9 Easy Decorating Hacks for a More Finished Home

Over more than 25 years of decorating and staging homes, I’ve picked up small tricks that make decorating easier, more practical, and sometimes simply better looking.

Some solve everyday problems, while others help me get more use out of things I already own.

I’m Dia, an interior designer and home stylist, and these are nine of my favorite decorating hacks for creating a home that feels both elegant and practical.

1. Art Where You Want It

If you’ve seen me hang artwork on a kitchen backsplash, here’s how I do it without damaging the tile.

Use a clear removable adhesive hook, then gently bend the metal hook with pliers so it doesn’t stick out as far. This allows the artwork to sit closer to the wall.

Place a piece of clear tape across the back of the hook to keep it from flipping up while positioning the artwork.

When you want to change things, simply remove the hook and take the art down.

2. Museum Wax Magic

I keep museum wax around the house because it has so many uses:

• A small amount beneath a candle keeps it from wobbling in its holder.
• I also use it beneath decorative trays leaned against a backsplash to help them stay in place.
• For floral arrangements in wide-mouth vessels, I sometimes put a smaller container inside to hold the water or stems. Museum wax underneath keeps that container from moving around.

Tip

Because it can leave a waxy residue, use it only on hard surfaces that can easily washed with warm water. Avoid fabric, porous materials, and painted walls.

3. Keep Picture Frames Straight

For a picture frame that won’t stay straight, add small rubber bumpers to the lower corners on the back.

They give the frame more grip against the wall, helping prevent it from shifting when someone walks past or bumps it.

For particularly stubborn frames, use a couple of small removable adhesive Velcro strips instead. It saves me from constantly straightening artwork.

4. Alternative Risers

Sometimes an accessory needs a little more height or presence in a vignette. Before buying a riser, look at what you already have.

A decorative wooden candle lid turned upside down can work beautifully. I usually add felt pads underneath to protect furniture.

I’ve also stacked decorative coasters beneath small lamps, candles, and accessories. Metal or stone trivets can do the same job.

5. Dress Up Plain Pillows

To change the look of a plain pillow, try wrapping decorative trim around it. Ribbon, a belt, or even a scarf can work, too.

For example, I finished the trim’s ends and added buttons as a closure so it looked nice from both sides. You don’t have to go that far—a pretty brooch or decorative pin works too.

Nothing is permanently attached, so you can remove the embellishment, use it elsewhere, and keep the pillow intact. It’s an easy way to coordinate your pillows with other decor.

6. Repeat Colors and Materials

Sometimes a decorative vignette needs one small detail to pull it together. I often do this by repeating a color or material.

Try wrapping a strand of beads around the neck of a vase or lamp to pick up a color already in the grouping.

There's no need to buy decorative beads if a necklace you no longer wear suits your decor.

A coaster or riser beneath an accessory can also repeat a finish while adding height. These small touches help connect the pieces around them.

7. Help Outlets and Switch Plates Blend In

Electrical outlets often end up exactly where you don’t want to see them.

One trick I use is a paintable outlet cover with a flat extension cord, which I can route behind and beneath furniture. Painting the cover the wall color helps it blend in.

I also use paintable outlet and switch plates, especially on dark walls where bright white plates stand out.

For unused outlets, I sometimes use low-profile childproof covers painted to match. These details make outlets less noticeable.

8. Hide Cords Behind Open-Back Furniture

Open-back consoles leave cords visible from the front and sides.

Use a flat outlet cover and extension cord, running the extension down and underneath the furniture.

Then guide the lamp cord down the back of the console with a cord management strip.

Plug it into the extension cord, which you can secure to the baseboard beneath the console with Velcro.

Clear cord clips offer another removable way to keep cords tucked along the furniture’s back.

9. Camouflage Tiny Furniture Nicks

For tiny nicks on dark or black furniture, I sometimes use a black permanent marker.

Dab on a little, then quickly wipe it with a paper towel to blend it into the finish.

On some wood-toned pieces, brown liquid shoe polish works similarly. A small artist’s brush gives me better control than the sponge applicator.

Apply a little at a time and blend until the mark is less noticeable. It isn’t a furniture repair, but it can camouflage small spots that catch your eye.

Final Thoughts

These decorating hacks aren’t complicated. They’re small solutions that make decorating easier and give the space a more finished look.

Were any of these tricks new to you? Share your own decorating hacks in the comments so we can learn from each other.