Your new home is a clean slate just waiting for your personal touch to give it a style that’s all your own. To help make decorating your new home a little easier and worry-free, we enlisted the help of interior designer Angela Nuessle, National Design Director of Merchandising for PulteGroup. Angela offered some timely tips and insight about what she sees as the do’s and don’ts of home décor.

Decorating Do’s

Large tile

Bigger tiles continue to remain a big trend. There is even a move to larger plan-size formats on everything from floors and bathrooms to kitchen backsplashes.

Minimalism

"Everyone seems to be jumping on the ‘less is more’ wagon,” says Nuessle. The trend toward simplicity continues in home decorating. Open floor plans with plenty of storage make it possible to keep belongings out of sight.

Update your throw pillows

Something as simple as new throw pillows – or new covers on existing ones – can add new life to a room, giving it a fresh, updated look at minimal cost.

Statement lighting

Lighting is an important consideration in any home. Beautiful statement lamps, wall sconces, and oversized hanging light fixtures add drama and visual appeal to a space.

Bring nature in

Natural elements remain a winner when it comes to indoor home décor. From houseplants to bamboo, incorporate Mother Nature into your living space for a casual, comfortable feeling.

Decorating Don’ts

Don’t rush

When it comes to design, it is important to take your time getting to know the space. When you take a more fluid, relaxed approach, you will have more time to find great deals and one-of-a-kind pieces that allow your home to really reflect you and your sense of style.

Don’t go overboard with accent paint

When it comes to selecting paint colors, a little goes a long way. Nuessle suggests understated, subtle colors for painted accents.

Don’t forget lighting

Lamps and hanging fixtures don’t always bring enough light into a space. Whenever possible, include can lighting in the ceiling for seamless light.

Don’t overlook window treatments

Hanging your window treatments at the height of the window should be avoided. Instead, take a tip from the professionals and hang them as close to the ceiling as possible. This helps visually extend the height of the window and creates the illusion of more space.