Explore five fall interior design ideas from Erica Hendrix of Erica Lea Design Studios that enhance lifestyles and cater to the routines of highly successful people.
Sep 2024
Fall is back! With schedules, routines and school starting, it’s the perfect time to restructure and beautify the lifestyle you want to embrace. “At Erica Lea Interior Design Studios, we want to encourage intentional routines in spaces designed to foster the positive habits you want to emphasize in your life,” Owner Erica Hendrix says.
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Erica Lea Interior Design Studios’ goal is to provide clients with an exciting design experience and a beautifully finished project. Their process is intended to make the home reflect the client’s unique story and serve as a backdrop for a lifetime of unforgettable moments. “A poorly designed home has the opportunity to negatively dictate the way you live,” Hendrix says. “A well-designed home is life-giving and gives you the power to enhance and elevate your lifestyle, hopes, dreams, habits and goals.”
When it comes to revamping your routine to elevate your lifestyle, the team at Erica Lea Design Studios has five top tips, like adding a bedroom coffee station, using books as decor and displaying beautiful dishware.
1. Jumpstart Your Morning Routine with a Bedroom Coffee Station
For a successful morning routine, add a coffee station in your bedroom—it’s easier to rise when the coffee is being brewed nearby. “It’s difficult to leave the comfort and warmth of my soft sheets in the morning,” Hendrix says. “What makes it better? Smelling and hearing the coffee pot begin to brew.”
Tip from Hendrix: Place breakfast items in an easy-to-reach location for kids, too.
2. Elevate Your Space and Reading Habits by Showcasing Books as Decor
Use books for decor—not just the pretty ones, but the ones you want to read. Display them on end tables or other easily accessible spots, so you’re always within reach of your next great read. “I find places on my nightstand, cocktail table or console table near my favorite reading chair,” Hendrix says. When they are visible and easy to grab, it’s easier to read routinely.
Tip from Hendrix: Find some stylish bookends, or stack a couple of books on their sides, arranged by size, with a small object on top. You could even place a few on a decorative tray. Using books this way not only adds character to your space but also tells your guests what interests you, bringing your story to life and sparking meaningful conversations.
3. Simplify Family Cooking with Clean Spaces and Custom Cabinets
When cooking with family, clean spaces make cooking easier. Minimize clutter with well-designed pantries, stations and hidden appliances.
Most custom cabinet shops have great sources for this. Making a list of the small appliances you use and taking that list with you to a cabinet meeting is incredibly helpful. Together with your custom cabinet design team, you can find ways to functionally hide these items making your kitchen appear tidy for family cook time.
Tip from Hendrix: Drawers on the lower cabinets are a game changer. If you’ve ever had doors on the bottom, you know the struggle of getting on your hands and knees, shifting everything around just to reach that one thing hiding away in the back.
4. Find Balance by Reducing the TV’s Presence in Your Living Space
Watching too much TV? Stop orienting all your furniture toward the television. By minimizing the TV’s presence, you’ll likely watch it less. Dedicate a space in the basement for intentional movie watching and keep the living room TV small for a more balanced living space.
Tip from Hendrix: If you don’t want to make TV your life, make it less convenient to watch habitually. Minimize the TV’s presence by avoiding it as a focal point, and consider whether you really need a massive screen. With a great home theater, you’ll find yourself being much more intentional about the TV you choose to watch.
5. Effortless Entertaining with Accessible and Stylish Dish Displays
Entertaining is a breeze when everything is accessible, not tucked away or crammed into cabinets. Display your delicate dishes in easy-to-reach spots, making it simple to enjoy both stylish living and effortless entertaining. “Find out what style your home is, and look for ways to be true to style and accessible,” Hendrix says.
Tip from Hendrix: Built-in hutches designed to showcase your china, butler’s pantries with functional linen storage and spots for easy-to-reach teacups make serving a joy. The key is accessibility. If your pieces are beautiful, find a spot where they can be both seen and easily reached. Let your dishes do the talking—just arrange and style them beautifully.
