Your home is a reflection of your personal style. It’s a place where you can relax, show guests your personality and interests, and enjoy a beautiful sanctuary that uplifts you each day. Naturally, you want your home to be comfortable, but you also want it to be stylish and inspiring.

In today’s home decorating guide, discover easy ways to elevate your home with wall art and decor to help you create a home that exudes your taste and style. Learn tips on how to create an atmosphere that both you and your guests will enjoy for years to come.

When decorating your home, the first place to begin is by choosing a decor theme. Whether you opt for bright and vibrant, neutral and minimal, modern or classic, opt for a style that reflects your personal taste.

For example, if you love the tranquil and serene feeling that a coastal theme provides, there are a number of ways to incorporate this home decor trend into your space without going overboard on the nautical look. Using a beach house theme as an example, here are easy-to-follow tips that you can use to create this style of space.

To start with, measure the space to determine the size and scale of the furniture that will comfortably fit in the room. Naturally, if you’re decorating a bedroom, you’ll need to have a bed (or at least a daybed, if you’re tight on space), a clothes dresser, a bookshelf (if possible – to display books and decorative pieces), and a chair with a side table and lamp.

After you have chosen your furniture, the next step is to hang beautiful framed prints that denote a beach landscape. Not only does this type of wall art instantly transport your imagination to a relaxing place, but it also is a great way to decorate a guest room (so that your guests instantly feel like they’re on vacation). For example, the framed aerial beach shot featured above makes a bold statement on any wall, while still creating a calming atmosphere in the space.

When shopping for artwork, not only will you want to choose pieces that inspire and speak to you (they should give you a feeling that you enjoy every time you see them), but they also have to fit in with the decor theme and space you have. For example, if you have high ceilings, opt for large-scale pieces that fill in the blank wall. The key is to choose the right size artwork for the wall you are decorating. As an alternative to opting for one large piece of artwork, you can also create a gallery wall filled with a variety of smaller framed artwork.

After you decorate blank walls with artwork, then you can move on to filling-in bookshelves and table surfaces with decor, books, and accessories. Opt for books and decor pieces that feature the colors that you have chosen for your theme. For example, natural hues (such as whites, tans, browns, greens, and blues) are ideal for coastal-themed decor.

Make sure to have ample seating areas so that either you or your guests can unwind and relax. Whether they’re putting on shoes or just sitting down to read a book, having designated seating areas in each room is a must-have. If you are limited in space, you can opt for streamlined pieces, such as a small side table and a chair.

Bring your space to life with fresh plants. Not only do greenery and foliage add natural color and vibrancy to any room, but it also helps to circulate the air by boosting oxygen. So, it’s both visually appealing while also adding a health benefit to your home.

When choosing objects, think about both form and function. While your artwork is solely designed to create a visual impact on a space (whether it’s to inspire you, motivate you, or relax you), other home decor accessories (such as storage boxes, bookends, and trays) can serve as a dual-function, making them both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

Whether you’re decorating a living room, a bedroom, or even a guest room – always opt for comfortable materials that feel good to touch. Organic materials (like natural linens and brushed cotton), sumptuous fabrics (such as cashmere and faux fur), and added pieces like pillows and throws add a cozy feeling to any space.

Last, but certainly not least, decorative objects (such as charming fish sculptures or seashell-shaped bookends) finish the overall look of the space.

If you’re looking to refresh and update the look of your home, check out FineArtAmerica.com, as they carry a wide range of affordable wall art online. From renowned photographers like Slim Aarons (featured below) and iconic landscape shots (such as McWay Falls in Big Sur, pictured below) to world-famous illustrations and paintings (in all types of genres), they offer a large selection of framed and unframed pieces that suit all types of budgets. To get you started, below are some of the coastal-themed pieces that they carry that would be perfect for a beach house decor theme.

As you can see, elevating your home can be an easy and effortless experience when you have a vision and plan in place.

[Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Fine Art America. All opinions are my own.]