The Drapery Trick That Makes Your Windows Look Bigger (and Your Rooms Taller)

When it comes to making a space feel open, airy, and elevated, few things work harder than well-placed drapery. But here’s the secret—it’s not just about the drapes. It’s how you hang them that makes all the difference.

Let’s talk about how to use drapes not as window coverings, but as framing tools to enhance your windows and elevate your room.

✨ It’s About Framing, Not Covering

Drapes don’t have to block out light or hide your view. In fact, I rarely use them as the main window covering at all. For privacy or light control, I recommend simple roller shades or blinds. Drapes are where we get to play with softness, height, and visual texture and warmth in the room.

Use them to highlight your windows—not hide them.

📏 Hanging Tips That Make a Big Impact

Here’s how I like to hang drapes for that tailored, airy feel:

• Hang them high – Mount your rod as close to the ceiling as possible, not just above the window frame. This draws the eye upward and creates the illusion of more height.

• Go wide – Your drapes should hang mostly outside the window frame, not covering it. This lets all the natural light in and makes your window feel grander.

• Let them kiss the floor – Not too short, not overly puddled. Just grazing the floor gives a clean, elegant look.

This combo—high and wide—is a simple visual trick that transforms how big your windows (and your room) feel.

🎨 What Color Should I Choose?

You can absolutely go bold with drapery color if the room calls for it. But if you're looking for a foolproof, classic approach?

Go with white or cream in a soft, natural fabric—like a linen or cotton blend—that blends with your wall color. This keeps the focus on the light, keeps the room feeling open, and works with nearly every style.

Darker or bold-colored drapes can work beautifully when thoughtfully chosen—but they tend to draw attention and visually divide a space. If you're unsure, light and neutral is always a safe and sophisticated option.

🖤 Don’t Forget the Hardware

The rod matters just as much as the drapes themselves. Look for a solid, substantial rod—at least 1.5 inches in diameter—to create a polished, grounded look. Thin, flimsy rods can cheapen the effect and visually sag over time, especially with longer panels.

Good news? You don’t have to spend a fortune. There are some fantastic linen-blend drapery panels and solid rods available on Amazon that look high-end but are totally budget-friendly. With the right choices, you can transform your windows without blowing your budget.

Window treatments can be intimidating—but they don’t have to be. Stick with clean roller shades for functionality, and use drapes to add softness and style. With a few placement tricks, you’ll make your windows feel larger, your ceilings higher, and your space more serene.

How to Make Your Home Irresistible to Buyers: Simple Staging Tips That Work

According to industry experts like RESA and NAR, professionally staged homes can sell up to 73% faster and for as much as 10% more than un-staged ones. And the good news is, you can apply many of the same strategies on your own with just a little effort and a fresh set of eyes.

Whether you’re preparing to sell or just want your home to feel more spacious and inviting, these home staging tips will help highlight your home’s best features—and make buyers fall in love.

1. You're Selling Space, Not Stuff

One of the biggest goals of staging is to make your home feel open and spacious. You're not just selling rooms—you're selling square footage. That means editing your furniture and removing anything that makes a room feel small or cramped.

• In your living room, consider removing a bulky armchair or oversized coffee table.

• In the bedrooms, clear out extra dressers or storage bins that eat up floor space.

Less furniture = more perceived space.

2. Clear Those Countertops

Your kitchen and bathroom counters should feel clean, open, and generous. Buyers need to see the available workspace, not your coffee grinder, toaster, or hand soap collection.

• Remove everything but one or two decorative items (a bowl of apples or a pretty plant works great).

• Tuck away daily-use items in a basket under the sink or in a cabinet.

• Leave just one or two high-end appliances on the counter—like your gourmet espresso maker.

This applies throughout the house: less is more on any flat surface.

3. Let the Light In

Natural light sells. Period.

• Open all window shades fully before every showing.

• If you have curtains, ask yourself: do they block light or distract from the view? If so, consider taking them down altogether—especially if your home overlooks an amazing Homer view.

The goal is to make your home feel bright, airy, and connected to the outdoors.

4. Depersonalize (But Don't Sterilize)

Buyers need to see themselves living in your home—not be reminded that it's yours.

• Pack away family photos, collections, and anything very taste-specific.

• Instead, stick to neutral, minimal decor that lets the home shine.

We’re aiming for warm and welcoming—but neutral enough that anyone can imagine their own story unfolding here.

5. Tidy Up Your Hobbies

We love that you quilt, bead, puzzle or build models—but during the listing period, it’s best to pack up hobby projects that take over a whole table or room. This helps buyers see the full potential of every space.

