Would you like to mix furniture and decor design styles in your home but don’t know how? Are you struggling to create a cohesive look with the mix of furniture and accent pieces you’ve accumulated?

Mixing takes some practice, but it makes the decorating experience much more enjoyable. This loose style is a great equalizer in interior design. A mixed style snubs its nose at the rules by blending old with new, cheap with pricey, bold with subtle, and classic with trendy.

While there are many different interior design styles, few fit into just one category. More and more people favor a mixed style to play off their existing furnishings and incorporate new pieces. Combining what you have on hand with something completely new and unexpected gives you the license to invent a uniquely tailored style for your home.

The good news is you can easily and beautifully mix different decorating styles, like traditional, modern, or farmhouse, to create a stylish interior. Follow these helpful tips and guidelines to design with confidence.

Pick your main style

One way to start mixing and matching interior design styles is to employ the 80/20 rule. This means that approximately 80 percent of your space should feature one design style, and the other 20 percent can include others.

For example, if you have a living room with a traditional sofa and chairs, for instance, you can lighten the look by adding framed contemporary prints and light curtains in a natural material.

Most people end up mixing decorating styles in their home without realizing it. That’s what makes your home warm and inviting.

The neutral color palette in the example shown here, allows the homeowner to easily incorporate fun and trendy accent pieces without needing to completely redo the room.

Consider your space

A room’s built-in features can influence its style. For instance, white-painted crown molding may impart a traditional look, while an open floor plan and concrete flooring can provide a modern feel.

But there are ways to work in other styles, too, despite your space’s existing structural elements. You can make a traditional kitchen with white cabinets and butcher-block counters look more contemporary by giving it a bold backsplash and modern tile flooring.

Or you can warm a modern space with high ceilings by adding a comfy traditional-style sofa, a rustic brick accent wall, and warm pops of color.

Create balance

Combining diverse design styles is a balancing act. To make your space look harmonious, give each side of the room equal visual weight.

For instance, if a large built-in bookcase dominates one area, you could counterbalance it with an overstuffed sofa on the other side of the room. If your coffee table features a red vase, add other red accessories throughout the space.

If you want to combine two design elements in your room, such as Scandinavian and midcentury modern, intersperse both styles throughout instead of featuring one style at one end and the other style at the other.

Find commonality

You can effortlessly mix contrasting furnishings by accentuating the qualities they share.

For instance, a transitional-style sofa, midcentury accent chairs, rustic coffee table, and farmhouse dining table can look perfect together if your sofa and chairs have similar farmhouse-style throw pillows and your rustic and midcentury furnishings have matching wood tones.

Texture can blend design styles and make a room more interesting. If you have a space filled with industrial-style furniture but would like to bring in rustic features, you could add a live-edge wood coffee table with black hairpin legs and a distressed wood mantel over your fireplace.

Use color to unify

Repeating colors is an effective tactic for blending design styles. A good rule of thumb is to develop a color palette with three to five main colors. You can expand this color scheme by adding lighter or darker versions of its core colors.

You can even turn a design element that’s pricey or stands out from the rest of your decor into a focal point by incorporating its palette into your overall color scheme. For example, if you have a red-brick fireplace, you can pick up its rust color as an accent color in your room to make your fireplace pop.

Know your design styles

It’s helpful to know the hallmarks of design styles when planning your decor. Here are some of the most popular ones:

Bohemian: If you love a global aesthetic, this style, which mixes and matches fabrics and decor from around the world, is for you. Think Japanese block prints, handwoven rugs, and hanging macramé planters filled with houseplants.

Industrial: This style suggests an urban loft or warehouse, and it may include exposed beams and ductwork, high ceilings, concrete surfaces, and sparse furniture.

Modern: A modern style is defined by sleek, clean lines, dark-hued colors—think black-framed windows—and a combination of metal, glass, and steel.

Modern farmhouse: Popularized by designer Joanna Gaines, this style features a light and neutral color palette, homey fabrics like chunky knits and grain sacks, natural and painted wood furniture, decorative wood signs, and rustic shiplap walls.

Scandinavian: Rooms with a Scandinavian theme may have white walls and feature uncluttered spaces accented with lush houseplants, minimalistic furniture, and light wood floors à la IKEA.

Traditional: Traditional design may include luxurious features, such as ornately carved furniture, dark wood finishes, gold flourishes, rich fabrics like velvet, and curved lines.

Transitional: This style mixes modern and traditional styles and may include traditionally inspired furniture that’s toned down in size and ornamentation and a neutral color palette with bright splashes of color.

