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Mastering the art of interior design can be a real challenge, especially when redecorating an entire room – or house! However, by following a few key guidelines, you can ensure that your design project is a success. Drawing upon our many years of experience in the design of bespoke furniture to complement existing spaces and styles, we’ve put together some top tips to help you out.
1). Research is Key
Research is key to any successful interior design project. Start by consulting interior design magazines and websites for inspiration and see what colour-schemes and furniture styles you like the look of.
Research is key to any successful interior design project. Start by consulting interior design magazines and websites for inspiration and see what colour-schemes and furniture styles you like the look of.
Creating a mood-board is a great way to keep a record of your ideas and favourite looks. Pinterest is a great online tool for creating a mood-board, or you might prefer to create a traditional, physical mood-board to which you can pin magazine cuttings, colour swabs and fabric samples.
By taking the time to explore different looks, you can ensure that your design choices are the best they can be and you will be happy with the end result.
2). Work With What You’ve Got
Use your budget wisely. Spend money on crucial items, such as furniture, or on pieces you love which can become a focal point, but don’t waste precious pennies on expensive items which could go unnoticed.
For example, hand-painted tiles may be beautiful, but regular tiles can still create the look you want to achieve. Invest instead in a statement piece such as a painting, or a beautiful dining table
Your budget might not extend to the replacement of flooring or the purchase of new furniture, so think carefully about how best you can work with your existing pieces. An ugly sofa can be transformed with a throw and a scattering of pretty cushions, while an old carpet can be disguised by introducing a rug.
While your style and tastes are likely to evolve over time, flooring, curtains and major pieces of furniture will not be replaced frequently, so use these as your framework.
3). Focus, Focus, Focus!
Once you’ve established your colour-scheme and the overall style of your room, stick to it! When you’re redecorating it’s easy to get distracted and buy all manner of ornamental pieces and soft furnishings, only to find that they don’t work when combined.
That being said, a colour-scheme can always be enhanced by introducing splashes of a new colour; you just need to ensure that the colours complement each other and you’re not going over-the-top.
For example, if you’ve opted for a blue-and-white Hamptons’ style room, the blue and white can be stylishly off-set by vivacious green plants or ornaments. Equally, vibrant splashes of colour can add a new dimension, bringing life and character to a room decorated in a neutral palette.
The use of a mood-board will help to keep you focused, so you don’t start running off-track or going overboard with your decorating.
4). Create a Statement
If you have a particular item of furniture or an ornament you want to draw attention to, make this your focal point and work from there.
Be it a painting, a sculpture or a fireplace, a carefully designed room will draw the eye to your statement piece. For example, a painting on the facing wall as you enter a space will immediately stand out, while a fireplace can really make a statement so long as it isn’t overshadowed by large pieces of artwork or furniture either side.
If you can’t find the stand-out piece you’re looking for, why not combine ornamental beauty with practicality and engage a furniture make to sustom design a 'showcase' peice for you?
5). Size Matters
When choosing colour-schemes and selecting furniture, give due consideration to the size of the space you are working with. Small furniture in a large space can look lost and out of place, while large furniture and too many decorative pieces in a small room can make it look cluttered.
Plenty of light is key to making a small space seem larger. Lighter colours on the walls and floors will make your small room feel bright and spacious, while the use of mirrors is a fantastic way to maximise natural light and also creates the illusion of more space.
6). Time for Texture
Once the layout of your room is complete, it’s time to add texture. Even the most beautifully proportioned, stylishly furnished and well laid-out room can seem dull and lifeless without texture.
Curtains, cushions, rugs and throws can make all the difference. Adorning a sofa with cushions will immediately make it look and feel more cosy and inviting, but adding cushions of varying fabrics (and patterns) can really take it to the next level.
The use of different textures will add depth and character to your room. Be bold and mix it up; a chunky, embroidered cushion, or even a sequined cushioned can work well alongside a velvety one. And a shaggy rug or textured wallpaper can add a degree of willful complexity to complete your look and achieve a big tick in the style stakes.
