Do pay attention to the small details
Profiles of edges, edges of tiles, thresholds, grouting, hinges – these are really important details that can upgrade your interiors to perfection. Don’t leave them to the last minute and have to make a rushed decision.
Do decorate with ceramics
Plates, and platters work well out of their natural serving environment. I like to make a collage of plates on a wall in a bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom and put them amongst oil paintings, photography, or more contemporary framed art.
Don’t do a feature wall
If you like the wallpaper or colour enough for one wall, be brave and embrace it on all the walls. I find the compromise of one wall a bit sad, like you didn’t like it enough.
Do go big
Bigger is always better than too small. This relates to furniture, rugs, art, cushions, lamps and lampshades. In reality, everything. But don’t go so big that you can’t get the item into the room. For large items, before you buy, measure them to work find if they will fit and if not, can they be broken down. In my mind there is always a way, but it does help the stress levels working out the way earlier.
Do buy furniture and don’t just build in everything
Joinery has its use and place, but all joinery and no furniture can make a room feel like a hotel. Antique furniture can often be altered to fit a new purpose and still costs a fraction of the cost of building new joinery.
Like art, do buy useful antique pieces as you come across them
Items such a side chairs, little stools, and small tables, that you will always find a place for and are incredibly useful. I have small tables by every loo for loo roll and books, and countless stools around the house which get used now by my children to reach the basin and high up surfaces but are also perfect for a quick bum perch or leg rest.
Do buy well and buy once
Beg borrow and steal rather than spending money on sub-quality items that you want to later replace but will probably break before you do. It is better to wait and save up for the item you really covet, something that you will always love, and is made to last. You are more likely to get it if wait than if buy a cheap temporary substitute. We do have to think about what all of this waste is doing to our world and try and help reduce it.
Do use gathered fabric where you can
A gathered skirt under the bath or in wardrobe cupboards juxtaposes the hardwood or marble surfaces and creates a balance of dark and light in a room.
Do design your house for how you want to live in it, not how you think you should
It is one reason why, if possible, it is good to live in a space first before decorating, so you can work out how you use the rooms. If you are only going to go into your smarter sitting room if there is a TV in there, put a TV in there (there are clever ways to hide it) and make sure you put as much effort into the design of the functional rooms such as the laundry room and boot room. These are normally the most visited rooms in the house and if they are beautiful, you are more likely to enjoy the rather boring tasks of doing the washing.
Do install carpet in the bathroom
It's so nice to step out of the bath onto something soft with bare feet, and you don't have to worry about spills or splashes if you have a generously sized bathmat under the bath and the sink. Plastic carpets are fantastic - try The Unnatural Flooring Company.
Don't make your curtains too short
Even for practical reasons, I always like to ensure there is a little puddle of fabric on the floor.
Do buy a high bed
We like to get as much height as possible on a bed, as much as 75cm high. It’s the ‘stepping up’ into a bed which changes your mood and gives you a nostalgic feeling. Go direct to bed makers rather than the high street retailers.
Do install a shower head with the bath taps
There's nothing worse than not being able to wash your hair in the bath!
Don’t be afraid to use patterns and to mix them up
I think the best interiors are the ones where there are a lot of things in the balance, textures, different materials, light and dark areas, and plains and patterned fabrics. If you are nervous about using patterns, start with somewhere small, a small chair or cushion or headboard, and work your way into using more.
Don’t rush
You are hopefully going to live with these decisions for a long time and it is worth waiting, living with the ideas before you put them into fruition to make sure that they are right.
