For some people, interior design comes naturally, but for others, well they have to work much harder to find inspiration for new ideas that will allow their creative streak to shine through so that they too can produce spaces that are beautiful, functional and in perfect harmony with the rest of the surroundings. If it sounds like too much hard work for you then perhaps you should call in a professional interior design so that you can just sit back and watch the transformation take place. However, if you want to have a go yourself, then it would be wise and certainly less expensive if you sought to avoid making some common mistakes and aimed for getting it right first time. Remember to plan The most important task in any interior design project is proper planning, get this right and the rest will follow relatively smoothly.
For example, you need to ask yourself what the space is going to be used for, what safety and practical issues need to be considered, how much money you are prepared to spend and of course you need to have an idea of what sort of look or style you are aiming for as this will influence the furniture, fixtures and fittings, colour schemes, materials and finishing touches. Gather pictures of rooms or spaces that appeal to you, visit showrooms and browse the internet for inspiration so that you get a clear of idea of what you like and what you don't then sit down and spend some time planning the entire project. Always measure Avoid the temptation to rely on your eyes alone to decide if a particular item will fit into a space, you really don't want to find yourself in the situation of having bought a large item of furniture only to discover that when it arrives it doesn't fit.
Measure the available space first and you'll save yourself a lot of stress and expense later. Test the paint first If you get the colour scheme wrong then it can be a costly operation to rectify it or you will just have to learn to live with it. Remember always to test any paint on a small patch of wall first as the colour will invariably look quite different than the colour on the tin once it is has dried and will also be affected by the light in the room.
Testing first ensures that you get exactly the shade you want and you can make sure it matches harmoniously with other items in the room. Avoid clutter Don't be tempted to cram too many different pieces, ornaments, pictures and artefacts of all different shapes and sizes into a space; it will just look untidy and cluttered. If you are not sure you could always go for a theme such as nature or water, or choose items in different shades of the same colour, or perhaps in the same material such as wood, metal or glass.
There are no hard and fast rules; ultimately, you have to be pleased with the finished result. Don't mix too many styles together Too often, people are not sure of what style they want to opt for and may find that they are tempted to throw in a bit of everything that they like so that they end up with a room that just looks fussy and unappealing. Professionals will often mix styles together but they have the advantage of already having a good idea of knowing what works and what doesn't. Try to stick to one or two styles at the most and choose ones that complement each other. Some popular styles include: * Country Cottage * Traditional * Minimalist * Retro * Themed styles (Japanese, Scandinavian, Nature, Aztec, American Indian etc.
) Completing the look The finishing touches in any room can make or break a room so choose them carefully. A well placed vase of flowers in colours that complement the room, a strategically placed mirror on the wall, a fine painting or piece of art are just a few ideas which might help enhance the beauty of a space. Avoid keeping any items just for the sake of it as this can spoil an otherwise perfect room, for example, plants that are not in the best of health, shabby curtains and lampshades, items of furniture that are surplus to requirements, rugs that have seen better days or collections of ornaments that just don't match your new look. Keep it simple with the philosophy of less is more and you won't go far wrong.
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