A Designer’s Secret Weapons: 9 Behind-the-Scenes Essentials for Your Home
When it comes to designing your home, I bet a lot of obvious things come to mind - furniture, lighting, tables, art…the list goes on. But what about the little things? The behind-the-scenes pieces that play a supporting role in making your vision come to life?
You may see them every day or they may even be totally invisible, but they matter a whole lot, and I’m here to share nine of my “secret weapon” essentials. In my book, they make decorating easier, allow your other pieces shine or function better, or make your spaces more organized. They may not be the most exciting items in the world, but these essentials will come in handy, I guarantee it. Since we just kicked off a new year, you may find yourself dreaming of all the design projects you’ll be doing in your home in the coming months, and you’ll want to file this little list away!
After you take a peek at this list, let me know if you have any to add - I’d love to know what yours are!
(This post contains affiliate links, which means Mix & Match Design Company earns a small commission from your purchase at no cost to you.)
Nine Behind-the-Scenes Decorating Essentials
1.Deco Hooks
Move over picture hangers, Deco Hooks have become my #1 way to hang framed photos, art, and mirrors. They’re SO easy to use, hold up to 20lbs (or 40 if you get the larger ones), make a tiny hole in the wall, and don’t require a hammer. They’re for drywall only, but that’s what most of us are hanging things on anyway, right? They’re life-changing when it comes to easily hanging wall decor in your home.
2. Y-Weave Plastic Baskets
These come in a bunch of sizes (here’s another favorite), and come in handy for keeping things organized everywhere from your kitchen to cabinets to bookshelves. They’re even pretty enough to be visible and durable enough to get heavy use. I love them for toy organization too if you have little ones around.
I’ve used them all over my house for things like:
Toy storage in a closed cabinet
Organizing kid eating essentials in our kitchen
Shoe, hat, and accessory storage at the front door
Bath vanity organization
3. Nail-On Felt Furniture Pads
One of my husband’s and my pet peeves is when chair foot pads don’t stick, and this nail-on version solves that problem! They take more effort to “install” initially, but they stay put forever. It’s worth the effort! Be sure to choose the correct diameter and color for your chairs.
4. Laser Level
Laser levels are amazing tools for aligning everything from gallery walls to those pesky mirrors with two d-ring hangers. For the average homeowner, this is all you’ll need for simple projects - it’s easy to store in a drawer too. I have this one and find I pull it out at least once a month.
5. Rug Pads
A good rug pad is worth paying a little more for. It’ll protect your floors, extend the life of your rug, and provide extra padding. The ones from this brand have become my go-to, and depending on the spot, I’ll either get a solid felt pad or one with a rubber backing if it needs help staying put. If you have one of those waffle weave sticky rug pads, it’s time to upgrade! Your floors and your feet will appreciate it!
6. Feather-Down Pillow Inserts
It’s time to banish those polyester inserts from your pillows! Swap them for feather-down or down alternative fillers. The ones I have linked here are just an example - you can also find them at most major home retailers. They fluff up so much better, give your pillows a higher end look, and last for years and years. Once you have those inserts, you can easily swap the covers (I recommend searching Etsy for beautiful designer pillows in any size under the sun).
You can change out any zippered pillow cover that has a polyester insert for a feather-down one. If it has a sew closure? Skip it. I know that sounds harsh, but your pillow won’t look good for long if you can’t change out that insert!
7. Peel and Stick Paint Samples
Need to pick a new paint color? I’d suggest trying a peel-and-stick sample from Samplize. They offer large samples that you can stick on your walls and move around that will give you a much better idea of what it looks like than those tiny swatches from the paint store. It’ll also save you the mess and hassle of little paint pots (P.S. what do you even do with those when you’re done anyway? There’s always some left over!) They carry all the major paint brands and ship the samples straight to your door.
8. Large Storage Baskets
In addition to the Y-Weave Bins I mentioned earlier, I love a good storage basket. As an organizer friend here in Richmond (The House Finch) once told me, “Match the size of your basket to the size of the item you need to store.” That means the larger the individual items, the bigger the basket should be overall. I loved these waffle weave baskets from Crate & Kids, but of course you’ll want to find the ones that meet your storage needs!
9. Smart Plugs
I’m not entirely sure this falls under the “decorating” category, but they’re definitely things that you can use in your home to make life easier. If you have a smart speaker like Alexa or Google Home, these will connect with that device so you can use your voice or your phone to control them. Plug lamps into them, automate your Christmas tree lights, etc. They come in handy in lots of places!