The 8 Design Essentials every room should have
Here are my 8 design basics to help you create a room scheme that looks fabulous!
1. Does your room have 3 or more colours?
When working with colour, try to work with a 60:30:10 ratio, with your dominant colour occupying 60% of the overall scheme. Bring in a second colour in a smaller proportion – this might be a contrasting hue or a different shade of the main colour. Lastly, use a third colour as an accent to create a ‘pop’, maybe with cushions or a piece of statement artwork.
As an interior designer, I am always on the lookout for treasures. What may seem mundane to some – a discarded wrapper, an unusual flower – provides me with inspiration. Be mindful of the things that you are drawn to and take inspiration from them. This might be a favourite piece of artwork, the fabrics and colours in your wardrobe, the landscape of your favourite holiday destination. You might start to recognize a constant theme of colours and patterns that bring you joy.
Make sure you’re colours work together using a colour wheel, which you can easily pick up off Amazon. Three tried and tested colour formulas to try are tonal (different shades of the same hue), harmonious (colours which sit next to each other on the colour wheel) or contrasting (colours which sit opposite each other on the colour wheel)
2. Does your room have a little bit of black
You may be a little scared of using black, thinking it too bold for your room, but black will give your scheme depth, contrast and an anchor / focal point. Using black is a designers secret weapon and used in the right way can elevate a design to new levels.
3. Does your room have texture?
Using different texture brings visual weight to the room and adds balance and depth. The type of textures you choose can really change the way the room feels. Soft, fluffy, luxurious textures and soft furnishings feel relaxing and soothing, whereas hard, smooth surfaces feel more modern and minimal. Think about visual texture as well as tactile textures – a piece of 3D art might create a sense of movement and energy. As there are so many ways to use texture, think about all your surfaces and the impact the texture of the flooring, fabric, furniture and accessories has on your overall scheme vibe.
4. Does your room contain at least two (ideally three) patterns?
Follow the following simple guidelines to get pattern mixing spot on!
1. Play with scale so your patterns aren’t all competing for attention. Select one larger, dominant pattern and mix with one or two other smaller scale ones.
2. Think about the energy of the pattern, so it does not overwhelm the space
3. Tie in similarities ie colour to unify the scheme, or go for contrast choosing colours that sit opposite on the colour wheel.
4. Choose buddy patterns that go hand in hand, such as stipes and florals or Ikat, or houndstooth + pinstripe, or find a family resemblance, ie natural textures, geometrics.
5. Add some plains to give pattern space. A ratio of 60:40 pattern-to-plain is ideal.
5. Does your room have a bit of bling?
By bling, I mean something that brings a bit of sparkle and shine to your scheme and helps to bounce or reflect light around your scheme. Typically, I would use a mirror, but think about lacquered furniture. Glass objects also work well.
6. Does your room have something that’s living?
I love plants and think they bring a special quality to a room scheme. If you don’t have green fingers or the desire to care for real plants, there are some absolutely fantastic faux options out there that can liven up your interiors. Whether it’s a cluster of succulents or a huge Monstera in the bathroom, play around with colour and scale to lift the design.
7. Does your room shine with light?
Whatever the design route you choose, light is the magical element that will bring the scheme together. Lighting is a science rather than an art so its easy to get right if you know the rules. Remember, light has a temperature. Cool light emits a blue tone, whereas warm light emits yellow. Northern and morning light is cool; southern and evening light is warm. Consider who will use the room and what are the activities? My top piece of advice is to layer, layer, layer. Try to have 5 different sources of light in every room, from a combination of general, ambient, task and accent. And remember that the surfaces in your room also affect the light. Hard shiny surfaces reflect and help bounce light around whereas matt surfaces absorb it.
1. Has your room got good energy?
My final tip is to allow a bit of emptiness to allow all your design choices to pop!
I hope you found my advice useful. As always, if you need some professional help, please get in touch. A 90 minute design consultation with me could help you avoid costly mistakes and give you the scheme of your dreams.
