12 Tips Before You Start Designing Your Home
Everyone wants their living space to be as comfy and appealing as possible. However, achieving that feat isn’t always easy yet the design shows make it look so effortless.
The hosts of these shows are professional designers. There are expert Interior Designers involved. Hence, the drop dead gorgeous interiors you get to see.
Designing is not everyone’s cup of tea and not everyone has access to design experts. This doesn’t mean that one should give up and make-do with their mismatched settings.
Designing needs a strategy without which it is liable to end in a disaster. (Common Interior Design Mistakes). But don’t worry, we have compiled a list of Do’s and Don’ts of interior design that every beginner can benefit from.
Let’s have a look at them:
Do make use of a dramatic color
Usually, a dramatic color makes a space feel dark and heavy. However, when it comes to small spaces, dramatic color has altogether a different impact.
Small spaces have the ability to show off any dark hues of color in a striking manner. When used in small spaces, they can make the whole house appear larger and colorful. It can convert a tiny unnoticeable area into an eye-catching spot.
However, working only with a single color is not advised. Mix and match different colors instead of decorating around one color alone. You can get your color palette inspiration from:
- the largest pattern in the space
- your clothes and accessories
- favorite pieces of furniture
- books or photos
- a toy or a postcard
- a piece of material
- the Color Wheel
Do plan your lighting
Regardless of the size of the house or how much you are willing to spend, the lighting remains the most important factor that must not be overlooked. Plan for the lighting in advance. In fact, we advise you to include lighting expenses in the budget in the initial stage itself. (Plan Your Budget)
A well-chosen and well-arranged lighting system can transform the look and feel of any room considerably. Lighting can make your interiors go from “Great” to “WOW” just with the click of a few switches.
Speaking of switches, you can also include dimmer switches that will give your space the ability to change the mood of the space whenever you feel like it.
Appropriate amount of lighting is essential for a successful interior design. The job is only half done with improper lighting. Therefore, make sure that the size of the lamp is adequate for the space.
Sometimes a space doesn’t feel finished and they miss a finishing touch. More often than not, “Lighting” is that missing finishing touch. It could be a chandelier or a sleek lamp. You can also make use of cluster lighting to create a playful effect.
Do include different textures
Use of different texture and pattern in your interiors add dimension to a room. They make the room interesting and appealing to our visual and tactile senses. You can add texturing with the help of a rug, a wallpaper, a piece of art for the wall, a cushion, etc.
Just avoid overkill. It will turn out shabby otherwise!
Do pay attention to your hallway
Hallways give you an opportunity to make a style-statement in your home interiors. It needs not to be something on a grand scale. You can use patterned wallpaper or use paint to add personality to the hallway.
Create a gallery wall and display your mementos. Put a table where you can place your mail and keys. You can also hang a mirror or a wall painting as a piece of statement. Using a mirror in the hallway makes the hallway spacious than it really is. This is possible because mirrors reflect light and create the illusion of more space.
Do use accent pieces
Pick some accent pieces to create the look you want. If you have a theme to work with, you can pick accent items related to the theme. They will help you in creating the look you desire without overwhelming it.
Making use of accent pieces is far more sophisticated than going for an entire room styled on a particular theme.
Don’t decide the paint color first
There is a reason behind that. Once you are done deciding on furniture pieces, upholstery, curtains, art, accessories and what not, you have several choices of colors to pick from. All of these will help you pick out the perfect color to go with them.
If you choose the paint color first, you will be facing difficulty picking furniture, upholstery, curtains, accessories, etc. that will fit just right with the paint color you chose.
Don’t push all the furniture against the walls
Let them breathe. It will make your room appear bigger. Keep a lit bit of space between the furniture and the wall. Allowing space to the furniture can make your room seem more interesting. Moreover, it can help in creating a conversation grouping especially in the living room.
Except in a tiny home or small apartments, lining furniture against the wall is a strict no-no. Make use of the whole room and create a better flow in design. A fluid layout is important in open-layout homes.
Don’t mix up your colors too much
It creates a distortion (a disconnect) throughout the home. A home should have a feel of cohesion not disconnection. Avoid painting every room in a different color to prevent disconnect in design.
Decide on three primary colors that you will be using throughout the home. It will make the designing job easier on you. You can opt for different hues of the chosen colors to create a fresh look. This still maintains the consistency throughout your home while not being repetitive.
The paint color you pick is instrumental in the success and failure of the home design. If the color you chose doesn’t fit the interior then the resulting design will not be very pretty.
Don’t be frugal with seating arrangement
Don’t take “Less is more” literally. It doesn’t mean you can opt out of even the items that are necessary. Inappropriate seating arrangement in a living room cannot be excused by lack of space. Be creative. You can opt for multifunctional furniture pieces.
You can even have specific dining chairs that can be pulled into the living room when needed.
Don’t ignore the walls
Do not opt for just any kind of mirror, or pieces of art for large, bare walls. It wouldn’t work. Opt for a larger piece of art or a mirror instead. Installing modular shelves will also add charming character to any given wall.
A busy wallpaper will also be helpful. Making the concerned wall into an accent wall, the wall decals or gallery wall décor are some of the other options you can try.
Don’t use tiny potted plants
Any greenery you use in your interiors should be a statement piece. Instead of small planters opt for large trees or plants. A cluster of tiny potted plants scattered throughout the house will only make the home look cluttered.
Don’t let everything match
Do not fall for the showroom look. Create a lived-in look for your home instead. Opt for eclectic design to suit your style and personality. Make use of different items and accents that are eye-catching. They will help make your space interesting.
There is no need for everything to match perfectly. Instead, mix and match different colors in your home interior! There are no rules. Add your personal touch to make it homey.
When buying furniture, it’s pretty common to buy the whole matching set. However, it looks very predictable and lacks personality. Instead buy statement furniture and personalize the look. It will help create an interesting look.
Conclusion
Everyone desires a home that is eye-catching in a good way. You can do that by just making changes in a very subtle way. We hope that the Do’s and Don’ts we provided can help you begin your journey in achieving your desired design. So, Get creative. Don’t forget that a little variety can work wonders.
If you have any queries, we welcome you to visit us at WallsToHome Interiors and get in touch with our design team. We will answer your queries about home designing because we love to discuss homes!
You can also write to us at hello@wallstohomeinteriors.com. Do follow us at Instagram , Facebook
