15 Whimsical Decorating Ideas To Infuse Your Home With Personality

Full of bright hues, fun patterns and smile-inducing designs, it's no wonder whimsical style is trending. If you love maximialist decor and want your home to reflect your personality, be a little bit playful and ooze charm and color, then this decorating trend is definitely for you. Read on for designer-approved ways to inject whimsy into your home.

Make a statement from the moment guests step onto your stoop, like designer Jenna Pilant did with her San Diego home. The front door is painted a rainbow of brilliant hues that make it both funky and functional. A doormat reading "I want to be where the people aren't" adds just the right amount of kitsch — a key element in any whimsical design.

Whimsical design is all about zhuzhing up every corner of your home, including your staircase. Homeowner and chair designer Wendy Conklin made her's a major statement by applying Matisse-inspired wallpaper to the risers. You could also stick on decals or paint a pattern with a stencil to give your staircase equal oomph. “Life is too short not to surround yourself with spaces you’ve lovingly created and put yourself into,” says Wendy. “It brings a lot of joy.”

Your home should express your personality, so if you love color, why not incorporate it? That's exactly what designer Leah Steen did for her clients in this Seattle home. Bold blue butterfly wallpaper and bright red chairs make this dining room extra eye-catching. “I like to have as much going on as possible,” says homeowner Jessica Cantlin.

Making your own statement art is an easy, quick and affordable way to add whimsy to your space. Designer Jo Gick gave her daughter's room a playful update by painting two cactus cutouts and attaching them to the shiplap wall behind her bed. 3-D flowers make the cacti lifelike — without the painful prickles.

Whether it's an eccentric table lamp or a grand chandelier, lighting is one of the best ways to make a whimsical impact in your home. Woven shades strung on a rainbow of cords are an eye-catching alternative to a multi-arm pendant in this dining area. The abstract quilt from the '70s doubles as art on the wall and adds to the room's quirky style.

Whimsy can be crafted in the most cookie-cutter spaces with a careful balance of pattern and texture, like in this magical room. The ceiling gives the feel of being inside a glamorous fort thanks to perfectly draped jungle-print fabric. "My design approach with the tent is that it had to be relaxed and bohemian. I didn't want perfect pleats or a tense-looking drape," says designer Cheryl Settino. Burnt orange millwork breaks up the pattern-filled space and grounds the design.

Powder rooms are some of the best spots to embrace whimsy. They're small and can be shut off from the rest of your home by simply closing the door, so they're a good place to take some risks. Designer Michelle Gage maxed out this stunning half bath with floor-to-ceiling flamingo wallpaper. To keep this guest-frequented space from crossing into over-the-top territory, she paired it with a classic round mirror and pedestal sink.

There's something magical about a niche outfitted with a cushy seat and cozy throw pillows for adults and kids alike. The designers at Butter Lutz Interiors created a dreamy playspace for jewelry designer Kendra Scott's kids that's perfect for rainy afternoons. The custom bunk bed houses a cool circular reading nook and three small fish tanks!

Whimsical decor is about making a mark on every element of your home — from switchplates to bedding to lamp shades. Unique details like the Tiffany blue trim, scalloped range hood, mosaic tile floors and star-shaped vents have just as much impact as the head-turning pink cabinets in this charming kitchen.

A plain kitchen or tired bathroom are chances to inject new life with fun flooring. Designer Diana Weinstein suggested painting a tile-inspired design on the wood floor of this New Jersey kitchen. If her clients tire of the look in the future, they can sand it off — but for now, they love the extra jolt of whimsy. “As soon as you step in, you think, Oh this is fun!” homeowner Pam Bernstein told HGTV Magazine. You can also temporarily spice up your flooring with peel-and-stick tiles.

Art is a way to set the tone for your entire space. Bright pop art creates a whimsical vibe in this playful NYC apartment. Black-and-white polka dot wallpaper amps up the design. “When you start talking about it out loud, people think it sounds like a circus,” says designer Joe Human. “But it’s one of the more fun, creative projects I’ve worked on. It’s so stimulating, but it’s also very homey and really fits [my client's] personality.”

When mixing and matching patterns, make sure to consider scale, color and shape. Geometric wallpaper plays well with the patterned rug in this home office thanks to the different scales and similar blue-and-white palette. Solid dusty rose curtains and a matching mid-mod chandelier are a nice break for the eyes among the sea of shapes, but homeowner Katie Brindell loves the engery in this room. "No one likes to work in a boring space," she told HGTV Magazine. "I wanted my creativity to be flowing when I was in this room."

An important part of whimsical decor is embracing your inner-child, and that means going back to the basics. Color-blocked rectangles were a simple addition to the wall in this maximalist Atlanta condo that made a big impact. The lime green rectangle provides the perfect backdrop for a funky piece of art, while the primary blue section serves as a mat for the mounted plush flamingo head (that the homeowner spotted at a children's store).

Any whimsical space should evoke a sense of joy — and who hasn't smiled while sitting on a swing? The designers of this expansive playroom brought that light-hearted feeling inside by hanging a pair of wooden disc swings. Swiss cross decals highlight the interesting ceiling shape, while a mountain of throw pillows are perfect settling down for story time (or an epic pillow fight).