5 Smart Tips to Create Your Dream Home, From a TikTok Designer

If you’ve spent any time on design TikTok, then you’ve surely come across interior designer and TikTok creator Julie Jones.

This California-based interior design pro is known for her approachable and easy-to-follow videos, covering everything from space-planning to room makeovers.

We were thrilled to connect with Jones recently and ask for her key tips for turning our homes into our own dream spaces—and she shared one in particular that completely made us rethink our design plans.

Design and Plan First Before Decorating

Jones says one of the biggest things she wants people to know is that there’s a big difference between designing and decorating—which we didn’t realize, until now.

Designing and space planning should always take priority, Jones explains, before you layer in your decor. Otherwise, you run the risk of adding extra things into a space that isn’t well mapped out, and that can easily lead to a visual mess.

“If we’re just talking aesthetics, this should come after nailing down our needs,” Jones tells us. “Then the decor is all down to personal preference.”

Don’t let space planning intimidate you—Jones assures us it’s not difficult at all. While there are free online programs that can help, all you need is some graph paper, a pencil, and a tape measure. 

“Treat every square as a foot and start drawing,” Jones says. “Draw the bed shape on one wall with the nightstands. Then try it on another wall, and another wall. Assess where it works and doesn’t work.”

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Define Your Preferences

Once your room is mapped out, Jones suggests a style quiz to help you get started with your decor plans.

There are many to be found online, and she even offers a free option on her website. Having taken the quiz myself, I learned my aesthetic is cottagecore meets maximalist—so I can confirm its accuracy. 

Jones says pinning down her clients’ style is the key to her success—because, as she points out, her must-haves will look different than your must-haves. 

“Every space I design looks different,” she says. “There’s so much diversity in the decor world, it’s really hard to define. I like to curate my clients’ style because it’s all personal.”

Keep Sentimental Items

As you assess your room and your personal style, it’s natural that you’ll want to offload things that no longer work or align with your defined aesthetic. But, Jones says it’s okay to keep things that make you happy. 

“Art is all subjective,” she says. “What I like doesn’t matter at all—a client could hate what I like. I can enjoy and appreciate what someone else enjoys.”

With this in mind, Jones says she’s worked with plenty of clients who held onto sentimental pieces that were non-negotiable. In this case, she likes to start with these pieces and work with them—not against them.

“Adjust your color palette to match your must-haves,” she says.

Pin Down the Big-Ticket Items

If you’re starting in a room from scratch, Jones says the big-ticket items, like your sofa or your bed, are the best place to start. This is especially true if you have a tight budget.

“Let’s say you need a green sofa that seats three people—start there,” Jones says. “There are millions of rugs, but there aren’t a million green sofas that match style, function, and budget.”

From there, build on what you have, layering on top of your foundational pieces and colors and working down to decorative items that offer the most variety, like art, pillows, and rugs. 

Another reason this method works? The most expensive items are also likely to be the biggest pieces in your room. 

“Sofas and chairs are more likely to be solid blocks of color, while other accents allow you to play with pattern and texture,” Jones says. 

Combine Your Color Palette

If you’re working with a room that just feels off, Jones suggests assessing your color palette and streamlining it if necessary. 

“So many disconnected rooms feel that way because they’re disconnected in their colors,” Jones says. “Eyes catch color, then shape, then style.”

One good trick is to look at the dominant colors in your room. Then, look for accent pieces that combine those colors—this is the best way to make a room look intentional and cohesive.

“If you have a green sofa and a cream chair, try to find green and cream combined in other pieces, like pillows and artwork,” Jones says.