Everyone wants to make an excellent first impression, but not everyone knows how to do it. Whether you are trying to impress a date, new neighbors, or potential employers, your home is going to be looked at carefully.
Image by Peter Weideman
Make an excellent first impression with your home decor by following these seven principles of great home decorating:
1. Use the Law of Contrast
First impressions are always comparative. People will think that whatever they see after their initial thought is more important than the original thing.
Using this principle means choosing two different colors and sticking with them throughout your home. Whether you choose to paint all of your walls one color or use multiple patterns, just make sure that each area ties together somehow for an overall cohesive look.
2. Employ Good Lighting
After reading the previous tip, this may seem like common sense, but many people underestimate how important lighting is when trying to create an excellent first impression.
The lights in your house need different settings for various occasions. If you’re having guests over then, it is best to have brighter lights during certain times of the day. If you’re on the other end of the spectrum and want to set a romantic mood, then dimmer lights may be just what you need.
3. Go Green
This tip is not just for Mother Earth. Artificial green moss is one of the most popular greenery options available to home decorators with a wide variety of artificial plants, succulents, flowers, and grasses.
You can use it to spruce up your mantle, make an accent wall pop with color, or even create a faux outdoor living space in your house. If you like the look of natural moss, then using artificial moss may be right for you.
With more than 30 varieties of artificial moss and grasses to choose from, you are sure to find one that would be a great addition to your home.
4. Focus on Flooring
Although it may seem counter-intuitive, rugs and other floor coverings can be an easy way to make a first impression because they are so noticeable. You could have the best paint color in your house, but if your flooring isn’t done professionally, people will be too distracted by that to notice anything else in the room.
Make sure that you choose a durable material for your floor if you are going to put a lot of wear and tear through normal use or foot traffic. Natural materials such as bamboo, cork, or even tile should last up to 10 years before showing their age, though artificial materials like artificial turf can last even longer.
5. Add Some Spice
One way to create interest in any room is by using accessories. The idea isn’t about having as many accessories as possible but rather choosing quality over quantity. When picking out the right accessories, you want to think about what your home decor is lacking.
For example, if you have a plain white wall, then adding an interesting painting or picture frame can bring some style into your home without being too flashy. If you have darker colors throughout the room, then adding lighter color accessories may be just what you need for contrast.
6. Be Organized
How does this relate to first impressions? People will naturally assume that if something looks disorganized, then it probably won’t run very well either. You don’t have to go out and spend thousands of dollars on professionally organized shelving.
It’s actually relatively easy to do yourself with products like magazine holders and other storage furniture. There are also many good online organizing tips you should take the time to implement so that your home looks organized and well put together.
7. Get a Few DIY Projects
Almost anyone can benefit from adding a few do-it-yourself projects around the house. Not only will these projects add character to your home, but they’ll also show that you’re willing to put in some work for something that you want.
If you’re not into making things, then one simple project such as painting an accent wall might be all you need to completely turn your home decor around and make it look like you spent much more money than you actually did.
So there it is seven tips for creating an excellent first impression with your home decor. All of these tips were designed to help people who don’t have time or money go out and buy new furniture simply by applying their creativity and spending a little of time.
