Teach You the Art of Soft Furnishing: Change Your Space's Style with Ease!
Have you ever finished a renovation and bought all your furniture, only to find that no matter how you arrange things, you can’t seem to recreate that stylish flair seen in magazines or home decor showrooms? Why is that? The answer likely lies in the lack of “soft furnishing” (interior styling).
What is soft furnishing? It is a magical way to transform the atmosphere of a space without making structural changes. Since it sounds so incredible, let’s explain what soft furnishing is in this episode and learn how to present an interior style for a total space makeover!
What is Soft Furnishing?
In broad terms, soft furnishing refers to all movable items, such as curtains, potted plants, paintings, lighting, and accessories. Simply put, it’s about “dressing” the space. It focuses on the coordination of colors and materials to showcase a lifestyle and create a space full of personal character, all without touching the structural renovation.
How to Choose Decorative Items?
Soft furnishing highlights the style of a space, so the first step is to match the style chosen during the renovation. For instance, if you have an industrial-style cement wall, you’ll want consistent industrial elements throughout. In this case, you could pick lighting fixtures shaped like metal water pipes or iron hardware pieces.
What if you don’t have a specific renovation style and only have simple walls and floors? First, observe your own lifestyle, clothing style, interests, and tastes. Start from yourself to decide on items. For example, if a homeowner loves painting and has an artistic flair, they can display their own paintings or artworks. The home’s decor should reflect the owner’s taste and hobbies.
The Order of Selection
The sequence of selection is actually very important—just as we wouldn’t buy cushions before buying a sofa. Because a sofa is a large piece of furniture and the visual center of the living room, it is a priority item. You should select furniture and items in order from largest to smallest. Once the renovation is complete, look for items that can make the space more stylish; you can even add them one by one over time. When adding items, choose decorations with different shapes, sizes, and patterns to add visual freshness and variety, ensuring the space never feels dull.
Recommended Order:
Primary & Secondary Furniture: Curtains, sofas, tables, chairs.
Lighting: Wall lamps, desk lamps, chandeliers.
Small Accessories: Textiles, ornaments, paintings, plants, etc.
Common Beginner Mistake 1: Deciding on Items Too Quickly
Most beginners buy a decoration simply because it looks nice online or in a store without considering if it matches their home’s renovation style. An inconsistent style makes the overall feeling quite strange. Therefore, when you start decorating, take your time to pick items one by one and imagine if the item fits your home’s style to avoid mistakes.
Common Beginner Mistake 2: Overcrowding with Too Many Items
Hearing about “decorating” might lead beginners to mistakenly believe they need to buy many ornaments. However, if the space is small and filled with too many decorations, it will feel even narrower. Don’t display things just for the sake of it; you don’t need to fill every corner. Leave appropriate “white space” and choose furniture and decor of the right size.
Common Beginner Mistake 3: Too Many Colors Creating Visual Chaos
When choosing items, some think that more colors will result in a richer visual effect, but this is incorrect. Too many colors can be uncomfortable and confusing to the eye. You must consider both unity and variation in color. Try to limit the space to three primary colors, with a few other colors used as accents. Pay attention to the color palettes in magazines and showrooms to decide on your main theme.
