• Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Connect

Design Thoughts STUDIO

Connected Living

Affordable Design, Interior Styling

A few tips on styling interiors! What works for me.

April 10, 2013 Comment : 1

Hi!! I’m Kim Salter, and I love styling spaces. (Dramatic pause)  I also LOVE  making things people already have, change the personality of a space! I thought I would share a few tips of what works in my own home!!

I have been learning how to be more intentional with my “styling” of spaces. Its something I love doing, and I was just recently given an amazing opportunity to create a video series to do just that, show people how to style small spaces ( more on that this summer)! Maybe its a bar top, maybe just an end table maybe nightstands, maybe a bookshelf!!  Styling for me changes all the time. Some times I love to layer ( like I did here with my bar) some times I like to stack, most of the time I combine both. The most important lesson that I have learned over the years of being an interior designer, and working with every style of client you can imagine..is

“Mix Pretty, with Meaning..”

Are you saying to yourself..what the heck does that mean? It means, use a combination of beautiful things, great colors, great shapes, “Designer” pieces, but always include something that has a story..something with meaning to you and your family. THAT is what creates a dynamic space. If you follow along on Design Thoughts Facebook Page, then you have seen a few of the spaces in my own home that I have “styled”. Most of them a very simple.. (quick tip that I shared on FB..rocks and shells are always the answer )
Super easy, and effective! a stack of books that mean a lot to me, and are also so pretty !! The shells are from our trip to the virgin Islands, which was an important trip to us!!
Here is a pic that I showed you before, of my bookshelf. This is an ever changing scene of books, and trinkets. Another simple trick…Add fresh flowers to bring color and “Life” to A space!!
“Add fresh flowers to bring color and “Life” to A space”!!

The other thing I have found, is sometimes, “under” doing in it, makes it work better!! As I mentioned above, I am a huge fan of layering pictures, and trinkets, adding LOTS of stuff..but “over” doing it isn’t always the answer ( only sometimes) !

“Keeping it simple is the answer 
(SOMETIMES)” !!!
This is the teeniest little area, by simply adding a fun colored vase ( that I got for $1 at goodwill) and a framed card that I got from a friend, adds meaning to this very very simply styled end table..that is actually a plant stand!! Simple was key for me here.

Here are a few more spaces and simple ideas for styling your space.

  Simple. An iron house sculpture.

Fresh flowers mixed with my moms camera, and a photo of her when she was little…

When all else fails..group books together! it works always!! 
“When all else fails..group books together! it works always”!! 

I think its really really important to remember that our spaces need to represent US…so although I am sharing a few tips that work for me..design and styling is subjective, just like art. What pleases me, may not please you, so have fun, try something new, if you don’t like it, move it around!! Mix it up!!



What pleases me, may not please you, so have fun, try something new, if you don’t like it, move it around!!

Hope you are having beautiful weather where you are!! its 85 and sunny here in Nashville today!!
~Kim

You might also enjoy

I Love your Rug ( Dwell Studio)!
A little organization!
Matchbox Magnets…
Previous:
Affordable Art: Painting
Next:
LIFE.designed ~Happiness is …

Comments

  1. Krishann says

    April 11, 2013 at 12:51 am

    All great tips but my favorite is to mix pretty with meanings 🙂 Been loving your instagrams but haven’t visited you here in a bit.xo

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


About Me

Hello

Welcome to Design THOUGHTS studio! This space is created to help guide you to your most aligned self! Look around and let me know if you have any questions. kim@designTHOUGHTSstudio.com

Let’s Connect

Archives

Categories

Design by SkyandStars.co
Back Top

Copyright © 2026