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5 MUST-KNOW TOPICS TO BE A FABULOUS DECORATOR!

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If you are visiting me, here at StoneGable, then I have a pretty good idea that you must love all things home and decorating! ME TOO! Today’s post is a clearinghouse of ideas and tips and images to help you (and me) love decorating, even more, do it more effortlessly and thoughtfully and become a pro!!! I’ve spent decades compiling a decor knowledge base by reading and trial and error and decorating my home over and over again. I have never gone to school for decor, but the time and effort I have put into this passion has honed my home decor skills. I hope you will like these references and use them in your home too!

Must- know decorating topic #1

KNOW YOUR DECORATING STYLE

One of the most helpful things you, the home decorator, need to know and get comfortable with is YOUR STYLE. I can’t stress how important it is to take the time and get to know what you really love and don’t. What you feel comfortable in and what does not float your boat!  This is the first step in being a fabulous home decorator!

I have written a decorating course called HOW TO KNOW YOUR DECORATING STYLE. This course overflows with things you need to know to learn your true and unique style, how to use your style to make fabulous decorating choices and avoid costly mistakes and other important tips and details for being the best home decorator!

Take this course, find your style! It will be the best investment in your home you will make!

Must know decorating topic #2

HOW TO CHOOSE PAINT COLORS

One of the top 5 questions I get asked is about paint color! It can give us all angst! We really want to get it right! I think finding the perfect paint color is one of the hardest, trickiest and most frustrating parts of home decor. NOW, that I have said that… when we nail the perfect color it’s like winning a gold medal! It’s so so worth leaning HOW TO FIND THAT PERFECT PAINT COLOR  and use is the right way in our homes!

Must know decorating topic #3

WHAT TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU DECORATE

I can’t tell you how much money I have wasted on decor mistakes. Buying something that I may have loved, and then finding that it really was all wrong for my home! You need to use your decorating style as a funnel to siphon down everything you love and be able to choose every the right item for a room every time!!!!

Must know decorating topic #4

HOW TO CHOOSE PILLOWS LIKE A PRO

What is a well-decorated home without PILLOWS! I confess I am a big time pillow addict! I love them!!! Many of us buy a pillow that we love, which is fine… but we do it without thinking of how that pillow will incorporate and go with the other pillows we own. So we end up with pillows that don’t always work together! HOW TO BUILD A PILLOW COLLECTION LIKE A PRO will help you create a compilation of great pillow groupings and with lots of beautiful options for using them together!

Must know decorating topic #5

HOW TO CREATE A VIGNETTE

One of the very best things we can learn as home decorators is how to create a simple vignette. A vignette brings so much interest into a room, is a very personal decor statement and gives our rooms life! I can not express how important this one design element is!  HOW TO STYLE A TRANSITIONAL VIGNETTE is a step-by-step “how to” for building a vignette that can transition from season to season and be the star of your beautiful rooms!

You might like these other decorating topics…

Today’s post is like a Decorating 101 Course!!! I hope you read each post… going through it and taking it all in!!! My sincere desire is for all of us to love our homes and create beautiful and meaningful spaces for ourselves, our loved ones and all who walk through our doors!

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Comments

  1. What are the items in the small white bowl on your tabletop vignette with the pears? They resemble rubber stamps, although they probably are not! They are so simple, yet beautiful.

    Reply

  2. Thank You Yvonne for all your wonderful tips and ideas! Love browsing through your blog, on the weekends with a great pot of coffee. I may just have to try some of those blueberry muffins too!

    Reply

  6. I am a fan. This is distilled information so I can ignore all the sales pitches. Or at least navigate a furniture/décor store with a little more savvy. You are on a roll Yvonne. Thank you.

    Reply

  7. Delighted to find your post on the link party today. I adore your blog, style, home and podcasts. You are an inspiration to other bloggers and home decorators. Happy Summer, Kippi

    Ps. I just subscribed to your blog.
    Don’t want to miss a thing.

    Reply

  8. Once again, Yvonne, thanks so much for sharing your wealth of decor knowledge with us. We always learn so much from you! We appreciate you so much! You really need to write a book! You are so special — and so gifted! Bless you!

    Have a great week!

    Reply

  10. Yvonne, I learn so much from your blog and creative decorating tips. Would you have a source for the beautiful oval clear glass lamp with the black shade? It’s stunning! Thank you!

    Reply

  11. Love your decorating style! Is your signature chest in the living roo a DIY project? If not, where was it purchased?

    Reply

  13. Yvonne, I am a new reader to your site and I am truly enjoying everything that you share from decorating to faith! The tips & lessons are just awesome and i love how you teach and share. Thank you! Eva

    Reply

  14. What a great collection of decorating information. I will need to read most of them again.
    Thank you for sharing your expertise Yvonne.

    Reply

  17. Always love everything you change aND do! Question, where did you find your tin stars by fireplace and also sizes -if you don’t mind sharing. I did locate Amish one’s online, but not sure of size. Able to paint almost anything with Annie Sloan paints. Thanks Yvonne

    Reply

  18. I am still unable to see the header. The reset did not work on my tablet. Still says page not found.

    Reply

  19. Yvonne, love your blog I feel real comfortable with your decorating style. I made an Easter vignette it was so much fun. Thanks for your inspiration. I would love to share a picture of it, being my first one.

    Reply

  21. What paint color is your dining room, I really like it for my Master bedroom.

    Agree about finding the perfect color…I have agonized for 6 years (YES six!) over what color to paint my bathroom and stumbled on it 4 weeks ago….LOVE it, it completely changed the room, COMPLETELY. Doesn’t even look like the same room.

