We all want to be proud of our humble abodes. But determining what color scheme and furniture best compliment a space can feel like a monstrous task when interior design just doesn’t come innately. Thankfully, there is hope for those of us lacking the decor gene: the Home Decorating Ideas subreddit. With over 610k members, this community shares endless inspiration for utilizing tight spaces, freshening up rooms with accent walls, updating fabrics on outdated furniture pieces and more. We’ve gone through to find some of the best posts that have been shared recently, so you too can channel your inner Joanna Gaines and start viewing your home in a new light. Enjoy seeing these beautiful home decor ideas, then if you’re looking for even more inspiration after finishing this list, be sure to check out Bored Panda’s last publication featuring the same subreddit right here.

#1 Reading Corner

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Anyone who’s interested in home decor and interior design knows they’re both powerful industries. I remember watching hours upon hours of House Hunters, Design on a Dime and Design Star on HGTV as a child. But if you’re not as familiar with the fields, it might be surprising to know that the global home decor market was worth $616 billion in 2019, and the interior design market was worth over $150 billion in 2020. However, by 2027, home decor is expected to be worth a staggering $838 billion, and interior design is projected to be worth $255 billion.

People are always looking for ways to update their homes, and thankfully there’s no shortage of interior designers available to help. As of 2020, there were nearly 43,000 interior designers spread across the United States, including over 8,000 in California and over 4,000 in both Florida and Texas.

#2 I Hand Painted A Mural In My Dining Room. I Find Painting Very Relaxing, And Now Have Three Different Murals In My Home

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#3 This Is Actually Smart

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The majority of interior designers in the US are women, with men making up only about one quarter of the field, but as with most industries, there is a small wage gap between genders. Male interior designers make an average of about $52,000 a year, while their female counterparts earn about $1,000 less annually. But when it comes to people decorating their own homes, men and women both like to be involved. One study by Graham & Brown found that 85% of British men play an active role in decorating their homes, and 47% of them even believe they have a “better eye for style” than their partners. Men might be becoming increasingly involved in interior design over time though, as 87% of men polled by Graham & Brown revealed they believe they’re more interested in home furnishing than their fathers were.

#4 Small Patio On A Budget. Before And After

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#5 I Moved In With My Boyfriend A Year Ago. The Place Has Changed A Little

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#6 The Before And After Of Our DIY Kitchen Makeover

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According to Architectural Digest, the woman responsible for popularizing home decor in the United States was actress Elsie de Wolfe. She became America’s first professional decorator in 1905 and went on to publish a book titled The House in Good Taste. De Wolfe gained success by designing for wealthy clients, including Henry Clay Frick, who hired her to decorate 14 rooms in his lavish home. By working for rich clients, de Wolfe was given an essentially unlimited budget to do with whatever she pleased.

One reviewer of her book on Amazon stated, “While some may complain that this woman’s almost unlimited resources made good taste easy, I valued seeing what one would do if money were no object. As Elsie de Wolf said more than once, having plenty of money does not guarantee good taste. Likewise, not having money does not mean that an attractive home is out of reach. What is timeless is having a home that reflects the dwellers within, one that is simple, where each item has a purpose and is not just for decoration. Then, as now, we like homes that are neat and clean and that comfort and refresh us.”

#7 Painted My Hutch Black And Hung Some Peel ‘N’ Stick Wallpaper. Makes Such A Dramatic Difference In Our Small Builders Grade Home!

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#8 Just Want To Share My New Design. Jellyfish Night Light

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#9 Not Sure If This Counts As Home Decorating. Our Garage Is The Only Part Of Our House You Can See From The Street So We Commissioned An Artist To Paint A Mural, We Love It

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Although individuals have the freedom to design their spaces however they see fit, interior design can also be a bit more technical. According to the experts, there are 7 key elements of design that need to be considered for a home to reach its full potential. The first element is space, which refers to “the distance between and around furniture and objects and their proportions within a room”. When designing a room, one must find the right balance of “positive” and “negative” space (or areas filled with objects/furniture and open areas). Too much furniture can make a room feel crowded or cluttered, while too little can make a space feel impersonal.

The next element to consider is lines. This includes structural features of a room as well as furnishings. Horizontal lines, like rugs and tables, make a room feel more stable, and vertical lines, like windows and doors, can be used to make a space seem taller. You can also play with diagonal lines, zigzags and curves to spice up a space.    

#10 We Turned My Laundry Room Closet Into A Desk For Me. Added Wallpaper Today. I’m In Love

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#11 Moved Into A New Rental And Hated The Bathroom. Decided To Try Adhesive Tile- I Love It!

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#12 Made A New Arch, What Do You Think About It?

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The next element of interior design is form. This refers to the shapes of the room and all of the objects in it, including furniture, artwork and decorative accessories. The key with forms is to find the perfect balance between natural, soft shapes and stronger, geometric shapes. After form, light comes next. Ideally, you’ll be able to utilize both natural and artificial light in any room, but sometimes, we have limited access to windows and daylight. It’s nice to have some variety though, whether that be dimmer switches or a combination of overhead lights and lamps. Color is another important element, while it can have a great impact on the mood of a space. Cool colors are more calming, while warmer colors are more energizing. Consider what a room is used for when deciding on wall and furniture colors. Be sure to throw in some pops of accent colors as well to help liven up any space.

