I’m sorry, but designers don’t have a set of secret rules. There are no universal laws that govern what we do. By nature, we are creative people and love to fantasize, try something new, following our intuition.
However, there are a few time-tested tricks that always work. No, these are not ” how-to-cheat-space ” tricks. And not even the professional skills that we have been taught in design schools for many years. This is something that everyone can do on the first try. Use these techniques as a basis for developing your own creative intuition, which, by the way, is above all rules.
1. Pick a Paint Color Last
I get calls all the time from clients who want to pick a paint color before they move into their new home. I understand their logic. Is it bad to move into a house with beautiful freshly painted walls? Of course, you can do it, but in my opinion, this is not the right way.
There are thousands of colors of different shades, depths and degrees of saturation. And each of them always looks different, because the light sources in different houses are different. What looked good in an old house may not suit a new one at all. Either way, you want a color that works best with upholstery, carpet, art, and more. Therefore, you can choose the right shade only when all the interior items are in place.
2. Let the furniture ” breathe “
Do not overload the room. A properly furnished room always leaves room for maneuver. This is great news for those operating on a modest budget. There is no need to fill every square meter with furniture. Buying just a few pieces of good quality furniture will make your room look better than stuffing it full of flea market finds. For example, the high-backed chairs in this photo stand out easily because they don’t have to compete for attention.
3. Hang artwork at the right height
In museums and galleries, paintings are hung in such a way that their middle is between 145 and 152 centimeters from the floor. (For most people, the term “eye level” means exactly that height.) You should do the same. In a room with high ceilings, like in this photo, you might think the painting should be hung higher. But do not forget that in the first place you must consider the proportions of the person, not the room.
If you’re not sure, take a picture of the wall. You have no idea how much a photograph can show! Print out the photo or use Photoshop or another application to draw a picture on top of the photo. This will give you an idea of how big the painting should be on the wall, where to hang it, and if it’s even needed. Sometimes a houseplant looks better from scratch than a work of art.
4. Learn how to properly arrange furniture on the carpet
There are three main ways to arrange furniture on the carpet. Everything inside If the carpet is large enough, you can arrange all the pieces of furniture “inside” the carpet. This method creates the richest look. If that’s what you’re after, then the bigger the carpet, the better. However, be sure to leave 30 to 45 centimeters of free space on each of the four sides of the carpet. Everything outside If we are talking about a small room, then the best way to arrange furniture is
around the carpet. But be careful. Too small a carpet will look ridiculous, as an unnecessary addition to the interior of the room. The carpet should be located a couple of centimeters from the legs of the sofa or chairs. It is best if it is a carpet with a large or embossed pattern.
Partially on the carpet
To complete the composition, place the front legs of the furniture on the carpet. The image will turn out clear, and at the same time there will be a feeling of spaciousness.
5. Don’t get carried away with the topic too much
In America, for example, such a style as Cape Cod is quite popular . Its distinguishing features are paneled panels, a blue and white palette and marine-themed paintings. However, all this has been implemented so many times that the style definitely lacks individuality. There are no hackneyed clichés in this room, and the atmosphere of the sea coast is conveyed with the help of a palette, works of art and textured materials.
6. Set the accents
Every company has its leaders and minor staff. The same is true for the interior. Choose a “star” and build an interior composition around it. Let the rest of the items play a secondary role. Making everything the main item will create visual noise.
You can focus on the expressive hood in the kitchen, in the living room – on the mantelpiece or art object, in the bedroom – on the head of the bed. In any case: whatever you choose, it should attract attention. In this room ,
the fireplace and pendant light work together to create a compositional anchor that draws and holds the eye to the center of the room .
7. Pay attention to the fact that the first thing that catches your eye is
your compositional ” anchor ” should be free from everything superfluous and extraneous and be clearly visible in every room, as if inviting you to enter it. Therefore, the best place for the main accent is directly opposite the entrance to the room. In this case, the chairs next to the painting invite the visitor to enter the room because there is nothing blocking them.
8. Rethink your collection
Don’t hang a picture on the wall that doesn’t fit with the rest of your decor. I don’t care that this picture was given to you by your beloved aunt Masha. If she doesn’t fit, find another house for her (or at least another room).
In this case, black objects are a running theme, and the balance is almost perfect. Remember what Coco Chanel once said about accessories: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one of the jewelry.” In design, too, you need to know when to stop.
9. Play with the difference in size
It often happens that an item that looked great in the store turns into a clumsy “elephant” when you bring it home. Or vice versa – some object may be too small and get lost in the overall composition. In this case, you can always play on the difference in size and proportions.
Here, the sunburst-framed mirror looks great on the wall and draws attention to the group of flat sea urchins just below it. Without a mirror, they would be completely invisible. Take note: a composition of three or five items always looks better than an even number of anything.
