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13 Nov 14

20 new interior design rules

Living room furniture and accessories all from Marks and Spencer

I get asked alot about what’s hot in design, the latest trends and how to go about designing a space yourself. In the creative world of interior design there are no hard and fast rules- as soon as there are it becomes cool to break them anyway! But I thought I’d pop down my top 20 design rules that you can use to easily update or improve your home. Some are new ideas- some are just good old tried and tested design rules that are good to revisit.

  1. Get personal! The popularity of creative Interior Design is due a comeback. For too long during the property boom we have been told to decorate in neutral colours in the hope of a bigger profit on the resale. Now we’re looking to stay put a little longer it’s time to make our houses a home again. So rule number one is get personal- tune into your own sense of style and identity and enjoy the creative process. Check out old school interior decorators like Dorothy Draper and David Hicks to see how it really is about time we revisited a riot of colour and pattern in our interiors. Ban the beige and move away from middle of the road.
  2. Dress your windows. A window is to a view what a frame is to a painting. So don’t overlook them and ensure they are well dressed. Dusty Venetian blinds and too-short-curtains are emphatically NOT the way to go. Curtains should always touch the floor, otherwise they just look stingy in my opinion. One option is to use them to decorate the room but not to draw them in the evening while the radiators are on, and have an accompanying blinds as well. I love combining curtains and blinds in co-coordinating fabrics for the ultimate well dressed look. Go for extra long curtains that softly puddle on the floor for a more elegant look.
  3. Lamps not lights. Professional Interior designers use complicated lighting designs to create amazing visual effects within a room. However you can easily start to ring the changes at home. Avoid the rather over used down lighters (aka “developers acne” according to Daniel Hopwood) in favour of wall lights, spotlights and lamps that are more versatile. They can create a softer or more dramatic ambience, ideally controlled by a dimmer switch. Down lights and pendant lights cast a rather nasty shadow over your face giving everyone bags under their eyes, so don’t rely on them being your main source of lighting in living rooms or bedrooms. How unflattering!
  4. Create instant impact with a feature wall. Having one wall in the room papered or painted a contrasting colour, has been popular for a while, as its an easy and affordable way to inject some style into your interior. For me bold is best as pale colours and weak prints just don’t make the grade. Balance the look by choosing the wall behind your sofa or headboard and that way when you’re relaxing you don’t have to look at it all the time. However be sure to integrate it into the rest of the scheme by using the same colour or print elsewhere in the room, helping the eye to travel all around.
  5. The new neutral. Grey has replaced beige as the go-to neutral but I’d advise a warmer shade as bluey greys leave a room feeling dank. Consider cosying up the look with a warm accent colour like red, sunshine yellow, copper or natural tones of wood when choosing accessories.
  6. Respect the period details. We now all know that stripping out your homes period features is a crime but if you prefer a contemporary look, consider painting the walls, moldings, doors and architraves, all one and the same colour. This stops the period details jumping out and creates a more modern effect.
  7. Keep it cosy. Hard floors have never been hipper, but leave your home feeling chilly and draughty underfoot. A large area rug will cosy it up, and you can always roll it away or easily replace it. The current trend is for very bold designs, like a piece of artwork on the floor. My favourite deisgns have always been from The Rug Company, although I’ve never been able to afford one. For a budget option, consider having a carpet remnant whipped around the edges.
  8. Create flow in your open plan spaces. Open plan living has thrown up all types of design dilemmas. Firstly consider the space as a whole and choose a comprehensive scheme that flows; same finish on floors and walls. Next zone the different areas with a signature rug, low-level pendant lights or accessories in a different accent colour.
  9. Kill the clutter. No matter how beautiful a design scheme, it’s instantly killed off by unnecessary stuff. Resist muddling up shelves and surfaces with unnecessary knick-knacks, and instead favour grouping a few well-chosen pieces that tell the ‘story’. For example group family photos together for a wall display or together on the side board, rather than smattering them all around the room. For more ideas visit my blog post Ways to display and the Law of Grouping.
  10. Devils in the detail. ‘The details are not the details. They make the design’ said famous designer Charles Eames, and I think he was onto something. Things we come into contact every day like light switches, door handles, drawer knobs, and taps, if they’re nicely designed, feel so much better. So this weekend, oil that squeaky door handle and update all your kitchen knobs!
  11. First impressions count. From Georgian to Victorian, designers cared about first impressions and you see front doors, entrances and hallways featuring beautiful carpentry, tiles, stained glass and lighting. One of the quickest and easiest ways to improve the look of your home starts at the front door. A lick of high gloss paint on the front door and a twinkly chandelier in the hallway would be a great start.
  12. Mix old and new. ‘Eclectic’ is the new buzzword in interior design. It essentially means ‘Anything goes’ and follows the idea that our rooms shouldn’t follow a formula, with everything matching. That’s what I call the ‘straight out of a catalogue’ effect and it should be avoided at all costs. Instead aim to create a home that appears to have evolved organically thereby feeling more original. A great way to achieve this is to mix period pieces with something contemporary or vice versa.
  13. Move over to the dark side. Its often believed in order to make a room feel larger you need to paint it pale. In fact the opposite can be true as dark colours recede away from the eye giving a room more depth. However make sure you use plenty of effective lighting and break up the wall colour with white framed prints and mirrors for a dramatic effect. More ideas can be found on my blog post Decorating on the dark side
  14. Think in pairs. Styling items in pairs is a great way to get that ‘Interior Designed’ look. A pair of lamps either side of the sofa, a pair of large glass vases on the dining table or a pair of prints above the bed. The symmetry it creates helps make a room look put together.
  15. Upcycle. This buzz word in design right now is where you take an unloved item like a piece of furniture and customise or reinvent it to make you love it again. By getting your existing furniture to work with a new scheme your saving money and not adding to landfill. You’ll also be the proud owner of a one off original.
  16. Paint your radiators. Radiators are a bug-bear within a room design. They’re often in the wrong place and look ugly. Forget costly radiator covers ( that also hinder the efficiency of your heating) and simply paint the radiator in the same colour as the walls to help it visually disappear. Use an acrylic eggshell rather than emulsion.
  17. White’s not always right. The belief that Pure Brilliant white makes a room feel larger and brighter in my opinion leaves it feeling dull and depressing. It’s due to the blue pigment in the paint. My advice is only use white in south facing, sun filled rooms. Everywhere else choose a warmer shade of pale, like an off white or warm grey.
  18. Neutral basics when on a budget. When decorating on a budget think neutral for the big purchases like sofas and floor coverings as they form your blank canvas. Then you can have fun adding colour and design with the accessories, even building up the look over time. It’s also easier to ring the changes more often.
  19. Size matters. Furniture seems to be getting bigger and bigger- large corner sofas and super king size beds are all the rage. If you have a modest room, prevent it feeling crammed by choosing sofas and armchairs on legs and bedsteads rather than divans, which will help create the illusion of space at least!
  20. The 5 P’s. “Perfect Planning Prevents Poor Performance”. It’s an overwhelming task redesigning a whole room and with the time and money invested its important to get right. Begin with a mood board- where you gather all your inspiration images, tear sheets, paint chips, floor samples and swatches in one place to check they all work together. There is a great Moodboard app on the ipad that I love to use to paste images from Pinterest and websites so I can build up a scheme very easily. You can learn more by reading my post Create a mood board.

