circa-1885 Montreal rowhouse with timeless pieces like the leather armchairs and classic sofa that he reupholstered in a railway stripe. “Invest in something you love and it’s going to be forever,” he says.
Standalone Tubs
Few things are as photogenic in a bathroom as a sculptural standalone tub. This ultramodern ensuite bathroom gets its cool from the walk-in shower and wood ceiling that has integrated mood lighting.
Striking Art
When it comes to bringing vibrant color into your home, designer Monica Fried says it doesn’t always need to come from colorful walls. “One strong art piece like this one can do it. Graphic art, colorful sconces and a veined fireplace surround energize this corner of the living room,” she says.
Match Wallpaper And Drapery
“Repeating one pattern in a room is a classic look,” says the designer of this Connecticut home. She took inspiration from the bedroom wallpaper to dictate the room design in both the principal and kids rooms. “Pink wallpaper and matching drapes in a vintage-inspired floral print bring a cheerful, enveloping vibe to a younger daughter’s bedroom.”
Dark Walls
Don’t shy away from intense dark walls in rooms that are designed to be cozy by nature. In this Eastern Townships country home, soot-hued walls infuse the rooms with personality.
Rolling Ladders
A staple of country kitchens, rolling ladders offer an instant hit of rustic charm and they are essential when the storage is sky high. In this English-style kitchen, a floor-to-ceiling pantry houses small appliances, while a rolling ladder provides access to harder-to-reach top cabinets.
Tonal Outdoor Furniture
We’ve all seen plenty of tropical-inspired prints on outdoor cushions, but consider the deep sophistication of going monochromatic with a sophisticated neutral. This charcoal shade ties all outdoor furnishings together, from the lounger, armchairs, sofa to the umbrellas.
Standout Pendant
Lighting can make or break a room, not just because of the illumination it provides, but how it ties together other decor elements. In this dining room, the waterfall-style chain chandelier not only allows glimpses of the graphic wallpaper to peek through, it resembles an art piece.
Brass Range Hood
We’ve seen enough versions (both real and faux-painted brass) to know this look has legs. This version is oversized, running across backsplash. It’s a great way to make a very functional piece of kitchen equipment look like a piece of jewelry and that glam effect spills over to the rest of the room.
Arches
This shape has been on the trend radar for a few years but it’s really popping up everywhere. Arches are a graceful way to update boxy doors and windows and hint at a global influence. In the case of these windows, the volume of the arches increases the flow natural light, so there’s no downside.
Glazed Tile
Yes, white subway tile is everywhere, but a saturated glazed tile kicks things up in the kitchen to a whole new level. A rippled, imperfect texture gives these tiles a handcrafted, sensual appeal and glazed finish amplifies the hue. But don’t be skimpy: amplify the rich effect by tiling the entire wall.
Balloon Chairs
Once the epitome of swinging ’60s Space Age cool, a Lucite balloon chair hasn’t lost its lift. In a living room, the classic design classic can hold its own alongside a curvy sofa, as well as being a favorite perch in a child’s room. In this industrial loft bedroom, a suspended chair adds and element of sparkle and whimsy.
Steel-Frame Windows
A stellar view of Georgian Bay gets even more drama from steel window frames in this modern farmhouse. The darkness of the frames acts as punctuation in a lofty white room, and in city homes, they add an industrial Brooklyn vibe.
Copper Tub
There are plenty of standout sculptural tubs out there, but nothing beats the historical drama of old-school copper. Not only does it retain the heat, each patina is unique.
Chevron Floors
Chevron (or its cousin, herringbone) is exactly the kind of European detail that kicks any space up a few notches. The craftsmanship and detail are elegant and so photogenic.
Natural Accessories
Statement pieces pulled from nature are showstoppers. This giant shell planted with moss is a charmer no matter what the season.
Plenty Of Panelling
There are so many reasons to love panelling because it adds architectural distinction and give walls depth and texture. In this playful children’s room with ship-style built-in beds, a sturdy envelope of panelling also protects walls from dings, marks and scratches.
Magnificent Mudrooms
This isn’t the sexiest room in the house, but an orderly entrance that wrangles the life’s mess and makes it look pretty is worth its weight in gold. This beauty from the 2020 Princess Margaret Showhome by Sarah Baeumler is full of cubbies and storage, but is elevated by powder-blue millwork, artisanal wallpaper and a glam light fixture.
Stone Slabs
Designers are increasingly using large expanses of statement stone for major drama. In this old world kitchen, densely veined marble punctuated with hits of gold are a dramatic foil for mossy green millwork.
Loads of Lucite
Whether it’s an expanse of clear Lucite (such as this generous coffee table) or a smaller hit, this space-age material is a clear winner. In traditional homes, use it for a hit of modernity, but it also shines in small spaces, making them look more expansive.
Velvet
With its plush texture and beautiful nap, the rise of velvet continues. It’s a sumptuous alternative to leather on a classic Eames chair, and the tufting highlights the sink-into-it quality even more.
Full Wall Tiling
Popular in Europe, where small bathrooms tend to get water splashed everywhere, a wet room is typically completely tiled to resist damage from wayward water. Designers Kyla Bidgood and Mary McNeill-Knowles went with a mix of penny-round and honeycomb tile to amp up the visual interest — and the result is as luxurious as it is practical.
