Photograph by Aleks Eva

by Liz Klafeta

Your possessions and your surroundings speak volumes about who you are and the life you lead. Ensuring that your space reflects your authentic self and energizes you is an important part of living an illumined life.

As a designer, I find that spaces with lot of sunshine inspire openness and creativity. To further accentuate their brightness, I recommend removing walls and adding windows (if you can) to let natural light shine through. Personality and fun touches add character and humor to the space, such as neon light fixtures that say thought-provoking things like, “If not, why not?”

Mementos and special items from your life should be displayed with care and love throughout your home, and these items are great way to customize your space and make it stand out from the rest. Unexpected details such as a window wall in the bathroom or a giant decorative bunny on the kitchen counter help bring personality and flair into your home. Unexpected details such as a window wall in the bathroom, or quirky and whimsical details, like a giant decorative bunny on the kitchen counter, help bring personality and flair into your home.

Here are some design tips that will help you decorate your home to reflect your story and lifestyle:

Picture this

Gallery or picture walls of family and friends are an easy way to bring soul into your space. Frames don’t match? Don’t worry! Spray paint frames in one cohesive color, or, for an unexpected touch, paint your frames the same color as the wall—it really makes photos pop. Don’t stop at standard dimensions. Take your picture wall to the limit and go floor-to-ceiling with the frames. Worried that your style overhaul might break the bank?

Fret not: Estate sales and thrift stores have the least expensive frames for designing on a dime.

Bring your travels home

Seek out unique, non-touristy items during your trips. For example, my favorite find was gift wrap an artist made in Thailand that I had turned into a full wallpaper covering for my master bath. There’s no better way to get the creative juices flowing than taking a trip to a new place. Reminders from your adventures are a great motivator to keep exploring and experiencing the world.

Chalk it up

Chalkboard walls can add a color pop to any room. Luckily for color-lovers, basic black is no longer the be-all and end-all when it comes to chalk paint, and you can actually tint chalkboard paint to be any color. It’s a nice touch for families because you can leave each other love notes or write down goals you want to accomplish for the week, day or month. Help keep yourself organized with to-do lists and never miss a birthday by writing it where you can see it.

Let the sunshine in

Personally, I find it best to go without window blinds or shades, but if you aren’t that daring and prefer some privacy, solar blinds are a great option. You can pull the tops of the blinds down to let the sunlight in, but keep the bottom down. Long transparent curtains are another alternative to allow beautiful sunlight in and still provide a touch of privacy. With all that sunshine, you can add plants, plants and more plants! Bringing oxygen and greenery into the house is an instant pick-me up. It brings hope and positivity especially during the colder months.

It doesn’t take a huge change to liven up your space with your own special style. Remember these tips and tricks the next time you’re feeling that you need a little spicing up in your home.

Liz Klafeta is the founder of Bangtel, a hospitality and design company. Learn more at bangtel.com, or contact stay@bangtel.com to inquire about design and staging services or to rehab your next interior design project.