Design Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated: How to Make Home Design Fun and Attainable
Design Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated: How to Make Home Design Fun and Attainable
Let’s be honest—interior design can feel overwhelming. Between Pinterest perfection, HGTV makeovers, and designer price tags, it’s easy to believe that a beautiful home is out of reach unless you have a huge budget and a team of professionals.
But here’s the truth: design should feel fun. Not intimidating. And definitely not exclusive.
At Erika Demshar Design, I believe great design is for everyone—yes, even you’re juggling kids, work, pets, and Target runs. You don’t need a complete renovation or brand-new furniture to love your space. You just need the right eye, a little creativity, and a designer who gets real life.
Here’s how I make home design fun and attainable for everyday people:
1. We Use What You Already Have
Design doesn’t always mean buying more. Sometimes it’s about rearranging furniture, layering textures, or styling what’s already there in a new way. You’d be amazed what a little zhuzh can do.
2. We Mix High and Low
Not everything has to be luxury to look elevated. I love mixing HomeGoods treasures with heirloom pieces or big-box basics with custom touches. It’s about balance—and making smart choices that reflect your style.
3. We Design for Real Life
Yes, you can have a stylish home and live in it. Your space should be functional, flexible, and reflect your lifestyle—not fight against it. I always design with practicality in mind, so nothing feels too precious to use.
4. We Focus on Feeling
I don’t just want your home to look good—I want it to feel right. Whether that’s calm, cozy, creative, or energizing depends on you. That’s why every project starts with understanding how you want to feel in your space.
Design Is Personal—And That’s the Magic
You don’t need to follow trends or impress anyone else. Your home should be a reflection of you—the real, evolving, beautiful version. And if you’re not sure where to start? That’s what I’m here for.
Design is about joy, creativity, and creating a space you love to come home to.
Let’s make it feel fun again.
The Pillow Trick: 5 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Space Without Starting Over
The Pillow Trick: 5 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Space Without Starting Over
Sometimes, the smallest changes make the biggest impact—and when it comes to refreshing a space, pillows are my go-to secret weapon. They’re easy to swap, fun to mix, and the right ones can completely transform a room without replacing a single piece of furniture.
I always say: you don’t need to start from scratch—you just need a fresh perspective… and maybe a few great pillows.
Here are five simple ways to use pillows to give your home a quick, affordable, and beautiful refresh:
1. Play with Pattern & Texture
Mixing patterns and textures keeps your space from feeling flat. Try pairing a bold print with a soft velvet or a chunky woven pillow. The key? Balance. Anchor one wild card print with a couple of neutrals or solids to ground the look. And be sure there is one set that is matchy-matchy!
2. Vary Your Sizes & Shapes
Square pillows are great—but mixing in a lumbar, oversized square, or round cushion adds dimension and interest. Try a 24x24 pillow behind a smaller 20x20 or a lumbar in front of two classic squares. Layers = coziness.
3. Use Down Inserts
The difference between a sad pillow and a designer-looking one? A plush, down-filled insert that’s slightly larger than the cover (think: 22” insert for a 20” cover). And yes, I’m team chop—it gives the pillow that satisfying, styled-but-soft look.
4. Switch with the Seasons
Pillows are the perfect way to reflect the changing seasons without committing to a whole new color scheme. Think: light linens and soft tones in spring, warm velvets and deeper hues in fall. It’s like a mini makeover every few months.
5. Have Fun With It
Seriously—this is the part of design that should feel playful. If a pillow makes you smile, if it adds personality, if it says you? It belongs. Your home is meant to reflect you, not follow a rulebook.
My Favorite Places to Shop for Pillows:
HomeGoods (treasure hunt finds!)
Target (great staples with a designer look)
World Market (textures + global patterns)
Amazon (budget-friendly covers + inserts)
(Affiliate links coming soon!)
The Everyday Designer Takeaway:
You don’t need a full redesign to make your home feel fresh. Sometimes all it takes is a few new pillows and a little styling magic. If you're feeling stuck or unsure how to pull it all together, that’s where I come in.
Let’s refresh your space—simply, affordably, and beautifully.
Redefining My Path: The Journey to Becoming Your Everyday Designer
Redefining My Path: The Journey to Becoming Your Everyday Designer
There are moments in life when everything shifts—and while it may not feel like it in the moment, those pivots often lead us exactly where we’re meant to go. That’s what happened to me.
For years, I co-owned a successful home staging company. I poured my heart, creativity, and energy into that business, helping real estate agents and homeowners bring out the best in their spaces. I loved it. But sometimes, even something we love runs its course—or shifts in a way we didn’t see coming.
When that partnership ended, I found myself at a crossroads. I had a choice: either let it define me or use it as fuel to rebuild on my own terms. It wasn’t easy. There was grief, uncertainty, and honestly, some fear. But there was also a quiet voice inside telling me: You were made for this. Keep going.
So I did.
And from that space, Erika Demshar Design – Your Everyday Designer was born.
This isn’t just a business—it’s a reflection of everything I’ve learned, everything I value, and everything I believe home should be. I’m not here to sell you a version of perfection. I’m here to help you create a home that feels like you—warm, lived-in, evolving, and deeply personal.
I believe in accessible design that’s beautiful but livable. That mixing a HomeGoods gem with a cherished heirloom can be just as impactful as any high-end investment. That sometimes all it takes is a little rearranging, a new perspective, and someone who truly listens.
As Your Everyday Designer, I work with real people in real homes—offering refreshes, styling, and design guidance that meet you where you are. Whether it’s choosing the right paint color, zhuzhing up a room, or creating a whole new look using what you already have—I’m here to help you love your space again.
This journey has taught me that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is begin again. And this time, I’m doing it with full heart, clear purpose, and a deep passion for creating spaces that feel like home.
Thank you for being here. I’m so excited to help you design your space—and your story—one beautiful layer at a time.