Tips for Mixing Interior Styles

Welcome “cozy season” into your home in a big way with inspiration from these inspiring and comforting color schemes.

Fall is definitely here, and there’s no better way to get in the seasonal spirit than with a bit of cozy interior inspiration guaranteed to make you want to embrace the impending chill.

From sumptuous fabrics to autumnal-inspired hues, these rooms showcase some of the most stunning color palettes the season has to offer in a tour de force that rivals even the best Blue Ridge leaf-peeping route.

Royal Blue and Camel Leather

The formal dining room incorporates a moody-yet-crisp palette of lacquered blue (Stiffkey Blue by Farrow & Ball to be precise), and combined with the family’s antiques and leather dining chairs, invokes a lovely use of color.

Oatmeal and Ink

Neutrals are applicable to any season, and when it comes to cooler temps, the key to making them work is all about layering. This comfy guest room emphasizes the unique refurbished surroundings (the building was once an old church), with creamy shades of oatmeal and pops of black for a tranquil relaxation zone.

Forest Green and Mustard

Equal parts refined and invigorating, this sophisticated sitting room showcases the power of fabric choice. Mustard yellow chairs feel seasonally appropriate for fall when rendered in a luscious crushed velvet, while dynamic floor-to-ceiling forest green acts as a lively foil.

Dove Gray and Mauve

To impart the feeling of a boutique hotel in this family home, a calming palette of dove gray and mauve perfectly encapsulates the slow days of fall. Here, Dovetail by Sherwin-Williams coats the walls and trim, while rosey bed linens offer a welcoming place to wind down. A beautiful touch brings color to the ceiling, covering the “fifth wall” in graphic wallpaper and creating a plush headboard wall behind the bed.

Navy Blue and Mahogany

Rich and moody scenes seem to go hand-in-hand with the fall season and no room exemplifies the vibe better than this kitchen. A stormy navy blue (Sea Serpent by Sherwin-Williams) blankets the room from floor to ceiling while mahogany details (like Hellman-Chang stools and a custom wood and brass range hood) bring an almost copper-like quality to the color palette.

Steel, Blush, and Rust

In this sitting room, a Roman clay finish from Portola Paints (meant to look like plaster, without the hassle) adds a time-worn dimension to the fireplace, while a duo of blush chairs adds a touch of sweetness. Streamlined black accents and a few strategic pops of rust (such as the velvet bolster pillows on the couch) add a slightly masculine edge that feels in line with the moodier fall months.

Pumpkin, Blue-Gray, and Navy

When working with fall color schemes, there’s no rule that says moody is the only way to go. This bright and airy bedroom keeps the cheer, relying on a saturated palette of pumpkin orange, misty blue-gray, and rich navy to anchor an otherwise neutral space. Instead of coating the walls in one standout hue, a mixture of patterns and prints packs a beautiful punch.

Citron and Denim

A limey citron couch takes center stage in this cozy family room. Layer upon layer – including a hand-sewn quilt, collectibles, and a plush toss – add to the cozy fall feel, which is anchored by a sleek blue chair and feathery asparagus fern centerpiece.

Dark Green and Birch

If there was an interior embodiment of a cable knit sweater, this room would be it. In this study, an almost-black shade of green – Rookwood Dark Green by Sherwin-Wiliams – brings intimacy and dimension to the towering space. Accents of birch and taupe offset the gutsy hue, while custom curtains keep things playful.

Ochre, Opal, and Gray

When you hear the words “Tennessee mountain escape” your mind probably jumps right to crisp fall days spent fireside, right? Such daydreams were the goal for this abode, which embodies all the intimacy of the season while still keeping the airy appeal of a vacation home. Pops of rich ochre offset the opalescent look of limewashed stone, while gray-washed beams and a sliding barn door covered in Schumacher linen keep things from skewing too traditional farmhouse.

Amber, Apple Green, and Royal Blue

When it comes to fall, no place does it better than the Hudson Valley, so it makes sense that this 1850s house is ripe with seasonal inspiration. The key to making on-the-nose hues like amber, royal, and apple green work in real life? Juxtapositioning them with lots of patterns. Here, an eye-catching burnt orange velvet couch and tartan ottoman are juxtaposed with an eclectic collection of prints and patterns. The whole look is finished off with window and door trim painted Great Barrington Green by Benjamin Moore.

