Thom Filicia’s Exclusive Tips : How to Decorate Like a Pro

We had the pleasure of interviewing A-List designer Thom Filicia, most known for his role on the Emmy-Award winning show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, who has really brought American decor to the forefront with what he dubs New-American Style. “It’s about a simplification of elements. I take design principles from places like Europe that are typically more formal and distill them into something less ceremonial or decorative that’s more approachable—just like the American lifestyle.”

Check out the expert tips he shared with us on how to decorate your home like a pro!

Thom believes when you’re decorating a home, you need to think about the transition from room to room. In the home below, Thom uses the color black as a unifying aspect. In the room just off the main sitting area the walls are a luxurious ebony, and in the living room he carries in the color as accents on the french doors, lamp shades and area rug border.

Tip: “A home’s decor should read like a good book–the chapters are different, but there’s a narrative that ties it together. Each room can tell its own story, but use common threads and elements like the same light fixtures, door hardware and base boards throughout your house to connect it as a whole.” 

Photo by Eric Piasecki

 Get  a Similar Look:

Kravet Fabric

Kravet Fabric

Kravet Fabric

Kravet Wallpaper

Jaipur Rug

Chandra Area Rug

This living room makes a statement with its deep indigo walls and matching sofa–a trick that makes any small space feel larger. We love how Thom chose artwork in similar shades of blue so the pieces meld into the wall rather than compete with it. The whole space feels current yet comfortable due to the combination of traditional elements like the warm Oriental area rug and wood paneling.

Tip: “Very often people are afraid of doing something different when decorating.  Sometimes you have to take that risk–if you love the idea of it, but are afraid of it, it means you need to go for it. It’s all about pushing boundaries while still staying within your comfort zone.”

Photo by Zach DeSart

Get  a Similar Look:

Kravet Fabric

Kravet Fabric

Kravet Fabric

Safavieh Area Rug

Thom says a room should reflect your personality, and in this particular space, his naturally warm and confident charisma shines through, balanced with his client’s individuality. His work often features cool neutrals punctuated with small pops of color in accessories. Here he layers texture to add dimension, from the wallpaper to the velvet sofa, and then brings in color with the apricot leather wing back chairs, pillows and lampshade.

Tip: “A combination of greys, blues and greens is my foundation–I always gravitate towards this sophisticated and timeless palette. It works in a lot of different environments, and there’s a serenity to it that’s pleasing to nearly every person’s eye. I love it with interesting pops of color or black.”

Photo by Eric Piasecki

 Get  a Similar Look:

Kravet Leather

Kravet Linen

Kravet Velvet

Surya Area Rug

Kravet Wallpaper

Old can be new again when you bring a different take on it. Here, Thom has infused life into klismos chairs, a design that dates back to ancient Greece, by re-imagining them with a cutout back. He uses juxtaposing materials, like the matte wrought iron chandelier, shining mercury glass vase and rough-hewn tree branch.

Tip: “Good design is all about using traditional items but doing them in a new way that makes them fresh and interesting. It’s a balancing act that’s totally dependent on mixing materials—modern elements with traditional elements, machine made with handmade, shiny things next to matte things, refined versus raw, new and old—all of these create wonderful combinations that play off of one another. The look is given several dimensions and it makes it uniquely uncomplicated.”

Photo by Eric Piasecki

 Get  a Similar Look:

Kravet Fabric

Kravet Wallpaper

Surya Area Rug

Surya Area Rug

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Related Articles:

Tips From Interior Designers: How to Enhance Your Home with the Color Grey

Thom Filicia on Turning a Dilapated Home Into a Place for Entertaining Friends

Barclay Butera’s Exclusive Decorating Tips: How to Improve Your Decor with a Few Small Changes

Yankee Class: A Connecticut Retreat By Thom Filicia

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