We've all scrolled through the most beautiful homes of Instagram and Pinterest and asked ourselves "how do they make each room look so unique and yet the entire home feels cohesive?"...okay maybe I'm the only one who has asked that (insert face palm here).
Whether you just moved into a new home or have been living there for years I have 3 easy tips to help you make a cohesive space:
1. Style
The first tip to create a cohesive home is to choose one (or 2 or 3) design styles for your space. I wouldn't mix more than 3 as it can start to feel chaotic. A modern coastal farmhouse with vintage touches can be confusing whereas a modern eclectic or an organic minimalist space create a much clearer vision. There are so many design styles and mixing and matching is what helps make a space your own WHILE feeling cohesive.
A couple of homes I have worked on with different design styles are:
When buying or thrifting pieces for your home think about your design style and how (or if) they fit into it.
2. Color Palette
When designing your own home you can choose one color or many colors. The key is to make sure they're cohesive and repeated throughout your home.
There are so many ways to add color into a room; throw pillows and blankets, artwork, books, or more bold options like furniture, walls, or even cabinet colors. The options are as endless as you can imagine.
With our #fornowhouse my entire home vision came from this print by Shana James Photography. Other people have chosen color palettes based on a pattern they love or even a building like The Met. I was drawn to this print because of the earthy feel and depth. (I also wanted the color green to be repeating in our home and this had so many beautiful shades of it.)
Here's how I layered green throughout our house:
3. Texture
The last thing to think about is texture. Pick 1-2 materials that you love and make those a strong aspect of your house. In our home we have a wood element in every single room and then some wicker pieces sprinkled thoughtfully. This ties back to our earthy organic feel. The material options are expansive: plaster, cement, metal, cane...whatever you like. The key to choosing a texture/material is to present it in different forms and tones. As you can see in our house we have all tones of wood which add the cohesive touch while still making the space unique.
The bonus tip and what I consider to be the key is to use different shades and tones. A house that's matchy-matchy can sometimes feel too repetitive. If you're using wood like we did, use a variety of tones. If you use one color throughout-use it in different shades and strengths to bring that little extra interest. Whatever you do don't be afraid to play and really make it your own.
Did I miss something? Let me know below.
-Stefanie