Some very lovely fall color palettes here, and in some very unexpected combinations! I hope you enjoyed these approaches, and you can see that these color combinations transcend the seasons – but there’s just a bit of extra coziness with fall. And you know I’m here to help you pull it all together and find your best color palette for your personal spaces.

If these colors have inspired you, just give me a call anytime at (407) 743-2399. I’m easy to reach – you can choose a contact method right below this blog post, and we can set up a consultation to explore some lovely, colorful territory together. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com and you can also click this link to message me via my website.

Sometimes, we spend so much time focusing on interior design that we forget about the outdoor spaces of our homes. Many people with patios neglect that space, which means they’re missing out on having beautiful outdoor retreats. If your patio decor is lacking, there are countless ways to add some flair to it.

Get relaxed with some pillows and rugs

Get floor pillows that you and your guests can use to sit on the ground for more relaxed occasions. You can also cover the ground with an outdoor rug that will bring a little warmth into the space.

Have fun with creative seating

Hang hammocks if you want to use your patio for a relaxing, quiet place to think or read. If you want to make your patio extra comfortable, throw in a futon or daybed.

The right plants will enhance the space

Add a few potted plants to bring nature into this indoor-outdoor space. They’ll brighten up the area nicely. Just make sure that the layout of the patio allows your plants or flowers to get enough sunlight.

So many different ways to enjoy a food area

If you like to eat outdoors, add a small table and a few chairs to your patio space. During the warmer months, you can head outside and enjoy dinner with a sunset view. If you’re feeling fancy, consider purchasing a bar cart, which will help you bring cocktails from the kitchen to the patio seamlessly. You can even install a tabletop firepit if you’re interested in roasting marshmallows on the patio.

Add a little privacy with curtains and partitions

To add an element of privacy, hang a curtain or set up a partition to separate your patio space from the outdoors. You can even repaint old shutters from your home and use them as a barrier between your patio and the rest of your yard. If you’d still like to get natural sunlight, choose a light-colored curtain or only set up a partition on one side of the patio for partial privacy.

Bring the outside in (and vice versa)

Make your patio have a natural transition between your home and backyard. Include furniture that is a mix of both indoors and outdoors, such as wicker chairs with decorative pillows.

Enjoy the night with attractive lighting

Incorporate lighting so that you can use your patio at night. Whether it’s a large light or a number of twinkly string lights, adequate lighting will allow you to get the most use out of your space.

Your patio has more potential than you might’ve realized. Think about how you’d like to use your space, and you’ll be surprised by how easy it is to transform this often overlooked part of the home.

If this article has you inspired, I’d love the opportunity to help you make the most of your patio space for exceptional outdoor living. Just contact me for a consultation.

I’m easy to reach – you can choose a contact method right below this blog post. You can also click this “contact” link, or you can email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And, of course, you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

Sometimes wall art might be a painting, and sometimes it’s something else.

There are a handful of “essentials” that make a home or space functional and comfortable. One of these, of course, is a roof over your head. Another obvious one is furniture. I place decorative elements like wall art in this same category of essentials.

And when you have large walls to decorate, it’s the perfect opportunity to tie a room together in many ways.

The right pieces for your walls can introduce intrigue, personality, inspiration, and dimension to your abode. You’ll be amazed at how transformative one large statement piece (or display) can be.

If you have some blank walls to dress up, here are some large wall art ideas that hopefully inspire you in some attractive and unexpected ways, as well as ideas for how you might want to display them. 

Large wall art

If you have tall ceilings in your living room, you should think about hanging a big wall decor piece. With large oversized art, the most important thing is that it fits to scale, meaning it fits with the size of your wall.

Bring the beach fun indoors

If you live by the coast or like beachy home design, why not hang a surfboard?  A simple design can nail the look without going over the top.  

Make light with mirrors

One of the best wall decor ideas for living rooms is to hang multiple mirrors. When placed across from a window, you double the amount of light while creating the illusion of a larger space.  

Gallery walls (and the Rule of Threes)

In the world of interior design, the rule of threes suggests that groups of three (or other odd numbers) are more attractive to the eye than even numbers. You can embrace this concept in your living room by hanging a three-piece framed art set. 

Murals & large maps

There are many wonderful artists who focus a good bit of their time painting incredible murals on the walls of art-loving homeowners. It’s important to select a style that is compatible with your interior decor and furnishings, and mural artists usually have wonderful suggestions once they see your space.

These days, murals are often created as panels that are adhesive and easily removable. And the styles available are lovely and astounding. Moody seascapes, bright abstracts, soothing watercolors – they’re all available in square, portrait, and landscape orientations.

