If you know me, I’m not about telling you how to tell your home’s story. I’m about empowering you to eliminate the clutter within your home and use interior design with intention to create a holistic home for you and your loved ones. This may require breaking ALL of the interior design rules when it works for you (which could very well be all the time). However, there are six classic interior design rules that should never be broken so that you can have the freedom to hone your creativity within your home. I encourage you to measure twice, cut once, and do you with confidence by utilizing these interior design rules. So let’s get started!
FIRST RULE OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN RULES: Keep Your Base Neutral
I’m all for color but there is a time and place for color within a color palette. You do not want to buy any furniture that is statement pieces that are “trendy” and not high-quality. It will be a waste of time and money. I promise you now. Instead, opt for accessories and accents that bring in pops of color and stay within a neutral color palette.
Also, all of the statement walls that you see running around on Pinterest? They are also trendy and will eventually fade away like slat walls or chevron walls. Instead, opt for timeless wall treatments – wallpaper, board & batten, and wainscoting, possibly beadboard – depending on how it is done.
Also, I recommend that if you want a statement color within your home, go for an accent wall. It might sound boring, but painting with neutrals is a smart way to ensure that your space ages nicely and doesn’t drive you crazy before you’re ready (or have the budget) to switch things up.
SECOND RULE OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN RULES: Choose the Properly-Scaled Rugs
If you haven’t made this mistake, it’s okay! We’ve all lied about other things before too. I’m guilty of this mistake myself. I got a rug that was too big for a space that I was working in and it made the room look disproportionate and the furniture looked dwarfed. Rugs can be expensive, and the bigger they get, the higher the price tag.
A good rule of thumb is to choose a rug that is the proper scale for your space that all of your existing furniture fits on (see illustration). Natural fiber rugs like jute and sisal, provide great affordable large-scale options.
THIRD RULE OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN RULES: Picking a Cohesive Color Palette
Have you ever walked into a room and wondered what is going on? It’s a hodge-podge of various trinkets, furniture, and accents in one place. None of the pieces match and all of the colors clash. Some of the room’s features are dated like lighting or wall treatments. It’s all one big eye sore. Your main priority (and the only way to avoid making this mistake) is to make a space feel and look cohesive when considering a design scheme. You’ll want to choose a color palette and work it evenly throughout a room. This is a foolproof way to ensure your vision comes together perfectly.
I’m not saying that deciding on a color palette can be tricky. It absolutely can be but once you’ve got one nailed down, it can actually make shopping for your space so much simpler. There are a number of different approaches you can take when picking out your palette. To learn a little bit more about interior design rules when it comes to paint, I recommend that you check out my course, Designing With A Neutral Color Palette, and learn how to create a cohesive and beautiful color palette for your whole home!
FOURTH RULE OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN RULES: Hanging Art Work at Eye-Level
If you’ve got a blank wall and a stack of art that are begging to meet, resist the urge to pick up your hammer without a little prep work. A good rule of thumb is that most artwork looks best hung where the center of the art is between 57″-60″ (around eye level for most people). From there, gallery walls look best hung in a uniform grid where all the frames are the same size, or with one focal piece surrounded by a variety of sizes.
While eye level placement is key, space between pieces and how they relate to each other can be tricky too.
FIFTH RULE OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN RULES: Varying Your Light Sources
When all of your lighting comes from one bright source in one location (i.e. overhead recessed lighting), it falls flat. Placing multiple soft lights in a variety of locations enhances the ambiance and creates depth and warmth. Lighting will elevate the mood of any room so it should be coming from multiple sources, not just overhead.
Also, think of chandeliers, pendants, and side table lamps as well as recessed lighting in spaces. These should also vary in style. But the wattage should all be the same! See the illustrated guide below.
SIXTH FULE OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN RULES: Avoid Awkward Curtain Length
I have made this mistake and it looked awful! It also doesn’t help that the curtain panels’ fabrics were too different styles, but that’s a different story. Hanging curtain panels that are too short or too long is the equivalent of dressing yourself in ill-fitting clothing. Or in my case, a really tiny person (small-length window) in a maxi dress (an 84″ inch long) panel. It just doesn’t quite look right. The rule – “Measure twice, cut once” applies here—take the time to prep by measuring and marking your rod placement before you break out the scissors and sewing machine, or go to Target to buy beautiful window curtains and guesstimate on the length and width of the panels.
Here are two simple rules regarding curtain length that almost always work on any window:
- Hang your rod level, at least halfway between your ceiling and the top of your window.
- Measure (twice!), cut and hem your panels so they just graze the floor when hung.
In conclusion,
I’m all for owning our spaces in whatever style and using whatever pieces bring us the most joy within our spaces. But if you want an aesthetically pleasing space at the same time, I would highly recommend following these six interior design rules. By following these interior design rules, you’ve save yourself time, money, and from any head or heart aches. More importantly, you’ve saved your energy so you can enjoy your home to the fullest! If you need help with that, I’d love for you to reach out to me so we can get started on creating that vision for your home!
Love,
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