Have you been looking around one of the rooms in your home, thinking that it needs a little extra something? Read on for design and decor tips that will give you some fresh inspiration and a new perspective.

Home Design Tips

1. Get rid of the area rugs. This is especially helpful if you’re having trouble figuring out the perfect furniture arrangement. Area rugs anchor the room, which can make it difficult to see all the layout options in front of you. If you can’t seem to arrange the furniture right no matter what you try, roll up the rug and get it out of the way. Also, try to view the space from a different angle, like from a loft or even a few steps up a ladder. Changing your perspective may make it easier to view the entire space with fresh eyes.

2. Eclectic decor may have been cool when you were in college, but as an adult, you probably want a more styled setting. Pick one piece of art and design the rest of the room around it. If you currently have a gallery wall, clear it of everything but your one central piece. If you want, you can add back certain pieces to the wall that complement the major piece. To keep things looking neat, put the pieces in a grid instead of jumbling them up. This is also a good idea if you don’t have one large piece and want to create a focal point with a bunch of similar smaller pieces. Or, simply leave the rest of the wall blank so that the eye goes right to the focus piece.

3. Does the room feel crowded? One option is to get Alair Homes to renovate and give you more space. Or, you can fake the space with an oversized mirror. Hang it on one of your walls to open up the space and make the room feel a lot larger. You can make even more of a difference by replacing one of your heavy pieces of furniture with something clear. For example, get rid of a clunky coffee table and replace it with a glass-topped one.

4. Dining rooms can be difficult to design. Traditionally, dining rooms have been formal. Not everybody loves eating in stuffy surroundings, though. To warm up the room, add something upholstered, like comfy chairs. If you don’t host dinner parties in your dining room, give you home more seating room by getting rid of the dining table and adding an ottoman. Need a place to dine? Get an antique table to give the room a more home-like feel.

5. You may want your home to be comfortable and inviting, but you don’t necessarily want it to look unfinished. To add some polish to a room, add a metallic or shiny accent piece, like a lamp, vase or small end table.

6. Not everyone is lucky enough to have floor-to-ceiling windows, but that doesn’t mean you can’t hang your curtains high. Placing the curtain rod close to the ceiling gives the impression of higher ceilings and a larger room.

Still can’t figure out what changes need to be made? Take a day or two away from home and then come back to check it out. The time away will give you a new perspective.