I love maps! Large world maps make great wall art because they’re timeless, useful, and often come in versatile hues. What child wouldn’t love exploring the world in his or her bedroom? These can be painted by a muralist or bought as wallpapers, stick-on shapes, or removable printed murals.

Go bright, bold, geometric

For a high-impact dining nook, consider hanging a larger piece with lots of bold colors, geometric shapes, and endless details you’ll want to admire over the years.

Set against simple but striking black furniture, this large-scale, kaleidoscopic piece is clearly meant to be the focal point of the room.

Lighted wall art

Think outside the bulb with lighted wall art. Take a look at how this battery-powered shadowbox showcases natural birch branches with a subtle glow.  

Try a tapestry

An easy way to cover a large amount of space is by choosing a colorful tapestry to hang above your furniture.

While there are endless patterns and designs to choose from, selecting a colorful option can change the vibe of an entire space. This particular piece is playful, and the wrinkled texture draws your attention in an unexpected way.

Repurpose your rug

You can often find wall art inspiration in the most unexpected places. Rugs can tie different elements of a room together, but rather than laying one on the floor, try hanging it up on the wall instead.

The textured, woven design of the rug in this room is perfectly contrasted by the white wall behind it, allowing it to be viewed and admired in a brand new way.

There are so many ways to beautify your large walls with art of all kinds! And what’s shown here is just the tip of the iceberg. If you’d like to explore any of these approaches further, let me know and together, we can determine the best kind of art for your space.

I’m easy to reach – you can choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com, and, of course, you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399. You can also click here to send me a message.

When Maggie Sojourner, a local judge, asked me to help with the design aspects of the renovation of her Sears Kit home, I was all in. I had previously done some work for Maggie, so I was familiar with her home and excited and honored to help breathe new life into her charming historic bungalow. 

Located in the downtown Orlando area, Maggie’s house was one of the over 70,000 “kit homes” that were sold through the Sears Roebuck and Company catalog between 1908 and 1940. 

The renovation added 1200 square feet to the home and included a large beautiful kitchen, a new master bedroom, bath, and laundry room. 

House in a Box

Part of a bygone era, the Sears Kit Homes have a unique place in architectural history. 

With over 370 different plans to choose from, each kit came with a book-length instruction manual and everything needed to build the house—including lumber, nuts, bolts, and even paint. Plumbing, electrical, and heating equipment could be purchased separately, also from Sears. 

Maggie’s home is the “Sunbeam” model and has been featured in the Orlando Sentinel and other newspapers and online articles. She has the original title search information and the plaque that identifies the house as a Sears Home.

When I asked Maggie what first drew her to the home, she said, “I fell in love with the spacious front porch that looks across Central Boulevard into Carl Langford Park.”

Warm Spacious Kitchens Are the Heart of the Home

The original 1700-square-foot home had plenty of character and charm but lacked the more practical aspects of today’s larger kitchens and bathrooms.

Kitchens used to be hidden and placed in the back of the house, but today, many kitchens are the focal point of an open concept living area where family and friends gather to socialize.

For Maggie, the kitchen was the highlight of her renovation. “The most exciting part was when I could finally get into my new kitchen and cook. My prior kitchen was only big enough for one person at a time.”

I like to call kitchen islands the “magnets” of the home. They draw people in and serve multiple duties. 

The island in Maggie’s kitchen allows plenty of space for meal prep, provides extra storage, a place to eat, and even houses her microwave. It’s also a great spot for her grandchildren to sit and color or work on puzzles while she’s cooking. The faux leather seats on the island stools not only add texture to the room’s decor, they make for easy cleaning. 

Carmen’s Pro tip: It’s tempting to make your kitchen island as big as possible, but you need to allow plenty of room around your island so people can move comfortably. Most designers recommend at least 42 inches of space between the island and the kitchen counter or other structures, but I like 48 inches better. And unless your kitchen is at least 13 feet wide, I don’t recommend an island at all. 

Lighting is one of the most important elements of design in any room but you have to remember to keep things in proportion. The hanging pendent above Maggie’s island was a piece that I’d chosen for her old kitchen. Maggie liked it and wanted to keep it, but one pendant was too small. Luckily, this piece was still in stock and I was able to get a second light fixture to create a more balanced look. 

Wallpaper Makes a Statement

Maggie’s home had a small passageway between the kitchen and the dining room. Typically, in older homes these areas were used for credenzas or buffet tables. 

