How to Add a Wow Factor to your Home

One of the most exciting things I love to do is to take mundane areas in my home and give them a wow factor.
It doesn’t cost anything.
The secret?
It’s simply taking light colored items and placing them in front of something dark. And vice versa.
Here is an example.
I placed a white Pfalzgraff platter in front of a blackboard.

This is the perfect photo that shows what I mean.
The platter now is given prominence in this room.
It’s a subtle way to give something a wow factor.
And this can be done with everything in your home.
It’s that simple.
I have guests come over and say how amazing my home looks.
It humbles me because our home is mostly filled with thrift store and antique finds.
But by taking my most prized things and placing them strategically in front of something that is lighter or darker in color has been a silent magical strategy that brings beauty to my home.
It’s a subtle yet powerful way to decorate a room that enhances certain things you want to highlight.
Here is another example.
I wanted to highlight this red oblong, Oh So Jolly, Christmas pillow.

As I write this we are in the middle of Christmas season.
By placing this dark red Christmas pillow in front of a light grey antique sofa, it makes the pillow pop!
It is subtle.
But do you see how the pillow is now given prominence by placing it strategically against something light?
In this photo you can see how I placed white frames on a light blue wall.

And a white and blue ticking pillow with a little white lace pillow in front that are placed against the dark green chair.
Do you see the contrast?
And the white Pfalzgraff bowl and tureen on top of the dark mahogany antique coat closet.
They are all examples of how this wow factor works.
It gives interest and appeal to a room.
And once you understand how to do this it will give decorating a different spin.
It will open your eyes to see things differently.
This way of decorating has been rewarding.
Not only to give my home pizazz but to know that by thinking how to highlight my beloved decor pieces, it just makes my heart happy.
And that, my friend, is what I hope for you!
When I am shopping for decor pieces I am keeping this in mind all the time.
I’m thinking about what I already have and where something will go.
I hold things against eachother to see how it will work.
There are so many aspects to this way of decorating that goes beyond just decor.
You can design a home by placing flooring and painting walls to enhance these things (decor) in your home.
It is quite incredible how this little trick can give a wow factor from the ground up to a home.
But for now, let’s focus on decor pieces.
This is something you can do right away.
After I’m done sharing these ideas, you can work on giving your home a wow factor.
Yippee!
Here is another example but using dark against light.

Taking dark frames and placing them on a light colored wall is striking.
I love how this photo is filled with examples.

The dark flowers pop and the black iron bed post is highlighted against the sage green wall color.
Not to mention the beautiful blue transferware plate hung on the wall.
Now that I shared this secret of how to add a wow factor to your home, can you see how easy it is?
To give you more inspiration, here are some photos of my home from different times I decorated over the last couple of years.



In all of these photos you can see how I played with the light and dark colors and placed them in a way to give each area a wow factor.
In the middle photo the white pitcher creates the perfect contrast to make those gorgeous orangish yellow bouquet of leaves and flowers pop!
As with the white Pfalzgraff tureen on top of dark mahogany wood tray in the right photo.
And the play with white and black colors in the photo on the left.
The vintage oil painting of the woman hung on the fireplace mantle is stunning because it is placed against the dark and light colors.
Here are some more photos to give as an example how to add a wow factor to your home.


The little white church on top of the dark green books in the left photo.
The metal green Christmas tree with bells against the white handmade Christmas dictionary paper wreath.
In the right photo the green garland against the white staircase.
I love playing with dark and light colors with ribbon.
Like the jute ribbon on the garland with white lace. It is such a subtle way to give pizazz without going over the top.
I have had so much fun placing this fireplace mantle all over my home.

You have seen it displayed in various ways throughout this post.
Now, it is in my dining room this Christmas season.
I hung a green Christmas garland on top that has pinecones and eucalyptus branches.
In front of the white part of the mantle, I put two candlesticks.
By placing them in front of the white, now you can see the shiny antique green candle topper that is perfect for this season.
Just by placing this garland on the white mantle and candlesticks in front makes this area pop!
Now you know my secret that gives my home a wow factor.
And I hope this little secret will make the things in your home pop as you strategically place things while decorating.
You can give a pizazz and wow factor to your home right now!
How exciting is that?
Such an easy trick of the eye that gives a subtle change and no one knows why.
But now you know.
I will be sharing more on this and many other fun ideas to give your home that wow factor.
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Please comment below if you like this kind of inspiration.
I would love to hear if you incorporate this idea in your decorating.
It has been my fun way to give my home a wow factor. And now you know how to do it, too!
For more decor inspirations go here.
You can follow along on my YouTube channel. Here is the link.
Thanks for coming by Victorian Lane Farms.