Six Interior Design Practices You Should Never Do

They say that you should refrain from making “always” or “never” statements to prove a point. Doing so creates what is known as an “absolute” statement.

Many times these absolute statements can be disproved because of those pesky “exceptions” to the rule – kinda like that whole “i” before “e” thing they tried to teach us in grade school.

That being said, here are six interior design practices you should never do.

1 – Never Pick Your Paint First

Changing your wall colors might seem like a good place to start a decorating project because many people are capable of doing it themselves with a relative degree of success in most cases.

The problem lies in being able to match everything else to the paint.

Maybe you find a shade of cucumber green that you just love and you slap that up on the walls in an effort to get a jumpstart on your project. Then you find an area rug that you simply must have but once it gets delivered, the tones in the rug make the cucumber-green paint look more like strained peas.

You also have to consider how the colors in your sofa and draperies or other window treatments could be affected by selecting the paint color prematurely.

2 – Never Leave Out Lighting

Lighting in a room can come from natural light or artificial light.

Natural light is any light that enters the room through a window from outside (i.e. the sun). Artificial lights are interior lights, such as sconces, can lights, recessed lights, etc.

Artificial lights are used to both illuminate a room and to lower the illumination in a room to set a mood. Through the use of things such as timers, switches, or dimmers, you can control the amount of light being created by artificial lights.

Natural light is more difficult to control since you can’t “turn down” the brightness of the sun. However, with the right window treatments installed, you can control when or how much external light enters a room.

3 – Never Forget That “Less is More”

Decorating a room is about managing the space properly. Putting too much stuff into a room can lead to overcrowding (which is a polite way of saying the room is cluttered).

In larger rooms having too much space between pieces of furniture can make a setting feel disconnected and awkward.

Another way to add emphasis to a space is through layering. The art of layering involves carefully choosing multiple pieces to accomplish a particular design and feel. This is especially effective with window treatments.

For instance, a terrific way to add textures, patterns, and colors to a space while simultaneously improving privacy and light control is to use something minimalistic, like interior shutters, with more decorative floor-length drapes.

4 – Never Follow The Fads

Fads and trends in design are “here today and gone tomorrow” in many cases. Following too closely to these trends can make your new decor look out of date quickly.

Remember when “Southwest Adobe” or “Tuscany Countryside” were considered the design trends to have? What about “Retro Diner” when people in the 80s thought decor in the 50s was a bunch of black-and-white checkerboard patterns with bright red accents everywhere?

Window treatments are not immune to fads and trends either. Scarf valances and string curtains used to be very common once upon a time. But the classics, like interior shutters and wood blinds, never go out of style.

5 – Never Be Afraid Of Something New

It might seem that this suggestion is directly in opposition of the advice to never follow the trends or fads, but it’s not.

Personal taste plays a huge role in interior design. Find a way to include a piece of furniture, an accessory, or a decorative element in your room if you really like it. Trends will come and go, but a room that represents your interests will always feel cozy and real.

People enjoy being able to get a glimpse into your life, including your interests and passions. Being authentic will make an impression on your visitors.

Combining design elements is not a sin. Taking two contrasting aspects and combining them to create something new is the foundation of many contemporary design trends. A room that reflects both the past and the present can be made, for instance, by showing off your vintage pieces in a more modern setting.

One of the newest developments in window treatments is the ability to print custom fabrics giving you the ultimate control of your design. There have also been innovations in window treatment motorization and home automation in recent years.

6 – Never Dismiss The Details

There is an old idiom that states “God is in the details” and is generally thought to mean that whatever one does, should be done thoroughly; and that the details are important.

It can become very easy to focus only on the larger aspects of a design project, such as area rugs and furniture. But the smaller details can be important also. That being said, try to avoid falling into the trap of becoming overwhelmed with too many small details.

Something as simple as edge banding on a Roman shade or trim on a drapery panel can change the entire look of your window treatments. Another way to add an element of interest is using brass or chrome hinges on your interior shutters instead of the standard painted-to-match hinges that are used by default.

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