7 Best Decorating Tips Designers Learned From Their Moms

Mother's Day is just around the corner—a time of year that can bring both celebration and reflection. For those who find their sense of home in people rather than place, a mother is often at the center. Her influence helps shape the decisions we make in the spaces we create for ourselves and our loved ones.

Home and family go hand-in-hand, so ahead of Mother's Day, we spoke to two interior designers who have built their firms' techniques and principles around the decorating lessons they learned from their moms over the years.

Meet the Experts

• Nina Lichtenstein is the founder and principal home designer at Custom Home Design by Nina Lichtenstein, based in New York, specializing in interior design, renovation, and creating family homes inspired by nature.

• Soni Mehra is the founder, CEO, and creative director of Marble Lotus: a South Asian home decor brand, and principal designer at Marble Lotus Interiors.

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Mixing the Old with the New

"Growing up, my mom taught me the art of mixing old and new elements in interior design. She has such a knack for blending family heirlooms or vintage finds with modern furnishings and creating spaces with character and depth. This approach adds layers of history and personal significance to a room, and it's a technique I still love to use." —Nina Lichtenstein, Custom Home Design by Nina Lichtenstein 

Finding Beauty in Simplicity

"One of the most important lessons I learned from my mother is the value of simplicity in design. She taught me the value of decluttering and keeping spaces tidy, always emphasizing the beauty of clean lines and uncluttered surfaces. Taking a more minimalist approach to your home decor, routine, and lifestyle instantly creates a sense of calm and balance in any room you step into." —Nina Lichtenstein, Custom Home Design by Nina Lichtenstein 

Paying Homage to Heritage

"My mother actually taught me about our culture through design. When we would go to India every summer, she would take me to local textile shops and teach me about all the different types of fabric, and we would play a game where I would try to guess which fabric was which by the feel of it.

"There is so much history and heritage that can be portrayed through textiles and in home design techniques specific to where your family is from and where you and your parents or grandparents grew up. Learning to appreciate my roots and finding comfort and culture through the home inspired me to start a South Asian decor brand of my own, so I’m forever grateful to my mom for teaching me about it." —Soni Mehra, Marble Lotus

Comforting Corners Through Angles

"When I was planning my living room while decorating my very first apartment, one design tip I learned from my mom was to always angle objects and furniture when deciding a room's layout. This builds dimension, depth, and layers within each corner of your home, and creates a considered yet comforting, lived-in feel." —Soni Mehra, Marble Lotus

Creating a Cohesive Color Scheme

"Another simple yet effective interior design tip I learned from my mom is to match colors in decor, soft furnishings, and artwork to the architecture and materials used in the home, like the bricks in the fireplace or warm wooden floors. By coordinating your curtains, cushions, and artwork to the natural composition of your home, or elements of decor with one another, you instantly create a cohesive and elevated look." —Soni Mehra, Marble Lotus

Prioritizing Comfort

"My mom always prioritized comfort and functionality in design when it came to our home, which I have embraced as a fundamental principle when working with my clients. Whether it's choosing cozy seating, soft textiles, or ergonomic layouts, my mom always emphasizes the importance of creating spaces that are warm and inviting, and feel comfortable for everyday living and hosting." —Nina Lichtenstein, Custom Home Design by Nina Lichtenstein 

Making it Personal

"Above all, my mother taught me the value of making a space personal and meaningful. Moms decorate spaces with personal touches, family photographs, and cherished mementos that tell a story. This lesson inspires me to create spaces for my clients that truly reflect the lifestyle and personality of the occupants." —Nina Lichtenstein, Custom Home Design by Nina Lichtenstein 

Read Next: 67 Thoughtful Gifts to Honor Mom on Mother's Day

Read the original article on The Spruce.