When you are planning your home furnishings or redesigning living spaces, you should consider a few factors so that you don't end up disappointed. Setting up can be difficult, especially when you're moving into your first apartment. In addition, some of the most common mistakes and problems arise again and again when creating living spaces. However, these oversights can be prevented with a good understanding of design principles. Here is some useful information and tips that can help you avoid setup mistakes.
Orient yourself according to the interior design and plan your home furnishings
So you will inevitably make one or two mistakesFurnishing your apartmentdo, although this is not uncommon. The good news is that most of these problems can be solved fairly easily. Even if you think you've identified all the errors, you could still have missed something. If you're scratching your head as to why you're feeling a little disappointed with the decor in your home, a fix, or at least an improvement, may be just a few steps away.
It could be oneincorrectly furnished living space, an inappropriate color, or decorative elements that are not chosen correctly. A few tweaks could help you turn questionable decisions into resounding successes. A good interior designer can also help you pinpoint problems and find creative solutions.
How poor lighting can affect décor
The lighting of a room should really be one of the first things you consider when planning your home decor. This can actually make a big difference. Furthermore, it works in both directions. For example, if you have appropriate lighting installed, it can enhance the space. Otherwise there is a risk that the room in question will feel uncomfortable. The trick is to layer your lighting. This means having many different light sources that serve different purposes and all work together to create a beautiful lighting scheme.
- For example, start by making the most of the natural light in the room. Use mirrors to reflect light and ensure you let in an optimal amount of light through windows, doors and any other glazing you have.
- Then add the main lights. These ensure as little shadow as possible. When installing new light sources, you should also think about the plan in which they are placed. Determine which areas of the room need more light.
- Then add task lighting. This enables you to carry out your tasks better. For example, a desk lamp is suitable for a workstation so you can see what you are reading. Pendant lights fit above a kitchen island to prepare food so you don't accidentally chop off a finger along with the carrots.
- Now it's time to add a little romantic, soft touch to your room with ambient lighting. These are floor lamps for a reading corner, wall lights above a sofa or table lamps on a side table. These add more character and warmth to your room and provide a cozy finish.
- If you want to add even more lighting, you can add some decorative light sources. Whether fairy lights in the children's room, small lamps or candles in the living room, or chic LED strips in shelves and furniture, they give your interior that extra WOW factor.
Align furniture according to Feng Shui
Walls do not have magnetic forces to pull furniture towards them, so you need to plan your home furnishings and position them correctly. You have all the space to set up and shouldn't feel restricted by just placing furniture against the walls. The room will feel larger and more spacious if you create more walkways by centering your furniture pieces or creating a few zones with furniture and rugs depending on the size of your room. This is particularly crucial in open and interrupted spaces.
However, there are also many cases where furniture needs to be placed against the wall and look best that way. But this doesn't mean you can't have a central coffee table and an accent chair or two that sort of float in the room. With this in mind, the entire room will have a sense of space that would be good enough to be included in feng shui.
Hang art on the walls correctly
Hanging pictures is a tricky skill because there are no strict rules to follow. Additionally, this area of interior design is where you can really let your creativity run wild. However, whether it's a symmetrical arrangement of frames, a versatile gallery wall or a statement canvas, you should have the right spacing and height.
As a simplified rule of thumb, it is recommended to hang the corresponding mural at approximately eye level. Too high or too low can look a bit strange. If you are creating a gallery wall, we recommend a minimum distance of 10 cm between the frames. For artwork above furniture, such as a sofa or console table, you should ensure that it is centrally above or in balance with other pieces of furniture and finishing touches in the room.
Plan home furnishings and design small rooms
If you want to decorate a small room and think that it is too small to look beautiful, then you are wrong. Every room deserves some design, and small rooms are often where you can make the most statement. The biggest mistake here is struggling with the limited space and trying to make the room look bright and spacious when it is actually quite dark and boring in nature. If this is the case, then you should just be clear about it.