Although the area was small, I wanted to highlight it, so I suggested wallpaper. The pattern has both an older and modern feel to it, and the vibrant green color brings life to an area that might otherwise be overlooked.

Carmen’s Pro Tip: Wallpaper can also be used to hide something you don’t want seen. The home’s electrical box is in the middle of this room. An experienced wallpaper installer covered the box’s cover, making what was once an unsightly necessity blend in seamlessly. 

Art For the Pop

Nothing makes an area “pop” more than a lovely piece of artwork. Maggie wanted to brighten the all-white look in the powder room, so I suggested we order framed prints from art.com.

Artwork doesn’t have to be expensive, and you don’t have to have a degree in fine art to select some nice pieces for your home.

Carmen’s Pro Tip: If you’re hanging more than one framed print in a small area, using images from the same series will keep the look cohesive.

Pulling It All Together

Contrasting textures are a perfect way to create interest and give visual weight to areas where you want to draw attention. Repeating those textures throughout several rooms helps to create a theme, unifying your look.

Shiplap, prevalent in today’s Modern Farmhouse decor, feels both “old” and current. We used it in both bathrooms and as an interesting detail in the kitchen’s range hood.

Woven Roman shades aren’t just practical. They also add a warm look to the kitchen, laundry, and powder room windows.

Tile flooring in the laundry room and powder bath, while not identical, looks similar enough to create a uniform look.

And, of course, color is a great way to create a theme among rooms. The all-white upper kitchen cabinets were softened by an occasional lower cabinet in “moonstone,” a blue-gray color used in the laundry room.

The same blue color palette graced the bed quilt and accessories. Blue is one of the most popular colors to use in the bedroom, and for a good reason. According to psychologists, the color blue promotes relaxation and sound sleep.

The secret to using repetitive elements is to keep it balanced so that it doesn’t become predictable.

Thinking of renovating your home?

Maggie had a strong vision of what she wanted, but like many clients, she wasn’t sure how to put the look together. That’s where a designer comes in. 

In my experience, clients are sometimes afraid to make design decisions because they don’t want to make an expensive mistake. So before starting a renovation project, I sit down with a client, and we make an extensive list of likes and dislikes, go over budget, and make initial selections.  

A designer can also act as a buffer between the client and the contractor, reducing stress on the client and making the renovation run smoother, ultimately saving time.

“I enjoyed working with Carmen to select the colors and designs for the rooms,” Maggie said. “I am “color” challenged, and she really made this much easier.”

Maggie had a few tips to share with anyone planning a renovation: 

• Have a good idea of what you want and what it will cost.
• Be prepared for additional costs.
• Make sure you have a reputable contractor, as you will spend a great deal of time talking with him/her and relying on him/her. 
• Practice patience as the process takes longer than planned. 
• And finally, “It was a long time from start to finish, but well worth the wait.” 

A home renovation adds value to what is probably one of your most significant investments and allows you to make a house truly your own. 

If you have a project you’ve been thinking about, give me a call. And it doesn’t have to be big. Some of my favorite design jobs have been for smaller rooms and areas. 

Let’s discuss how to turn your ordinary space into an extraordinary place. 

Choose a contact method below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com

And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399

It’s looking like ’70s-style interiors are back, and historically speaking, we’re right on track. After two years of living in a nightmarish reality, it makes sense why we’d adopt a decade where you could flip between The Brady Bunch and the Watergate trials on your Admiral TV set. If this summer’s “coastal grandmother” and “Barbiecore” trends tell us anything, it’s that people are looking to repurpose tokens from the past with comfort and color in mind. So, what’s next in fall design trends? Luxuriously cozy cabins with a vintage-inspired twist.

As we head into fall, it seems as if the ’70s theme is getting a cozy, organic modern upgrade. Everything is earthy, vibrant, and nostalgic – from dark wood furnishings to checkered decor that screams “groovy, baby” (in an Austin Powers voice). Here are seven trends likely to lead the pack in 2022’s fall home styling.

Bold ’70s Colors are One of the Biggest Fall Design Trends

“From boho to disco, ’70s interiors are having a moment. The trend is all about incorporating earthy tones like hunter green, mustard yellow, and blues, with materials like rattan and bamboo—in fact, searches for rattan have shot up by 77 percent on Pinterest,” says Nick Drewe, trend expert at WeThrift.com. And if you’ve been following 2022’s shift towards green, this should come as no surprise. Green has been topping the design trend charts over the past years, and a muted sage variation is popping up everywhere for fall. Add a little blue to the green and you have Glidden’s 2023 color of the year (see my DesignShots article in this issue).

