One of the things that makes hotel rooms so appealing is that there is no clutter. Clutter in your home can be stressful, and I find that when I de-clutter my space it also helps to de-clutter my mind. After all, your outer life reflects your inner world so take a look around to see exactly how you’re feeling! A few strategies have worked for me to make my own home clutter-free, and I try to think about this in my designs as well.

1. Make Your Bed: Every Day! You will find that making the bed up in each room in your home is a perfect beginning to a new de-clutter mindset. Baby steps! And it’s a great lesson for kids. Like a hotel I use a few decorative pillows and a separate blanket for the foot of the bed – I like a duvet because it looks so cozy. The rest of the bedding is functional and useful. It’s easy to just pull up your blanket, put on your regularly used pillows and then cover with decorative pillows topped off with a pretty blanket at the foot of the bed.

Guest Room by Krista Watterworth

2. Functional Furniture. Think multi-functional when purchasing your furniture. Wall units with cabinetry, storage ottomans and trunks are a few awesome ideas. This playroom-slash-guest bedroom has a decorative murphy-bed and I backed the wall unit with a contrasting wall paper which is fun yet sophisticated. Also you can see a hidden pull out desk in the corner for use only when the computer is in need otherwise it’s tucked away. Scale is super important. Don’t buy too big or too small, there should be plenty of wiggle room but no large gaps around furniture.

Playroom/Guest Room with Murphy Bed by Krista Watterworth

3. Clean Surfaces. I am not a big fan of having stuff out on counters or trays..like your remote and phone. Those items should be placed in an organized drawer. When designing a kitchen, think function and how appliances could be stored instead of left out. I love the storage that two islands provides. A small upper glass front cabinet can showcase some fun decorative items, otherwise items left out should be functional and pretty.

Kitchen Design by Krista Watterworth

4. Hide technology. Put TVs and computers hidden in a piece of furniture that can be closed, especially in your bedroom. Get bedside tables that have drawers so you can put your phone away at night. If you have a small bedroom, the number one priority is functionality. Each piece of furniture should provide a service, and the most important one is to keep necessary items out of sight (and out of mind! There is a theme here!) Hide your phone bedside in a faux storage book, it’s important to avoid blinking lights and ding-dings throughout the night.

Guest Room by Krista Watterworth

5. Hide electrical cords. For flat screen TVs, have an electrician hide them in the wall, or put cord covers on the wall and have them painted the same color as the walls. For lamps that are in the center of the room, either use battery LED powered lamps, or get flat extension cords and hide under the rug. If you are getting new flooring for your renovations, have outlets installed on the floor or other hidden spots. In one of the recent kitchens I designed, we hid the electrical outlets in drawers and under the cabinets.

Living Room By Krista Watterworth

1. Lacquer Nightstand  // 2. TV Stand // 3.  Duvet Cover // 4. Murphy Bed // 5.  Book Box Set //

6. Navy Throw Pillows // 7. Electrical Cord Cover // 8. Storage Ottoman //

It has been a long winter, especially for my friends up North, but Spring is right around the corner! Spring is a great time to entertain, and with the Easter and Passover holidays coming up, many people are looking for quick easy ways to spruce up their homes. Here are great ways to refresh your home decor and add touches that will get you excited for the warmer weather.

Swap out your throw pillows. Throw pillows can add a great pop of color and completely transform a space. I keep different pillows stored for different seasons and swap them out accordingly.

Change your wall decor. Try swapping out your wall decor for a completely different look. I recently changed one of the paintings in my dining room. Or just keep the walls clean and uncluttered.

Try some new accessories. Silk flower arrangements, large candles and some favorite books on display and accessible.

Change your light fixture or lamps. I love crystal – it gives me a sense of clarity. And that’s what Spring represents – a clearing of all the chaos before.

A coat of paint. White, bright, and light.

Bedding or Drapery. Florals or paisley are great for a completely new look on the windows. And white bedding or a white fluffy throw will make everyone feel cozy and fresh.

This bedroom is filled with some untouchable brands. Get the Vibe below with a more affordable touch!

1. Floral Pillow | 2. Chieti Greek Pillow | 3. Pink Velvet Chair | 4. Hotel Bedding by West Elm |

5. Stacked Crystal Lamp | 6. Eastern Accent Panel | 7. Upholstered Bed | 8. White Side Table

One questi0n that I often get from friends and clients is how to choose the right area rug for your home. The right rug is so important.  Many homes today are built with a very open concept where one room flows into the next without the delineation of a wall, so the area rug warms and defines a space.

I love oversized area rugs. I want all my furniture on the rug with room to breathe around the parameter. That’s just me. It’s not necessary but it looks great and gives the room finite definition. We live in Florida so homes tend to have lots of tile combined with lots of air conditioning. Floors can be cold to the touch. So for me, bigger is better. Area rugs can be in the middle of a seating area but the rug edges should touch the front of the furniture end to end, or the front legs of the pieces should be on the rug.

Photo Courtesy of Krista Watterworth Design Studio

In a bedroom, there are a few options. I love an area rug that goes under the bed and gives at least four feet of rug on either side of the bed so you step off onto warmth. At the foot of the bed there should be a bit more rug than on the sides. Also, in a bedroom, there is an option to do one large area rug at the foot of the bed only. But the rug shouldn’t be half on and half off ie. Falling in the middle of the bed itself.

Rugs that are too small look like bath mats. So be sure you are using a rug that covers enough space in a room. Area rugs in dining rooms or under dining tables are controversial in my book. I don’t love them because food falls, they get dirty, it’s hard to move a chair back and forth. However, a flat weave or kilim rug are great options. Chairs must be able to pull out all the way and still be on the rug. Dining chairs cannot be half off and half on a rug.

Photo Courtesy of Krista Watterworth Design Studio

As far as bathrooms go, if you have in floor heating I’m jealous! If not, large and fluffy rugs are a must – flokati even better!. They should be cleaned weekly and swapped out every other month. Rubber backing is a great idea for no slipping.

Photo Courtesy of Krista Watterworth Design Studio

If you’re going to layer rugs, be careful. Flatweave, natural fiber and animal skin rugs are the only ones that work whenlayering. I do love the Moroccan feel of a few rugs thrown together. It’s very “in the moment”.

Mats belong in front of your home and should be a large statement piece. Your entryway should have at least a 4×6 to make it feel like a special space and set the tone for the rest of the house. Color or bold pattern are a wonderful idea.

Photo Courtesy of Krista Watterworth Design Studio

Here are some great rugs that I love, and super crushing on blue of any kind at the moment. It’s the most inviting neutral of all, and when it’s bright and royal, it puts a smile on my face.

How I designed my home to work for me is with rugs in neutral tones and if I’m going to make a bold statement with color or geometric pattern, I normally don’t do that with a rug. Unless it is tone on tone or an subtle geo. Otherwise it overwhelms the space and the attention is on the rug. Balance is key here! Natural weaves and colors are the best, anything that looks handmade or is soft to the touch is my favorite. If furniture is light and neutral, go with a subtle color rug (I am loving blues right now!), but if furniture is colorful or dark use a neutral toned rug.

I decided it was important to stay within a tight budget when I designed my home three years ago in 2013. We are about to undergo a fun facelift, also budget friendly so stay tuned for that!

Get the vibe:

1. Monogrammed Dormat | 2. Sheepskin | 3. Cow Hide Leather | 4. Faux Fur Ivory |

5. Trelllis Shag | 6. Eastern Accent Panel | 7. Handwoven Navajo | 8. Hand Hooked Jafar

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