Decorating a Space : What to Consider

C.J. Braden     •      2 Minute Read

decorating a space : what to consider

Decorating a Space : What to Consider

Original article published: 6/30/22

Article updated: 10/19/23

When you’re setting about decorating any kind of space, it’s worth taking a step back first and considering all of your options. Instead of jumping right in with your favorite colors, themes and styles, spend some time in the planning process.

natural wood bedroom with wood crates

Try stacking wood crates to use as nightstands

If you tackle any decor job with a careful plan, you’ll get the best end results for the space that you have. Whether you’re decorating a room in your home, helping a friend, or decorating for a client, these are some considerations to bear in mind. 

light wood beam ceilings

Lighting idea for a darker room

1- Lighting Available

The lighting that’s available in the room will dictate a lot of how you should approach decorating it. If a room is poorly lit (for example: it has small windows or doesn’t get much natural daylight), then you’ll want to try to brighten the space as much as possible. You might want to choose lighter colors, cleverly placed items like mirrors or mirrored furniture to bounce any available light around.

Add extra lighting to any room with my quick and easy DIY Driftwood and Rope Light! See the video below or on my Pinterest page @carolynjbraden!

In some cases, lighting issues can be improved by switching up window dressings and even cutting down large trees from outside. But other times, you’ll simply be working with a darker room without much that can be done. This means all of your decor and design choices will need to factor this in. 

Older pieces aren’t always necessary and it's pretty much the craftsmanship of any pieces that work well with lighting. From your nearest independent Amish furniture store to the largest retail brands, take your time when selecting anything to match the overall room. 

ornate ceiling decor

Choose decor that fits the aesthetic of the home

2- Style/ Age of the Building

Depending on the age, era and style of the building, this is something you might want to take into consideration. For example, if you’ve just moved into a gorgeous Victorian terrace, you might want to incorporate some of the original features. It doesn’t mean to say you need to make it look the way it once did, you could look into ways to add a modern twist to complement the style of the home.

modern kitchen with plants over island

Natural lighting is a great thing to have in a home

For example you could have the original sash style windows re-installed, but of course go with fully double or triple glazed modern options. You could choose colors and other decor pieces that complement the original style the house would have been done in. Do your research, you can also join Facebook groups and forums to exchange ideas with others and ask questions if you get stuck. 

Wood accent wall in home office

Try a natural wood accent wall in a home office

3- Function of the Room

Finally, you’ll need to consider the function of the room. If the home is smaller and spaces need to double up their function then you’ll need to bear this in mind. For example, will a bedroom also need to function as an office? Will the dining space be part of the living room?

Check out our 1-minute tour of our guest bedroom in our video below or via our YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:

The same is true of commercial decor, a medical clinic design is going to have different feel and vibe compared with a shop or restaurant. Not only for practical purposes, but to maintain professionalism for the businesses and ensure it ties in with the rest of their vision. 

When you’re decorating a space, what sort of things do you consider before you purchase any items or decide on colors and layout? Leave us a comment below to share with others!

If you loved this article, we know you’ll love this one too: How to Create a Coastal Entryway

C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Little Ways to Get Back To You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.

This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post, however, are based on my personal point of view.