Rules were made to be broken. This adage has never rung more true than when applied to home decorating. What follows are five common myths about interior design. Think outside the myths, and set your style free!
Myth #1: Dark walls are a poor choice for small rooms. Conventional wisdom has been to avoid dark walls in small rooms, as they’re said to make the space seem even smaller. Consider another opinion that the uniformity of color, and not the color itself, helps create the illusion of more or less space. if you really like a certain color, don’t be afraid to paint that modestly sized room a dramatic red or jewel green. But here’s the trick: apply the same color, or a slightly lighter shade of it, on the ceiling to avoid contrast.
Myth #2: Furniture has to be placed against a room’s walls
Myth #2: Furniture has to be placed against a room’s walls. It’s less a rule and more a reflex to place couches, chairs and other furniture around a room’s perimeter in order to maximize its floor space. But that may not actually be the best way to utilize the room. why not experiment? put the couch on a diagonal angle or move it closer to the fireplace; place two chairs, angled toward each other, in front of a bookshelf to create an intimate conversation nook.
Myth #3: Only small furniture should go in small rooms. While you certainly don’t want to crowd small spaces with large-scale pieces, filling them only with small ones can make them look and feel cluttered, which is the last thing you want when space is limited. a large piece can look quite at home in a small space, provided it’s the only such piece in the room. in fact, it can provide a nice focal point – something every room needs – and can trick the eye into thinking the space is bigger.
Myth #4: You should choose one décor style – and only one. Be it French country, Mediterranean, art Deco, Mission, contemporary, casual, or something else entirely, it’s typical to feel that once you’ve chosen a décor style, you’re beholden to it and only it. That’s simply not the case. It’s increasingly common for today’s interiors to mix elements from different styles, and not just from room to room, but within rooms, too. In fact, such mixing is a style unto itself; it’s called eclectic.
Myth #5: Everything has to match
Myth #5: Everything has to match. Some people prefer uniformity in their décor scheme: matching fabrics, patterns, furniture, and so on. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, too much uniformity sometimes results in a room with all the warmth and personality of a magazine spread. Feel free to mix flowers with stripes, paint a room’s walls different colors, or put that modern chair at the antique desk. As long as all the elements feel like they belong in the space, it’ll work.
For more information please contact Robert Prophet and the Robert Prophet Group. Send us an email or visit our web site: RobertProphet.com
