Want to make your home look professionally decorated, but don't want to spend on an interior designer? Real Living Magazine's November 2011 issue shares advice on becoming your own interior designer by letting you in on styling techniques used by the pros. Learn 25 designer secrets you can apply to your home. Get tips on styling everything from your foyer to your kitchen. Read on for a preview.
STYLING A COFFEE TABLE
The styling technique: Playing with height
The design principle: Proportion, scale
How to do it: Coffee tables should be treated as a spot where you can display little vignettes at various levels. Old school interior designers use customized acrylic pedestals to elevate objects at different heights on coffee tables. You don't need this expensive accessory, as you can use something that you have at home--books. Stack books at different heights to play with levels; use coffee table books for larger objects, pocket books for smaller ones. Another trick--choose books with beautiful covers for added chic. 
For more styling techniques, grab a copy of Real Living Magazine's November 2011 issue, out on stands now!
Also in this issue:
- 10 Condo and Small Space Ideas
- 36 Best Bathroom Buys
- 32 Pages of Beautiful Condo Homes
Want to read more excerpts from Real Living? Check these out:
- Get inspired to redecorate your home with Real Living's Designer 50 list!
- Turn old trends into modern chic with Real Living's July 2011 issue!
- Turn your house into a home with Real Living's June 2011 issue!
- Be inspired by 30 pages of offbeat homes in Real Living's May 2011 issue!
- Get a good night’s sleep with Real Living’s list of the 10 best beds for 2011
- Ring in the New Year with 3 Colorful Design Ideas from Real Living
(Photo by Vincent Coscolluela)