Black Walls
Every room needs a touch of black, but dig a bit deeper and the payoff is a gallery wall with loads of attitude. In this case, a black accent wall becomes a dramatic stage for a grouping of baskets.
A Colorful Sofa
It’s easy to play it safe with neutrals, but a chromatic sofa, like this verdant green showstopper, is a star that makes an entire room sing, and signals homeowners who aren’t afraid to let their personality shine through.
Ceiling Interest
Often called the fifth wall, designers play up the ceilings with contrasting paint and details like coffers or medallions. This Parisian pied-à-terre is full of formal, fancy touches, but it’s easy to replicate the romantic architectural detail with a painted-out fibreglas medallion that mimics plaster.
Heritage Blankets
The beloved Hudson’s Bay Millennium point blankets are reworked in a chic tonal palette in this bedroom, but stylists also reach for another dependable for elevating an interior: the Hermès Avalon throw also carries serious style clout.
Statement Chairs
Investing in one standout piece turns a functional furnishing into a sculpture that only grows more valuable over time, and bumps up the look of any living space. In this case, designer Julie Charbonneau reupholstered a classic Pierre Paulin Ribbon chair in a bouclé fabric for a cosy update.
Shapely Stools
Ceramic garden stools have been making their way indoors for years: they are both pretty and portable. Handy sculptural versions like this mod pair can be pressed into service not just as seating, but also as accent tables.
Punchy Patterned Tile
Turn a backsplash or shower into a major statement with tiles that go beyond white subway versions. In Olympic kayaker Adam van Koeverden‘s bathroom, these tiles resemble an intricate — and waterproof — piece of artwork.
Beautiful Banquettes
Banquettes don’t just offer extra seating in small or awkward spaces: they’re an opportunity to experience a beautiful view up close and personal, and frame a pretty window. Just look to designer Brian Gluckstein for banquette inspiration in the 2018 Princess Margaret Showhome.
Major Murals
A mural (paint or a wallpaper version) gives depth to a space and instantly makes a room more memorable. This hand-painted cherry blossom mural by Peter Costello in silver and gold leafing steals the show in this luxurious bathroom.
Better Headspace
A luxe, oversize headboard scores big points for not only framing the bed, but also creating a soft landing when reading. This burnout velvet version has a tactile, modern texture that breaks up the dark, petrol blue walls.
Round Tables
Rectangular tables are de rigeur in most dining spaces but there is something much more democratic about a round table, especially when it has a sculptural pedestal base like this one.
Luxe Rugs
Some will scoff, but a lush tribal rug updates spa-inspired bathrooms with softness and color that a white terrycloth bathmat could never muster. It’s a classic stylist’s move.
Curated Collections
Picture this wall bare and it’s easy to see why these plates make this image sing. An edited collection not only reveals a homeowner’s passions, but it also enlivens a space.
Symmetry
Want the look of instant order? Symmetry delivers a polished effect that’s innately calming (human brains are even programmed to prefer it). A large piece of abstract art keeps this living room from feeling overly stiff.
Trendy Trees
Plants can go in and out of fashion just as furnishings do (think of the ubiquitous ’80s ferns, now supplanted by the darling of the houseplant world, the succulent). Ficus standards have too been jostled aside for more tropical options, like large palms and fiddle leaf figs. Here two large palm standards up the luxe impact of this living room.
Unified Frames
Steal a page from designer Brian Gluckstein’s 2013 showhome and tie a gallery wall together by selecting the same style of frame and matting. He furthered unified the look by choosing artwork with a garden theme and the result is arresting and intriguing.
Global Collectibles
An unexpected find or vacation souvenir brings a layered touch to homes. Whether it’s a Moroccan pouf or kilim rug, global pieces often feature beautiful handiwork which makes them unique, and in turns makes a space look memorable and personal.
Round Mirrors
What goes around comes back around, and right now this shape is having a major moment. Perhaps it’s the soft, organic shape that’s a perfect complement to curved furnishings that are also trending, but they instantly make a space look fresher.
Luxe Wallpaper
Not all wallpaper is created equal. When a pattern combines quality with a classic print, like Cole & Son’s Nuvolette, it’s worth it. Can’t swing a whole room? Buy a double roll for a feature wall.
Elevated Headboards
Don’t limit yourself to just changing up your linens — it’s equally easy to transform the look of a bed by layering up an upholstered headboard with a great textile.
Custom Drapes
Skip the solid panels for something with personality. The artisanal quality of these drapes in a pattern by Kelly Wearstler acts almost as artwork and serves as a vibrant frame for a window.
Hammam Towels
Consider it the antidote to standard hotel and gym-issue towels. The fringe and subtle stripe of Turkish Hammam towels are anything but cookie cutter, and unlike terry versions, they look amazing casually draped from a hook.
Fresh Antiques
It’s a common dilemma that homeowners struggle with when it comes to heirloom pieces: an antique frame plus dated upholstery can feel dowdy. A graphic indoor-outdoor fabric breathes new life into a traditional cane-back chair and turns it into a piece of art.
Faux Fireplaces
No fireplace? Transform a plain wall into a focal point with a mantel and smart styling. This living room fireplace swaps out flames for a framed map topped with a picture light and an artful arrangement of birch logs.
Striking Sculpture
Too often this medium is overlooked in favor of framed artwork, but sculpture injects a tactile, sensuous volume into spaces that’s unexpected. The choice of the clear plinth keeps the look modern and fresh.