Founder & Design Editor

Sloane Whitaker

Sloane spent years as an interior stylist watching people freeze up over paint chips and sofa choices, and founded Orlandy to take the fear out of decorating. She believes a good home isn't about a big budget or a magazine-perfect finish — it's about spaces that feel like you. She writes with warmth, a stylist's eye, and a deep dislike of design snobbery.

Articles

31 articles by Sloane

A serene Japandi room with low natural-wood furniture, soft neutral textiles, and a single ceramic vase

Styles 5 min read

What Is Japandi Style? A Calm and Warm Guide

Discover what Japandi style is, how it blends Japanese serenity with Scandinavian warmth, and simple ways to bring its grounded calm into a room.

Sloane Whitaker

A balanced living room layout with a sofa, chairs, and rug arranged around a focal point

Rooms 5 min read

How to Plan a Room Layout That Actually Feels Right

A great layout is felt before it's seen. A step-by-step way to plan furniture placement around focal points, flow, and how you really use a room.

Sloane Whitaker

A personal, layered living room mixing favorite colors, treasured objects, art, and comfortable seating

Styles 5 min read

How to Find Your Personal Design Style With Confidence

A warm, practical guide to discovering your personal design style by noticing what you already love, ignoring trends, and building a home that feels like you.

Sloane Whitaker

A refinished wooden dresser being upcycled with fresh paint, new hardware, and sanding tools nearby.

Budget 5 min read

How to Upcycle Old Furniture

Tired, dated furniture is full of potential. A practical guide to upcycling old pieces with paint, hardware, and new finishes for a fraction of buying new.

Sloane Whitaker

Open shelving styled with stacked books, ceramics, a small plant, and intentional open space.

Decorating 5 min read

How to Style Shelves Like a Pro

Stylists make shelves look effortless with a handful of simple moves. Learn to arrange books, objects, and open space so your shelves look pulled together.

Sloane Whitaker

A handsome wooden sideboard with closed cabinet doors and open shelving holding baskets and books in a tidy room.

Furniture 5 min read

How to Choose Storage Furniture

The right storage furniture clears clutter without crowding the room. A warm, practical guide to choosing pieces that hide the mess and still look good.

Sloane Whitaker

A welcoming living room furnished thoughtfully with a mix of new and secondhand pieces

Budget 5 min read

Smart Ways to Save When Furnishing a Home

Furnishing a home does not have to drain your savings. A practical, room-by-room guide to spending wisely, shopping secondhand, and knowing what to skip.

Sloane Whitaker

A cozy rented apartment styled with rugs, textiles, plants, and leaning art, all damage-free.

Budget 5 min read

Renter-Friendly Decor Ideas

Renting does not mean settling for a space that never feels like yours. Damage-free, reversible decor ideas that make a rental feel like home, deposit safe.

Sloane Whitaker

A freshly painted room with a roller, drop cloth, and tape, showing a half-finished accent wall in soft daylight

Budget 5 min read

How to Refresh a Room With Paint for a Big Change on a Small Budget

A friendly, practical guide to refreshing a room with paint, from choosing a color with confidence to prepping, painting cleanly, and a finish you love.

Sloane Whitaker

A small but inviting living room with a right-scale sofa, a slim coffee table, soft textiles, and a leafy plant

Small Spaces 5 min read

How to Furnish a Small Living Room So It Feels Just Right

Furnish a small living room so it feels open and inviting with the right-scale sofa, smart layout, and dual-purpose pieces that maximize comfort and seating.

Sloane Whitaker

A tidy home office with a wooden desk, a comfortable chair, a plant, and warm natural light from a window

Rooms 5 min read

How to Design a Home Office You'll Actually Want to Work In

A warm, practical guide to designing a home office that helps you focus — choosing a spot, getting the setup comfortable, lighting it well, and keeping it inspiring.

Sloane Whitaker

A cozy corner reading nook with an armchair, a soft throw, a small side table, and a warm lamp

Rooms 5 min read

How to Create a Cozy Reading Nook in Any Home

A warm, practical guide to creating a cozy reading nook anywhere, from finding the right corner to choosing a comfortable chair and layering soft light.

Sloane Whitaker

A spacious living room with a large area rug anchoring the sofa and chairs on a wood floor.

Furniture 6 min read

How to Choose the Right Rug Size

Rug size is the detail that makes or breaks a room. A warm, practical guide to sizing rugs for living rooms, bedrooms, and dining areas the right way.

Sloane Whitaker

A small living space with a slim sofa on legs, a glass table, and a few well-scaled, airy furniture pieces

Small Spaces 5 min read

How to Choose Furniture for Small Spaces That Earns Its Keep

Choose furniture for small spaces using scale, multipurpose pieces, and light visual tricks that keep a compact room open, useful, and beautiful.

Sloane Whitaker

A living room wall with framed art hung at eye level above a sofa, mixing sizes and frame styles.

Decorating 6 min read

How to Choose and Hang Wall Art

Choosing and hanging art shouldn't be intimidating. A warm, practical guide to picking pieces you love and hanging them at the right height and scale.

