A Base of Neutrals With Pops of Color
“When designing and styling a rental home it’s important to factor in the demographics of your audience and craft something that connect to them, which can often be broad. I advise to stick with a light, neutral foundation (ivory, beige, taupe, white, warm grays) and then populate the space with color through less permanent/dominant means like smaller upholstered items (such as throw pillows, dining chairs or blankets) as well as florals and artworks. Too much color can be overstimulating, so best to play it safe with a crowd-pleasing foundation and then use smaller accents.”
Durability and multifunctionality
“I always shy away from buying sets as they make a space look like a bland furniture showroom. Instead, I like to pair similar styles with different textures and tones to create something that feels collected, yet cohesive. The materials should be durable, multipurpose and easy to coordinate. I always make sure to bring in natural elements (wood, stone, greenery) to create a sense of life.”
The right design for a wide audience
“When designing any project, it’s important to understand who your audience is and then create something that speaks to them without alienating outliers. I find that as a general rule of thumb, if you work with largely modern/contemporary pieces mixed with 20 to 30% vintage and another 10 to 20% unknown/up-and-coming type of art, sculptures and furniture, you can create a space that appeals to a wide audience yet has a distinct and memorable viewpoint.”
Location, location, location
“The golden rule in real estate is location, location, location and that greatly impacts all decisions when designing, styling and even building a residential dwelling. It’s always important to understand who you are marketing to and what their preferences/style are. I always recommend touring competitive sets to ensure you have a solid working foundation of the market as a whole.”
3 small design changes with big impact
- “No matter what price point you are at, space is always an issue. I’m a huge proponent of utilizing mirrors to enhance the perceived size of space as it reflects the view into different vantage points.”
- “I often use artwork that has depth and dimension, especially in small spaces.”
- “Modular furniture that can be moved around and reconfigured to fit different rooms and spaces is a great way to double up on the usage/functionality without having to buy additional pieces.”
3 tips to make a home feel more luxurious through styling
- “Shop your own home. I’m not one who feels the need to go to a big box store to buy something like a garbage can for a bathroom when I have a vintage champagne bucket that I love but rarely use, that can serve the exact same need and look stylish.”
- “Group accessories in three and balance height, depth and width to create vignettes. If each are at different dimensions, you achieve a ‘skyline’ grouping.’”
- “Fresh florals are always a great way to elevate the feeling of a home, especially in the winter. I often will clip branches from trees in our yard or even buy grocery store florals and group them in special antique vessels to give inexpensive florals a lux touch — and it allows you to appreciate something that often lives in the back of a cabinet.”
The 2 biggest challenges when styling a home
- “Coming to terms with the fact that you don’t live in a magazine spread/social media brand campaign. Everyone I talk with wants their homes to look just like show spaces online, but that’s not realistic. So much of what we do editorially is art directed and manipulated into compositions that don’t really work for everyday living.”
- “Working with and understanding how and what to budget for. Everyone should have a budget and determine your big-ticket items and what to spend less on. For example, if you have a very active house with lots of kids and pets, you may not want to buy an expensive rug as it will get dirty and used. Perhaps that budget is best put toward a playroom and investing in a piece that as a parent you use and enjoy as your own, like a well-made bed that will last decades and always look timeless.”
Photography by Francisco Rosario / DDreps, Shannon Dupre / DDReps, Hayley Ellen Day / DDReps