Please feel free to leave your comments below and let me know what your top design rules are…

Image at the top of this post is from Marks and Spencer.

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comments

Marie on 13.11.14

Agreeing with all of the advice, apart from painting radiators. I think its an english thing to do. If they were positioned in the right place or good looking they would not have to be hidden.

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 14.11.14

In an ideal world underfloor heating would be installed, doing away with radiators all together. Something to consider if you are renovating a property and have the opportunity to install it without too much disruption.

Reply
Anna on 14.11.14

Really good blog but just an FYI a lot is two words not one.

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 14.11.14

Thanks Anna. Do you fancy being my sub editor, I could do with one!

Reply
Helen on 19.11.14

I would! 😀

Reply
Bev on 15.11.14

Love the new series and have been inspired to start up-cycling old wood furniture with peacock blue paint – definitely addictive! Am confused by number 4 though; thought you said on the show that designers were now avoiding feature walls, implying they’re outdated?

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 18.11.14

Many interior designers, Daniel Hopwood included, have turned their back on the feature wall, due to its popularity and rather naff use in show homes and bars. But I still think it’s a valid decorating tool, so I’m not done with it yet. However the trick to getting it right is to integrate it into your scheme- for example hang art work on it, mirrors or shelves. To be up to date use this seasons jewel colours or a really bold and graphic wallpaper- preferably metallic if you want to be bang on trend. If you design with flair it will never date.

Reply
James S. McCoy on 25.11.15

Very informative and helpful post. Thanks for all the great tips. I especially liked – The 5 P’s. “Perfect Planning Prevents Poor Performance”. Might even quote this on our next meeting at work.. 🙂

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 25.11.15

Hi James- so glad you liked the post- good luck with that Planning meeting!

Reply
Chloe White on 15.09.20

Thanks for posting such a useful article Sophie Robinson, All the points are really helpful and practical to apply it really inspired me. And especially the 5P’s Point it was really great.

