We all want our homes to look good both inside and out. When it comes to the yard, having the right lawn and garden equipment can go a long way. When it comes to the interior, many of us find this task to be a bit of a mystery.

How do we choose the right paint colors? Which pieces of furniture will make a space seem more inviting? For those with the funds, hiring a professional interior designer is the easy answer. If you don’t have the money for a professional designer, you are going to have to take some time to figure these things out on your own.

With the following tips, you can upgrade your home interior without having to pay a professional.

Working With Color

Few things will have as big an impact on the feel of your home interior as the color palette you choose. No one can tell you which color palette is right for your home, but there are some tips that can help you get there on your own.

As a general rule of thumb, many designers build a color scheme from three colors: a neutral color and two tones. Using a color wheel can be a good way to find colors that work well together.

Add Some Decorations

Decoration can be an important part of your interior design. Maybe you can hang pictures on the wall or have flowers in a vase. You could also try something like a DIY centerpiece for your dining table. With the right crafting tool, you could make your own decorations for an interior design that is unique to your home. Just make sure to avoid overdoing it with decorations. If you go too far, the space might seem cluttered or a little too busy.

Consider Lighting

Proper lighting is important for interior design. Good lighting can make a space seem more inviting and it can also give the perception of there being more space. Beyond simply having enough light, you need to think about how the different lamps and light fixtures fit in with the design. Depending on the type of style you are going for, you might choose lamps that have a simpler design or you might want lights that are more ornate.

Picking Furniture

Furniture is another element that is going to have a major impact on your interior design. To start, you want your furniture to fit in with the overall style and color scheme of the home. When you are looking at things like couches and chairs, you also want to consider comfort.

Beyond color and style, you need to think about the amount of space you have. If you have a small room, you don’t want to buy pieces that are too large. If the room is big and open, you want to make sure you can fill some of that space with the furniture or the room will seem empty. Measure the room and try to consider how much space you want each piece of furniture to take up.

Laying it Out

Some rooms might actually have a natural layout. In those rooms, the layout will be easy. The big pieces of furniture will all go to a space that is already determined and then you will just have to work out the smaller details of the design. With rooms that do not have a natural layout, you will have a little more work to do.

If a room is open to different layouts, try to look at different potential focal points in the space. You can then arrange the big pieces around the focal point and fill in the smaller details after. Beyond that, you should also think about traffic and how people will move through the room. If you are working on a living room or entertainment area, you might need to think about convenience elements like where to place tables.