Justina Blakeney's Design Secrets Revealed: It's Okay to Break The Rules

Start From Within

If you’re eager to get a little more wild in your decor, Justina says, “A good place to start is with yourself.” If this feels intimidating, don’t worry: Justina has lots of tips on how to tap into your wild side and your creative side.

“Start by doing some creative warm-up exercises, like journaling, doodling, or creating a mood board on Pinterest. Once you get into the practice of letting your thoughts flow freely without judgment, it helps quiet the critical voice that can stifle our creativity.” 

From here, the inspiration and creativity should begin to flow! “You may start having ideas about how you want to use your space differently or painting a room a slightly different color. When those ideas come to you, meet them with welcoming arms and start experimenting. All of us have that creative spark inside of us, we just have to invite, nurture and cultivate it so it can shine bright!”

Find Your Inspiration

Inspiration can’t be forced, but it can be coaxed. If you need help finding your source, Justina recommends starting with a place. 

“Think about a place that inspired you when you were a child—whether it’s a physical one or a fictional one—or a place that you love now as an adult, and use that as your jumping-off point. Think about the colors, textures, shapes, patterns, and scents [from] your inspirational place, and incorporate those elements into your home."

Find Your Light

When it comes to picking the best rooms for experimenting, Justina explained, “Rooms with abundant natural light are great because they will be the most dynamic throughout the day.”

A living room that might be perfect for a morning cup of coffee can be the ideal spot for a cozy movie night—and that’s all down to the light. “Paint color can look bright in the daylight and moody in the evening.”

Plus, a bright room makes for an ideal habitat for one of Justina’s favorite design accessories: plants! “Plants tend to do better when they are close to a natural light source, so placing them in a room with good light also changes up the energy of the room quite a bit.”

Renters Can Go Wild, Too

When it comes to decorating wild, one of the main things that often stands out is the wall color. But you don’t have to be a homeowner to make a statement.

“Removable wallpaper is a great way to make a big impact without losing your security deposit!” said Justina. “There are a lot of great removable wallpaper options out there now in beautiful colors and patterns (we even have some in our online shop at Jungalow!).”

This suggestion also comes with a small warning. “Some renters may have textured walls which may not be wallpaper-friendly, so I’d suggest ordering a sample first to see if the paper you like is easily applied and removable with your walls.”

If you find the wallpaper option isn’t working, Justina has an even easier solution. “You can always go a little wild with plants! It’s amazing the impact plants can have on an environment. They are not just decorative objects, but they are also fellow living beings! They purify the air we breathe, they remind us to slow down and have or give a sip of water, and they literally add life to any space.”

Aim for a Cohesive Look

Even if you’re excited to decorate wild, there are still a few rules to avoid creating a visual mess. One approach is by grouping similar objects together - either by color or type. For example, I have an indoor container garden collection and in the book, I share how different groupings can create a completely different look,” said Justina.

Look to Nature

“Another great tip I often use when I want a layered yet cohesive look is [to pick] a color palette that is inspired by nature. One of my favorite memories is from a family vacation we took in Lake Tahoe. The deep blues of the lake inspired me so much that I used that as inspiration for our primary bathroom, which has a lot of different kinds of tile and wallpaper, but all in the same palette, creating a soothing look.”

As Justina pointed out, decorating wild is about creating a space that means something to you. “If you have a place you love, think about the colors you associate with it and try working within that color palette to give your space a harmonious feel,” Justina said.