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DAY 18 of #easywininteriors and I’m getting the DAY 18 of #easywininteriors and I’m getting the paintbrush out! Giving old and unappreciated brown furniture of coat of colour is not just easy but quick too and you get ooodles of satisfaction giving something a new lease of life. Since the sun is starting to poke it’s head out it’s the perfect opportunity to fling open the windows, roll out the dust sheet, and calm your senses with the therapeutic strokes of a paint brush. I transformed these battered old Ercol chairs that I found at a car boot sale with an undercoat of Zinsser and a top coat of eggshell so they really can withstand the knocks. I love how the pink legs pick up on the pink in the wallpaper. I’ve got a couple of pots of chalk paint waiting in the wings. This just might be the weekend to tackle the bedside tables at last! Have a wonderful weekend  and I hope the sun shines on you wherever you are! 

CREDITS Reclaimed terracotta tiles @ca_pietra_  Borastapeter Rubarber wallpaper @wallpaperdirect Clock @newgateclocks Doors painted in Rose Ash Light @sanderson1860 Everything else is vintage 

#easywininteriors #kitchen #countrykitchen #upcycle #upcycledfurniture #countryliving #countrylivingmodernrustic #countrykitchen #greenkitchen #greenandpink #interiorinspo #interiordesign
DAY 17 of #easywininteriors is all about making do DAY 17 of #easywininteriors is all about making do with what you’ve got and making it work. For most of us, decorating our home and choosing all the things we want to go with it is a long if not a life time journey and there are plenty of compromises along the way. One of the ways I make do with things I’m less happy about is with distraction. You can use colour to draw the eye and highlight the bits you do like and similarly blend away the areas that need to fade into the back ground. For me joinery, radiators and my unattractive windows all get painted in the same colour so they fall to the background and then the cushions and artwork can come to the fore and catch your eye. I painted these lovely old solid wood doors bright yellow on a whim with some left over paint. It was a quick and easy way to inject a burst of  colour joy. So don’t discount doors and architraves as a fun way to play with colour, but only if you have nice ones. 
On the PODCAST today @mad_about_the_house and I discuss more ways you can make do. I interview leading interior designer and queen of colour and pattern @nicolahardingandco who has amazing insights on how to go about planning your schemes, conjure mouthwatering colour palettes and work with what you’ve got. And our style surgery is from Callum who finds himself stuck with a shiny blue green sofa which he doesn’t love and doesn’t know what to put with. Obviously cover it with cushions and distract the eye with A bright yellow door Callum! 

If you have a question for our style surgery do please send it in as we are lining them up for the next series and we’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email to thegreatindoorspod@gmail.com.You can here all our ramblings and insights on today’s show The Great Indoors and thankyou to @katetaylorldn for producing the show. 

#thegreatindoors #bluesofa #yellowdoor #banthebeige #interiorspodcast #podcast #interiordesign #interiorinspo
DAY 16 of #easywininteriors and I’m extolling th DAY 16 of #easywininteriors and I’m extolling the benefits of an occasional chair. I’ve always loved occasional chairs primarily for their decorative function. I’m a patterned fabric addict and so an occasional chair I’d another opportunity to add more pattern, more colour and another cushion to boot! But during these extended periods of lock down and staying at home I’ve appreciated the quiet little corners they offer. I’m lucky enough to find a space for one here on my landing but they can also find a home in a bedroom, a home office, under the stairs or indeed #lifegoals in the bathroom. So rather than playing second fiddle to THE SOFA put your occasional chair in pride of place and grab yourself 5 minutes solitude! Most of mine are junk shop funds bought back to live with my hoarded stash of remnant fabrics. So it’s time to raid grannies attic and  create a seat that makes you smile . 🥰  use the hashtags #easywininteriors to share your favourite corners of escape.

#easywininteriors #vintagearmchair #armchair #occassionalchair #colourlover #banthebiege
DAY 15 of #easywininteriors and I’m having a re DAY 15 of #easywininteriors  and I’m having a reshuffle on the bookcase to celebrate the happy Back To School vibes! 🙌 YES! This one is a work in progress because sorting your books as to the spine colour can be really meditative! I’m excited for you guys to share your colour coded bookcases using the hashtag #easywininteriors because I’ve seen some amazing examples on here! This idea can also include colour coding your ornaments or glassware collection too. Somehow grouping them in blocks  just intensifies the colour and I love the 🌈 effect. Happy faffing! 

