Five Small Design Details that Make a Huge Impact

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At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I’m going to go ahead and say it again: design, my friends, is all in the details. When it comes down to it, it’s those tiny little moments that add up to the sum of your space. Whether you’re in the middle of a renovation, or simply daydreaming about herringbone tile and new countertops at this point in your life, today I wanted to talk about a few of those design details that shouldn’t be overlooked. And honestly, if you do nothing else, you’d be surprised at how making the following small changes can instantly transform your space. 

REALLY GOOD DOOR HARDWARE

From your knobs to your hinges, this is one area that should truly never be overlooked. We were lucky wherein our home boasts mostly original porcelain knobs from 1898, which is it’s own kind of wonderful. However, they most definitely aren’t located throughout. We recently switched out some of the more “builder basic” knobs that graced some our doors on our first floor for these Brookshire knobs from Schlage, and love that the Georgian rosette adds another layer of detail to our home. It has made more of an impact than even I realized, and is a happy sight each day. 

CURTAINS HUNG PROPERLY

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: curtains should be hung as high, and as wide, as your room allows. It is the quickest way to make your space, and windows, feel bigger and brighter, and is an absolute game changer the moment they’re hung. If space allows, you want to have at least 8″ of rod and curtain past your window casing, and they should be mounted as high as your ceilings (and crown molding) allows. You can have them puddle on the floor for a more relaxed feel, or opt for ones that just barely graze the floor for a more tailored appeal. 

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GREAT LIGHTING

I’ve mentioned my love for really good lighting a number of times over the years, but this time I’m talking more about your light bulbs and less about your fixtures. Lighting is one of those things that should never be overlooked, and nothing ruins a space more than overly yellow, or overly blue bulbs. Lately I’ve been using GE reveal bulbs in all of my client projects, and it’s amazing how much of a difference it makes. It is the closest thing to natural light on the market right now, and bathes each room in a soft, warm, glow. 

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Yellowed Outlets

When we first moved into our home, one of the very first things we tackled was our outlets and light switches. Switching out those old, cracked, yellowed covers for those that are light, bright, and clean, truly made all the difference in the world. 

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Area Rugs

I’ve been in the Interior Design industry for over a decade now, and have been involved in more furniture installs than I can count. Each and every time, without question, the moment an area rug goes down is the very instant that a house feels like a home. Not only does it help ground and define each space (crucial in the mostly-open-concept homes we have today), but that layer adds an element of cozy and comfortability that isn’t easily achieved in any other way. I’m telling ya, it’s a design game changer. 

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First image: Mandarina | Remaining Images: Shot by Heidi Lau for Lark & Linen 

Thank you to Schlage for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own