When you're designing or redecorating a room, you likely focus on the big items that will set the tone and feel of the space: the carpet, the walls, and the main pieces of furniture. The colors you pick for these items will certainly tie the room together or, in some cases, make it a visual disaster. However, there are other aspects of a room that can make it really pop or come to life. Here are five of these aspects that are often overlooked but, if worked into your design, can really make the room look and feel alive.
Light Fixtures
Some people choose a basic light or select something on the cheaper end because they don't really consider how the fixtures fit into the rest of the room. Many amateur designers may even think light fixtures aren't really relevant at all because the focus should be on natural lighting. But even a room with large windows is going to need some lightbulbs once the sun goes down.
Finding the right light fixtures for space make take a little time, but it's worth it. Your light fixture can transform the room. A chandelier gives a space a feeling of luxury and opulence, while a lighted ceiling fan suggests comfort and has a more relaxed feel to it. Pendulum lights, recessed lighting, modern fixtures, and other options will all make your space feel different, even if they all serve the same basic function of providing light to your room.
Window Treatments
Your curtains, blinds, and other window treatments can also add a pop of color that really brings the room together. There are many different options for these window treatments, but most of them can be customized to fit your space. For a pop of color, you're likely going to need curtains. However, you don't have to use these curtains to block out the light. They can be purely decorative, while you have shades or other window treatments in place to actually block out the light when you want to make the room darker.
Often, you'll want your window treatments to be a complimentary color to the walls they're hung on. This really makes them pop, but they won't clash. If possible, get a sample of the fabric to compare it to the walls or take a paint card with you when you're shopping for wall treatments.
Built-Ins
Built-in items such as fireplaces, shelving, and cabinets are often seen as something you have to decorate around or have to bend your design ideas to incorporate. They're not. You can completely redo your fireplace mantle or hearth, and in many cases, it's actually very easy and affordable. For built-ins, you can do more than just paint them-you can modify them or even completely take the out. If you don't like how a built-in feature looks and can't change it to fit your design, why keep it? Feel free to rip out outdated and ugly built-ins.
Empty Space
The lack of an item or décor can actually affect a room just as much as a window treatment or an area rug can. Sometimes, empty space makes the room pop better than putting a chair or other item in that space. An open room feels light and airy. It can help instill a feeling of calmness and peace. That doesn't mean you should leave your rooms empty or only sparsely filled. Instead, look for spaces that feel crowded or that are actually hard to move through.
These rooms may benefit from some editing. Sometimes, even moving a small table or a simple houseplant from one side of the sofa to another can be enough to create space that helps balance out the rest of the room. You don't have to be minimalist in your décor, either. However, look at where your eye is drawn when you walk into the room. If there are so many decorations that it's hard to tell where to focus, the room could benefit from some empty space.
Textures
When putting together a space, many people do look at size and color. However, they often forget to think about texture. The texture of an item, whether it's fabric, or wood, glass or metal, does contribute to a space. Sleek and hard textures like glass, wood, metal, and concrete do tend to make a space feel cold, while softer textures like leather, fabric, fur, and even silk help create a feeling of warmth and coziness. When you put these contrasting textures together, it helps to draw the eye and create a unique space that really pops.
Of course, you do need to consider how the textures work together. Glass and leather is going to look and feel different than glass and fur. Try out different texture combinations to see what really works for you and what makes the space pop.