Bonus Tip: Showcase Each Room’s Purpose

Make sure every room and area in your home has a clear, defined purpose. A spare bedroom that’s part office, part storage can confuse buyers. Instead, stage it simply—as a guest room, home office or exercise room. Even an upstairs landing or loft can become a cozy reading nook or a spot for a game table. Pick one purpose and style it with intention.

At Storied Interiors, we believe that great staging tells a story—one where buyers can see themselves stepping in and feeling at home.

Want help making your home market-ready? We offer one-on-one consultations and full-service staging tailored to your space and story.

~ Tiffanie

How to Shop Your Own Home: A Fresh Take on Styling with What You Already Have

One of the most transformative (and budget-friendly!) design tools we love at Storied Interiors is the simple act of shopping your own home. Before heading out to buy something new, we always encourage clients to take a fresh look at what they already own. You might be surprised by the beautiful pieces waiting to shine in a different room. Whether you're looking to refresh a tired corner, change the vibe in your living room, or just fall back in love with your space, here's our step-by-step guide to reimagining your home with what you already have.

Step 1: Clear the Space Start by removing all accessories and taking down artwork in the room you want to refresh. This gives you a blank slate to see the space with fresh eyes. It might feel a little bare at first, but that's the point! Letting the room "breathe" helps you see possibilities instead of just the current setup.

Step 2: Rethink the Furniture Layout Now's the time to play with arrangement. Ask yourself: does the current furniture placement serve the way you actually use the room? Is there something too bulky or not being used that could be swapped out? Don't be afraid to "borrow" from other parts of your home. Maybe that spare bedroom chair would look perfect in your living room, or the dining area could use a beautiful old dresser for extra storage and character.

Step 3: Curate Your Art With the furniture in place, look at your artwork with new eyes. Consider bringing in a piece from another room or hanging things in unexpected ways. You might even discover that a favorite print you’ve had in the hallway deserves a spot in the spotlight. (And stay tuned for our upcoming blog post with smart, stylish tips for hanging art!)

Step 4: Layer in Accessories Thoughtfully Now for the fun part: pillows, throws, lamps, vases, and small decorative items. Bring pieces back into the space slowly, choosing only what adds beauty, function, or a sense of joy. You might find that leaving a surface a little more open actually gives your space a fresh, simplified feel.

Step 5: Bring the Outdoors In Don’t forget to step outside and see what nature has to offer. A bowl of beach rocks or seashells, a sculptural piece of driftwood, or a few fresh-cut wildflowers in a vase can bring organic beauty and a sense of place into your home. Even a few stems can make a stunning statement.

Step 6: Edit and Enjoy Don’t feel like you need to use everything. This is your chance to be selective and intentional. What makes the space feel good? What no longer fits? Styling your home is a creative process, and editing is a powerful tool.

Shopping your own home is one of the easiest ways to refresh your space without spending a dime. It’s sustainable, personal, and surprisingly inspiring. So take a look around—you might already have everything you need for a whole new look.

Have you ever tried shopping your own home? We’d love to see your before and afters!

Want more styling inspiration? Follow along at @storiedinteriors for design tips and before-and-afters from real homes here in Homer, Alaska.

Designing for Real Life: Style Meets Function in Zoe’s Home

Once the foundation was in place, we turned our focus to styling the space in a way that felt unmistakably Zoe—playful, cozy, and ready for everyday life.

The showstopper? A gold corduroy-textured sofa that instantly became the heart of the living room. We grounded its bold color with black and cream textured throw pillows and brought in warm golden wood tones through a bar cart and coffee table. Soft, washable rugs completed the look—perfect for a home that includes a busy preschooler and a couple of pets. The result is a space that feels vibrant, lived-in, and designed for real life.

This was also our chance to embrace multifunctional design. We added a blue chair and ottoman in washable fabric, the hue echoing the deep blue kitchen island and tying in with the artwork throughout the room. The ottoman doubles as extra seating when needed. A perfectly cream-colored accent chair with matching warm wood tones rounds out the seating area. None of the furniture pieces are a matching set, and yet, they come together beautifully—creating a cozy, cohesive look with open flow.

We commissioned Zoe’s sister Ashley Story, an amazing artist with a style that is perfect for what we needed to create a fabulous modern art painting that was perfect for one large wall space. The bright colors add fun spirit are a perfect reflection of Zoe’s personality in the space.

One of our favorite touches? A playful riddling rack on the far wall to store wine bottles—a fun nod to Zoe’s love of wine and entertaining.

With the living room, dining area, and kitchen all flowing together in one open space, it was important to create distinct zones while maintaining a cohesive feel. A small round kitchen table seats four, the island offers space for four more with barstools, and the living room comfortably seats six—plenty of room for hosting in a compact footprint. The layout encourages connection while still giving each area its own purpose. The best part? Seeing Zoe welcome friends and family into a home that not only reflects her style, but functions effortlessly for her lifestyle.

