When decorating your home after a big remodel, you are likely to encounter a variety of different challenges, particularly if you’ve never decorated your own space before. Many people find decorating intimidating, but it’s actually the perfect opportunity to be creative and express yourself in your space. Here are some of the decorating challenges that my clients experience most often and how to deal with them.

My space has an odd shape.

This is one of the biggest conundrums people face when decorating their homes. Even after a remodel, you may still find that some of your rooms are shaped strangely due to the era the home was built in or the features of the land it’s on. Don’t despair if you’re struggling with this – there are plenty of ways you can use the space’s unique shape to your advantage. The best way to deal with this is to avoid putting furniture up against the walls, which highlights the strange shape. Instead, move them towards the center of the room (while still leaving easy walkways). You can actually place the furniture in more traditional shapes to create the illusion of a rectangle or square.

I want to use prints in my room but don’t know how.

Prints are in style right now, but it can be difficult to use them effectively. To keep them from feeling overwhelming, use them on accent pieces or on one accent wall. Don’t let the print take over – instead, let it complement the neutral and solid-colored pieces in your space. If you’re scared of print, start with small elements like a throw pillow to try out the look.

The lighting in my space feels harsh.

It’s important for every room to have good lighting, but if it’s not done right, it can feel sterile and uncomfortable. There are a few different things you can do to make the lighting in your space feel more warm and welcoming. The first is to use an array of standing and table lights instead of or in addition to overhead lighting. The second is to use hanging lights instead of recessed lighting, which lacks the warm glow that makes a room feel welcoming. The more you vary the sources of light in your home, the more welcoming it will feel.

I don’t know how to display my wall art.

Putting up wall art in a way that’s appealing is more difficult than many people think. If the art isn’t hung at the right height or isn’t proportioned effectively, it can look very awkward. Generally, you’ll want to hang art at eye level or slightly higher, depending on the furniture in the room. If you have a variety of different types of art to display, vary the sizes slightly to create interest. For instance, having a large piece of art on one wall paired with several smaller pieces on a adjacent wall is very eye-catching. However, it’s still important to keep things within the same relative color family and style to avoid awkward clashing.

My small spaces feel too cramped.

Instead of trying to fit tons of furniture into a small space, focus on having a few statement pieces instead. A really great couch paired with a standing lamp and a piece of art makes a small living room feel better proportioned. Let these few pieces of furniture fill the space you do have – you’re never going to have tons of open space in a small room, so use your furniture to create comfort in the room. Avoid using tons of knick-knacks in small spaces, as this can also accentuate the small size of the space.

I’m not sure how to feature my photos tastefully.

For many people, having photos of family and friends throughout the house is what helps make the space feel like their own. However, too many photos can seem overly sentimental or even a bit tacky. To avoid this problem in your home, choose one space for a few of your favorite photos and create a gallery. This makes the photos look more cohesive and prevents them from taking over the whole house. You can switch photos out as the year goes on to change up your decor.