Fringed Accents for a Nostalgic Fall

There’s one ’70s decor fall design trend that everybody seems to be drooling over: the revival of fringes. The attraction with fringes and tassels started even before the fashionable stage outfits of Elvis Presley, had a prevalent presence in the ’70s. If you’d like to bring this Elvis-inspired trend into your home, you can start with small changes, like adding fringe material to your rugs and carpets. You don’t have to go overboard to incorporate fringe into your decor. Keep it simple for a pared-back elegant look and work with accessories such as cushions to pull off this trend. Combining fringing with functional pieces, such as mirrors, not only adds a decorative touch but creates a feature out of them too.

Kitchen Plate Walls

Another old-but-new look among fall design trends that celebs are loving this season is “plate walls”. With a lot of inspiration from Gwyneth Paltrow’s farmhouse-style kitchen wall and Kris Jenner’s dish room, it seems like dressing the walls with decorative plates is all the rage in 2022. One very cool thing about this trend is that the possibilities are endless when it comes to placement and configurations. This season, there are a lot of hand-painted platters mixed with more modern designs. It’s a blending of modern and cozy traditional. That may be why, for many, it’s so visually stimulating and popping up in a lot of nostalgic fall designs.

Plush Pumpkins And Rattan Gourds are Big Fall Design Trends

Probably the most ubiquitous trend we’re all seeing this year is the use of organic materials, and this continues from the past few years. Of course, this is especially well-suited to the fall season. From rattan pumpkins and woven vases to wood chip gourds and driftwood bits, organics are everywhere defining the character of the season. There’s an astonishing assortment of pumpkin decor available this year, from woven rattan and corn husks to weathered stone and wood.

Checkerboard Patterns

Another trend that’s gaining traction is the use of checkerboard patterns. From timeless checkered accessories to elegant black and white floors, the look oozes sophistication while offering a pop of pattern. So, for fall, you can expect to see the look taking a more muted approach. A checkered pattern adds a touch of whimsy and is a great way to break up the look of an otherwise neutral room. However, this is the kind of pattern that requires restraint and vision – you don’t want to feel like you’re at the circus, so tread carefully. Perhaps sage green checkered ceramic mugs and vases next to tone-on-tone checkered bedding and plush patterned area rugs, as an example.

Dark Wood Furniture

Blonde wood has been a designer favorite for the past four or five years. The trend paralleled the rise of modern Scandinavian-inspired, white-on-white interiors that are still popular today. This year, though, we’re seeing a noticeable shift towards darker wood tones paired with moody paint colors for a more dramatic look. Lately in design, dark brown is popping up everywhere – we’re seeing it used on walls and in furniture – and there’s a resurgence of dark woods used in cabinetry and accent pieces.

Vintage Vessels

Many of us have been seeing vintage vessels all over our feeds. The beauty of vintage vessels is the unique patterns, colors, and textures that have been imprinted on them over time. Each one is different and one of a kind. This variance adds character and intrigue, giving warmth and visual interest.

Many designs are showcasing vintage ceramic and antique vessels throughout fall-inspired vignettes. They can be tough to find, and you may have to search outside of the US to find what you’re looking for, but the results can be very worthwhile.

I’m available for consultations and design projects to help you bring fall into your home or business. There are so many beautiful choices to make any space gently transition to the fall and/or holiday season. Or if you do like a clean sweep, I can do it all in one visit. If this sounds like a good plan, let’s talk more about warming up your spaces with the colors and scents, and textures of the fall season. Just choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

Break the “wreath mold” this season with creative door decor ideas that are sure to stun.

I really do love a gorgeous fall wreath. But sometimes it’s nice to try something new. So this year maybe think about swapping out your usual grapevine wreath for a front door decoration that’s equally as beautiful but totally unexpected. 

Who knew there were so many gorgeous non-wreath options out there? Here are some really cool approaches to wreath alternatives.

Pumpkin Parade

Invoke the warm and fuzzy feelings of fall with this stylish front door design. Cover your door in brown craft paper, then cut store-bought white pumpkins in half. Attach the pumpkins with removable picture hanging hooks and accent with a waterfall of faux fall foliage and plaid ribbon.

DIY Door Tags

Simple and chic, these fall-themed door tags from DIY blogger Jaime Costiglio are a fun, elegant way to add a touch of seasonality to your outdoor decor. Head over to her blog to get the step-by-step instructions.

