Although it's not always easy, some of the most common setup mistakes can be avoided by being strategic. In order to choose suitable pieces of furniture and combine them correctly in the bedroom or living room, professional advice is often essential. So we asked interior design expert Astrid Fuchs to share some common missteps when decorating a home. Check out their recommended solutions below to make your apartment stylish and flawless!
What should be taken into account when designing the interior?
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Taking into account the size, shape, function and design, the chances of creating cozy and inviting living spaces are good. We asked Ms. Fuchs what, in her opinion, are the most common mistakes when furnishing and interior design. In this regard, the expert says:
“In my opinion, people don’t pay enough attention to a harmonious balance of proportions in the room. Often there is a sofa that is far too large in a room that is far too small. This over-proportioned sofa is often accompanied by a hodgepodge of many small furnishings, which leads to a restless overall picture. You can literally feel this imbalance when you enter the room. Ideally, the sofa should be positioned in the room so that you can see outside. In addition, in terms of Feng Shui basic rules, there should be either a wall behind the sofa or some kind of room divider. This “strengthening” in the back ensures psychological relaxation.
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Many people make the mistake of combining too many materials or furniture styles. Avoid 10 different plant pots with different plants on the windowsill. Either place a large plant in a large container freely in the room or arrange a group of three identical plants in the same containers asymmetrically on the windowsill. Avoid open shelves and, if possible, glass display cases. Because with both you can see what is written on them or what is stored in them. Large, closed pieces of furniture that are then beautifully decorated are much better. The example above shows what a big impact taking these points into account can have.”
Which furnishing mistakes can make rooms look smaller?
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When it comes to small rooms, you can use various tricks to make them appear larger. But furniture often has the opposite effect and that's why we asked the interior design expert what mistakes you should avoid so that such rooms don't appear smaller. Astrid Fuchs writes:
“There is a misconception that you have to equip small rooms with small pieces of equipment. This is fundamentally wrong. In a small hallway or guest toilet, for example, it is absolutely counterproductive to choose a small tile format when choosing the floor covering. Remember the principle: big makes big. Reduce the number of furnishings: use one large decorative item rather than countless small ones. Instead of using a spotlight strip on the ceiling, work with a large, round surface-mounted ceiling light. This brings calm to the design and creates optical magnification.
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Dare to play with color. Or with large mirrors. Here again the basic rule: big makes big. Do not place a mini mirror in a guest toilet, but rather have the entire wall area above the sink or the wall covered with a mirror. Instead of countless small decorative items, put up a large vase. If there are several small ones, be sure to group them on a tray, for example.”
To our expert
Astrid Fox
Interior designer Astrid Fuchs has been offering her customers solutions for all tasks relating to room planning and interior design for over 15 years. It operates throughout the DA-CH region.
Link to website:ideenraumgeben.de
Taking into account requirements, use and function, construction as well as sustainability and the budget, she incorporates the individual wishes of her customers into her designs. Your interior concept will be worked out down to the last detail, taking into account all the circumstances. Lighting planning is also very important to her.
What mistakes when furnishing make an apartment seem uncomfortable?
Those: www.ideenraumgeben.de
“Rooms appear uncomfortable when you combine cold colors and/or materials. For example, if you have white tiles, a white kitchen with a black granite worktop, you definitely have to work with warm tones as a counterpoint to so many cold colors and surfaces, be it with a wooden dining table or with harmonious wall design in earthy colors with cheerful wallpapers.
Rooms that have been completely furnished without room textiles also appear uncomfortable. It doesn't have to be the classic curtain on the right and left of the window, but there should be a decorative curtain panel - attached asymmetrically to the windows in the living/dining area and the bedrooms. The interior design expert also thinks it is extremely important that a proportionately fitting carpet is used in the area of the sofa. Both measures also ensure better room acoustics.”
How can you optimize the use of space through interior design?
Those: www.ideenraumgeben.de
“Interior planning and interior design are the be-all and end-all for using space! Before you start choosing furniture, you should think about its use. What requirements should the room meet? How much storage space needs to be integrated? Who uses the room? What is the room used for?
It's best to create a checklist for all of this in advance. Ideally, spatial planning should be done in 3D, at least for people who have little spatial imagination. In order to avoid bad purchases, it is sometimes advisable to take a professional on board. Ask an experienced interior designer or decorator in your area or someone who works online - this is usually money well spent. A professional sees rooms completely differently and can sometimes integrate storage solutions that a layperson wouldn't even think of. These can be, for example, pharmacist extracts, which are cleverly integrated in a space-saving manner.
It's best to start planning with the largest piece of furniture in the room, i.e. the sofa in the living room and the bed in the bedroom. For a pleasant overall impression, it is important that the eye falls on an attractively designed overall picture when entering the room. Integrate storage space with fronts that are as closed as possible, i.e. as few open shelves or display cabinets as possible. It is better to complement the closed furniture with a few, but large, decorative items or plants.”
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