Decorating
7 Common Design Dilemmas and How to Solve Them
Narrow spaces, awkward shapes, unattractive views... If any of these problems sound familiar, read on for ideas on how to solve them
Unless you’re designing your home from scratch, there are bound to be one or two existing features in a purchased home that you may regard as eyesores. However, such design challenges can be overcome with relatively simple solutions. If you have a room as small as a pocket or as narrow as a tube, or even one that’s far too large, read on for some tricks that can hide, divide or merely alter the focus.
Solution 2: Decorate with white
By using an all-white or soft-toned colour palette, you can lead the eye to a window and an outdoor aspect in order to alleviate any feelings of being cramped in a narrow space. If you must include texture and pattern, ensure you do so with restraint, so there will be nothing to distract your line of sight to the view.
By using an all-white or soft-toned colour palette, you can lead the eye to a window and an outdoor aspect in order to alleviate any feelings of being cramped in a narrow space. If you must include texture and pattern, ensure you do so with restraint, so there will be nothing to distract your line of sight to the view.
Design challenge – A pocket-sized room
Solution 1: Pick a colour
This may seems counterintuitive, but by painting a small room a favourite bold colour, you can create a snug sitting area that everyone will gravitate towards. In the penthouse sitting room pictured here, a high-gloss finish also adds to the luxurious feel.
Solution 1: Pick a colour
This may seems counterintuitive, but by painting a small room a favourite bold colour, you can create a snug sitting area that everyone will gravitate towards. In the penthouse sitting room pictured here, a high-gloss finish also adds to the luxurious feel.
Solution 2: Install a massive mirror
Create the illusion of a larger room with mirrors. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors on a wardrobe or covering a feature wall will visually double the size of the room and bounce light around, too.
Take a look at more bedroom design ideas
Create the illusion of a larger room with mirrors. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors on a wardrobe or covering a feature wall will visually double the size of the room and bounce light around, too.
Take a look at more bedroom design ideas
Design challenge – An open-plan room that’s too open
Solution 1: Divide the space
An expansive room can prove impractical. Demarcating zones in an open-plan space not only enhances a room’s function, it can also offer privacy. A freestanding divider need not be permanent, but it can make for an attractive feature.
Solution 1: Divide the space
An expansive room can prove impractical. Demarcating zones in an open-plan space not only enhances a room’s function, it can also offer privacy. A freestanding divider need not be permanent, but it can make for an attractive feature.
Solution 2: Box off a room
Like a Russian nesting doll, you can create rooms within rooms with sliding doors or screens in paper, timber or glass. You’ll find screens are an impermanent solution, but they still feel like walls and offer the same level of privacy that comes with a regular plasterboard-walled room – just ask the Japanese.
For a quick fix, however, rig up curtains on a ceiling track so a part of the larger room can be sectioned off and then later opened up.
Like a Russian nesting doll, you can create rooms within rooms with sliding doors or screens in paper, timber or glass. You’ll find screens are an impermanent solution, but they still feel like walls and offer the same level of privacy that comes with a regular plasterboard-walled room – just ask the Japanese.
For a quick fix, however, rig up curtains on a ceiling track so a part of the larger room can be sectioned off and then later opened up.
Design challenge – Exposed plumbing
Solution 1: Celebrate difference
Having the “inner workings” on show is a typical feature of industrial buildings, ex-factory apartments or warehouse conversions. The simplest solution is to embrace the look and even make a feature out of it. Paint the pipes for a bit of fun, and in a range of colours to differentiate between the various pipes and their functions.
Drawing attention to them in this way will further highlight the industrial feel of your home; you’ll find that the horizontal and vertical lines create a grid-like pattern well suited to this look.
Solution 1: Celebrate difference
Having the “inner workings” on show is a typical feature of industrial buildings, ex-factory apartments or warehouse conversions. The simplest solution is to embrace the look and even make a feature out of it. Paint the pipes for a bit of fun, and in a range of colours to differentiate between the various pipes and their functions.
Drawing attention to them in this way will further highlight the industrial feel of your home; you’ll find that the horizontal and vertical lines create a grid-like pattern well suited to this look.
Solution 2: Add more
View your exposed pipes as a way to add a special feature to a room by adding a few more. Ask your plumber to install some to match the original pipes – they don’t have to work. The pipes will add pizzazz to the space, especially if they’re also polished to a high shine. In this tiny powder room, the lustrous copper pipes are not only a sculptural feature, they’ve also been set against a dark background so they really stand out.
View your exposed pipes as a way to add a special feature to a room by adding a few more. Ask your plumber to install some to match the original pipes – they don’t have to work. The pipes will add pizzazz to the space, especially if they’re also polished to a high shine. In this tiny powder room, the lustrous copper pipes are not only a sculptural feature, they’ve also been set against a dark background so they really stand out.
