
If you love decorating your home, you love the thrill of knowing that you’re going to rework an entire house or room. But designing your space can be a scary process, and if you’re not an expert designer, you could make some major decorating mistakes. Fear not — we’re here to share five secrets for creating the perfect living space just as a designer would. After reading these expert tips and browsing Pinterest, you’ll feel like you can tackle any room head-on. Read on for the five must-know tips to revamp your space just like a designer.
Oversized Comfy Chair: Incorporating key statement pieces will vary by each person’s taste. This can be a favorite oversized chair like shown above or even an eclectic coffee table you picked up at your favorite thrift store. The right furniture pieces are more important than having an abundance of furniture. (via Something Navy)
Large Coffee Table: The statement piece above is a pure inspiration — it also makes us want to go out and find our own huge wooden coffee table. Be on the lookout for key statement pieces during your travels and at your local flea markets. (via Ideal Interiors)
Statement Couch: You can never go wrong with a great couch as your key statement piece. After all, you and your family spend most of your time in this room. It’s also the placement piece that dictates how all of your other furniture will be styled. (via Best Friends for Frosting)
2. Your Organization Should Be Beautiful + Functional
Organized Bookshelf: Make sure you rid your home of all its clutter. If you don’t love it, donate or toss it. This doesn’t mean your shelves can’t have substance. This inspo above shows us just what it means to use the most of your shelf space. (via Bliss at Home)
Styling Your Coffee Table: Another way to keep your home organized is by displaying it for the world to see. There’s no reason your books have to collect dust in a closet — put them on display on your beautiful coffee table. (via Lemon Stripes)
DIY Printable Labels: This inspiration gives us the warm fuzzies. The best and most popular way to keep your home organized is by using labels to structure everything. Labels aren’t just for the pantry. They’d also be perfect for giving order to your garage and even your bathroom. (via The Creativity Exchange)
3. Use An Updated Color Palette
Colorful Artwork: Use updated color palettes with your home accents and furniture pieces. An excellent way to do this is by adding artwork to your walls and updating your throw blankets. (via Cuckoo 4 Design)
Mixed Throw Pillows: Let’s not forget the pop of color that throw pillows can give a room. This inspiration shows us that you don’t have to choose traditional colors, patterns or textures to have a chic and modern home. (via Jacquelyn Clark)
4. Bring The Outside Indoors
Serving Up Greens: Bring the outside in by adding plants around your home. Use fresh herbs in the kitchen, add a potted plant to finish your living room and put succulents on an outdoor patio table. (via Glitter Guide)
Hanging Planters: Leafy greens will add so much life to your bedroom. Plants are great because they bring a fresh *element* and fuel your space with extra oxygen. (via Jenna Peffley / My Domaine)
5. Add Your Own Personalized Touch
Personalized Favorites: Make sure your home is uniquely curated for you and not just something you saw styled on Pinterest (or even in this post). You want your decor to be a personalized taste of your decor preference. So put your favorite books on display, buy that Kate Spade box you’ve been eyeing and try your hand with fun new DIYs. (via Lemon Stripes)
Mood Board: A fun way to add a personalized touch to your home is by putting a mood board on the wall and displaying it where everyone can see. Pin up your favorite inspirations, quotes and even fun reminders. After all, its purpose is to show off your mood and personality. (via Best Friends for Frosting)
What are your secrets for decorating your space like a designer? Follow us on Pinterest for even more decor inspo like this.
Your relationship with your finances is one of the most important relationships you'll ever have, and you can't avoid it. That said, for many of us, the pandemic only added to our financial stress. If you find yourself feeling frazzled, just remember that financial insecurity isn't a net-worth issue — it's a mindset issue. And, we happen to have plenty of advice on how to turn your money mindset around so you can take charge of your funds once and for all.
To start, feeling secure begins with a strong foundation, and there's no better time than now to get started stacking the bricks. It's easy to get swept up in the January "new year, new me" mentality, but really? Any time is the right time to get yourself in order. You don't need to wait for a new year, a new moon, the right moment, or a sign from above. You don't even have to start on the first day of the month — you just need to start.
Introducing NerdWallet: A Safe and Reliable Money App
To help with that, we've put together a list of the just-right-for-you ways that NerdWallet can help you monitor your financial outlook. Haven't heard of them yet? NerdWallet is a personal finance company that helps consumers make smarter financial decisions. Their website and app let you compare different financial products, find articles and tools to make financial decisions with confidence, and keep tabs on your finances (hey there, credit score, I see you!) all in one place. Plus, NerdWallet has over 75,000 glowing reviews in the App Store (and a 4.8 star rating) if you want to read up on any more testimonials.
Tim Chen, NerdWallet's CEO and co-founder, started this financial journey in 2009 after his sister needed help finding a credit card. Even with an economics degree and a Wall Street background, it took awhile for Tim to find the right recommendation (so don't feel too bad when it takes you a while, too). Their mission is to bring clarity to all of life's financial decisions.
So it's safe to say that NerdWallet is a pretty good sherpa for your journey, too.
Get the most from your money
Did you know that the money you park in a savings account can lose value? Harsh, but true. If your money isn't earning interest that's on pace with inflation it will actually be worth less to you in the future. And if the bank charges fees? Forget about it. Make sure you're earning the interest you deserve and come out on top. NerdWallet has researched dozens of financial institutions to help consumers find the best options. The hard work has already been done for you, so you can just select the account that works best for you and your nest egg.
Keep an eye on everything, securely
Once everything is set up, tracking and managing your finances is what will keep the money machine running smoothly. You can create an account either through the site or the app and link your bank accounts, then keep tabs on all your finances in one place. Get a clear picture of your saving and spending, get insights into how to master your money, and even build your credit score all in one place.
Get extra credit points
Do you have the best credit card for your lifestyle? Some cards give cash back on every purchase, ones with travel perks, and ones that charge way less interest than you're paying now. NerdWallet takes the guesswork out of choosing the right credit card with simple side-by-side comparisons of different credit cards so that you feel confident choosing the right one. Whatever you want to do, NerdWallet can help you find the best credit card to get it done.
Know your options for settling down
Mortgage rates are pretty low and it looks like they're going to stay that way for awhile, so buying a home might be the move sooner than you think. But there's so much more to a mortgage than just the interest rate! To help you choose a mortgage lender, NerdWallet has in-depth reviews on multiple lenders in a mixture of categories so you get the home loan with the mortgage rate, term, and fees that's right for you.
Settle an old score
NerdWallet helps you monitor your credit score for free and helps you see how little things (like raising the limit on your credit card or paying your bills on time) can increase your score. NerdWallet partners with TransUnion® to provide your VantageScore® 3.0, based on information in your TransUnion® credit report. Your score and credit report information are updated weekly. But that's not even close to all:
- They provide you with tips from experts on how you could build or optimize your credit score
- You'll get a detailed look at your credit score and all the factors that go into it—your payment history, credit utilization, the age and type of accounts, balances, and any recent inquiries
- The credit simulator tool gives you an idea of how your credit score would change if you applied for a new credit card, closed your oldest credit card, or got a new auto loan
- You also get free, unlimited access to your credit report
When it comes to managing your money, safe and reliable is where it's at. Establishing a healthy relationship with your finances begins when you take control and practice habits that build wealth. Signing up just takes a few minutes. Set your intentions to build a solid financial foundation, it will only strengthen your relationship with your finances. And don't be afraid to get a little nerdy while you're at it.
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