The Common Household Item Design Star Judge Vern Yip Loves To Decorate With

Decorating your home is always a huge undertaking, no matter the size of your space. When asked why decorating is so difficult, "Design Star" judge Vern Yip said, "I think people just get paralyzed. It's like a big thing to think about, so they get scared. But there are some simple rules that you can really enact," via YouTube. One of these rules, according to Yip, is to replace many smaller items with fewer larger pieces. "I love bigger-scale pieces that have strength," he explains, per HGTV. This will create more of a vacation-like feel, one of Yip's main design goals. 

Another tip is to utilize items you already own as decorations, which could help you feel less fearful of making a design mistake. Yip often uses one common household item in his spaces. Below, you'll discover what this item is and how to use it as décor in your home.

Vern Yip is no stranger to interior design books; in fact, he's written two of his own. In an interview with Atlanta Magazine about his first book, "Vern Yip's Design Wise: Your Smart Guide To A Beautiful Home," he says, "There are two kinds of design books available. There are those with lots of information, but they're hard to digest. And then there are vanity tomes, which are beautiful and relaxing to peruse, but not helpful. I wanted to write a book that is balanced. It had to be functional and aesthetically pleasing." According to Yip, these are the types of books he loves to decorate with. While they don't have to be about interior design specifically, they should provide useful information while also appearing aesthetic. 

According to HGTV, Yip loves books because they have a purpose and provide personality. When discussing what items to use when decorating, he says, "You want things that have character and soul," which are often found at places like thrift stores or flea markets. "Buy things that have meaning, that you love and that are tied to your environment." What better object to choose than a book filled with knowledge about a subject you adore?

Yip says, "I love books that are related to where I am. I can learn something new every time I pick a book up," per HGTV. He often stacks literature in large piles around his home. This is also a great way to use large items as decorative pieces. If you own oversized books, stack them on a surface to make the décor appear grand, and place smaller pieces on top of the stack to elevate the items and ground them to their surface. Yip has done this in some of his own living spaces. For instance, Atlanta Magazine showcased a few images of his home in Brookwood Hills, and some of them featured many large stacks of books placed on the coffee table and other counters. 

Another tip when decorating with books is to try to create an orderly design. Yip explains that he loves symmetry and often creates groupings of the same item around his space. Consider adding similar books in multiple places around a room to add order to your design.