The designers and other tastemakers we spoke with throughout the year taught us a lot of practical information about creating our ideal home: how hanging blinds and curtains above the window frames makes the windows look larger, why performance fabrics are key in homes that get lots of sunlight or are near the ocean. But much of their wisdom could be applied not just to decorating one’s home but also to life at large. Which isn’t all that surprising—after all, what is the ideal home but an extension and expression of one’s life?
Below is some of the wisdom we gleaned this year from some of our favorite tastemakers.
“I always say living without color is like living without love. Color is the spirit of a room and provides expressive power to transform a space with your personal voice…”—Kelly Wearstler
“Textiles with livelier patterns help mask and hide accidents, as can a more-textured fabric.”—Jordan Schehr
“Make sure [your rug is] big enough! You want at least two legs of the main furniture in the space on the rug. The larger the rug, the bigger the room will feel and the less you will trip on it.”—Erin Gates
In an open floor plan, “be sure to have a constant color or pattern that connects the spaces. Use the same wall color throughout, and then layer in pattern and texture with art and textiles.”—Shannon Frappied
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