Life Kit Smart home decoration tips from designer Vern Yip
31 snips
Nov 4, 2025 
Vern Yip, an acclaimed architectural and interior designer known for Trading Spaces and author of Color, Pattern, Texture, dives into the art of personalizing home spaces. He emphasizes the importance of defining a room's purpose and emotion, and how involving everyone in the design process can lead to harmonious decisions. Yip shares the concept of creating an inspiration box and suggests incorporating personal items to enhance positivity. He also highlights the value of gradual decorating and budget-friendly tips like thrifting to create meaningful, lasting designs.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Family Heirlooms Shaped His Taste
- Vern grew up surrounded by a few meaningful family possessions his parents brought from China.
- He still displays them to pass cultural meaning to his children and add layers of meaning to his home.
Define Purpose And Include Others
- Decide what you want a room to be and how you want to feel in it before changing anything.
- Include everyone who uses the space and compromise on major, permanent choices first.
Compromise On Permanence First
- Find the intersection of tastes when sharing a space and agree on permanent items like tile or flooring first.
- Let individuals express themselves with temporary pieces like pillows or towels later.