Sloane Whitaker

An upholstered headboard behind a neatly made bed with soft pillows in a calm, light bedroom.

Furniture 5 min read

How to Choose a Headboard

A headboard anchors the bed and sets the tone for the whole bedroom. A warm, practical guide to choosing the right size, material, and style for your room.

Sloane Whitaker

A minimalist living room warmed by wood tones, a chunky knit throw, soft lamplight, and a single trailing plant.

Decorating 5 min read

How to Add Warmth to a Minimalist Room

Minimalism can feel cold, but it doesn't have to. A warm, practical guide to adding texture, light, and soul so a pared-back room still feels inviting.

Sloane Whitaker

A thoughtfully decorated living room balancing a few quality pieces with affordable accents

Budget 6 min read

How to Prioritize Your Decorating Budget So Every Dollar Counts

A small decorating budget goes far when you spend it in the right order. A clear framework for investing in the pieces you use most and saving on the rest.

Sloane Whitaker

A tidy mudroom with wall hooks, a bench, baskets, and a row of shoes by the back door.

Rooms 5 min read

How to Design a Functional Mudroom

Design a mudroom that actually works, with friendly, adaptable ideas for hooks, seating, shoe storage, and durable surfaces that keep your home tidy.

Sloane Whitaker

A harmonious open living and dining space with a shared palette, repeated wood tones, and consistent styling

Styles 6 min read

How to Create a Cohesive Look at Home, Room by Room

Learn how to create a cohesive look at home so your rooms flow together and feel intentional, with friendly guidance on color and materials.

Sloane Whitaker

A tall open bookshelf filled with books and a few objects against a pale wall.

Furniture 5 min read

How to Choose a Bookshelf

A warm, practical guide to choosing a bookshelf that fits your space, your stuff, and your style, with timeless tips on size, sturdiness, and placement.

Sloane Whitaker

A calm, softly lit nursery with a crib, a cozy feeding chair, a low dresser, and gentle neutral colors

Rooms 5 min read

How to Design a Nursery That's Calm, Safe, and Truly Yours

Design a nursery that grows with your baby, with a soothing palette, a smart layout around the crib and changing zone, safe choices, and storage that works.

Sloane Whitaker

A bright room with a large framed print, a small shelf, and a leaning mirror filling a once-empty wall.

Decorating 6 min read

How to Decorate Blank Walls

A blank wall is an opportunity, not a problem. A warm, practical guide to filling empty walls with art, texture, and ideas that suit your real home.

Sloane Whitaker

A warm traditional living room with a tufted sofa, classic wood furniture, layered patterns, and a symmetrical mantel arrangement

Styles 5 min read

What Is Traditional Interior Design? A Warm Guide

Discover what traditional interior design really is, why its timeless comfort and symmetry feel welcoming, and how to bring its classic warmth home.

Sloane Whitaker

A low wood media console beneath a wall-mounted screen, holding devices behind cabinet doors in a tidy living room.

Furniture 6 min read

How to Choose a Media Console

A media console anchors the living room and tames the tangle of cords. Here is a warm, practical guide to choosing one that looks good and works hard.

Sloane Whitaker

A shelf of vintage and thrifted finds mixing old ceramics, brass objects, and worn books.

Decorating 6 min read

How to Decorate with Vintage and Thrifted Finds

Vintage and thrifted pieces give a home soul, story, and character money cannot buy. A practical guide to hunting, mixing, and styling them well.

Sloane Whitaker

A serene, tidy living room with clear surfaces, a few cherished objects, soft light, and plenty of breathing room

Small Spaces 5 min read

How to Declutter for a Calmer Home, One Room at a Time

Declutter your home in a way that lasts, with a kind, room-by-room approach that creates calm, makes space for what you love, and prevents the rebound.

Sloane Whitaker

A cozy hygge living room with soft blankets, warm candlelight, layered cushions, and a comfortable seat by a window

Styles 6 min read

How to Bring Hygge Into Your Home

Learn how to bring hygge into your home with warm light, soft textures, and small comforting rituals that turn any room into a cozy, restful place to unwind.

Sloane Whitaker

A bright, well-edited small living room with appropriately scaled furniture, clear surfaces, and layered light

Small Spaces 6 min read

Small-Space Decorating Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid the common small-space decorating mistakes that make a home feel cramped, from oversized furniture to clutter, plus simple fixes that open any room.

Sloane Whitaker

A clever nook under a staircase fitted with shelves, a small seat, and a soft cushion in a bright home

Small Spaces 5 min read

How to Make the Most of an Awkward Space in Your Home

Make the most of an awkward space at home by reading what the spot wants to be, then giving it one clear job with smart, flexible furniture and styling.

Sloane Whitaker

A bright, comfortable living room with a sofa, layered cushions, a coffee table, and a soft area rug

Rooms 5 min read

How to Design a Living Room You Actually Want to Sit In

A warm, practical guide to designing a living room that works for real life — layout, seating, lighting, and the finishing touches that make it feel like home.

Sloane Whitaker

31 articles by Sloane

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