Unless you’re an interior designer, you’ve probably made one or both of these two common interior design mistakes when it comes to decorating your home.
Whether it’s ignoring classic proportions or failing to select cohesive colors, interior design blunders are common. I get so many clients that come into the furniture showroom that have watched the design shows, which make it all look so easy, and then come to me for design rescue help.
Take into account size of your space before purchasing anything.
1.) Proportion Matters
When it comes to furniture, artwork, and accessories, it’s essential to determine the correct size and proportion in relation to the surroundings. Unfortunately, it’s a very common occurrence that the sizing isn’t accurate. For example, pictures on the wall are too small for the wall space or even hung too high. I also see too many small accessories that clutter a space rather than a few larger pieces that can make more of an impact!
What’s the fix?
Consult with a professional interior designer before you make any purchases. For furniture, make sure you measure the room before you invest in anything. Take into consideration the room’s overall size, as well as the distance between windows and doors, so you don’t purchase anything undersized or too large.
When hanging pictures, measure 60 to 65 inches from the floor to the center of the art. And slightly higher if it’s in a ‘standing’ room (hallway or entryway) and a bit lower if it’s in a ‘sitting’ room (dining room). Group small pieces together, and if you’re hanging something above a sofa, make sure the bottom of the frame is 6 to 12 inches from the top of the couch.
Pick your room’s fabrics and main textiles before painting.
2.) Buy Fabrics and Textiles First
A common mistake that most of us are guilty of is painting first! Put that paintbrush down! First, you need to pick out the room’s fabrics and main textiles, such as rugs, sofas, accent chairs, etc.
Why is this? Because it’s simply much easier to find fabrics we love and then pick out the paint to match. It is more challenging to find the fabric that we love that also happens to match the color we have already put on our walls!
What’s the fix?
With budget and room size in mind, work with an experienced interior designer to look through fabric samples, rugs, artwork, etc. Find what you love and then once you are happy with your design choices, pick out a paint shade or shades from the chosen textiles. Now your room is ready to be painted!
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