When it comes to interior design, we often find ourselves caught in a web of rules and guidelines. While these rules have their place, they can sometimes stifle creative expression and limit the potential of a space. This article is your guide to breaking free from these constraints, offering unique insights into how to break conventional design rules to create impactful and personalized home styling.
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1. Rule: Stick to Safe Color Combinations
Traditionally, interior design has adhered to the principle of ‘safe’ color combinations. This rule suggests sticking to color palettes that are known to work well together. However, this approach can sometimes limit creativity and prevent you from experimenting with unexpected yet exciting color combinations.
Breaking the Rule
Contrary to popular belief, there aren’t ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ color combinations. The choice of color is subjective and should reflect your personal taste and the vibe you want your space to radiate. Jessica Shaw fromThe Turett Collaborative encourages breaking free from the color safety net. She suggests letting your reaction to a color guide your design palette, creating a space that truly resonates with you.
Daria Demin from CIRCA 22 Design Studio also champions the idea of mismatched colors. She loves combining contrasting patterns and colors, creating a space that pulsates with life.
2. Rule: Paint Small Rooms Light
It’s a common belief that painting small rooms with light colors will make them appear larger. However, this isn’t always the case. The perception of space isn’t solely determined by color.
Breaking the Rule
According to Annie Elliott of Annie Elliott Design, painting the walls, trim, and ceiling of a small room a medium or dark color can make it look expansive by minimizing visible shadows. Moreover, a small room with rich colors creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
Karen Rohr from Mackenzie Collier Interiors agrees, noting that light isn’t the only consideration when choosing a paint color. The room’s natural light, ceiling height, and the personality you want to add to it should also be considered.
3. Rule: Avoid Mixing Patterns
In the world of interior design, mixing patterns is often seen as a risky move. The fear is that combining different patterns can create a chaotic and overwhelming aesthetic.
Breaking the Rule
Mary Maloney from Bee’s Knees Interior Design and Daria Demin from CIRCA 22 Design Studio argue that mixing patterns can add depth and interest to a space. The key to successful pattern mixing is repetition, keeping the patterns within the same color family, and playing with scale and form.
4. Rule: Preserve Antique Furniture in Its Original State
There’s an unspoken rule that suggests antique furniture should be left in its original state. While there’s beauty in preserving the craftsmanship of antique pieces, there’s also potential in reimagining them.
Breaking the Rule
According to Annie Elliot, if a piece of furniture doesn’t excite you due to its heavy and brown appearance, consider giving it a fresh coat of colorful or white high-gloss paint. This can breathe new life into the piece while maintaining a traditional feel.
5. Rule: Bedside Tables Must Match
Matching bedside tables have long been a staple of bedroom design. However, this rule can limit your options and prevent you from expressing your unique style.
Breaking the Rule
Annie Elliot suggests that mismatched bedside tables can still create a balanced and harmonious look. As long as the mismatched tables are similar in height and material, they can add character and charm to your bedroom.
6. Rule: Mirrors Should Always Be Hung
The conventional design rule suggests that mirrors should always be hung up. However, this rule can limit the potential of mirrors as decorative and functional elements in a space.
Breaking the Rule
Vicente Wolf from Vicente Wolf Interior Design has been propping mirrors against walls since the late ’70s and encourages others to do the same. Propped mirrors can change the dynamic of a space, making it feel more expansive while still benefiting from the mirror’s reflective qualities.
7. Rule: Everything Must Match
The idea that everything in a room must match is deeply rooted in many of us. However, this rule can limit creativity and prevent you from creating a unique and personalized space.
Breaking the Rule
Rohr encourages breaking free from this design constraint by mixing different textures, finishes, and styles. This approach can add layers and warmth to your home, creating a space that truly reflects your style.
8. Rule: Avoid Large or Dominant Area Rugs
Traditional design wisdom suggests that large or dominant area rugs can overwhelm a small space, making it feel smaller.
Breaking the Rule
Emma Pocock from Turner Pocock encourages the use of large rugs in small spaces. A large rug that sits under all your furniture can help ground a small room, making it feel cozier and more welcoming.
At the end of the day, interior design is as much an art as it is a science. While rules can guide us, it’s our creativity and personal style that truly bring a space to life. So, don’t be afraid to break the rules. After all, your home should be a reflection of you.
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