Amy Thomasson worked for well-respected designers in Dallas before branching out on her own in 2013. As the principal designer behind Oak Cliff-based House of Amelia, she has designed homes in the Dallas area and second homes all over the country.

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She also does some commercial projects, and she’s currently working on Dallas Light and Barricade’s new West Dallas showroom.

Minimalism is a trend she sees frequently in home design. Clients want higher-quality things instead of a lot of mass-produced clutter.

“The Millennial generation has gone back to basics, and they want better craftsmanship,” she says. “Instead of having five sets of dishes, having one really lovely set of dishes and investing a little bit of money in that. That’s what I’ve noticed, as a purchasing trend, and it’s good for the first-time homeowner or the first-time apartment dweller to invest in accessories that they can enjoy for a long time.”

Thomasson offers these tips to make your home more peaceful and beautiful.

Acoustical control: This isn’t something everyone considers when planning their spaces, but there are all kinds of practical and beautiful ways to incorporate sound absorption. For example, Thomasson recently designed a media/gaming/homework space that is directly above the family’s living room. “We’re doing a cork wall on the media wall, so it’s going to have many purposes,” she says. “It’s having that acoustical control, but it’s also a lovely visual texture. And then cork is a self-healing material, so you can easily move artwork around or use it for collaborative brainstorming, and there’s no issue with patching and painting.”

Lighting: Consider how your room is lit at various times of day. Put as many lights as possible on dimmers. “Layering light is something people don’t think about,” she says. “It’s an important detail because it can set the mood, but it’s also very functional. And it also helps you be well-lit so that you look good in the room too.”

Sleep matters: We know that sleep affects our health, and bedrooms should be designed with that in mind. Lighting and acoustics, including blackout curtains and a white-noise element, can make a bedroom more nest-like. Invest in high-quality bedding. Thomasson says she always buys white sheets because they’re easier to launder.

Textures add interest to the eye and a calming touch for the brain. Consider pillows, blankets and fabrics that incorporate dimension such as pleating or embroidery. Baskets can be useful for storage while adding natural texture to a room. Houseplants also add to the layers.

Color: A person who wants a very colorful home interior, “is the rare gem of a client,” Thomasson says. Most people want a neutral palette with pops of color. “That has a lot to do with how busy and hurried everyone is these days,” she says. “Having a calm color palette and a lot of natural elements give a calm sense of self and sense of place.” For added interest, she suggests wallpaper. “It’s classic and modern all at the same time, and I don’t think it’s ever gone out of style,” she says. Peel-and-stick wallpaper is a good way to change up a room quickly without a lot of commitment, she says.

Spend where it matters: Reupholstering furniture tends to be more expensive than buying new, but paying to rework a classic piece adds value beyond the cost. One-of-a-kind artwork and high-quality rugs are other areas where investing more is worth it. She recommends shopping in Dallas Design District galleries to find original art that speaks to you. “Their price points start at a pretty reasonable place,” she says. “You can always find a wall that it looks beautiful on and enjoy that investment rather than money in your 401k, for instance.”