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We are just one month away from the big reveal of this year’s REAL SIMPLE Home, which means we’re putting on the finishing touches over at One Park Row in Lower Manhattan right now. We’re busy styling shelves, adding planters to corners, and zhuzhing up coffee tables. In between, we stopped to get pointers from some of the people calling the shots.
Don’t Rush It
You may be tempted to fill up all your shelves and surfaces right away, but San Francisco–based designer Noz Nozawa begs you to wait. “Accessories are personal. They’re things that are gifted or handed down or picked up on your travels,” she says. “Take your time and only bring home stuff you really like.”
Get Creative
While we love to load up our shelves with books, books, and more books, it’s important to incorporate other items, too. Bay Area–based DIYer Valeria Jacobs recommends adding visual interest with objects in different shapes and colors. Sculptures! Bud vases! “This is a chance to show personality.”
Embrace a Good Bowl
When in doubt, grab a bowl. It’s an all-star multipurpose piece you can easily move around the house, Valeria says. “Style it on top of a stack of books in the living room and fill it with photos, use it as a catchall on a console, or place it on a nightstand for jewelry.” The point: You’ll always have a use for it!
Don’t Forget the Power of Plants
Every designer/influencer this year incorporated some sort of greenery in their spaces—whether it was a tree, a real or faux potted plant, or a vase of flowers to brighten up a side table or bookshelf. Adding something living makes a huge difference when styling your space!
Show Off Collections
If you have a collection of something, find a way to work it into your decor. Matchbooks can be shown off in a pretty glass bowl on a shelf, vintage plates can be clustered together on a wall or mixed into a gallery wall. These are the kind of personal, small, but impactful touches that make your house a home and spark a little joy when you look at them.
