Six Small Changes That Make a Big Difference in Your Home Decor Inline

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    Photo: Tim Beddow / The Interior Archive
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    Prettify the places you primp.

    Bathrooms don’t have to be plain, utilitarian spaces. Paint the walls a special color and bring in cherished pieces that might usually be saved for a more traditional space, like this collectsion of blue and white china or the crystal chandelier.

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    Photo: Thayer Allyson Gowdy
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    You can’t spell function without fun.

    “I always find design to be a balanced mixture of nouns and adjectives,” says designer Scot Meacham Wood. “The nouns—chair, lamp, carpet—are about working with proportion and scale, with a clear eye on function. The details are the adjectives—pattern, detailed trim, texture—and where the real fun takes place. In this little view of my own entryway, we’re simply playing with adjectives.”

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    Photo: Michel Arnaud / The Interior Archive
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    Elevate casual items.

    Don’t be afraid to display what you love. Here in India Hicks’s home in the Bahamas, a somewhat casual collectsion of seashells and inspirational images feels deeply personal and, thanks to thoughtful curation, even a bit formal.

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    Photo: Richard Powers
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    Make the most of small spaces.

    Stair risers are often completely overlooked, but the deliberate application of geometric patterns makes a real statement and gives this room a sense of purpose.

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    Photo: Mary Rozzi
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    Rethink your bar cart.

    Bar carts should be more than just a functional place for bottles of liquor and cocktail glasses—use yours to tell a story. Incorporate interesting details that speak to you; they’ll make guests want to linger and maybe enjoy another round.

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    Photo: Angus Fergusson
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    Go big in your small guest bath.

    “Powder rooms provide a unique opportunity to indulge in a bold gesture or two,” says designer Tommy Smythe. “You’re here for a good time, not a long time, so a bold wall treatment or color scheme is appropriate in a way they may not be in a dining room or bedroom.” Also, if you have a pedestal sink, be sure to have a small table nearby for ladies to use for their handbags.