Bust Out of Boring

Update: We're hitting the pause button on Bust Out of Boring to take time to re-evaluate who we serve, how we serve them, and what kind of content we want to keep creating. While there won't be any new Bust Out of Boring episodes for a while, all of the past episodes are still available here on your favorite podcast platform, and YouTube too.

Tired of picking the wrong paint colors for your home? It totally sucks to discover that the color you loved so much on the swatch looks like

Picking paint colors is the literal WORST, am I right?

We LOVE color at Lesley Myrick Interior Design, but color is best when balanced with neutrals. Here are interior designer Lesley Myrick's favorite white, light neutral, and dark neutral paint colors that have been her go-to choices for nearly a decade.

Choosing colors for one room is tricky enough - but what do you do when it comes to choosing a color scheme for your entire freakin' home? Interior designer Lesley Myrick has tips on how to find the perfect white, light neutral, bold color, and complementary color to develop a kickass color palette.

It's easy for a family room to get taken over by the family - and all of their stuff! But you can still have a stylish family room you love, if you know how to style it well. Here are 5 tips for styling your family room to create a space that's livable, delightful, and playfully polished. Resources shared: Styling Secrets Cheat Sheet How to Maximize Storage Space in Your Home

Got kids? That doesn't mean you can't have a living room you love! There's no need to wait "until the kids are older" to invest in furniture and decor. If you know what to look for, you can design a living room with kids in mind that is functional, durable, and anything but boring.

Have a living room layout that's less than ideal? Decorating a long, narrow living room can be a challenge, but interior designer Lesley Myrick has 3 tips to break up the space and create a living room you'll love. A few designer secrets can make all the difference!

Love the vibe at your favorite boutique hotel...but hate that your own home is less than awesome? Interior designer Lesley Myrick has 5 easy tips to bust out of your boring living room and transform it into a hotel-chic space. It's all about decluttering, window treatments, lighting, bold colors, and pushing the envelope with pattern and scale.

What's the difference between industrial design and Mid-Century Modern? How is California Modern different than coastal decor? Interior designer Lesley Myrick breaks down 5 of the most popular interior design styles and explains the essential elements of each: - Midcentury Modern - Industrial - Bohemian (aka. boho) - California Modern - Eclectic

Open shelving in the kitchen (and other spaces) is totally trending, but is it a good idea to have all your goods on display? Interior designer and former professional organizer Lesley Myrick weighs in on the open shelving trend, and why closed storage is the way to go (for most people).

Feeling like your home is about to burst at the seams? Your home is a container for your stuff, and if the container isn't big enough, it's time for something to change. Here's how interior designer and former professional organizer Lesley Myrick suggests you maximize storage space in your home and get some breathing room back.

Feeling frantic about the holidays? Feel stressed by Christmas clutter? There IS another way to enjoy the festive season! Here's how an interior designer gets ready for the holidays, stress-free.

If you're thinking about renting your spare bedroom, guest house, or second property out on Airbnb, you're not alone. The short-term rental business is huuuuuge! To maximize your Airbnb earnings you're going to want to design a top-notch, memorable stay. Here are 5 decorating tips to become an Airbnb superhost (or just impress your holiday houseguests).

Sometimes small changes can have a big impact. And lighting is no exception! Here are 3 dining room lighting tips to transform your dining room from boring to freakin' beautiful.

There's always a little give and take when decorating your home. Sometimes you cut back to allow for a kickass splurge.

Dining rooms can be pretty boring and formal...but they sure don't have to be! Here are 3 unexpected seating ideas for your dining room to mix things up and create a comfortable, cozy space for your friends and family this holiday season.

Get ready for the holiday season - when your dining room will become the center of attention again. If your dining room is less than awesome, it's time for a glow-up!

Ever wondered why an interior in a magazine looks so darn perfect, and your room...doesn't? Styling and accessorizing have a lot to do with it, and there are a few secret tricks I can share.

The holidays are coming up, and that means your dining room is about to see a lot of action.

There's nothing worse than a room that's a boring box. Four flat walls, a window...snooze! Here's how to transform a boring room into a magazine-worthy space.

⚠ Warning: not all rug materials are good! ⚠ Some can't handle even the smallest water spill, while others can be too scratchy for bare feet to handle. Here's what materials to avoid for rugs - and what I recommend instead. #bustoutofboring #playfullypolishedinteriors

You've invested in awesome new furniture and freshened up your walls with a coat of paint - so why does your room still feel unfinished? Here are 5 things to try if a room is feeling incomplete. #bustoutofboring #playfullypolishedinteriors

Have you ever bought an area rug that's waaaay too small? A rug that looks large hanging in a showroom display suddenly looks as small as a postage stamp when it's in your space. Here's how to choose the right area rug size, every time.

Did you know that accessorizing your home (think artwork, trays, picture frames, and vases) can eat up about 10-20% of your total design budget?

