We’ve all been there. That feeling of walking into a room and thinking, something’s not quite right here, but I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s missing that sense of “flow” or “lived in vibe” or just doesn’t feel “you”, no matter how much effort you’ve put in.
But, here’s a bit of good news. You don’t always need to rush out and buy a heap of new stuff to fix it. In fact, I always recommend working with what you’ve got first. Once the room is “working,” you can figure out what’s genuinely missing, making those future purchases more intentional.
When I walk into a client’s home to give it a little “shoosh” (yes, I love that word!), I use a simple 3-step framework I made up in my head. It’s quick, effective, and usually comes down to small tweaks that make a big difference.
Ready to try it in your own space?
Step 1: Look Up
What in the room draws your eye upwards?
The “up” elements of a space are so important for creating a sense of height, openness, and balance. Think about:
Curtains: Are they full-length and hung high to make the room or ceiling appear taller?
Art: Is it hung in a way that adds visual interest without feeling disconnected from the room? A grand oversized piece’s top line of frame can create an interesting and dominant lineal line along your wall.
Lighting: Does the ambient lighting cast intriguing shadows and throw shapely patterns?
Plants: A tall plant in the corner can do wonders for softening edges and leading the eye upward and around in a beautiful, organic way.
Step 2: Look Down
Is your room grounded and connected?
Grounding a space often comes down to the furniture and rugs. Without these anchors, a room can feel like it’s floating or disconnected. Consider:
Rugs: Is the rug the right size? Ideally (or in most cases), furniture should at least partially sit on it to create a sense of connection. The bigger the rug, (often) the bigger the feeling of space.
Furniture Flow: Is your furniture placed in a way that feels inviting and intentional or does it need to be pulled together or spaced out?
Texture: Do the floors, rugs, and furniture have enough contrast or cohesiveness to keep things visually interesting?
Step 3: Look Around
Does your room have personality?
Here’s where the fun starts. Ask yourself: Can my eye dance around the room? Can it settle on something interesting? You want to create a space that lets your gaze travel naturally, resting on certain pieces and feeling curious about others. To do this:
Play with color schemes: Are the decorations and accents siblings, cousins, or long lost lovers? Even the most beautiful of neutral spaces embody a mix of tones and patterns, so play with this until it feels like your space has something to say!
Think about height balance: Does the room have high, medium, and low elements to keep the eye dancing?
Mix textures and finishes: Do the materials complement or clash? A mix of smooth, rough, shiny, and matte keeps things dynamic, or go for the earthy cohesive mix of natural linens, timbers, stones and lime washes.
With soaring ceilings, this country home’s once empty plain-white dining room was completely transformed with bold, oversized indigenous art and a Spanish pendant light that gives a modern twist to the traditional chandelier. The goal was to draw the eye upward while letting each statement piece complement the other, rather than compete. The large woven rug ties it all together, while the mix of the concrete table and leather chairs adds a perfect balance of textures. It’s one of those spaces where everything just clicks—colors, shapes, textures—it’s personal, polished, and oozes personality!
Project: High Country Homestead
Photography: Tanika Blair Photography
Final Touches
Once the big stuff is sorted, it’s time to layer in the details. Here are a few easy wins:
Adjust your art placement: Hanging art (especially small art) too high makes it feel disconnected. Bring it down to “conversation level.”
Add 2-3 layers of lighting: Overhead lights are functional, but layering in table lamps or floor lamps creates warmth and ambiance.
Update corners with a floor lamp or tall plant to soften the angular lines of the room - lets encourage that ‘flow’ baby!
Bring in small details like fresh flowers, bold overflowing greenery, new cushions, or a statement piece of art to give the room a final, polished feel.
With just a little attention to these steps, you’ll find your room starting to “click” into place. It’s about working with what you already have and then sprinkling in intentional, personality-packed details. And by ‘intentional’ I don’t mean needing a spreadsheet and a week off work to decide if it’s the “right” thing, I simply mean coming across items that spark joy or curiosity inside and make you think “I want that in my home! (And now) I know the exact spot it could work!” Voila. A shooshed up home without needing to sell a kidney. 😉
Now go on—start tweaking, and watch your room come alive!
👉 Want a little extra help identifying your unique style? It all starts with a good intentional decluttering. Get my free checklist here to help you identify which items you love, and which you’re ready to - finally - get rid of!
