What can’t Kristie do? She’s an established psychologist turned successful interior designer/entrepreneur, who authors an addictively intriguing and well-written design blog, The Decorologist. As a real estate staging and interior styling consultant, Kristie started her business six years ago with the goal of transforming houses and lives using her impressive background paired with an inspired eye for design. We were lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with the fabulous Kristie Barnett, founder of The Decorologist…

What inspired you to enter the design field?

I was a psychologist for 11 years, but I always found my joy in decorating. I simply never considered pursuing it as a career, especially when I had invested so much time, effort and money into psychology. But there comes a time when you discover you only live once, and NOW is the best time to pursue your passion. So I just started running in the other direction and did everything I could to make up for lost time. Six years later, I can’t imagine doing anything else!

Your business model is truly unique. Can you explain the services you offer your clients?

I stage houses to sell and style houses to live. They are two very different things – but my psychology background is crucial in both! They are similar, however, in that I am always focused on creating emotional attachments in every space I work – whether that’s with potential buyers walking into a home for the first time, or a homeowner who is looking for a deeper connection with their own space. I try to get inside the heads of my own clients so that I help them create a space that becomes their sanctuary, their soft spot to land. I also love teaching people how to make their homes a creative expression of their family, without spending a fortune on things that will mean nothing to them in the long run.

What’s the most rewarding part of your work?

There is nothing more rewarding than to hear that I have changed an entire family’s life. For me, decorating a home is as much about making a home personal and functional as it is about making it pretty. I have had children tell me how much happier their house is since I came, and there’s nothing better than that!

What’s your advice for others in this business?

If you don’t love it, don’t do it. You’ll burn out fast. Be prepared to work many, many hours before you start making any money. There are no short-cuts.

Do you have any news you’d like to share with our readers?

In February, I’m launching a monthly newsletter that will only be available to my email subscribers. I hope to share insider decoration instruction that you just don’t find on most blogs.

What’s one thing you could not live without?

Books. I read as much as possible, but books are also my favorite decorating accessories. Not only can they be beautiful, they also say a lot about who you are and what’s important to you.

What’s your favorite…

Room in your house and why? My living room because it’s the most comforting, lovely place I know
Thing to do outside of work? Going to estate and yard sales, historic home tours, reading historical fiction
Dream travel destination? Anywhere hot with a beach

And now an exclusive tip from Kristie herself…
How to Create A Color Palette for Your Home

There are several different ways to go about choosing a color palette for your home, but I find many people need help figuring out how to incorporate varying colors and still get the “flow.”Flow just refers to how the colors transition as you walk from room to room, without feeling jarred or surprised (in a bad way). Some people who want their rooms to flow get overwhelmed and just pick a neutral and paint all the rooms the same color.

Tsk, tsk. You can be more creative than that! Here is my formula for creating a color palette that provides both variation and a pleasing flow of color:

• Start with 3 colors that you like plus a neutral white/off-white. Now, decide which of the 3 colors are your favorite – that’s your living room color.
• Determine how light or dark you’d like your colors to be. This will affect the overall feeling of your home – peaceful, happy, dramatic, cozy, whatever you are going for.
• From each of those three colors, choose a shade that has similar value – so you will have 3 light colors, 3 medium colors, or 3 dark colors.
• Now choose a neutral white/off-white that looks good with all three colors. Watch out that the undertones work with all 3 colors!
• Use these colors in different combinations and applications throughout the main living area of your home.

Let’s say we choose light versions of green, yellow and blue. In one room, you might do walls in the first color (green) and white trim. In the next, you do walls in the second color (yellow) with green trim or ceiling.

You add in the third color (blue) in yet another room, but use accents of the first two colors (green and yellow).

Some rooms may be just one of the colors (yellow) and white.

And one might be primarily white with accents of the other two colors (blue and green).

In this way, you can achieve an overall sense of flow throughout your home without becoming bored with look-a-like rooms. If you need help establishing your own color palette, contact The Decorologist to help you create flow in your home. Admitting you need help is the first step in transforming your home life!

Visit The Decorologist here!