#13 My Girlfriend Wanted To Try A Bold Colour For Our Dining Room. I Think It Turned Out Fantastic!

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#14 Didn’t Know What To Do With This Space Between The Kitchen And Dining Room To Seperate The Rooms So Decided To Make It A Breakfast Bar. Very Little DIY Skills At This Point Also

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#15 I Just Added Wallpaper To This Little Nook In Our House Which Is Our Bar/Bookcase Area And I Can’t Believe How Much It Elevated The Space

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The last two elements of interior design to consider are textures and patterns. While they’re self-explanatory, these two elements can also be easy to forget. From sofas to pillows to rugs to floors, having a variety of textures can make a space feel much cozier. Toss a fluffy blanket over a chair or add some velvet throw pillows to your couch to mix up your room a bit. Patterns can also make rooms much more lively and interesting. Pops of florals, detailed rugs and abstract artwork can bring a space to the next level. Of course it’s important to be mindful of how many patterns you use, as too much chaos can be stressful to look at, but don’t be afraid to play with them.  

#16 Dream Balcony/Reading Nook

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#17 Bathroom Renovation Before / After

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#18 I Painted The Walls In My Home

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If you’re passionate about home decorating and you’re interested in becoming an interior designer professionally, Architectural Digest has got you covered with everything you need to know. To become a licensed interior designer, you’re likely going to need a bachelor’s degree. This can be in any field, but you’ll definitely have an advantage if you studied at a design school or took courses covering topics like interior design, color theory, drawing and composition, interior lighting, materials and applications, sustainable building design, perspective and rendering, and building codes and standards. If you do have the opportunity to attend design school, it’s ideal to find a program that’s accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Some popular schools include The New School, Rhode Island School of Design and Pratt Institute. 

#19 Military Housing Made Cozy

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#20 I Recently Finished My Laundry Room Makeover! Doing All Of This Myself, I Am So Proud Of How Everything Turned Out! Swipe To See A Before!

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#21 New Cocoa Nutmeg Accent Wall

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Once you’re ready to get some practical experience, it’s recommended that you find a paid internship working under professional designers while finishing school or before fully launching your career. These allow you to hone your skills by learning from experts and make connections before embarking on a solo journey as an interior designer. Carolyn Ames Noble, chair of the American Society of Interior Designers, told Architectural Digest that, “Another aspect of internships is simply learning how to navigate an office environment. Everything from how to write an articulate, efficient email to tracking your time on multiple projects is key to being successful. Firms are more likely to hire you if they know you’ve already been exposed to these areas of development prior to graduating.”

#22 Finally Renovated Our Guest Bath

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#23 Before/After – My Partner And I Renovated My Grandmas Rental Property For Sale On A Tight Budget And Timeline

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#24 The Previous Owners Had Painted The Lovely Floors

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Once an aspiring interior designer feels they’ve mastered their skills, they can work towards getting their proper certification. In the US, 27 states require interior designers to be licensed, typically through passing the NCIDQ exam. After gaining the formal credentials, interior designers can focus on perfecting their portfolios and establishing their brand identities. Networking is extremely important in the field, so designers must curate their social media and websites to perfectly reflect their style. Their jobs never end though, as the industry is constantly evolving over time, designers must stay up to date with trends and keep their work from becoming stale. Though it’s a competitive field to enter, being an interior designer can be an incredibly rewarding job for those passionate about design, decorating and enhancing others’ spaces. 

#25 Stairwell Makeover Before & After

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#26 Corner Shelf Design

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#27 I Just Moved Into My Rental A Few Weeks Ago From My House That Was Almost All-White. I Wanted To Try Color For A Change

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While not everyone can become an interior design expert, it’s great that communities like the Home Decorating subreddit exist for those us who just want to freshen up our homes in simple ways. Who knew how far a little wallpaper or a fresh coat of paint could go? Enjoy the rest of these photos of beautiful and creative interior design, and be sure to upvote the spaces you’re most inspired by. Then let us know in the comments if you have any tips for home decorating!

#28 My Boyfriend Made This Lamp For Me! It Is Stained Glass, Wood, And Birch

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#29 From What We Could Tell, Former Residents Used To Smoke In This Bathroom…. What Started As Attempts To Get Rid Of The Smell Turned Into A Mini-Facelift That I’m Now Pretty Proud Of. Before & After

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#30 Kitchen Remodel Before / After

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#31 Kitchen Renovation Before / After

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#32 My Dining Room Refresh On A Budget!

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#33 Can’t Do Much At My Apartments But Decided To Cozy Up Our Dogs “Bedroom”

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#34 Wanted To Share My Pink Ceiling Lamp That I Thrifted For 9.99$ P.s. Still On The Hunt For A Rug

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#35 Little Things Can Make All The Difference. Loving The Way My Couch Looks With Updated Legs!

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#36 Just Repainted My 1921 Dining Room. Need To Get More Paint To Do Some More Touch UPS, But For Now I’m Really Enjoying How Moody It Is, Especially At Night

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#37 Love My New Rug

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#38 Final Room Decor. Thoughts? Last Minute Suggestions?

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#39 Jewel-Box Powder Room

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#40 Before And After Of Our Stairs

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