My Top 16 Blog Posts Featuring Design Tips & Tricks
This post has been a long time coming, my friends! I've been meaning to pull together a roundup of my top design tips and tricks blog posts for quite awhile, and I finally sat down to make my list last week. I've been writing here twice a week for two years, so as you can imagine, that's quite a few posts to sift through!
You can think of this like an index of sorts - I pulled the best of the best from the Mix & Match Design Company archive so that you can learn about all kinds of different aspects of decorating and interior design. This single post has everything all in one place so you'll be able to scan the list quickly, pick a topic of interest, and click over to read about it. (P.S. this post will be a good one to add to Pinterest for later reference. Just pin the image at the top of the page!)
So how did I go about deciding which posts made the cut?
Well, it was a combination of two things: combing through my analytics to see which ones have been YOUR objective favorites based on number of page views/popularity on Pinterest, and then picking out a few personal favorites that I think are relevant, helpful, and interesting. If you've been following along with Mix & Match for awhile, I'd love to know if any of your favorites from the past couple of years are on here!
What you'll see below is the title of the post and then below it, a little preview description so you can know what's inside. The title is the link to the post, so if something catches your eye, just click it and it'll take you right over to the post.
Here we go!
Sofa Buying Guide
Let's face it, sofa shopping can be challenging (there are a million options out there!), but if you do your research, figure out what you like, and know the attributes you need to have in a sofa, you'll be well on your way to finding the perfect couch. This guide will help you define your search parameters and help you feel confident you're making a good choice.
Picking Out a Ceiling Fan
Ah, ceiling fans - they're so often a necessary evil and can definitely be an eyesore, but these days, there's hope! If you have to have one in your home, go modern and sleek. This post has some helpful hints on what to look for, along with a roundup of some - dare I say, stylish - ceiling fans.
Choosing the Right Paint Color
A word to the wise: never pick based on that tiny swatch from the paint store or a color you find online! Instead, take a read through my no-fail guide to choosing the right paint color. It's the method I use in my own home and it's the one I recommend to my e-design clients since I'm not able to be in the room with them when they're making a final decision.
Think Like a Decorator
I've learned a lot over the years about what it takes to put together a pretty and functional home, and this list of ten favorite decorating tips is a nice resource that'll help you do just that with yours. These short and sweet nuggets cover everything from hanging art at the right height to lighting a room well.
Choosing Side Table & Lamp Combinations
How many of you have put a lamp on a side table, taken a step back, and wondered why it didn't look right? Well, for something seemingly so simple, it can actually be surprisingly challenging to put together a good combo! But don't worry, I've got you covered with some tips and examples that'll be your guide as you pick out these two essential pieces for your living room or bedroom.
All About Ceiling Lights
We talked about ceiling fans earlier, and now we're talking about ceiling lights! Figuring out what kind of light fixture will work best in your home is important for a lot of reasons. Do you need a flush mount or a semi-flush mount? When would you choose a chandelier or pendant light? I cover the answers to those questions and share 30 (yes, 30!) modern light fixtures to help your search in this post.
How to Create an Entryway When You Don't Have One
So many of us have homes that don't have a true foyer or entryway (myself included!), but that doesn't mean you can't make one! That space right inside your front door can become a disaster area if you don't have designated drop zone and some sort of storage solution to keep shoes, clutter, etc. at bay. There are actually a number of good solutions to this problem and I'm sharing my three favorite options with you here.
Three Awesome Ways to Decorate Around the TV
TVs are often the focal point of a living room or family room, but that big black box doesn't have to be the star of the show. If you'd prefer to have it fade into the background of your space, I've got some practical and easy-to-implement ideas for you!
Easy Ways to Make Your Small Space Feel Bigger
We've never lived in a home that's larger than 1200 square feet, so I've become well-versed in how to make a small home or room feel larger. Scale, visual weight, and maximizing natural light are some of the keys to this, and you might be surprised to learn that you're not limited to apartment sized furniture. Head on over to this post if you're a small space dweller!
How to Pick out the Right Bar Stools
This post has been one of THE most popular posts I have ever written - apparently y'all love the idea of having some help choosing bar stools for your kitchen island or peninsula! There are some really common (and easily avoidable) errors folks make when picking these out, so if you want to make a good buying decision the first time, you'll want to head on over to read my tips. Don't miss the roundup of stools I've got on there for you too.
No-Fail Ways to Decorate Around Your Bed
This is another one of my most popular posts according to Pinterest and my analytics. I think folks often get stuck or don't know what to do with this spot in their homes, but don't leave those walls bare! Adding art, mirrors, and decor around your bed is a key to making a room feel finished and thoughtfully designed.
Choosing the Right Area Rug
Rugs make a room feel cozy and put together, and they help ground your furniture. No matter whether it's for a living room, bedroom, or another space in your house, it's important to strike the balance between the right size, style, and material. Rugs are one of my favorite things to pick out when I'm designing a room, and I hope that these tips will help you choose the right one for yours!
Sources for Affordable Abstract Art
Art doesn't have to be expensive, and this post will give you plenty of resources and ideas for finding affordable pieces for your home. When it comes to picking out the actual pieces for your walls, go with what speaks to you - it's one of those "you'll know it when you see it" kinds of things. If you love it, you'll find a spot for it!
Space Planning 101
Space planning, a.k.a. floor planning, is one of my absolute favorite parts of the design process. Figuring out how to arrange your furniture, pick pieces that will be the right size and scale, and making sure it all flows well is important, and I'm teaching you the basics in this blog post. If floor planning is overwhelming to you though, you don't have to do it yourself! Take a look at my Space Planning e-design package - I'll do it for you!
How to Hang Curtains Correctly
There are a lot of aspects of design that are all about personal preference and don't have true "rules," but I feel pretty strongly that there is a right way and a wrong way to hang curtains. I know every home is different and there are some exceptions, but in general, the method I explain in this post is going to give you the best results.
Choosing Good Pillow Combinations
Last, but not least, pillows! Switching out your throw pillows is one of my favorite easy and inexpensive ways to freshen up a space. There are a TON of options out there, but I want to make your lives easier, not harder (ha!), so I rounded up a bunch of good combinations for you. You can use the exact ones I picked out, or you can use them as a guide to choose the perfect ones for your own home!
