When speaking of interior design, you need to know that there are a lot of rules regarding almost every single aspect of it. From colour combos to furniture placement and size, there just seems to be plenty of dos and don’ts you need to be aware of. But, you know what? Rules are there to be broken, so don’t hesitate to rely more on your gut feeling and follow your heart when decorating, because only that way you will be able to create a space that truly feels personal.
Therefore, let’s check out some of the most common rules regarding the interior design and why it is okay to break them.
Rule 1 – mind the colours
The most common advice when colours are concerned – especially if we’re talking about walls and floors – is to keep them in the neutral specter, especially when decorating a small room. The explanation behind this rule is that a room will look and feel much bigger if the dominant hues are in the brighter, neutral range. And while this may be true to some extent, it’s important to remember that the room will still be of the same size, so basically, the only thing you’ll actually be doing is lying to yourself.
Therefore, instead of following this rule blindly, opt for whichever colour (or colours) you want. For example, vibrant warm shades will instantly make the room feel more cosy and homey while bold, dark walls, especially if combined with light-coloured furniture, bring a sense of luxury and style.
Rule 2 – get rid of clutter
The second most common decorating rule is decluttering. While getting rid of unnecessary things will definitely create an illusion of a cleaner space, you first need to determine which look you actually want to go for. Some people find rooms that are too minimalist in decor to be too plain and uninspiring, so it becomes clear why this rule is not for everyone.
If you have good organizational skills, the number of decor pieces you decide to add to your interior won’t matter as long as you manage to retain a sense of order and natural flow to that “chaos”. So, try to create a theme and emphasize it with as many little things and thingies as you want. Sure, this room will require more maintenance and frequent dusting, but if you’re okay with that, there should be nothing stopping you from breaking this interior design rule.
Rule 3 – mind the materials
Tiles belong in the kitchen or bathroom, carpets and rugs are for the living room and bedroom, wood and laminate floors have no place in the bathroom… We could go on and on listing to these silly rules, but instead, we’ll tell you how you can break them because we’re just that rebellious.
As far as materials are concerned, you should think outside the box if you want to create a space that looks simply amazing. In fact, you should throw away the box, because you won’t be needing it at all. For example, think about adding washable vinyl wallpaper to your kitchen instead of the traditional tile backsplash. Next, replace your bathroom floor tiles with hardwood flooring and, for a truly stylish and unexpected punch, browse beautiful hand-braided round rugs that will match your bathroom decor to create that modern-rustic vibe. Also your can try layering rugs of different styles if your want to add some fun and introduce some dynamic into your space design. Basically, if you feel like a certain material would look good in a room, feel free to implement it, no matter what the rules say.
Rule 4 – everything should match
You will often hear that, if you want to create a beautiful interior, you should go for matching furniture pieces. Again, we simply have to disagree. While a room with matching furniture can surely look great, it can sometimes feel like it lacks personality.
Therefore, if you are not a fan of conventional looks, and you too like to break the rules, furnish your home with mismatching furniture pieces. For instance, in the dining area, go for chairs that differ in height and colour; in the living room, choose armchairs and sofas covered in different fabrics; in the bedroom, go for different nightstands. By combining the items that seemingly don’t belong together, you will create a warm, homey environment that will radiate cosiness and make everyone feel welcome.
Without rules, the world would be a hot mess. However, when it comes to designing and decorating your own personal heaven, the only thing you should follow is your heart.
