My Tips For Home Decor

There are three types of clients who buy interior design & decor services. One group consists of persons who know what they want but don’t have time for looking the items and make the whole package together. Then there’re clients who had an idea which style and colours they prefer, and thirdly there are people who just have a budget but no idea what to do decor wise with the space they have.

As an interior designer and decorator all those types of clients are ideal and have the same goal - beautiful & functional home. Designer has to understand client’s dreams, hopes and aspirations, and bring those alive in that specific place. Every home tells a story.

To make a home beautiful and functional I like to keep in mind the following ideas one the list below.

Mix New & Old

Trends come and go. That’s why it is not recommended to make your whole home according to the current trend, unless you have big pockets and ready to make a total makeover after a year or two. It goes also the other way - not such a good idea to stick the old times. A great rule is to mix them both and create a space with personality. Updating home with a couple of trendy pieces - a chair, small table, lamp etc - gives a nice fresh touch. The main thing is that your home is that place where you should enjoy being in.

When you hire a designer/decorator it doesn’t mean that everything in your place goes out and new ones are brought in. I always discuss with my clients which existing pieces they like to keep and which ones they want to get rid of. But I’m also clear that it’s my job to tell them if I feel it doesn’t work.

Choose Beautiful & Functional

Home, office, any space should be functional. Sometimes it is a wise decision to make a compromise and choose something over functionality if is beautiful and you really want it. If you love the look of a white sofa, but at the same time you feel it is not practical, my advice is - take it! Especially if another colour wouldn’t have the same desired effect in your space. Nowadays it is not too difficult nor time-consuming to take care of fabrics and other delicate materials.

A balance between beautiful and functional is the keyword.

Choose Sustainable

With timeless pieces and materials you can’t go wrong. Where renovations are concern, it’s especially important to pick materials that will stand the test of time.

Leather, linen, wood and stone are natural materials and just get better when they age. Home is not an exhibition hall nor a museum. it is a place for living that’s why the marks of living belong to it and only add charm and cosiness.

Be A Visionary

Consider an “unknown” artist or designer and buy based on shape, comfort and how the art or furniture works for you and your needs. The most humble objects can have the most soul and be the most beautiful thing in a room. Do not be afraid to mix high and low price points. Not everything must be precious to be important. The opposite can be said with splurging on something that you really love.

Your chosen not so well-known artist may become very well-known, and you become a visionary and trendsetter :)

Tips For Choosing The Right Rug

First of all you should consider the colour, texture and size. It is not the easiest task to choose the right rug. Even though it is ‘only’ a thin layer on the floor it can totally change the whole atmosphere of a space. Rugs can also be pretty expensive so take your time and check these tips.

Colour Of A Rug

It is good to start with colour. Should the rug be bright red or neutral grey depends on the other colours of your space. If there’s a lot of going on already and many different colours around, a single-colour in a neutral shade would be better as it would complete your existing furnishing.

If you prefer a pattern rug with many different colours, it is often better to choose it first and after that add in furniture and accessories. Playing safe is not always the right answer when selecting a rug. Sometimes a neutral rug can make a space looking dull and - well, very neutral. while a bright coloured or boldly patterned one can really cheer up a room and make it unique.

To be honest it is not always so that a designer or decorator can automatically pick up the right rug. Often it needs to be seen on the floor in that specific place in that light to make the right decision. A good idea is to ask the store deliver two or three pieces and try them at your home, especially when the rugs has a bit bigger price tag.

Texture Of A Rug

It makes a difference what your rug is made of. The texture of a rug should give a bit of contrast to the overall atmosphere. It is always good to have different textures and layers in a space as that makes it warmer, more relaxed and cosier.

If you have a very sleek furniture, choose a rug with longer, fluffier pile. With seating in a soft fabric, a sisal rug might be the answer.

It is important to consider also the function of your room when selecting a rug. If you have pets, maybe you need to clean it more often, so the texture should be easy to clean. For elderly people or those with limited mobility, a raised pile or shag rug can be a tripping hazard.

Size Of A Rug

Quite often I have seen too small rugs placed in an area. There’re standard rug sizes and some how people are a bit of afraid choosing a larger rug and they easily go with the smaller one. Small rugs look a little bit lost and unfinished. Well, a too large rug won’t look good either.

In the living room your seating area should fit on the rug. A good and common compromise is to have the front legs of seatings on the rug, not to have a cap between them. Under a dining table, you want to be able to pull the chairs back and still have them on the rug.

Square rooms look great with square or round rugs, and rectangular rooms with rectangular rugs oriented in the same direction.

I made some mood boards for a living room with 2 existing black leather sofas and a Noguchi coffee table. That space has large windows and lots of light, so I had courage to choose a bit bolder rug options for the room. I also wanted to give the owners an option to see how the atmosphere would change with a different sofa - they promised to think about replacing the old one.

Interior Designer's Tips