How To Layer Decor When You Decorate

Learning to layer decor is a decorating gem and is one of the most important decorating concepts you’ll ever need to give your rooms a pulled together look.

This 7 step guide will walk you through using this all important decorating technique in every room of your home.

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You might be wondering what layering decor even means. Think of it like building your outfit on a cool day.

Welcome to chapter 6 of the Simply Decorating Series; a free resource designed especially for the diy decorator who is eager to transform their home into a place that reflects their personal style and needs. Each post breaks down complex design ideas into simple, actionable steps. If you’re just beginning the series, start with chapter 1, How to Decorate a Room – Where To Start.

You start with the basics, like a comfortable sweater and jeans, then add a scarf and jacket, and a couple of pieces of jewelry for extra style. Each piece (or layer) has its role, coming together to complete the look.

Much like the sweater and jeans of your basic outfit, your furniture sets the stage. From there, you can add different textures and colors through rugs, throw pillows, and artwork, which act like your scarf and jacket.

Layering in interior decorating is the art of building a room from the ground up.  It’s the designer secret that adds depth and interest to a space.

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Beginning from the floor up, here’s a breakdown of the many elements in a room where layering comes into play:

• Flooring: carpeting, area rugs, area rugs layered over one another
• Walls: paint, wallpaper, framed artwork, mirrors, decorative wall hangings
• Windows: draperies, valances, shades, blinds
• Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, beds, coffee tables, end tables
• Lighting: overhead lighting, table lamps, task lighting, accent lighting
• Textiles: pillows, throw blankets, bedding
• Decorative Elements: greenery and flowers, books, containers, tchotchkes

Consider each one of these elements as a different layer.  Once you’ve determined your decorating style, focus on building the room by adding each layer, one at a time. 

Let’s take a look at layering in action in some of the rooms around my house.

Flooring

I have hardwood floors in all of the living areas of our home.  Most of the rooms have area rugs, but for various reasons, some do not.

My living room is one of the spaces that does have an area rug and during its refresh, I added a large animal print rug over the hardwood floors.

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Not only does using the best area rug in a room add coziness and help to define a space, it adds visual texture to a room.

Easy enough – right?

Walls

Layering decor on a wall can be as simple as hanging a single piece of artwork on the wall or as complex as creating a stunning gallery wall.

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Artwork works well to add a layer of pattern, color, and dimension to the walls in a room. It works well to bring plain painted walls to life!

If you crave simplicity, then that single piece of artwork is just fine, such as the single piece of art hanging above my fireplace. 

On the larger wall where my entertainment center is located, I used art to add dimension to this side of the room, where a ceiling overhang really plays havoc with the furniture arrangement.

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Window Treatments

A simple pair of draperies on a window can be just fine.  In fact, that’s what the majority of the windows in my home are like.  

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But – sometimes a window (and the room) needs more.  Adding another layer to your windows can turn a bland wall into so much more!

For example, if you study the fireplace wall in my living room, you’ll realize that it’s really just one looonnnng wall of flat stuff.   There’s a fireplace, flat against the wall flanked by a pair of flat French doors.  Left alone, it would be boring and well…..flat.

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To get rid of all of the square angles and to frame out the entire wall, I added the softness with drapery panels.

But instead of just hanging a drapery panel on each door, I also added wood slat blinds and then hung the drapery panels over them. The added layer of blinds adds some much needed dimension to the wall.

By the way, these draperies are temporary placeholders, but I still want them to look as good as they can until I have the opportunity to replace them!

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Furniture

Using a coffee table in front of a sofa is just one example of layering furniture in a room. 

Left to his own devices, my husband would much rather never have a coffee table in a room.  He’s a tall guy (who’s eyes aren’t always looking down – translate that to bruised shins!) with a long reach, so his desire for a wide open space is understandable.

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As much as I try to accommodate his wishes, that just doesn’t work for me.  I need the coziness of enough layers of furniture in a room to keep it from feeling like an incomplete space.

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Lighting

The idea of layering lighting in a room means that instead of just having one light source, such as an overhead light, your rooms should have multiple types and levels of light. 

Think of it as creating a “lightscape” by using an overhead light source + table lamps + floor lamps + task lighting (when needed) + accent lighting.

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All these things combined together will give you a room that’s functional as well as a visually balanced room.

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Textiles

Pillows, blankets and throws make layering with textiles so easy!  Think of textiles as the works of art that add instant personality and style to your home. 

The exact same sofa decorated with boldly colored and patterned pillows or throws will give the same room a whole different vibe than that same sofa layered with soft neutrals.

And don’t be afraid of mixing patterns!  The trick is to make sure that the colors and sizes of the fun patterns compliment one another.

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Here’s the key to mixing pillow patterns in a room:

• Include one pattern that is larger. It will become the dominant one in the group.
• Choose a second pattern that’s half the scale of the first pattern.
• Mix geometric or plaid patterns with floral ones.
• For a fourth layer, add a solid or something with a tiny pattern.

Decorative Elements

The decorative accessories that you add to your room act as the final layer of the decor.  This is your opportunity to really let your personality shine! 

It’s also an opportunity to draw the eye where you want to or to disguise some aspect of the room that’s less than attractive.

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Whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist, adding the accessories layer to your decor, you want to strike that soft balance of not too much and not too little. 

If you’re unsure, try snapping a few photos of your room with your phone.  You’ll be amazed at how differently things come across in a photo than in real life.

I hope this post helps you understand how easy layering really is. By starting with the fundamental pieces like furniture and gradually adding elements like rugs, pillows, and artwork, you create a layered look that is not only stylish but also deeply personal.

Remember, there’s no single right way to layer your decor. Trust your instincts, and use what you love. The most beautiful rooms are those that reflect the personalities of those who live in them.

So, let me encourage you to take a little time to experiment and to try different combinations and you’ll become a master of this important aspect of decorating before you know it.  And above all – have fun!