Decorating Guides
The 12 Best Design Tips From the Week
Up your design game by getting to know leathered finishes, mini subway tiles, storage-savvy furniture and a faucet trick
2. Consider a leathered-finish countertop. Countertops come in all kinds of finishes, and it’s worth looking into each one to see which is right for you. The leathered finish on the Snow quartzite countertop shown here offers a bit of texture and helps hide fingerprints, as opposed to, say, a polished finish that tends to highlight every smudge.
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See the rest of this home
3. Try mini subway tiles. You can’t go wrong with classic subway tile. But for a different take on the style, consider going with a mini subway tile mosaic, as shown here on the backsplash. It offers a bit more texture and helps make a compact kitchen look a bit more spacious.
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See more of this home
4. Don’t forget pet-friendly design. There are a lot of great ideas in this 63-square-foot laundry room, but one way it really stands out is through its pet-friendly features. Here, a dog bed provides a cozy spot for the family pooch, while to the right of the cabinet sits a water station. The cabinet holds dog food, while the drawer pulls out to reveal food bowls.
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See the rest of this laundry room
5. Get a storage-savvy coffee table. The name “coffee table” implies that all you’ll be doing is setting a steaming cup of joe down on its surface, but so much more happens with our coffee tables. That’s why going with a storage-packed piece is a good idea. Here, a flat file with wheels offers slim drawers for tucking away remotes, charging chords, magazines, coasters, candles and so much more.
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See more of this home
6. Develop a material palette. It’s common to discuss a color palette when designing a room, but don’t overlook a focus on a material palette. Having a strategic plan for how materials will work together can elevate the look of your space. In this Danish kitchen, three materials — oiled-oak cabinets, brass hardware and concrete countertops — come together to form a stunningly simple yet moving style.
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See more of this kitchen
7. Try wall-mounted faucets. Mounting faucets on the wall instead of the countertop makes the latter a bit easier to clean, and creates a breezy yet high-end look.
Vanity paint: Cavernous DE6364, Dunn-Edwards; sconces: Restoration Hardware
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Vanity paint: Cavernous DE6364, Dunn-Edwards; sconces: Restoration Hardware
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8. Consider quartz that looks like marble. Quartz countertops resembling marble isn’t a new concept, but the styles and options are getting better and better. You can find quartz that’s practically identical to, say, Calacatta marble, as shown here.
Backsplash tile: Porcelanosa in Silk Blanco; quartz: Keys Granite; quartzite: Marble of the World; faucet: Brizo; sink: Blanco, Farrey’s; stool: Svelte table stool, Industry West
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Backsplash tile: Porcelanosa in Silk Blanco; quartz: Keys Granite; quartzite: Marble of the World; faucet: Brizo; sink: Blanco, Farrey’s; stool: Svelte table stool, Industry West
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9. Go with wallpaper. Just like quartz is getting better at mimicking marble, wallpaper designs are constantly improving. I bet you couldn’t tell that the driftwood paneling in this bedroom is actually wallpaper. (You can even see nail holes!)
Wallpaper: Timber, Andrew Martin; bedding: Tommy Hilfiger via Amara; nightstand: Go Modern
See the rest of this home | Browse wood-look wallpapers
Wallpaper: Timber, Andrew Martin; bedding: Tommy Hilfiger via Amara; nightstand: Go Modern
See the rest of this home | Browse wood-look wallpapers
10. Install a chandelier in the bathroom. It’s hard to think of a room in which a chandelier doesn’t instantly enhance the design credibility. The small shimmery light here brings elegance and sparkle to this contemporary Miami bathroom.
Chandelier: Bling by Robert Abbey, YLighting; wall lights: New Level, WAC Lighting via YLighting; ceiling light: Canter White Dolce, Shop Candelabra; counter: Mystery White marble, Marble of the World; floor tile: Porcelanosa in Ramsey; wall tile: Porcelanosa in Japa Blanco; shower: Radiance, Hansgrohe; shower floor tile: Thassos shell mosaic, Ann Sacks
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Chandelier: Bling by Robert Abbey, YLighting; wall lights: New Level, WAC Lighting via YLighting; ceiling light: Canter White Dolce, Shop Candelabra; counter: Mystery White marble, Marble of the World; floor tile: Porcelanosa in Ramsey; wall tile: Porcelanosa in Japa Blanco; shower: Radiance, Hansgrohe; shower floor tile: Thassos shell mosaic, Ann Sacks
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11. Add sea grass shades to warm up a white kitchen. Everyone knows that wood is a great way to bring warmth to a stark white space, but that can get costly really quickly. For an easier update, consider installing sea grass shades, as in this kitchen. They bring that much-needed warmth while also introducing texture. Of course, they also block sunlight and heat.
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See more of this kitchen
12. Play with purple. It’s fine to stick to neutrals like white, gray and beige in the public spaces of your home, but when it comes to the bedroom, why not have a little fun? This rich, deep gray-purple (Hazy Lilac by Benjamin Moore) punches up this teenage girl’s bedroom in a way that exudes class while still being a bit playful.
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Decorating 101: How to Start a Decorating Project
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Shop furniture and more
See more of this bedroom
More
Decorating 101: How to Start a Decorating Project
12 Key Decorating Tips to Make Any Room Better
More Resources on Houzz
Find a pro
Shop furniture and more
Doors: Clement; flooring: The New & Reclaimed Flooring Co.; wall paint: Skimming Stone, Farrow & Ball
See the rest of this home | 10 Cool Ways to Embrace the Trend of Sharp Black Lines