To take advantage of design expert Mark Hopper’s decorating system, look no further than the end of your nose
Mark Hopper applies his "five senses" decorating regimen to his own home, pictured. – Photo by ARNOLD WANYE JONES
After four years with Design Within Reach, Mark Hopper has become an expert in how to style a room. But while Hopper works in the design field — he even served on the DIFFA/Dallas Style Council in 2006 — he says no formal training is required to put a room together. In fact, most people need only glance in the mirror.
"A great rule of thumb for any new homeowner or someone looking to make changes to their living environment is to look no further than the five senses," Hopper says. "Oftentimes we make the mistake of focusing on the look, feel, taste, touch and smell for others when it should all be about you."
Hopper calls his five senses approach "a good concept for people," and he’s implemented it in his own Lake Highlands home, which he and his partner bought in 2006.
"When I walked into this house I loved the floor plan, but I knew there were touches that needed to be replaced — the heavy window treatments, the 1970s wallpaper," he says. Now, his living room incorporates all of the elements his preaches to his customers.
The formula is sensible, simple and best of all, easy to remember. Here, then, is Hopper’s advice for turning your place into a showplace.
Look
Before taking on any project, big or small, know the "look" that defines who you are. What makes you most comfortable, what feels like home to you?
For those who don’t know what look they are trying to capture, Hopper suggests thumbing through magazines to see if anything catches your eye.
"I have often stayed at hotels or other places where I thought, ‘This is a really cool space,’ and have incorporated that into my own home. But be sure to avoid the catalogue look; you want your space to appear lived-in and inviting."
Those who like to change the look of a room often should keep the colors of the walls and furniture neutral.
"This will allow you to change out the punches of color with pillows and small accessories that will have less of an impact on your wallets," he says. "When picking a paint color, pick a shade darker or bolder than what you feel is ‘safe.’ Painting is relatively inexpensive and easy, so why not experiment and go outside of your comfort zone; sometimes the results will surprise you."
Feel
The overall feel of the room should be inviting and feel like home, Hopper says.
"You will want both you and your guests to feel as though they can relax and sit anywhere. How many times have we all visited someone and were afraid to sit? The ‘no rump zone’ signs belong in the stores that choose not to allow customers to sit. That is still beyond me – you’re trying to sell furniture, right?"
Patterned sofas and rugs that tend to make for a cluttered feel should be replaced.
"Update the old sofa with a slipcover and replace the patterned rug with a simple rug in either cotton or wool. To give the room a bigger feel, try hanging the drapery wider and higher than the actual window dimensions," says Hopper.
"You also want your space to have a personal feel, but don’t go overboard with the framed photographs. I know I said the space should be all about you, but there’s a fine line between personal and ‘look at me!’ Photos should be individually framed and not cluttered."
Matching the mattes in the frames will bring a more subtle impact to any room, he says.
Being creative with how you display your photos is a good idea, too. Sepia, black and white, cropped or enlarged snapshots will make a huge difference to the most boring photo.
"Items purchased from your world travels neatly displayed will also bring a more personal feel to any space and will also serve as great conversation pieces," says Hopper.
Taste
Hopper says simply, "Know your taste. If you find yourself stuck in a time warp, look around to see what you already own. You’ll be surprised to know that refurbishing your existing pieces will make all the difference."
The biggest mistake people make is to push the sofa against the wall to make the space appear bigger. In fact, moving the sofa away from the wall gives the room more interest and a division of space.
"I shouldn’t even have to discuss the dried flower arrangements and the ficus in the corner that doubles as a Christmas tree every December. These both should never be inside and should have been placed in the garage sale next to your framed Nagel print you bought at Spencer Gifts in college," he adds.
Smell
The aroma of fresh cut flowers and lit candles will enhance and better the mood even after the worst day at the office.
"You want to bring the outdoors in. Once you have tossed the ficus, an elegant, live orchid will make a dramatic difference. Another place to look is none other than your own backyard. Although tree branches will not add to the aroma of a room, they certainly will add more of an impact and give a natural element to it. I have to admit that I am a fan of room sprays, but less is more. Don’t go overboard and leave the dog heaving on the living room floor," Hopper says.
Candles are a great, inexpensive way to add aroma and mood to any room and yes, they are meant to be used: "The room should feel lived-in and unlit candles belong to an abandoned bride. You bought these for a reason, now get out your Bic!"
Hear
Listen to your room; does it scream "Do not sit," or "Nate Berkus, help me!" Trust us, it knows.
"Don’t let every piece of furniture scream at you when you walk in," Hopper suggests. "Invest in one signature piece that you have always wanted and build the room around that. I have always been a huge fan of the Eames lounge and ottoman set from Herman Miller; when I finally made that purchase, the room felt complete and made me feel good about the room. It speaks for itself and, quite honestly, it’s the first thing people notice."
One signature piece makes a statement, but be careful — a room full of statements makes a speech.
"Your home is your sanctuary and it should speak to you," he says.
The best way to achieve this: Stand back, look at your room and look at what it is you want to accomplish. Once you do, it will all make sense.
"Remember: make your room and your home all about you," Hopper says. "I have made the mistake before of purchasing and furnishing a home because it seemed like a cool party house and we were inviting people over and hosting parties all the time," Hopper says. "I was living in a home for other people, but guess what: Those people weren’t paying the mortgage. I now live in my home."
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice – Great Spaces print edition April 18, 2008.