Creating a house that is both beautiful and livable is not easy. From furniture to accessories, there are a lot of elements that need to be considered.
Whether it’s a collection of books or a sentimental vase you bought while traveling, these accessories can help your home feel unique and personal. Follow these simple interior design tips for beginners to get started.
1. Don’t overdo it.
Interior designers are often faced with tricky decisions while working on spaces. Even a single wrong element can derail an entire design scheme and make the space look haphazard or incomplete.
One common interior design mistake that beginner home decorators make is overdoing it with decorations and furniture. Choosing too many colors for the walls or adding too much clutter to a room can create an overwhelming or unfinished look.
Start with a few key pieces like a sofa or bed that will be the focus of your room and select accents and decor to complement them. This way, your space will feel well-judged and complete without looking too busy or cluttered. Plus, you can always add personal touches like a few sentimental photos or a souvenir from your travels for a more eclectic and unique look.
2. Don’t go matchy matchy.
The mistake of going matchy matchy can be an interior design nightmare. Whether it’s matching rugs, light fixtures or furniture pieces it looks dated and boring. A designer’s job is to create a collected look for the space they are designing so mixing finishes, shapes and styles is key.
For example, if you have a bedroom with an upholstered headboard, night stand and dresser, mix in a wooden table. Or if you have all wood furnishings try adding in a painted piece to break up the matchyness.
It’s also important to avoid using too much of one color in a room. This can be overdone and look dated, especially if the room is very large. It’s more interesting to incorporate a variety of colors throughout the home.
3. Don’t over plan.
Often, the most important consideration when designing an interior is functionality. This doesn’t mean that aesthetics should be neglected, but it does mean that ensuring the space will actually meet its intended function is vital.
For example, making sure there are unobstructed pathways from the entrance to storage, seating and other areas is an essential aspect of effective space planning. Also ensuring that the layout allows for proper lighting, or that there’s ample tablespace for eating and working can have an enormous impact on how comfortable and functional a room feels.
Creating the perfect interior doesn’t have to be intimidating. But you do need to start the project off on the right foot, which means keeping track of all those design decisions and executing them properly. The easiest way to do this is by using a project management app like Milanote.
4. Don’t go symmetrical.
Symmetrical balance is a great way to create harmony and a sense of visual order. However, when used overly and rigidly, it can also give a room a heavy feel.
Asymmetry is a more natural and fluid style that allows for more creativity. It involves placing objects that have equal visual weight on either side of a central point, but they can vary in size, shape, and color.
Asymmetry gives a more modern and relaxed vibe and it’s an ideal interior design tip for beginners. For example, if you have two identical sofas in your living room, add a contrasting chair to the mix or place a bookshelf on one side of the fireplace and a painting on the other. This will break up the symmetry and create more of an eye-catching focal point.
5. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
When it comes to interior design, experimentation is the key. If you always stick to a certain style or color scheme, you will end up with a bland and boring space. Instead, mix up your color palette and use different patterns to create a unique look.
Another important thing to remember is that your home is not a showroom. While those rooms in magazines and on TV may look perfect, they are meant to show off furniture and design principles. Your home is a place to live and should incorporate sentimental items like family photos and souvenirs from your travels.
Also don’t be afraid to try something new like a bold red accent piece. It could be just the thing to add some personality to your space!
