Decorating
9 Design Tips to Transform Your Home From So-so to Sought-after
If your interiors aren’t quite hitting the mark, check out these clever ways to nix those unnecessary style niggles
Many people are content with their home décor and aren’t interested in hearing what might be ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ with it. But if you’re striving for a swoon-worthy, stylish pad, it can be frustrating when a scheme doesn’t quite come together.
Interior designers make it look easy to assemble the perfect mix of furniture, adding in effortlessly effective accent colours and killer accessories, but in reality, it can be a challenge for the less creatively minded among us. While taste is subjective, following certain design guidelines can be helpful when it comes to furnishing and decorating your home. Here are 9 essential tips to help you avoid those common design dilemmas.
Interior designers make it look easy to assemble the perfect mix of furniture, adding in effortlessly effective accent colours and killer accessories, but in reality, it can be a challenge for the less creatively minded among us. While taste is subjective, following certain design guidelines can be helpful when it comes to furnishing and decorating your home. Here are 9 essential tips to help you avoid those common design dilemmas.
Shop for a statement bathroom mirror
The basin area is often the focal point in a bathroom, so it’s important to give it plenty of visual appeal if you want to make an impact. A mirror is a key part of this set-up and it’s better to opt for an eye-catching, oversized one than end up with a tiny, out-of-proportion piece in which you can barely see your face.
Use the width of your basin or vanity unit as a size guide and shop around until you find exactly the right mirror for your space.
For more bathroom inspiration, check out these chic, contemporary ideas
The basin area is often the focal point in a bathroom, so it’s important to give it plenty of visual appeal if you want to make an impact. A mirror is a key part of this set-up and it’s better to opt for an eye-catching, oversized one than end up with a tiny, out-of-proportion piece in which you can barely see your face.
Use the width of your basin or vanity unit as a size guide and shop around until you find exactly the right mirror for your space.
For more bathroom inspiration, check out these chic, contemporary ideas
Avoid a too-small rug
Choosing the right rug is a tricky business, but there are a couple of style ‘rules’ that can make the process easier.
In a living room, it’s best to choose a rug that fills almost the entire floor – having all of your seating within its borders will make the space feel bigger. If this isn’t possible (or practical), aim to sit the front two legs of your sofa on the rug instead.
When shopping for a dining room rug, look for one that’s large enough to fit all of your chairs when they’re pulled away from the table.
Opting for a rug? Here’s how to choose the right one for your space
Choosing the right rug is a tricky business, but there are a couple of style ‘rules’ that can make the process easier.
In a living room, it’s best to choose a rug that fills almost the entire floor – having all of your seating within its borders will make the space feel bigger. If this isn’t possible (or practical), aim to sit the front two legs of your sofa on the rug instead.
When shopping for a dining room rug, look for one that’s large enough to fit all of your chairs when they’re pulled away from the table.
Opting for a rug? Here’s how to choose the right one for your space
Curate and declutter
Ornaments and accessories make a home look lived in, but it can be difficult to get the right balance between decoration and distraction.
Group pieces together in a way that creates impact, rather than spreading them out evenly across the house. Mix together objects of different heights and in odd rather than even numbers to make a statement. You’re aiming for a curated collection, not a sea of knick-knacks.
Ornaments and accessories make a home look lived in, but it can be difficult to get the right balance between decoration and distraction.
Group pieces together in a way that creates impact, rather than spreading them out evenly across the house. Mix together objects of different heights and in odd rather than even numbers to make a statement. You’re aiming for a curated collection, not a sea of knick-knacks.
Know that white won’t always work
Contrary to popular belief, pale paint won’t necessarily transform a small, shady room into a larger, lighter space. Not-so-brilliant white can appear cold and lifeless in a room that’s short on natural light, so steer towards mid-toned neutrals instead.
It’s these slightly sludgy-looking shades on the colour chart that will deliver on dingy walls, bringing atmosphere, depth and dimension.
Contrary to popular belief, pale paint won’t necessarily transform a small, shady room into a larger, lighter space. Not-so-brilliant white can appear cold and lifeless in a room that’s short on natural light, so steer towards mid-toned neutrals instead.
It’s these slightly sludgy-looking shades on the colour chart that will deliver on dingy walls, bringing atmosphere, depth and dimension.
