5 Styling Tricks to Make a Home Look Instantly Done
Social Swan Decor is honored to be featured in The Spruce—sharing five designer styling strategies that instantly elevate any room and bring it to life. Below, discover Audra’s expert insights on how to achieve a polished look in your home.
Photo: Louis Duncan-He
Dress Your Windows
Gone are the days of bare windows. Audra recommends installing drapery or Roman shades higher and stacking them thoughtfully to amplify height, soften the frame, and introduce a tailored finish. Elegant window treatments can transform a room from incomplete to refined.
Cut the Clutter
“Less filler, more feeling” is Audra’s rule of thumb. She advises prioritizing meaningful pieces over trendy accents, rotating items seasonally, and ensuring decor feels intentional—not chaotic. One soulful item always outshines a crowded shelf of fillers.
Photo: Erin Williamson Design
Mix & Match Textures
Audra encourages layering a variety of fabrics, furniture styles, and vintage–new pairings to bring dimension and a curated, lived-in charm to any setting. This mix creates personality and visual depth in every space.
Perfect Your Lighting Scheme
A well-designed lighting plan does more than brighten a room—it shapes mood, highlights texture, and brings warmth to a space. Audra recommends layering ambient, accent, and task lighting to create dimension and softness throughout. Rather than relying on harsh overhead fixtures, she often incorporates table lamps, sconces, and candles to achieve a more inviting, lived-in glow.
For an added touch of personality, something as simple as upgrading your lampshade can make a surprising difference. Swapping a standard shade for one with texture, pattern, or color instantly elevates the fixture and gives the room a more styled finish.
Photo: Mary Patton Design
Why These Tips Work
Audra’s design philosophy centers on intentional layering, elegant simplicity, and soulful styling. By applying these principles—whether it’s window treatments, editing decor, or dialing in lighting—you can elevate every space from ordinary to refined in meaningful ways.
