8 House Décor Ideas and Tips: How to Decorate a Home

Home décor is any sort of decoration or aesthetic modification to the interior of a house. Generally, people settle on a single interior design style for their entire home, which helps to also inform individual room design. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, though—home décor styles can also shift from room to room, but it can take careful consideration to steady the overall aesthetic of an entire house. However you decide to go about decorating your home, there are certain precepts that can guide you universally: 1. __Declutter often__. No matter what décor style you settle on, remember that you should always avoid clutter. Keep your home office and other rooms clean and decluttered, so you can appreciate the effort that you put into endowing your home with your own personality and interior décor tastes. 2. __Generate visual interest__. Adding pops of color or focal points throughout each room in your house can make your new home look well-designed and beautiful to visitors. These areas of visual interest help center attention and can create a general sense of purpose to each room in your home. 3. __Pick a general aesthetic__. While you can settle on a different aesthetic for each room, it’s advisable to pick one general look for the entire floor plan of your house. You can head in a minimalist direction or go for something more ornate. Choose centerpieces that light up the entire room, highlighting the holistic style you’ve chosen. 4. __Redesign occasionally__. You can give your home a makeover whenever it suits you. This can mean making small changes or going through an extensive remodel. Your home is yours to design and redesign at your own discretion, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles over time to perfect your vision. 5. __Seek expert advice__. You can hire a personal interior decorator to set up the design style of your home, or you can consult expert opinions by reading online articles. Check out various step-by-step guides to help you grasp how to design a whole room or house. 6. __Settle on a color scheme__. Consult color theory to see which colors should be in play for your furniture—if they don’t gel with the [paint colors](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-choose-a-paint-color) already on your walls, you can consider others. Clashing colors can distract and throw off your entire house’s aesthetic. 7. __Shop widely__. Find textiles and other materials at a variety of different locations. Thrift stores offer budget-friendly options—they also allow you to mix and match design implements for DIY projects. But if you’re looking for helpful design hacks and expert service, splurge on stores and vendors specifically tailored to your desired aesthetic. Decorations are what turn your house from a piece of real estate into a home. Here are eight home design ideas you can consider if you’re trying to decide where to start: 1. __Create relaxing bedrooms__. Your master bedroom should contain things that help you relax. From your bedside table to the headboard of your bed, choose items to make this room look as calming as possible to encourage good sleep and help you decompress. 2. __Decorate your floors__. Carpeting or other types of flooring can be an essential element of room décor. Use area rugs on wood flooring to add visual interest. Choose [carpet](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-carpet) textiles that fit in with the overall look of your home. 3. __Design a pleasing entrance__. As soon as visitors cross the entryway of your abode, a consistent introductory look to your home’s overall feel should greet them. Think about including a side table where they can place their keys or other personal items. Make sure your house looks consistent from your front door through the rest of the rooms. 4. __Incorporate wall décor__. Fill your walls with personality. This can mean vibrant accent wall colors, plenty of [gallery wall](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gallery-wall-explained) art, complementary bookshelves, a backsplash of ceramic tile in your kitchen, or something else entirely. 5. __Liven up your living room__. Your living room likely features more pieces of furniture than the rest of your house, so you should make them all count. Set up coffee tables, ottomans, throw pillows, couches, or sectionals to ensure this seating area makes you and your guests feel comfortable. 6. __Make use of greenery__. Add houseplants and flowers throughout your home to make each room feel organic and lively. [Decorating with plants](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/decorating-with-plants-explained) can make even a small space feel more open. 7. __Refresh your dining area__. From your kitchen cabinets to your dining table, ensure your dining room has easy access to everything you’ll need to serve a good meal. Your dining area should also feature the general room tone necessary to make eating that meal as enticing as possible. 8. __Spruce up your utilities__. Appliances like light fixtures and faucets have pragmatic purposes, but they can also be beautiful. Ensure your chandeliers, countertops, floor [lamps](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-lamps), sconces, and so on fit in with your house’s aesthetic. Master everything from color theory to pattern mixing with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and exclusive lessons from award-winning interior designers like Corey Damen Jenkins and Kelly Wearstler. From shopping for statement furniture to designing a lighting scheme to choosing the newest member of your plant family, the skills you’ll pick up are sure to make your house, apartment, or condo feel even more like a home. Interior decorating allows for a lot of personality and innovation. Check out these house décor ideas and tips for how to decorate your home.