When in doubt, do less
Having too many different styles, colours and textures in one space can be a recipe for design disaster. While busy schemes can work if you’re proficient with pattern and scale, and a whizz with complementary colours, for most of us, it’s easier to keep things simple.
This elegant bedroom uses a winning mix of fabrics – cotton, linen and velvet – with a tried and tested palette of white, blue and pinky beige to create a serene sense of coordination.
Having too many different styles, colours and textures in one space can be a recipe for design disaster. While busy schemes can work if you’re proficient with pattern and scale, and a whizz with complementary colours, for most of us, it’s easier to keep things simple.
This elegant bedroom uses a winning mix of fabrics – cotton, linen and velvet – with a tried and tested palette of white, blue and pinky beige to create a serene sense of coordination.
Settle on a stylish sofa
If your living room layout and styling are on point, but the balance is all off, your sofa could be the culprit.
Aim for clean lines and timeless style, and steer clear of overly fussy designs involving lots of buttoning, nail-head trims, long carved legs, shiny fabric and bold patterns. And don’t give in to temptation and buy a so-so sofa you’re only half keen on just because it’s available now. It’s worth being patient: British-made, high-quality sofas are custom-ordered and have a waiting time of up to 12 weeks.
If your living room layout and styling are on point, but the balance is all off, your sofa could be the culprit.
Aim for clean lines and timeless style, and steer clear of overly fussy designs involving lots of buttoning, nail-head trims, long carved legs, shiny fabric and bold patterns. And don’t give in to temptation and buy a so-so sofa you’re only half keen on just because it’s available now. It’s worth being patient: British-made, high-quality sofas are custom-ordered and have a waiting time of up to 12 weeks.
Hang complementary curtains
Getting your curtains just right can seriously up your style levels. The three main curtain lengths are almost-floor length, on the floor and pooling. If in doubt, aim for the middle option and adjust accordingly using the heading tape.
When it comes to the right position for a curtain pole, it depends on the size of your window and height of your ceiling. In a tall room, hang your curtains accordingly, to keep things in proportion. In a room with a lower ceiling, place the curtains on a minimal track positioned where the wall and ceiling meet, to create the illusion of more vertical space.
It’s also important to allow enough space either side of your pole for the drapes to be drawn right back from the window.
Getting your curtains just right can seriously up your style levels. The three main curtain lengths are almost-floor length, on the floor and pooling. If in doubt, aim for the middle option and adjust accordingly using the heading tape.
When it comes to the right position for a curtain pole, it depends on the size of your window and height of your ceiling. In a tall room, hang your curtains accordingly, to keep things in proportion. In a room with a lower ceiling, place the curtains on a minimal track positioned where the wall and ceiling meet, to create the illusion of more vertical space.
It’s also important to allow enough space either side of your pole for the drapes to be drawn right back from the window.
Try something unexpected
Although pared-back schemes are pleasing due to their lack of ‘fluff’, it sometimes pays to throw an unexpected element into the mix. A striking wallpaper or fabric, or a bright or textured accessory, can be used to lift a space that otherwise doesn’t feel quite finished.
Here, contemporary floral wallpaper in a cool-toned grey has been used to introduce a hint of elegant irregularity into this otherwise angular bathroom to stunning effect.
TELL US…
What’s your best tip for turning a home from so-so into spectacular? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
Although pared-back schemes are pleasing due to their lack of ‘fluff’, it sometimes pays to throw an unexpected element into the mix. A striking wallpaper or fabric, or a bright or textured accessory, can be used to lift a space that otherwise doesn’t feel quite finished.
Here, contemporary floral wallpaper in a cool-toned grey has been used to introduce a hint of elegant irregularity into this otherwise angular bathroom to stunning effect.
TELL US…
What’s your best tip for turning a home from so-so into spectacular? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
The devil is in the detail when it comes to arranging your art collection. Common mistakes include using too-small pictures that get lost on a large wall and hanging frames too near the ceiling.
If you have small pieces you want to hang (as opposed to sitting them on a shelf or table), mix them in with larger works in the style of an art gallery, as shown here. Use paper templates to map out where each piece should go and orientate the overall collection to mimic the shape of the display area.
Here, for example, the frames form a loose oblong to echo the wall space, which is grounded by a solid horizontal line running parallel with the sofa.