#interiorinspo #interiorstyling #colourlover #banthebeige #faffthegaff #bookshelf #shelfie #shelfiestyling #rainbow #rainbowstyle #mycolourfulinterior #colourfulhomevibe
DAY 13 of #easywininteriors and Sundays here are o DAY 13 of #easywininteriors and Sundays here are often the day I get the house in order before the week starts again. It’s laundry day, the on-line shop gets done and if I can be bothered I might do some batch cooking. 💪 But the garden is also pulling our attention at this time of year and I spent yesterday picking up twigs that have littered the garden after the high winds and piled it all up for kindling. Satisfying! I’m not a naturally tidy or organised person  but I do feel like I’m winning at life once chores have been done and everything is in it’s place. And here lies the easy win. If you have systems in place it makes it so much easier! This shoe storage was game changing. Before the hall was littered with shoes and bags that I was always tripping over. So planning your storage and then using it is key to creating order and an element of calm. And once the storage is fit to bursting, it’s time to have a declutter. How do you keep the house feeling orderly and calm and do you use Sunday as a Sort It day too? #sortitsunday 

CREDITS walls in Lazuli and woodwork in Perfect white @zoffanyfw . Havana Bauta cement Tiles @claybrookstudio . Fabrics are vintage and @thestripescompany . Stair runner @roger_oates 

#easywininteriors #colourlover #banthebeige #hallwaydecor #hallway #interiorinspo #declutter #storageideas #shoestorage
DAY 12 of #easywininteriors and I’m back in the DAY 12 of #easywininteriors and I’m back in the bedroom and enjoying a well earned lie in this morning! My morning routine has been really important to me during lock down. In  his brilliant book ‘think like a monk’ @jayshetty talks about how a positive morning ritual sets you up for the day. Similarly a good night time ritual sets you up for a good nights sleep. Styling up your bedroom  to support these ideas really helps! I’ve taken to setting my wake up alarm an hour before the rest of the house so I can enjoy some quiet solitude before the day gets going. I make my coffee in my favourite mug and spend a while reading or exercising. But no phone scrolling! My bedside is laid out with everything I need including a big pile of books and a dish for my watch and specs. I charge my phone in the kitchen to keep it away from temptation! Admittedly I’ve never had a problem sleeping but I was hardly what you’d call a morning person. Now it’s my favourite time of the day! Have a gorgeous lazy weekend folks x

CREDITS wallpaper @mollymahonblockprinting bedside table is vintage. Lamp @pookylights Vases and dishes all vintage. Pillows and duvet @cocoandwolf Flat sheet and bedthrow @societyofwanderers 

#easywininteriors #bedroomdecor #countrybedroom #colourfiedhomes #colourstylehome #colourlover #banthebeige #patternclash #interiorstyling #interiordesign #interiorinspo #faffthegaff
DAY 11 of #easywininteriors and we are over half w DAY 11 of #easywininteriors and we are over half way there! Whoop whoop, March is  just nine short days away! And I can feel the Spring vibes! It’s getting lighter, the bluebells are coming and the birds are singing! But back to it, we’ve got work to do! Today I’m sharing how I switch my home from working day to home time, without leaving the house. It’s so important for our mental health that we can make that transition. I’ve worked from home for years so I’ve always done this, but I find it essential to tidy my desk/kitchen table at the end of everyday and get it out of sight. This often means piling up all my paper work, laptop, pen pot and putting it all into a tray. And if you don’t have a deep tray a cardboard box does the job. Then hide it in the cupboard, pop it on a shelf or slide it under the table. The key is that you can’t see it and it doesn’t encroach on your non-work life. Out of sight out of mind kind of thing. 
And you might notice in the back of this shot is my 2021 vision board. I keep this in my view everyday as it helps keep me focused, uplifted and motivated. Im hosting a live webinar next Tuesday on how and why I create vision boards for every aspect of my life, including my interiors. If you’d like to join me it’s 7pm 23/02/21 and I can promise a fun, creative and enlightening evening! Link to book is up in my bio if you fancy getting a boost of inspiration towards creating your dream home. 

Happy Friday and have a lovely weekend 😍

#workingfromhome #myhomeoffice #interiorstyling #visionboard #interiorinspo #interiorinspiration #homeoffice #creativeworkspace #colourlover #colourcolorlovers #banthebeige
DAY 9 of #easywininteriors and I’m going to make DAY 9 of #easywininteriors and I’m going to make it super easy after yesterday’s kitchen cupboard love, which I’ll be honest, felt a bit strenuous! So today is all about creating as simple but effective styling moment; a trio of vases. Three seems to be the magic number when it comes to styling your objects and I have a few tips . I like to make sure there is a mixture of sizes, colour and textures but all held together with a theme. These three work because they’re  all vintage, Picked up from various car boot sales over the years! You can create little trios all over your home from the sideboards, book shelves, worktops, bathrooms and side tables. Push the tall one to the back and bring the small one to the fore but it’s the lack of symmetry that makes it pleasing. And you don’t have to stop with just vases, a trio of objects works with picture frames, ornaments and candle sticks too. 

#easywininteriors #vintagestyle #howivintage #myvintagehome #interiorstyling #interiorstyle #interiorinspo #colourlover #banthebeige
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