Transforming your home doesn’t always require a full renovation or expensive furniture. With a few smart styling tricks, you can instantly elevate the look and feel of your space. From artwork placement to DIY finishes, here are some must-know decorating tips to make your home look effortlessly curated and designer-approved. Today I’m going to be sharing with you some of my go-to favorite home decorating styling tricks that you should use around your home to instantly elevate the look of your space. We’re going to be going over some must-have decor styling tips, DIY ideas, and measurements that you definitely need to know about. Let’s go ahead and jump right into it.
Small Artwork for Home Decorating Styling
Small art pieces can add character and charm to any space, whether it’s a new or vintage piece. They can be used to style shelving, bookcases, kitchens, bathrooms, and even bedrooms. Small art can draw attention, implementing different color palettes and wood tones. In large rooms like bedrooms, strategically placing a small piece above the bed can make a designer impact. Small art pieces are more affordable, easy to find, and can be thrifted, antiqued, or purchased brand new. Despite the importance of large statement art, small art can also make a designer impact in a home.
While large statement art is essential, don’t underestimate the power of small art pieces. Tiny framed artworks add charm and character, especially when styled creatively:
Shelving & bookcases: Lean small frames against the back wall for a layered, relaxed look.
Kitchens & bathrooms: Place them on a backsplash or small ledge for an unexpected pop.
Bedrooms: A single small piece above the bed can feel intentional and chic.
Small art is budget-friendly, easy to thrift, and a great way to introduce new colors, textures, and finishes into your home.
DIY Essential: Rub ’n Buff
Rub ‘n Buff is a DIY tool that instantly transforms a piece’s appearance and style with a realistic metallic finish. Available in various colors like Gold Leaf, Ebony, Antique Gold, and Silver Leaf, it can be applied to hardware and buffed with a paper towel or cloth. This affordable, quick solution is perfect for updating a home’s style without requiring expensive new pieces.
One of the easiest ways to refresh old furniture or hardware is with Rub ’n Buff—a small tube of metallic wax that instantly transforms finishes. Available in shades like Antique Gold, Silver Leaf, Ebony, and Gold Leaf, it works wonders on:
- Cabinet and console hardware
- Picture frames and mirrors
- Decorative accents
It’s affordable, fast to apply, and gives a surprisingly realistic metal finish—perfect for when you want a designer look without buying all new pieces.
Think Beyond Traditional Tables
Utilize various utilitarian items like trunks, benches, ottomans, and stools instead of traditional tables to create unique and functional spaces. Use baskets with lids for more storage and add a unique flair. For a hefty, solid effect, use trunks. In narrow spaces, consider using benches instead of coffee tables to create more space and add functionality. Benches are not always marketed as coffee tables, so choose items that create the same height and lengthen the narrow look for a unique style.
In narrow spaces, I always recommend searching for a bench instead of a coffee table because that will really create more space in your home. Benches are not always marketed as coffee tables, so look towards those items that create that same height and give you that lengthening narrow look that will add a ton of functionality to your home and give you a really unique style.
Instead of defaulting to standard coffee tables or side tables, get creative with alternative furniture pieces:
Trunks or benches for extra storage and a substantial look
Ottomans and stools for multifunctional use
Lidded baskets as stylish storage solutions
In smaller spaces, a bench can work beautifully as a coffee table—adding function without overwhelming the room.
Turn Your TV Into Artwork
Now, in a nice curated decorated space, sometimes the TV being a big black square can kind of take away from the overall look of your space. This will display that one art piece on your TV for hours. It’s a great thing to do if you’re having company over and you really want to bring your space together or make it look like you have a Frame TV.
This is a simple, free, and do-it-yourself project that will definitely give you that designer look. So, if you have a mounted TV anywhere and you really want to make it look like art on a budget, this is definitely the trick that you can use. If you don’t have a Frame TV, try this simple trick:
- Use YouTube or streaming services to display art playlists or vintage paintings on your screen.
- Choose artwork with darker tones to minimize the “glow” and make it look more authentic.
It’s a free way to disguise the black box and seamlessly blend your TV into your space.
Style Beneath Your Console Table
Now, I always love a good console table. They are the perfect narrow piece for small areas like entryways, behind your sofa to really finish that off in an open-concept space, or hallways. If you already have a console table in your home, always remember to actually style underneath it. Because console tables are very open underneath, and styling underneath really makes it look designer and finished, and it just looks very thoughtful.
Stools and baskets can create extra seating in entryways and spaces, adding pattern, color, and fabric options. Ensure tall, large baskets are placed under console tables for a visually appealing look. So if you have any console tables around your home that are just decorated on top, think about styling underneath it.
Console tables are a staple in entryways and living rooms, but many people forget to style the empty space underneath.
Consider:
- Tall baskets for storage
- Stools or poufs for extra seating
- A mix of both for texture and practicality
Getting the proportions right is key—choose baskets or stools that feel substantial so the styling looks intentional.
Add Risers and Pedestals
Now, a go-to decor piece that I think everyone can use in their home to really elevate their styling is a pedestal or riser. These are perfect for creating dimension, height, and adding an extra layer of texture and color into your styling.
You can also do the same thing on a larger scale with pedestals. Pedestals are such a great way of styling a space and really elevating and putting attention towards something special like a vase, a sculpture, or art.
Small decor can sometimes look lost on large surfaces. Enter risers and pedestals:
- Risers ground small items (candles, vases, sculptures) and add dimension to tabletops.
- Pedestals highlight special pieces like oversized vases or statement sculptures, instantly giving them gallery-worthy status.
These simple additions make styling feel layered and intentional.
Keep a Cohesive Color Palette
Maintaining a cohesive color palette in your home is crucial for easy decorating and refreshing. By selecting items that can be easily moved between rooms, such as throw pillows, area rugs, or side chairs, you can create a visually appealing space. This palette doesn’t have to be limited to three colors; it can include multiple neutrals, shades of brown, and contrasting colors. By repeating these colors throughout every room, you can easily integrate and change up your existing decor. Swapping items in and out will work with the color palette, making decorating and refreshing your home a breeze.
To achieve flow from room to room, work with a paint deck strip. Colors on the same strip share undertones, so they naturally complement each other. For example:
- Use a mid-tone shade in a bedroom
- A lighter version in the hallway
- A deeper version in the dining room
This creates subtle variation while keeping your home’s palette harmonious
Go Big With Lighting
When choosing lighting for your home, opt for larger fixtures like lamps, ceiling lights, or pendant lights. Avoid small, dinky fixtures as they can narrow your space. Large pendants and lamps look better than small ones, especially if placed on surfaces. Small lamps are ideal for hiding under cabinets or bookshelves, but large and substantial lamps on surfaces should match your furniture size. Small lamps are perfect for tucking underneath cabinets and bookshelves, but large lamps on surfaces should be larger and substantial to create a cohesive look.
Choose Pieces That Work in Multiple Rooms
Decorating becomes easier when your items can move around the house. Build a cohesive color palette with recurring tones—whether neutral or bold—so pillows, rugs, and accent chairs can be swapped between rooms without clashing. This approach lets you refresh your home without constant new purchases.
Final Thoughts
Styling your home is about layering intentional details—whether it’s a tiny piece of thrifted art, a clever DIY, or the right oversized light fixture. By experimenting with these tricks, you can create a space that feels polished, personalized, and truly elevated.
Alright, so that’s it for today’s home decorating styling tricks. I hope you guys enjoyed and I hope this gave you some ideas that you can start implementing into your home today.
