Do save up for window dressings
Curtains and blinds are an expensive purchase but can really make a room sing. If you have to live without them for a bit or use simple roller blinds before you make the leap, then do so.
Don’t be taken in by the social media fads
If you are seeing too much of a certain style, colour, ‘look’ on your feed then beware. You could be falling into the ‘avocado bathroom suite’ trap. Try and imagine what it will all look like five years from now.
Do be practical
Remember you actually have to live in the house you create. It’s inevitable the children will jump on the sofa or the dog will pee on the rug. You don’t want to be too precious about your house, otherwise it won’t be home. Consider using outdoor or perennial fabrics in family homes and marry high street items with antiques and car boot finds that are loved and worn already.
Don’t tie things together but definitely do tie things together
This is the holy grail of interior decorating. You never want a room to be overdone, so avoid too much matchy, matchy decorating and instead, think about tones and texture and how they work together. Have some key colours in mind, but don’t feel constrained by them.
Do sweat the detail
Although other people may not notice every detail, borders, trims, tassels and accessories all marry together to give the room an elevated feel.
Don’t use recessed downlights everywhere
Recessed downlights are useful in areas where you need task lighting, predominantly kitchens and bathrooms. However, you don’t want to look like an airport runway with rows and rows of downlights. It’s always worth remembering, electricians love a spotlight but you can push them to consider other options.
Do think about lighting levels
Lighting is so important; you can spend hours putting together your wonderful scheme and it can all be ruined with bad lighting. Think about lighting levels; ceiling lights, wall lights and lamps and always have them on separate dimmer switches.
Don’t worry about mixing metals
Finding the same metal types and finishes for your hardware will send you round in circles. I like mixing metal finishes, it adds another layer.
Do artwork
See it, love it, buy it.
Do push yourself
I find it’s always the item, colour or fabric that people are most nervous about that they end up loving the most. It’s sometimes hard to envisage a scheme when you are presented with lots of patterns, textures and fabric samples piled together, however, a room will create space and light between each element, so go for the stronger option and you won’t regret it.
Do get out and about to car boot sales, markets and auctions
Not only is it great to find an original piece, but it’s essential to remember that we don’t need to buy new the whole time. The quality and hard work that has gone into antique and vintage items always astounds me – they really do stand the test of time.
Do try to find local suppliers
It's both nice to work with locally recommended tradespeople, but it also helps your project move along quickly and efficiently. There are always extra site visits and tweaks needed and it helps to have people just down the road, willing to pop in.
Do try to avoid slatted wooden shutters
These are firstly quite expensive, but I mainly find they block a lot of valuable light out and can make a room feel quite clinical. If you need privacy, consider sheer ‘café’ style curtains or privacy blinds hidden under blinds or curtains.
Don’t use brilliant white
People spend hours agonising over paint colours, shades, finishes and then they marry their chosen colour with a ‘brilliant white’ on the ceiling and woodwork. The tone is way too sharp and cold. Think about using an off white with a chalky tone to soften everything up.
Polly Ashman is a member of The List by House & Garden, our essential directory of design professionals. Visit The List by House & Garden here.
