I used to dream about having a Pinterest-worthy home – one that had perfect pops of color, bright wallpaper, the perfect fiddle leaf fig tree, etc. I figured it wouldn’t be that hard to make it happen if I really put my mind to it – but when it came to re-doing my bedroom a few weeks ago, it turned out to be a much tougher task than I had originally anticipated.
For one, designing a space you love {especially when you don’t have the budget of a millionaire} isn’t actually all that simple – and as an interior design novice I really didn’t have a clue as to what to do to start the design process. And once it was in good shape, I had no idea all the work that went into styling a room to make it actually Pinterest-worthy. It’s more than just having a clean and beautiful space, it’s all about the textures, colors, angles, etc. that turn your “nice” room into lust-worthy images someone might actually want to re-pin. Who knew that once you were done cleaning, all the hard styling work actually started? Oye. 
Thankfully for me, I had Claire of Centered By Design as not only my magical interior designer, but also my styling guru – helping me take my bedroom {which, although was much improved was far from being presentable} into a space worth photographing. When she came over with Erin and Aimée for a shoot one afternoon, I assumed she would just bring a few trinkets and a iron to get my bedroom ready – let’s just say that after a few car trips back and forth I quickly realized styling a room was a lot more work than I anticipated 😉 After ironing, steaming, arranging flowers, dusting, framing photos and organizing everything I was pretty amazed by the results {check out the full reveal right here!}
So to share my newfound understanding of how tough it is to style a room you love, I asked Claire if I could pick her brain for her advice! Here are a real designers go to tips on making your home a Pinterest-worthy space, even without redoing your whole house. Here are a few of her go-to tips and tricks!
1) From my experience photographing my recent bedroom makeover, I realized it was a lot harder to achieve a photo-worthy room than just cleaning and arranging! What are you go to tips and tricks for creating beautiful space?
When you’re styling for a photo shoot you really need to think about the “shot.” It’s important that the space looks great overall, but styling implies an element of perfection that’s not usually achieved in everyday living. You should work with your photographer, or your camera to make sure the image you are capturing looks the best it possibly can. While it’s a little unrealistic to always have fresh flowers at your bedside, or furniture moved from it’s usual spot, if it improves the composition of the photo – you should do it!
2) What elements do you suggest to elevate your space when photographing a room?
Dramatic florals always help. Texture is another big one. Soft looking blankets, accent pillows, colors that pop — look at everything with a critical eye. What wows you? If you’re not really loving it, keep tweaking or head to Home Goods and get more props!
3) Do you have any tips for photographing a space? What do you typically look for in your home tour photos?
Answer: My best tip is to hire a photographer you trust. I don’t do my own photography because I don’t know enough about it, and I prefer to focus on the interior and styling. Most of my photographers know their way around a tripod and lighting techniques. I look for photos that have awesome light, and capture the interior without making it look too edited.
4) Do you have any design or decorating rules you live by?
Answer: For me design is often like putting together an outfit. What’s that saying, “always take one thing off before you leave the house.” I tend to over decorate, and then I need to edit and take items away so it doesn’t feel over done or forced. I think if you’re just starting out, try and make your spaces feel like a reflection of your style or the style you love most, don’t try and copy a Pinterest page just because you think it looks pretty. The best interiors are an authentic representation of YOU.
Have any other tips you swear by? I’d love to know! I’m hoping to add a few new updates to my living room, so any advice is much appreciated 😉 Thanks again for the tips, Claire! xx