Design challenge – An ugly view
Solution 1: Grow a natural screen
Nobody wants to look out of their window onto an unattractive building right next door. Foliage is a wonderful answer to hiding those unpleasantries, while also enhancing your own property. Bamboo is quick growing, and as it’s also evergreen, it will look the same all year round – a definite bonus when creating a leafy screen.
Talk to a local landscape designer or nursery in regards to the best species for your climate and soil, but as a rule, if you need dense screening all the way to the ground, choose a smaller species.
Solution 1: Grow a natural screen
Nobody wants to look out of their window onto an unattractive building right next door. Foliage is a wonderful answer to hiding those unpleasantries, while also enhancing your own property. Bamboo is quick growing, and as it’s also evergreen, it will look the same all year round – a definite bonus when creating a leafy screen.
Talk to a local landscape designer or nursery in regards to the best species for your climate and soil, but as a rule, if you need dense screening all the way to the ground, choose a smaller species.
Solution 2: Hide away
Blinds are a perfect means of blocking ugly views or creating some privacy from too-close or nosy neighbours. Unlined blinds in a sheer fabric still permit plenty of light through, but offer some privacy at the same time.
You can also have Roman blinds custom-made with transparent horizontal rods, instead of the more traditional dowel sticks, for a seamless look.
Blinds are a perfect means of blocking ugly views or creating some privacy from too-close or nosy neighbours. Unlined blinds in a sheer fabric still permit plenty of light through, but offer some privacy at the same time.
You can also have Roman blinds custom-made with transparent horizontal rods, instead of the more traditional dowel sticks, for a seamless look.
Design challenge – A low ceiling
Solution 1: Hang a curtain
One of the easiest ways to overcome this challenge is to hang curtains from ceiling to floor. With no visible rods or rails, the curtains create a waterfall effect that immediately gives the illusion of height.
Solution 1: Hang a curtain
One of the easiest ways to overcome this challenge is to hang curtains from ceiling to floor. With no visible rods or rails, the curtains create a waterfall effect that immediately gives the illusion of height.
Solution 2: Furnish with clarity
Using transparent furniture immediately opens up a living space – opaque pieces tend to stop light from bouncing around the room or impede air flow. Perspex or glass furniture is a fashionable choice, as it also adds a glamorous touch.
Another tip is to furnish the room with low-profile furniture so the room looks loftier.
Using transparent furniture immediately opens up a living space – opaque pieces tend to stop light from bouncing around the room or impede air flow. Perspex or glass furniture is a fashionable choice, as it also adds a glamorous touch.
Another tip is to furnish the room with low-profile furniture so the room looks loftier.
Design challenge – Unused space
Solution 1: Squeeze in a study nook
If you don’t have the luxury of a separate study or home office, but find your stairs are not earning their keep, transform the area underneath them into a study or work zone.
Alternatively, embrace the awkward angles of the unused space and custom build an upholstered seat into the nook, with a little shelving to hold some essentials. Nothing is more cosy and appealing than a seating nook in an alcove; just take to it with a good book, a hot cuppa and perhaps a furry friend to enjoy some me time.
Browse home office and library ideas
Solution 1: Squeeze in a study nook
If you don’t have the luxury of a separate study or home office, but find your stairs are not earning their keep, transform the area underneath them into a study or work zone.
Alternatively, embrace the awkward angles of the unused space and custom build an upholstered seat into the nook, with a little shelving to hold some essentials. Nothing is more cosy and appealing than a seating nook in an alcove; just take to it with a good book, a hot cuppa and perhaps a furry friend to enjoy some me time.
Browse home office and library ideas
Solution 2: Stack up some shelves
Built-in shelves are a visually appealing answer to filling the alcoves either side of a fireplace. Get a professional carpenter to install them, then fill with anything from books to framed photos or beautiful ceramics.
TELL US…
What decorating tricks or tips have you used to cover up a tricky design feature? Tell us about them in the Comments below.
Built-in shelves are a visually appealing answer to filling the alcoves either side of a fireplace. Get a professional carpenter to install them, then fill with anything from books to framed photos or beautiful ceramics.
TELL US…
What decorating tricks or tips have you used to cover up a tricky design feature? Tell us about them in the Comments below.
Solution 1: Add stripes
The use of stripes can help to visually expand a room, making it appear wider. Use narrow or wide stripes, as seen here in this slim dining nook, but make sure they are horizontal, as these make your eye travel from left to right. Whether you paint the stripes directly onto the wall or use wallpaper, this is the easiest way to make a room look wider.