Paint the room dark or opt for bold and visually appealing wallpaper. Don't be afraid of patterns that might feel like too much for the space. These are fine as long as you don't have patterned flooring, wall murals and wallpapering every other wall. If your small space actually benefits from lots of light, then try your best to emphasize this. Use light furniture made from natural materials and large mirrors to reflect light around the room.
Choose the right carpet for every room
A carpet should be a big part of your room decoration, which is why you should make the right choice. Below are some simple rules to follow to hopefully avoid making any costly mistakes and get it right the first time.
- In smaller spaces, your living room layout often includes a sofa against one wall, and the television and/or fireplace conveniently positioned on the opposite wall. Placing a rug closer to the wall with the sofa will make the seating area feel cozy and warm. This creates a passageway between the fireplace or TV unit, thereby not obstructing access.
- A smaller rug (usually around 130 x 180cm) can frame your coffee table and create symmetry. It also grounds the table, making the piece a focal point in the room. If you decide to go for this look, just make sure that neither sofa nor chair legs sit on either side of the rug.
- Placing all the important, central living room furniture on a large rug can make a room feel super cozy and also very spacious. The rug zones the living space, adds warmth, color and pattern and pretty much creates the layout for you. Depending on the space available, this can still be a fairly large carpet. Therefore, place the front legs of your sofas and chairs on the edge of the carpet so that about half of the depth of the sofa is above the edge of the carpet. This still has all the benefits of the design ideas above, but you don't need as much space to execute it.
Carpets for bedrooms and children's rooms
Who doesn't want their bedroom to feel ultra cozy? Make your bedroom as cozy as possible by placing a large rug under the bed, directly in front of your nightstands, so that the majority of the bed is above the rug. Ideally, you should have at least 50-60cm of uncovered carpet at the end of the bed to feel the real benefits. For a standard double bed, a 200 x 300 cm rug would be a safe choice. However, what if your bed is not in the center of the room? No center, no problem. Next to your sleeping bed can be a sheepskin, a rug or a smaller standard size rug (130 x 180). This will give you a gentle step when you groggily drag yourself out of bed in the morning.
In addition, children's rugs are often smaller. They offer a great way to add color and fun to your child's room design. It is also possible to create your own play area. In addition to playtime, children also need time to relax. Place a fluffy sheepskin or deep-pile rug next to their bed to make the child's room feel relaxed and comfortable too. Just don't let the carpet become so soft that your little ones would rather fall asleep on the floor than in their beds.
Avoid excessive saving and plan your home furnishings
Extremely price-conscious shopping can have a negative impact on the entire concept. Everyone loves a bargain and it's amazing how luxurious andelegant, inexpensive home furnishings lookcan. However, sometimes more expensive items have this price point for a reason. While you can update most of your home on a pretty reasonable budget, especially if you're a fan of flea markets, DIY, and upcycling old furniture, you should treat yourself to a one-time splurge every now and then. In addition, a very special furnishing item can really transform the interior and enhance the entire room. A special purchase immediately attracts attention and, if it is a piece of furniture, can act as a centerpiece.
Follow living trends carefully
Nowadays it's popular to follow fashion trends and observe how interior design styles evolve over time. In addition, many people adapt interior design trends to their needs and desires. They are representative of what is currently attracting more and is shaping the direction of how interiors will coexist with people in the years to come. Be present, howevercommon living trends, which could turn out to be fads, be careful. For example, before you decide on a mint color on the wall or fill your home with biophilic elements, you should carefully plan your home furnishings. So don't incorporate what's popular until you really think it fits your style.
Don't plan home furnishings that are too monotonous
Of course you want your home to look harmonious and everything fits together. The fear of a finished design not looking cohesive causes many people everywhere to fall into the trap of matching furniture sets. There is nothing wrong with a dining table and matching chairs, just as there is nothing wrong with a sofa and a matching armchair. However, sometimes these sets would benefit from being broken up with a few different chairs or a sofa in the same style in a different fabric. This way, your home will look less like a furniture store showroom and more like your unique home, bursting with personality.
