Although decorating your home is an incredibly personal and artistic endeavor, there are some basic rules you should always follow. These design do’s and don’ts will help you achieve a professional look for your space.
Don’t get too matchy-matchy. Different shades of the same color can work beautifully together in a room as long as there is variety in texture and pattern.
Don’t Overdo It
It takes a rare combination of talent and resolve to reach the pinnacle of interior design. But it also takes a lot of time and effort to grow a firm that clients value and that feeds your soul.
Managing costs is one of the most significant challenges for interior designers. It’s not uncommon for clients to request projects with budgets that are well above what you are able to offer. This can cause cash-flow problems for your company and may lead to a loss of business.
Another common challenge for interior designers is over-doing it when it comes to decorating and accessories. Using too many patterns or having too much of one particular type of color can make a room feel too busy.
It is important to consider the “negative space” of a room and how it works with positive spaces, furniture pieces and accents. Negative space provides balance and allows a room to breathe, as well as helps create a more cohesive design scheme. This includes the tucked-away areas behind furniture, on shelves and around accessories.
Don’t Hang Wall Art Too High
Artwork is one of the most important elements in any space. It sets the tone + can make or break how a room feels. However, it can be easy to get it wrong. It’s not just a matter of finding the right piece to suit your space, but also hanging it properly.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is hanging their art too high. This makes it hard for anyone to engage with the piece and can often look out of proportion to the wall or furniture over which it hangs.
A general rule of thumb is to have the center of the artwork (or a grouping if you’re hanging a gallery) at about 57-60 inches from the floor. This gives you the opportunity to engage with the pieces without straining your neck or eyes. If you’re using a grid style arrangement then the very top and very bottom of the piece should be at about the same height so that they feel connected and unified. This doesn’t always work if you have a very tall ceiling or a very short piece of furniture, but is a good starting point to use.
Don’t Over-Purchase Furniture
Interior designers have a deep understanding of how all the different components like furniture, lighting and paint colors come together to create beautiful spaces. It’s an extremely complicated process that requires skill, dedication and a creative vision.
Purchasing furniture directly from retail stores is not always the best option. Retailers have to pay significant overhead costs for retail locations, customer service teams and expensive inventory. This means they have to mark up the product price to cover these expenses.
Designers work with a variety of vendors and get the best pricing for their clients. They are also able to provide their clients with a product list that shows all the items included in their design and the total cost. This helps to prevent over-purchasing and allows the client to spend their money wisely.
Proper scale is important when it comes to the arrangement of furnishings and decor. A massive chair next to a small desk, huge frames on a tiny wall or a ginormous dresser in a small bedroom can throw off the entire space.
Don’t Over-Stylize
When it comes to interior design, sometimes too many details can ruin the overall look of a room. Whether it’s one too many brightly colored accent chairs or a wall of mirrors that is overwhelming the space, over-stylizing is a common mistake that can easily be avoided.
While mixing styles is a great way to add interest and character to a home, it’s important not to go overboard. Using common threads such as wood tones, color palettes, and lines can help to tie different aesthetics together into one cohesive and unique look. For example, combining rustic and modern furniture pieces can create an eye-catching and entrancing style that’s sure to impress your friends and family.
It’s also important to remember that trends only last a short amount of time before they become out of style. Therefore, choosing timeless styles over fad decor is a much better option that will ensure your space never feels dated. For example, incorporating a few contemporary art prints or geometric wallpapers could be the perfect accent for your living room.
Don’t Over-Purchase Lighting
While interior design is a great way to express your individuality and taste, it’s important not to forget that the main purpose of a home is for its inhabitants to live comfortably. While installing too much mood lighting in a property may make it more visually appealing, doing so could result in an unusable space or even safety issues.
A good interior designer will always ensure that the right amount of functional and mood lighting is in place. This will include assessing the number of windows in a room and how natural light can be used to its advantage. This will also involve understanding the needs of a homeowner when it comes to the type of lighting they need in each room, including areas where music is played and where family and friends gather.
As such, a professional lighting designer will be invaluable when it comes to the design of your home. They can help you to understand how lighting can bring your project to life and bring new energy to your living spaces.