Faux wood blinds a design secret for sophisticated rooms

Interior designer Candice Olson recently sat down with The Detroit Free Press to discuss her life as a premier home decorator. She also shared some of her personal favorite design tricks.

Chief among them was lighting, which Olson suggests can improve the appearance of other parts of the room so that they look more refined. She also touched on the biggest mistake that homeowners make.

"A lot of time, people don't do a reality check. They see something in a magazine that they like. But does it work for your lifestyle?" she told the news provider.

That is Olson's motto when she is designing any room - personality. The home should be a unique living space that reflects each individual's tastes.

She informed the news source that currently, one of the most popular trends is contemporary designs with natural materials, a combination which can add a soft, warm feeling to any room.

Homeowners looking to spruce up their living space may want to consider new window treatments as well. Faux wood blinds are another design trick - they have the appearance of wood blinds, but are more affordable and made from durable, synthetic material.