Next week, we’ll wrap up this series with a look at the heart of Zoe’s home—the kitchen. From cabinets to countertops, we’ll show you how this space came together to be both beautiful and highly functional. You won’t want to miss the details that make it a true standout.

A Storied Transformation: Zoe's House Remodel, Part 1

Sometimes a house has a deeper story to tell. Zoe’s little cottage in the heart of Homer had been in our family for nearly 25 years as a rental. I’d always dreamed of giving it a full refresh, and when Zoe decided to move in, we finally got the chance to reimagine it completely—making it truly her.

This remodel was also a complete family affair. My husband Chris, Zoe’s dad, did all the drywall work himself, applying a fresh skip-trowel texture throughout the home. It gave the walls a soft, clean finish that felt both elevated and appropriate for its coastal location. Zoe’s grandpa Norm joined in to help install the new kitchen cabinets, interior doors, and closets—including a reworked closet off the living room to extra pantry space and a creative utility closet that fits extra shelving, her vacuum, and even a small freezer truly making the most of this smaller living space.

Zoe and I rolled up our sleeves to paint the entire interior of the house together—a labor of love that truly made the space feel like hers.

From there, we chose a neutral paint palette with a very light cream on the walls throughout, with a semi-gloss white on the trim and interior doors that kept the home feeling light and open. For now, we chose sheer white curtains—an affordable option that worked perfectly with the decorating budget and lets in as much natural light as possible (a must in small-space Alaskan living). Down the road, we may upgrade to something more tailored, but for now, they do the job beautifully. It’s a great reminder that budget-friendly choices can still feel intentional and stylish while leaving room to evolve over time.

One of the joys of working on a small home like this is how intentional each decision needs to be. Every finish, color, and layout choice matters. Zoe’s cousin John who is a carpenter, installed the vinyl plank flooring for us in a medium tone with a blend of grey & brown color which was perfect to bring warmth and grounding to a space with very light walls.

We also installed all new windows, exterior doors, and swapped outdated trim and fixtures. One of our favorite finishing touches in the living room? Painting the interior side of the exterior doors a rich charcoal. It’s a small detail, but it gives the living room a grounded, custom feel.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we dive into how we designed this home for real life—with a kiddo, pets, and a love for hosting.

Loved this post? Sign up for A Storied Perspective and get inspiration like this straight to your inbox.

See our before and after pictures of the living room.

Home Styling vs. Home Staging: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between home styling or staging, and which you need—you’re not alone! These two services sound similar, and they both involve arranging furniture and decor, but they serve very different purposes. At Storied Interiors, I offer both, and today I’m breaking down what each one really means, and how to know which is right for your space.

Home Styling: Making Your Home Feel More Like You

Home Styling is all about helping you love the space you live in. Whether you’ve just moved into a new home or you’ve lived in it for years and want a refresh, styling brings new life to your rooms by reworking furniture, art, and accessories you already have—or helping you find new pieces that fit your style and needs.

Sometimes you don’t quite know why you don’t love your space, or how to make it look and feel the way you see others homes or the spaces in a magazine, but you just don’t quite know how to create that ‘feel’ that you are looking for.

Home styling sessions are relaxed, collaborative, and full of small “aha” moments—like moving a chair to the other side of the room and realizing it changes everything. It’s about comfort, function, and beauty. It’s also a great fit if you’re stuck in decision fatigue and just need a fresh eye and a little guidance to move forward.

Think of it as a creative partnership, designed to help you enjoy your space more fully. And yes—it works just as well virtually as it does in person.

Home Staging: Prepare to Impress (and Sell!)

Home Staging, on the other hand, is about preparing your property for sale. It’s strategic and buyer-focused. The goal is to make your home as appealing as possible to a broad range of potential buyers—and help them imagine themselves living there.

During a staging consultation, we walk through your home together and identify ways to highlight its best features, remove visual distractions, and improve flow. You’ll get a clear, actionable plan that you can follow to get the home ready for photos, showings, and ultimately, a successful sale for top dollar.

Staging is not about making the home “perfect”—it’s about making it feel open, inviting, and memorable.

So Which Do You Need?

Ask yourself:
→ Am I staying or selling?
→ Do I want to love my space more, or do I want someone else to fall in love with it?

If you’re living in it and want help making it work better for you, go with Home Styling.
If you’re planning on listing it for sale, it’s time to consider Home Staging.

At Storied Interiors, I believe good design should be approachable, personal, and practical—no matter the stage of home you’re in. Whether we’re styling your space for everyday functionality and living or staging it for a new beginning, I’m here to help tell your story beautifully.

📩 Want to schedule a consult or learn more? Email me here.