The Dos & Don’ts of Decorating

Let it flow

When designing, renovating or updating your home, it seems like there’s a million tiny decisions to be made and it can get overwhelming. We’ve got a list of the dos and don’ts of interior decorating to help your home updates and renovations come together beautifully.

Haste makes waste

❎ Don’t rush

✅ Do invest time in careful planning

According to stylists, rushing is the biggest mistake people tend to make when updating or renovating their homes. In order to avoid unnecessary mistakes, take your time to do your research, create a mood board, utilise colour samples and material swatches, talk to professionals where necessary and hunt around for good prices and tradies. Additionally, allow your home to be a work in progress. You don’t need to compromise on accessories like artwork or cushions because you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for on the day.

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Carefully plan your projects by creating a mood board to map out colours, textures and themes.

Get the light right

❎ Don’t underestimate the power of lighting

✅ Do select statement pieces & additional lamps for ambience

Curate your lighting options with statement pieces and additional lamps for ambience. Getting the proportions right in a room is essential to creating a balanced space, and selecting the right lighting solutions can frame rooms beautifully. A high ceiling is your grand opportunity to pick out a centrepiece chandelier. In homes with lower ceilings, pendants are more ideal as they’ll create a cosy sense of intimacy and visual interest. Table and floor lamps are a wonderful way to control the mood of your room. Have an eclectic mix of lamps with varied bulbs so you can take charge of the ambience — from relaxing on the sofa to a romantic dinner. You could even pop in a few smart bulbs to control the lighting and colour with your smartphone or tablet.

Chandeliers and pendants can make a big statement, while smaller lamps can be used to control ambience.

Clashing themes

❎ Don’t mix your interior design theme

✅ Do commit to a style & carry design elements throughout your home

When you’re in the midst of interior decorating, it’s all too tempting to incorporate all the bits, bobs and styles you love into the one space. Eclectic is in, right? But there’s a big difference between creating carefully composed spaces with an assorted collection of pieces… and accidentally slipping into chaos. Instead, commit to a style and colour palette. Use key elements of your style and complementary colours to create unity as a whole. That certainly doesn’t mean your coastal-style home (as an example) should be filled with seashells and navy-blue stripes as you squeeze every single drop out of your theme. Rather, consider the primary characteristics of coastal design — such as white-on-white, natural timber and stone, rattan and indoor plants — and carry these elements from room to room.

Provincial Oak Round Dining Table 1400mm Distressed White

influencer_three_birds_christmas_0171_1Hampton King Canopy Bed

Carry your interior design theme throughout your home with complementary colours and accents.

The wrong rug

❎ Don’t pick a rug without considering the existing elements of the room

✅ Do select the right size rug for your space in complementary colours

There’s a little bit of a science to finding the right rug for your spaces, and choosing one that’s too big, too small or clashes with the existing décor can throw the entire room out of balance. The rule of thumb in the living room is that the front feet of your sofa should sit on the rug. In the dining room, you should leave around 50 centimetres on each side of the table so there’s room to comfortably pull out the chairs (we’ve got a visual guide to selecting the right size rug for your space). In rooms with a lot of colourful or patterned accessories, select a neutral rug to complement the room. Alternatively, in a more neutral space, use a colourful or printed rug to make a stunning statement.

Buyer’s Guide to the 2020 Rug Collection living room

The rule of thumb for rugs in the living room is that the front legs of the sofa should sit on it.

Soft spots

❎ Don’t neglect to add cushions & throws, or have too many

✅ Do balance your soft furnishings to add colour and warmth

When it comes to soft furnishings, such as cushions and throws, getting the balance right is certainly an artform. Devoid of soft accessories, spaces can feel cold (and echoey) and lack that warm, cosy feeling we all crave in our homes. Yet, too many cushions, patterns and colours and the space looks disorderly, no matter how meticulously we arrange it. Much like makeup, you want to get the balance just right to make your spaces pop. Start by deciding on a complementary colour palette, taking cues from your existing décor. Vary fabrics, textures and sizes to create visual interest and choose one or two statement cushions to be placed in the foreground. Your throw cushions should look, well, thrown together in a casual fashion. So play around with your cushions and mix and match from room to room until the look ‘feels’ right.