HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOUSE INSTAGRAM WORTHY

It’s no mystery that social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest have generated a unique blogging experience centered around pretty pictures and cute puppies. They have centered the blogging experience to be so much more visually focused, capturing memories with mere snapshots and DIY projects lined with step by step pictures. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had clients approach me and show me their Instagram likes or their Pinterest boards. It’s clear these mediums have helped us (home owners and designers alike) find creative solutions and inspiration for some of our home nightmares. But the question remains – how can you make your house something people will drool over?!

Well, the first thing to note is that you don’t have to break the bank to take a good picture! Sure, a beautiful, brand new kitchen will show very well online, but most of us have to save up a lot of money for something like that. Until you’re ready to tackle a home remodel, I’m going to give you a few tips on how to make the most of the space you’re already in!

Less is More.

Don’t try to overcrowd the space with too many decorations. We don’t want to have our eyes bouncing all over the room or else it will feel like way too much eye stimulation. The most inviting spaces are the ones that are simplest and most efficient. You can’t cozy up and relax if your eye is constantly bouncing from decoration to decoration. This means try not to mix too many different materials together- keep it cohesive and try to find a few decorations that tie back to one another. Don’t mix too many different wood stains or metals, keep your colors coordinating throughout,

Natural Light.

When you are wanting to photograph your space, and even as a design suggestion, highlight the natural light that is brought into the room. The best rooms will feel the most connected with nature, the most connected with as much of the beauty that lies outside of our doors as what lies within. Bringing in that kind of light is the best ambient lighting because it fills a room in a way more than any of our wired electrical luminaries can. It creeps in wherever it is not defined by its location, where some of our lamps can only reach a certain amount of the room. Try not to use too many unnatural lights as it will affect the photo’s saturation and colorway, but feel free to do so if the luminaire is highlighting something. For this example, I am thinking of a cozy reading nook with a lamp directed at a book on the side table, or perhaps a pendant with an interesting cut pattern that allows the light to only escape it through this geometrical pattern.

Plants.

Still in line with the natural theme, the next thing to consider is plant life. Again, plants connect us with our environment by bringing the outdoors into our homes. Beyond their obvious scientific benefits, plants provide an aesthetic that is hard to replicate. It is a material that is connected to nature, and it also serves as an aesthetic compliment with its color, size, shape, and even what style of ceramic it calls home. Some people like to have little indoor pots of herbs growing in the kitchen, or perhaps a bouquet of flowers as the center piece on the dining table, or perhaps it’s a few little succulents lining your bedroom window. While we talk about plants in the interior, don’t forget about the plants outside. Allow plants to create a scene for your house, whether its lining the walkway up to the door, or some fresh flowers peaking over some window planter boxes. Throw some more dimension in the house with these organic shapes and keep it fresh!

Play with the drama.

Your house is your sanctuary; it is the place you go to for healing and serenity, but also the place that is totally reflective of who you are. Surely along your life, you have started collecting cool memorabilia and trinkets from travels or experiences; show them off! Be proud of your creativity and trust in your own unique tastes. This even relates to bold patterns and colors; what makes a space have drama and intrigue to it is that it has these daring styles and colors that scream louder than their surroundings. Keep a rather neutral pallet for most of your space. Keep it soft and cozy, but allow the drama to come in bold patterned drapes, or a brightly colored pillow. Allow the base to provide the stage and then accessorize with fun, eye-popping drama, but just keep it minimal. Like I stated above, you really don’t want too many moments of drama or else it will feel overwhelming. We want to achieve the effect of creating enough interest to give a room an energizing feeling, while also softening it with more neutrals and cozy aspects to make it feel more relaxing. This is can be a tricky harmony to build, but understand that it will constantly change with time, new mementos, and hot new colorways, so really, it’s all about your confidence.

Photographing your space.

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take the right picture of your space. Thankfully there are services within apps, like Instagram & most camera apps on phones, that allow you to edit your photos with filters and custom after-effects. These can be your friend in helping highlight some aspects of your home, as some filters may give a completely different feeling to the subject matter. A black and white picture can make a space feel timeless and classic, where another filter might highlight the drama piece and really make that pop in the space. Feel free to play with multiple filters and find what is going to give your space the feeling you want. When we talk about where to aim when taking the picture, we don’t want to get too much of an overall picture; most times, its best to focus on a certain part of the room that can capture the essence of the whole room. Maybe you just focus on the wall the couch is on, with a gallery wall of different pieces of art and photographs, some tall plants sticking out of the corner, and a bold blanket pattern draped casually over the couch back. Frame out your picture to tell the story you want to tell, and let the rest of the room remain a mystery. And then the perfect final touch to any interior photo is to have a cute animal enjoying the space as well. Most people are a sucker for animals, and if you can capture how much comfort your space is giving to your pet, then 9 times out of 10, most people are going to find that space comfortable and cozy as well.

If you want your house to be Instagram worthy, follow these little steps to help bring some character out of your decorations and give them the attention they deserve. Your house is your museum, full of cherished memorabilia and rare finds, so show them off and show everyone who comes for a visit what kind of person you are! The best part about it is that there is no wrong way to design your home if it reflects exactly what you are wanting, so have confidence in your space, highlight the particular rarities, keep a limited palette of materials, and most importantly, have fun!

Original article found at: https://www.urbanata.com/blog/2017/9/26/how-to-make-your-house-instagram-worthy