When it comes to the most effective interior design, the truth is that there is no magic formula as each and every home has its own characteristics which play a part in what style works well. The true ‘secret’ is simply the ability to adapt ideas to a new setting. It could be the shape of the rooms that inform an expert designer as to what will work best, or maybe the amount of natural light that gets through. It could even be something as simple as the shape of the alcoves that determine what kind of design look best.
There are a few ideas that most interior design experts agree on as a general rule. If you search online for their websites, you’ll see a few of the same ideas repeated again and again. So while we’ll always post good tips for how to set up and decorate a particular type of home, these following ideas are ideal for literally any kind of home out there from a large house to a tiny flat.
Never Overcrowd a Room
Over time we accumulate so much stuff that I’m sure this issue has affected most people reading this (and if it hasn’t, then it probably will at some point in the future). But a key part of successful interior design is letting a room breathe. Clogging up a room with furniture should be avoided as much as possible. You want some space between your chairs and tables, your cabinets and ornamental bits and bobs. This is an especially good tip for anyone working with a budget, as it means you can spend more on quality rather than quantity.
Avoid Cliché Themes
This one is probably more relevant to bedrooms, as folks do have a tendency to over-theme that particular room more than others. If you like wood then it’s good to go with a wood theme, but make sure you vary the wood types and tones. If it’s a coloured theme you want, then ensure that there are multiple textures and shades so the room doesn’t have a bland or clinical feel to it. It’s so easy to overdo it so try and be subtle when decorating a room with a particular theme.
Pick the Paint Colour Last
This tip features in almost all lists like this and for good reason. Most people have an idea of what colour they want certain rooms to be when they move into a new home, and it certainly seems to make sense to get the painting done before moving all your stuff in. However, it will work out much better for the overall design if you leave the painting until you have moved in and have all your furniture arranged how you want it (even if it means moving it out again to do the painting).
The secret behind this is that different buildings have different lighting variables which can affect the tone of a colour, which means a particular colour might have looked awesome in your former home but doesn’t quite work in your new one. So get all your gear in and then start playing around with samples to see which tones work best for you in your new home.