Basket of Blooms

Fill a single straw tote or basket with a mix of silk sunflowers, faux fall leaves, dried grasses, and seed pods for a rustic look that pulls in all the seasonal shades of fall. Bonus: Add vinyl house numbers for a custom touch.

Wow With Wheat

This quintessential fall door decoration is as pretty to look at as it is easy to make. All you need is a handful of wheat, a rubberband, and some ribbon.

Garden Rake Welcome

Is last year’s rake looking a little worse for the wear? Instead of tossing it, give it new life as a cheery fall welcome arrangement.

Candy Corn Cutie

Some people love it, some hate it, but everyone agrees that candy corn is a seasonal staple. Put your love of this polarizing candy on display by decking your door in a banner of handcrafted candy corn pennants. All you need is a store-bought cardboard pennant banner, some craft paint, and wood beads to pull off this yellow, orange, and white display.

Decorative Corn

Nothing says “fall” quite like a bundle of dried flint corn. For an elegant presentation, choose three large ears, spray paint in varying metallic colors, and braid them together before hanging.

Pretty Paper Dahlias

If you’re feeling particularly crafty, throw together a few of these large DIY paper dahlias for a fun, youthful fall look.

It’s Fall, Y’all

Add some harvest hospitality to your entry by covering the front door in rustic, brown craft paper, faux fall leaves, and hand-lettered words of welcome.

Dried Florals

Get a long-lasting fresh flower look by filling a vintage hanging container with dried hydrangea, cotton stems, and curly willow branches. When it’s time to switch out your fall door decor, simply rearrange all materials in a vase to be enjoyed indoors.

Pumpkins Aren’t Just for Carving

A rustic metal basket lined with wheat straw creates the perfect base for displaying pumpkins, apples or other decorative seasonal produce. Opt for high-quality faux varieties instead of the real thing to keep the basket from getting too heavy and to ensure your decor will last throughout the season.

I hope these fall door styling ideas have inspired you! If you’d like to talk about other ways to inject some fall styling into your home or office decor, you can choose a contact method right below this blog post. And feel free to give me a call anytime at (407) 743-2399, and we can explore some delightful options together. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com and you can also click this link to message me via my website.

Both the Glidden and PPG paint brands chose the on-trend teal for their joint 2023 color of the year selection.

Vining Ivy is the 2023 color of the year

PPG announced its 2023 Color of the Year, Vining Ivy. Color experts at the company say the “bluish-greenish-something-in-betweenish” hue is as adaptable as its botanical namesake and intertwines bold blue and refined green to create a captivating color symbolic of deep water.

“Consumers are seeking to simplify in this post-COVID era, as the past two years have shed a new light on the importance of serenity and little moments,” says Ashley McCollum, Glidden color expert. “Vining Ivy embodies this vibe perfectly. It is energizing yet grounding, and it works in literally any space.”

Vining Ivy is a very calming color

The new teal tone can be used to set a calming mood in spaces, as its blue communicates feelings of tranquility while the emerald evokes feelings of balance. When paired together, these two undertones create an ultra-rich color that has us “in our feels” as we cautiously emerge from the pandemic.

In a residential setting, the color can be used for an interior or an exterior. For an interior, the experts see it used on full wall settings for a dramatic yet calming space, or as an accent wall to add personality. It can be dressed up with gold accents and white trim for a more glamorous look.

As an exterior, it adds plenty of curb appeal and personality to the body of a home, or as a front door color to compliment colorful landscaping.

The 2023 color of the year is moody and elegant

“Those who love this moody hue but are still feeling in-betweenish on how to bring it into their space can treat themselves to the understated elegance of a teal accent wall or serve up a statement by featuring Vining Ivy on their kitchen cabinetry,” adds McCollum. “Even the most modest spaces can benefit from the teal treatment. For those short on square footage but big on style, we recommend using this rich hue as bold contrast to a neutral palette, making a petite room feel plush.”

If this new color for 2023 has inspired you, and you’d like to see how to incorporate it into your spaces, I’m always available for consultations If this sounds appealing, and we can talk more about how Vining Ivy can enhance your interiors. Choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

Looking to add a touch of the tropics to your home decor? Island living is something that many of us aspire to. Regardless of where you live, there are many ways in which you can create an inspiring tropical style for your spaces.