    Reply

  22. Can you tell me where you got your beautiful navy outdoor rug? I am new to your blog and really enjoying it.

    Thank you!

    Reply

  23. It is so true about paint color! I have found mine and love it. I did a pale yellow for me it works. My home is a French Country eclectic. I have to practice vignettes. So thank you!
    My biggest challenge for me at this time. Is I’m a seamstress and need a room in my house to work. I have 2 guest rooms but they are needed. So I made my formal living room my room. I have to much furniture in the room but I use it all. So I hope that reading all your wonderful news letters one day I will find my answer.
    Thank you for sharing

    Reply

  24. Yvonne, I am truly grateful that you do these types of posts. I always pin them for references when I’m trying to learn stuff about decorating. I’m very grateful:)

    Reply

  25. I love, love, love your blog and always find inspiration. You have such elegant taste. Would you happen to remember where you purchased the large glass vase in the picture that is on the right. I want one for my fireplace mantel. I looked this weekend and couldn’t find anything even close to resemble it.

    Thank you.

    ~ Lisa from Indiana ~

    Reply

      • Thank you for the reply. I looked back at some of your old posts and saw where the glass jar came from. Do you happen to remember what it was called? I have searched amazon and no luck. I now follow you on Bloglovin. YAY….

        Reply

  28. Yvonne,
    I adore your style of home decor, dear friend!!!
    Each of your posts is filled with valuable information!!!
    Great advice and amazing tips for home decor in each article!!!
    Thank you for reminding us to shop sensibly and to love our homes!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

    Reply

  29. Just had to add, I’m not a fan of gold in decorating but I think just a touch now and then is a treat. Also like to see a bit of dark wood mixed in with the white. JMHO, don’t change anything it’s all fabulous.

    Reply

  30. Love, love your styling Yvonne!! The white background for your vignettes is so effective. And the vignettes! I have yet to see one I would not wan in my home. Everything is wonderful; please keep them coming. I would like to see more full size pics of your rooms in the monthly blogs. Just can’t get enough of your beautiful home. Thanks a million::

    Reply

  34. Yvonne, As alway, love your blogs. At work, I look forward to lunch so I can check my phone to see what decorating advice you have for me today….. and I am never disappointed. Since I am fairly new reader of your blog, can you refer me to one of your past blogs about decorating side or end tables. Thanks for adding fun to my day.

    Reply

  35. A perfect post for me at this time. I’m just beginning the decorating process in our new house. My decorator is assisting me and I’m so glad. It’s an overwhelming process for sure. Always enjoy my visit here at StoneGable.
    Happy weekend!

    Reply

  36. Yvonne, I love your decorating style, the clean lines are a nice approach,but there is one thing that I don’t think goes with your living room style and that is the gold wings, I really think they would be better in Dining Room, just a thought please know I love your style.

    Reply

  37. Hello Yvonne …. as always, I enjoy your blogs everytime they appear on my screen.

    I have a question regarding vignettes and that is …. can there be too many in a room? I’d like your opinion on that. I know there should always be a spot where a guest can place down a drink or snack without fighting a maze of trinkets, etc. but it’s also nice to have interesting items (sculpture, books) placed about in a room.

    For example: a woman chooses, say, a white dress but then if she adds a red belt, shoes, beads, etc., she can spoil the outfit; likewise, can a vignette on a coffee table, sofa table, and mantel be just too much as well! Thank you for your daily decorating advice!

    Reply

    • Just a PS … to be a bit more brief, Yvonne … is there a rule of thumb about the number of places one should have a vignette in a room? I realize, of course, it depends on the room size but if you can shed some light on this, it would be great. Thank you!

      Reply

    • So sorry about this Sandra! It’s easy to get StoneGable to behave. You need to HARD RESET your computer. So easy to do….
      Go to the StoneGable site. Hold down the following computer keys together~ command/control + shift+ r. This will work!

      Reply

  39. I love your decorating style! I am looking for a chest of drawers and love the one shown here with the scroll design. I would love to know the shopping source for that piece. Thanks so much!

    Reply

  40. Hello, I just started subscribing to your newsletter and wondered if it can be downloaded for future reference.
    Thank you!

    Reply

  41. Just a tip about the header. I thought something was wrong even after I hard reset my computer because the page looked blank. But I scroll down the page quite a ways, and then I can see the full blog posting.

    Reply

  42. I have such a hard time deciding on ONE style – I like so many. How do you decorate if you love traditional, cottage, or country? I love everything from Williamsburg style to beachy cottages. Is it okay to mix styles?

    Reply

    • You have asked the PERFECT question!!! Most of us like and live with more than one style. Read HOW TO KNOW YOUR DECORATING STYLE and I bet you will understand a whole lot more. The styles you listed work wonderfully together!

      Reply

  43. Lots of great information here! I never considered the idea of vignettes until you showed me! Now I need to tweak how I put them together…thanks for the suggestions! I love pillows and need to figure out how to make them all work. I plan to re-read these posts and take notes!
    Thanks!!

    Reply

    • Hi June, You will need to hard reset your computer. So easy to do!!! Just make sure you are on the StoneGable web page. Hold down the command/control key + the shift key + the “r” key. Do this all together and it should be fine.

      Reply

      • Thanks for the tip, Yvonne. I too was having trouble with the header and I tried what you suggested and now I can see the complete header. What a “techie” you are!
        Thanks again!

        Reply