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.
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.