Tropical style is all about paradise and island life, and it can be achieved with the right furniture, colors, and accessories. It’s all about providing a sense of escape and relaxation. And it’s the perfect way to bring the outdoors into your home.

When decorating with a tropical theme, it’s easy to go over the top. My suggestion is to start small and add one or two tropical accessories, take it slow, and see what you might enjoy living with. You’ll gradually find your perfect balance. Here are a few easy tips to help you get started:

Simple tips on how to create a tropical home decor theme

Start with a neutral base

This gives you a blank canvas to work with. Light-colored walls and floors will help to brighten up your space and make it feel more open and airy – perfect for those hot summer days.

Decorating with plants is an easy way to create tropical style for your spaces

Nothing spells tropical style more than leafy green plants. From the structural shapes of monastera and rubber tree plants to softer ferns, there’s something for everyone. Palms and bird of paradise are two other excellent choices. Try mixing different styles of tropical plants together for a lush jungle ambiance. Remember to spray your plants regularly with a water bottle to increase humidity and your tropical house plants will thrive.

Bring in natural elements

Tropical style should evoke a sense of relaxation and escape, so bring in natural elements like wicker, rattan, and bamboo to help create that feeling. Find furniture and accents made from these materials, or add them in through textiles and wall coverings.

Hotel decor is a great inspiration for tropical style

Take inspiration from tropical homes or hotels, and consider investing in a day bed – perfect for lounging around. You can enhance that island vibe with fabrics utilizing tropical themes such as seashells or tropical leaves. These can range from very subtle to bright and bold.

Bring the outdoors in

One example is, if you’ve ever experienced a luxurious outdoor shower, you know how exotic that can be. But since most of us aren’t situated where we can install an outdoor shower, how about installing a high-tech rain shower inside your home instead? If you accessorize with stone or wooden furniture then you could almost believe you were outdoors.

Add some bright colors to create tropical style

Tropical style is known for its bold, bright colors. Think fiery reds, vibrant oranges, and sunny yellows. Incorporate this color palette into your space through fabrics, artwork, and accessories. One of the best tropical shades is coral, a vibrant color that will breathe life into any decor. This color works particularly well for pillows, rugs and paired with gold accents. While green is a key element in any tropical look, don’t forget to throw a few contrasting colors into the mix. One example would be to team hot pink with turquoise for a vibrant look.

Keep it cool

If you live in a hot climate like Florida where I am, or if you just want to emulate tropical home decor, then a ceiling fan might be a great investment. There’s something so relaxing about watching the blades whir away. Tropical furniture made from rattan, wicker, and bamboo looks good in most homes, being lightweight and sturdy.

Create a romantic atmosphere

Bedrooms lend themselves nicely to tropical home decor. For an elegant island vibe, add billowing muslin curtains to your bed. You can install a four-poster bed frame or simply opt for a muslin bed canopy. It’s also a lovely look for a children’s bedroom!

Here are some more photos of lovely tropical style spaces and accessories to jumpstart your creative thinking…

If you’re now itching for a cool tropical vibe for your home spaces, let’s talk more about how to move things in that direction – I’m always here to help. Choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

Plants are a given. Adding nature, especially in the form of greenery, into your home interiors is a win-win! It looks beautiful, it adds a pop of natural color, and it helps clean the air. Sure they require a little care, but the rewards are great.

I’m thinking beyond plants. With the resurgence of “getting back to nature”, there’s been a recent trend to bring a variety of green colors into our spaces. Whether through the easiest route, an application of paint, or by introducing lovely accents, fabrics, artwork, or wall and window coverings, the opportunities are endless. Just don’t pile everything into one room! There are so many lovely green tones that can meander in subtle ways throughout your home, linking together in a harmonious flow. Unless green is hands-down your favorite color, there’s no reason to overdo it.

Repeat the color in your decor

If you do happen to decide to paint your walls a new (green) color, once you do it, don’t panic if it doesn’t feel right. Take a breath, and then another, and remember: don’t judge a new paint color until you’ve pulled the room back together. The key is to repeat the color at least twice in the rest of that room or space. And it doesn’t have to be the same shade. It’s a lot more interesting if you add varying shades of the hue. And don’t overdo it. Consider repeating the color green in a pattern on throw pillows, or a rug, on lamps or lampshades, in artwork, etc. Subtle things can tie it all together beautifully.

There are so many ways of accenting your spaces with the color green. I’d love to show you a variety of options that would work best for your space, so if what you’ve seen here has inspired you, definitely let me know. I’m easy to reach – you can choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com, and you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.