Decorating Diva: Decorate like a celebrity

Expert star-powered decor tips

The Decorating Diva asked Kim Salmela, home decor expert and designer for home furnishings brand Hotel Maison, about how to take your home from ho-hum to Hollywood-inspired. She gave us her take on giving your space a celeb-worthy facelift, on a budget.

Don't be afraid of drama

Many of us are tentative when it comes to decor and err on the side of caution when it comes to changing things. Don't be afraid to inject some pizzazz into your space, Salmela tells us. "Young starlets and rock stars push the limits when it comes to design," she says. "Celebs like to take a design style and maximize it."

As an example, she cites Nicky Hilton, who bought a vintage carved console from Salmela's store in Los Angeles that had been painted white, and added it to her home, which was almost entirely done in dramatic black and white. The eye-catching look made the pages of In Style magazine. "There was nothing safe about her style," Salmela says.

Whether you opt for an opulent black-and-white look or choose an accent wall in ravishing red, don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone when it comes to updating your space.

Make it personal

Decorate with items that reflect your personal interests, Salmela says. She has clients in LA who are managers and publicists for some of the music business's biggest stars, such as Lady Gaga and Coldplay, and they aren't afraid to show their personality in their home decor choices. "Because they are in the music business, which is also their hobby, they wanted their home to reflect that," she says. One client had a black-and-white photo of The Clash blown up to more than 9 feet to go above the sofa in their living room, to reflect their love of music.

Whether you've won multiple Emmys for an award-winning show or you have trophies from your local bowling league, show them off, Salmela says. "They make great bookends on a bookcase! Take the things you love doing, and play them up in your home."

Get inspired by travel

Getting a new perspective on the world around you through travel can be a great way to inspire some changes in your space. Celebrities are known to travel a lot (or at least more than the average person), and often they send texts or images to their decorators from hotels they've stayed in, saying, "Let's do this in the house," says Salmela. Hotels make great inspirations for home decor, so whether you travel on business or just take a yearly vacation with the family, be sure to spend some time taking in the decor of your hotel, she explains, especially if it's a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel, with its own charm and personality. "These kinds of places will give you celebrity-like design ideas in spades!"

More from Decorating Diva

Six stylish fall decor finds for under $30
Give your home a pre-holiday facelift
Create a cozy home for fall