Starter Interior Design Tips
What if you have a room that just feels blah?
A
common feature of boring rooms is a lack of color. Start there, and
think from the ground up. Buy a patterned rug you love: here’s your
palette. Go for a geometric dhurrie if you like modern, or multicolored
stripes if you’re more traditional. You can pull the wall and furniture
colors from the rug, then pick up its accent tones in pillows and other
accessories.
Speaking of color, are there any surprising shades you’re really into right now?
I think fuchsia should be the color of the year. It’s so rich and chic, it’s like red’s hipper sister.
One piece of advice you’d shout from the rooftops?
Stop overthinking every little change and just try it! It’s easy to say, “Oh, that desk will never work next to my bed.” Move it and see how it looks. Sometimes pulling that blue armchair from the den into your green living room can work miracles.
And for the lighting?
If we’ve learned anything from the movie Gremlins, it’s that bright light is the enemy. Install dimmers, or change your bulbs to extra-soft white 40-watt bulbs. That $30 investment makes a huge difference.
What’s one quick change that will improve any room?
Lower
the artwork. People tend to hang it too high; it should be at eye
level. And don’t worry about having something on each wall. It’s better
to cluster art in one or two spots than to spread it out.