5 Incredibly Simple Decorating Ideas

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Simple decorating ideas are harder to come by than one might think. We’re often presented with these grand design concepts but given no actionable steps to achieve these visions.

If you’ve been on the hunt for simple decorating ideas and techniques, you’ve come to the right place.

In this post, I’ll be sharing direct, concise tips for how to decorate, including the pieces you should use, how to place them, and why interior designers use them to achieve an overall stylish-looking space.

Table of Contents

Simple Decorating Ideas

These five simple decorating ideas are all about maximizing impact with minimal effort, helping you turn any room into a reflection of your unique style. Whether you’re reimagining a small corner or refreshing an entire room, these strategies will inspire you to create a home you love. Let’s get started!

The Stack

The first on this list of simple decorating ideas is a stack of 2 books plus a potted plant. This is great for console tables, side/end tables, bookshelves, and coffee tables.

Depending on the size of your surface you can use larger books and a large plant, or smaller books and a small plant.

Either way, keep your plant in proportion to the size of the space you’re trying to fill as well as the size of the books in your stack.

This is one of those simple decorating ideas that you’ll most likely be able to do with items you already own. Of course, you don’t have to use a potted plant to top the stack. You can use a vase, a statue, a candle, or even a framed photograph.

The Basket and the Blanket

Next is the basket and the blanket. This combo is excellent for filling out a corner or to balance out furniture. Place a large woven basket next to a loveseat or chair and tuck a blanket or pillows inside letting them spill over ever so slightly and you’ll have a nice stylish look. Not only will you have a great textural contrast between the firm weave of the basket and the soft blanket, but you’ll also have a functional means of storage for living room items.

Again, be flexible with your items. If you don’t have a large basket and throw blanket, you can always use a smaller basket and fill it with books or magazines. Then place that basket on top of an end table or fireplace.

Similarly, you can use baskets on top of toilet tanks or bathroom counters and fill them with personal care items.

simple decorating ideas - basket and blanket

Statement Decor + Wall Art

A classic entryway decorating idea is to combine a piece of tabletop statement decor in front of a piece of wall art. For this, you’ll want to choose something sizable. Think about a 12-inch vase or statue. If you don’t have anything quite that large, use a smaller vase and add floral stems to give you the extra height and width. For the wall art choose something that is at least 20 x 30 or larger. This can be a print, painting, wall sculpture, gallery wall, or mirror.

The statement decor and wall art combo doesn’t require a lot of fuss. You’re just combining two items. It’s easy to set up and makes a strong visual impact in your space.

simple decorating ideas - statement decor and wall art

The Vignette

A vignette typically clusters 3 or 5 small decorative items together to create a display. Vignettes are used to decorate countertops, tables, and bookshelves. The aforementioned “stack” is often a part of a vignette.

A great way to help group your items is with a tray. This creates a boundary of sorts and helps keep your items in close vicinity. Be careful not to space your items out too much or else they won’t read as one decorative element. Instead, you may end up with something that looks like a surface just filled with stuff instead of purposeful decoration.

If you don’t have a tray a decorative plate, bowl, charger, or placemat would work as well to help anchor your decor.

You can use pretty much anything to create a vignette. Books, vases, candles, candle sticks, trays, figurines, lamps, statues, framed photos, etc.

Take your time with your vignettes. There are endless combinations you can create with vignettes. Don’t worry about getting them perfect the first time around. This type of decorative styling is one that you’ll likely find yourself adjusting over time.

The Set

Creating a symmetrical display with a set of items is one of the simple decorating ideas that will take you no time to set up. Unlike “the vignette”, there isn’t much to fuss over with a set. Simply place them on either end of a console table or sideboard. A set can be used on a long dining table or to flank a piece of furniture on either end. Sets can be floor lamps, table lamps, book ends, wreaths, statues, vases, and candlesticks. Whatever you have two of, you can use together to create a symmetrical display.

Sets are great outdoors as well. You can place a set of potted topiary plants on either side of your front door. You can place bows or wreaths on lanterns that sit on either side of your entryway. You can use a set of hanging potted plants as well.

Using a set to decorate is also a fantastic way to highlight a decorative focal point. You can draw attention to your sofa by flanking it with two-floor lamps. You can also draw attention to a piece of artwork on the wall by flanking it with two wall sconces.

Sets are also great for filling voids, informing the spacing of decorative elements, and creating a harmonious display.

Overall the set is one of the easiest and most impactful simple decorating ideas.

Conclusion

Decorating your home doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. By using these five simple techniques, you can refresh your space, highlight your personal style, and create an environment that feels warm and inviting. Remember, it’s often the small, intentional changes that make the biggest impact.

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5 Incredibly Simple Decorating Ideas