Home decor and accessories are like jewelry for an outfit - essential for everything to look complete and pulled together. But if you've ever tried to accessorize a room you'll know that it can eat up a big chunk of your design budget!

You've got the basics - a sturdy desk, a comfortable chair, and good lighting. Now - how do you make your home office a place you *actually* want to be? Here are 3 simple ways to upgrade your home office and give it alllll the good vibes. ✌

Working from home in some capacity has been the reality for most of us for quite some time. You don't have to grin and bear it at your kitchen table - here are 5 ways to improve work-life balance and actually enjoy working from home.

Do you work from home?

Did you ever watch "Designing Women" back in the day? That's what I used to think interior designers were. But - spoiler alert - things have changed since the 80s. Here are 5 myths about working with an interior designer, totally busted. (This is a re-broadcast of one of our most-listened episodes.)

Renovating a bathroom is a HUGE investment, even though it's often a small space. Here's what I recommend you splurge on - and, of course, what to save on to make the most of your bathroom budget.

What's the best material for kitchen countertops? From granite to concrete to butcher block, there are dozens of options. Here's what you need to know about choosing kitchen countertops. (And if you're considering a kitchen remodel, be sure to download our FREE Essential Kitchen Design Checklist at lesleymyrick.com/freebies) #bustoutofboring

Congrats on remodeling your kitchen! Now - get ready for a tough few months. Yes, the outcome will be totally worth it, but the process totally sucks. Here's how to live through a kitchen remodel and keep your sanity. #bustoutofboring

Looking for bedroom update ideas? Since renovations usually aren't required, bedroom updates can be quick and easy. Here are 3 things that I recommend my clients update ASAP to refresh their bedrooms. Want a more complete bedroom makeover? I'd love to work with you to design the kickass bedroom of your dreams. Here's how: https://lesleymyrick.com/work-with-us/

We all know a comfy mattress is essential. But what about a headboard? Should you invest in an upholstered headboard, or is a wood or metal one comfortable? And, do you need a headboard or a full bed? SO MANY BED-RELATED QUESTIONS! Here's what type of headboard is best so that you can get a good night's sleep. #bustoutoutofboring ********************

Feeling overwhelmed with stuff? Moving into a smaller space? Viewer Lorna asked for ideas on how to downsize with style, and I’m sharing 3 tips to help you downsize and get organized, along with 3 tips to create a stylish small space. #busoutoutofboring ********************

Let's get comfy and talk about bedrooms. What's important to splurge on? What can you save on? And what pieces are a toss-up? Here's how to create a kickass bedroom design by investing in a few key pieces and saving on others. ********************

Now, don’t die of shock: while I love a bold paint color in the right place, most of my favorite go-to paint colors are neutrals. That’s right. Your color-loving designer pal has chosen white, greys, and even BEIGE as her favorites! There is a method to my madness, I promise. While a dramatic blue wall color can be awesome in certain rooms, most of the time your walls are best treated as the backdrop and not the center of attention. Paint is cheap, and is meant to highlight the other amazing parts of a room design. No one wants to invest thousands in gorgeous living room furnishings and decor only for their friends to comment on how much they loooooove that $30 wall color! So, what are my favorite paint colors? Listen in to today's #bustoutofboring with my picks for best paint colors. ********************

Love bold patterns, but a little freaked out about using them in your home decor? Here are 3 tips to mix patterns in a room, and the 5 places I like to use pattern in my clients' homes. ********************

Should you paint your room a light color, or a dark one? Don't dark colors make a room look smaller? And doesn't white always make a room look large and bright? Interior designer Lesley Myrick is busting a few myths about dark and light paint colors. ********************

Working with an interior designer? Here's what to expect from start to finish (and how we do things at Lesley Myrick Interior Design): ✌ 1. Complimentary video consultation call 2. Design Jumpstart session 3. Design Master Plan 4. Implementation 5. Room Reveal Listen in for an inside look at how an interior designer works. ********************

We talked in episode 97 about how much it costs to decorate a house - now, let's dive into how much it costs to hire an interior designer. There's a huge range out there, from $97 for a complete room design (which, btw, I call BS!) to a lot more. Here's what an interior designer costs - and how a designer can actually save you money on your design project. ********************

I've been in the interior design industry for 16 years, and have made a few mistakes. (Okay, I've made MANY mistakes.) From hiring terrible contractors to saying yes to projects that weren't a good fit to forgetting to follow up on orders, I've done it all and learned a lot along the way! But there's one interior design fail that I've done more than once, and have been learning my lesson over and over again. Here's what I did wrong - and how I'm fixing it. ********************

I bet you're dying to know how much it will cost to decorate your living room, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen. It seems like one of those well-guarded secrets, doesn't it? What are people actually investing in interior design? Get ready to kickstart your interior design project and plan your budget like a pro! Listen in to Lesley's tips and insight, and then head to lesleymyrick.com/freebies to download our super helpful guide with actual room-by-room furnishing budgets and printable worksheets. ********************

Working with an interior designer is exciting - but I know it can also feel intimidating. When you hire an interior designer there are a few things you should know that will make the most of your investment and make the design process smooth and enjoyable: 1. Complete any requested pre-meeting work 2. Gather and share your inspiration images 3. Prepare your questions ahead of time 4. Remember, your designer isn't judging you! 5. Trust your interior designer (and if you don't, they're not the right designer for you) ******************** Grab your FREE interior design budget guide, kitchen design checklist, and more at lesleymyrick.com/freebies. Catch the Bust Out of Boring show LIVE on the Lesley Myrick Art + Design Instagram page every Monday at 2pmET. Got a design question and need help busting out of a boring home? Send me a DM. Interested in starting a design project together? Learn more about working with Lesley Myrick Art + Design.

Want to know what drives me crazy? The fact that most ready-made curtain panels come in 7' lengths - which is way, WAY too short! Here's how high to hang curtains - and why you need longer curtains than you think. - For average 8' ceilings, split the difference between the top of the window frame and the bottom of the crown molding. - For high ceilings, hang curtains a little higher than halfway. - Curtains should have a 1/2" break on the floor (that means they should just barely touch). - If you have uneven floors, longer curtains will hide uneven floors. BONUS TIP: Also hang your curtains wider than your windows! Cheat the width to make your windows look larger. #bustoutofboring ******************** Grab your FREE interior design budget guide, kitchen design checklist, and more at lesleymyrick.com/freebies. Catch the Bust Out of Boring show LIVE on the Lesley Myrick Art + Design Instagram page every Monday at 2pmET. Got a design question and need help busting out of a boring home? Send me a DM. Interested in starting a design project together? Learn more about working with Lesley Myrick Art + Design

When designing a small space, we're tempted to use small furnishings and decor to make the room feel large - when in fact, the opposite is true! Too many small things look cluttered and chaotic. Using fewer, larger pieces will actually make a room feel larger and more expansive. Here are 3 small living room design ideas that have a BIG impact: 1. Choose a sectional and accent chair instead of a sofa 2. Use the largest rug possible 3. Go big with your art! ******************* Grab your FREE interior design budget guide, kitchen design checklist, and more at lesleymyrick.com/freebies. Catch the Bust Out of Boring show LIVE on the Lesley Myrick Art + Design Instagram page every Monday at 2pmET. Got a design question and need help busting out of a boring home? Send me a DM. Interested in starting a design project together? Learn more about working with Lesley Myrick Art + Design.

Decorating your living room well is a big investment, and if you add up the total cost of everything in your living room right now, it's probably more than you'd guess! There are many things worth splurging on and investing in, but there are opportunities to get creative and save too. Here's what to splurge on (and what to save on) in your living room. #bustoutofboring ******************** Grab your FREE interior design budget guide, kitchen design checklist, and more at lesleymyrick.com/freebies. Catch the Bust Out of Boring show LIVE on the Lesley Myrick Art + Design Instagram page and YouTube channel every Monday at 2pmET. Got a design question and need help busting out of a boring home? Send me a DM. Interested in starting a design project together? Learn more about working with Lesley Myrick Art + Design.

Buying a sofa is a big freaking deal. How do you know if you're getting good value for the price? What the heck are 8-way hand-tied springs? And do you need performance fabric? Today we're demystifying sofa buying with 5 things to look for when buying a sofa. ******************** Grab your FREE interior design budget guide, kitchen design checklist, and more at lesleymyrick.com/freebies. Catch the Bust Out of Boring show LIVE on the Lesley Myrick Art + Design Instagram page and YouTube channel every Monday at 2pmET. Got a design question and need help busting out of a boring home? Send me a DM. Interested in starting a design project together? Learn more about working with Lesley Myrick Art + Design.

Online shopping is where it's at, especially now. Consumers are getting more and more confident making big purchases online, and that includes furniture. But how can you make sure that you're making the right choice for your home? Here are 5 mistakes people make when buying furniture online - and how to avoid them. ******************** Grab your FREE interior design budget guide, kitchen design checklist, and more at lesleymyrick.com/freebies. Catch the Bust Out of Boring show LIVE on the Lesley Myrick Art + Design Instagram page and YouTube channel every Monday at 2pmET. Got a design question and need help busting out of a boring home? Send me a DM. Interested in starting a design project together? Learn more about working with Lesley Myrick Art + Design.

Curious about how to become an interior designer? I took the traditional route (ie. via design school) but that's definitely not the only way to do it! Here's how to become an interior designer, whether you plan to get a design degree or want to dive into design as a second career. ******************** Grab your FREE interior design budget guide, kitchen design checklist, and more at lesleymyrick.com/freebies. Catch the Bust Out of Boring show LIVE on the Lesley Myrick Art + Design Instagram page and YouTube channel every Monday at 2pmET. Got a design question and need help busting out of a boring home? Send me a DM. Interested in starting a design project together? Learn more about working with Lesley Myrick Art + Design.