Decorating
10 Timeless Pieces of Decorating Advice
Follow these tried-and-tested rules and you’ll be ready for any décor situation
As we work – and spend – to make the places we live in beautiful and functional, we sometimes make decorating mistakes that we come to regret. Unhappy choices nearly always stem from poor planning, rushed decisions, self-doubt or bad advice. Here are some sound and sensible steps to create the home you really want.
Exploring daring design options can be daunting. If you feel immobilised by indecision and are losing trust in your instincts, consider asking an interior designer or decorator for advice. These are trained professionals who will see your home with fresh eyes. A good designer won’t impose his or her taste on you, but will steer you toward options that clarify your own vision for your home.
Choose artwork because you love it
Never buy artwork simply because it matches your sofa or fills a wall – better a bare spot than an ill-judged picture. Art should lift your spirits, provoke thought, take you places or create a reason to pause and enjoy. Art is personal, so seek out what reflects you. Collect artworks individually, not in job lots. They needn’t be museum-worthy; there’s a world of choice when it comes to quality prints, professional and family photographs, wall hangings, kids’ art, gifts from artistic friends and even your own efforts.
Never buy artwork simply because it matches your sofa or fills a wall – better a bare spot than an ill-judged picture. Art should lift your spirits, provoke thought, take you places or create a reason to pause and enjoy. Art is personal, so seek out what reflects you. Collect artworks individually, not in job lots. They needn’t be museum-worthy; there’s a world of choice when it comes to quality prints, professional and family photographs, wall hangings, kids’ art, gifts from artistic friends and even your own efforts.
One accepted way to hang art is for the halfway point of the picture to be at eye level. Eye levels differ, but on average this is about 1.5m from the floor. Hanging an artwork at eye level works in a space where viewers are usually standing, such as a hallway or an entrance, but in a room where viewers would be mostly sitting, you can lower it.
If you hang a stunning piece of art above a surface where you’d also like to show off other items, learn the art of the vignette. A simple trick is to hang the picture low enough to be a cohesive part of the display, not an unrelated extra that hovers above it.
If you hang a stunning piece of art above a surface where you’d also like to show off other items, learn the art of the vignette. A simple trick is to hang the picture low enough to be a cohesive part of the display, not an unrelated extra that hovers above it.
Try a bold pattern
A striking wallpaper with a complex pattern makes a strong impact, but it also could throw a room off balance. Search online for images of rooms using the same pattern to see its dominant lines and colours, how it repeats and how it reacts to various light strengths. Get the largest wallpaper sample you can – ask if you can buy a roll or half roll and have the cost credited if you purchase more. It’s an investment for a regret-free decision.
The designer of this bright and airy apartment got it just right with this vibrant Palm Jungle wallpaper in blue-green from Cole & Sons, enhancing it with a handful of mood-matching accessories, but also toning it down with some plain white cabinetry.
A striking wallpaper with a complex pattern makes a strong impact, but it also could throw a room off balance. Search online for images of rooms using the same pattern to see its dominant lines and colours, how it repeats and how it reacts to various light strengths. Get the largest wallpaper sample you can – ask if you can buy a roll or half roll and have the cost credited if you purchase more. It’s an investment for a regret-free decision.
The designer of this bright and airy apartment got it just right with this vibrant Palm Jungle wallpaper in blue-green from Cole & Sons, enhancing it with a handful of mood-matching accessories, but also toning it down with some plain white cabinetry.
Enjoy the vitality of a big, bold pattern. If you fall in love with a wallpaper, make it the touchstone for the room’s décor. This quiet space’s restrained palette and unfussy furniture bring the bold sweeps and curves of the wallpaper into focus.
TIP Get the lighting right if you opt for a metallic wallpaper. In a low-lit room, lustrous highlights lose impact and can look dull. In a light-filled space, they can look glitzy.
Need inspiration? See these smart ways to pack a punch with pattern
TIP Get the lighting right if you opt for a metallic wallpaper. In a low-lit room, lustrous highlights lose impact and can look dull. In a light-filled space, they can look glitzy.
Need inspiration? See these smart ways to pack a punch with pattern
The same rules apply to distinctively patterned and graphic fabrics, especially if you plan to use them to cover large areas. Bring big swatches home and study them in situ with other colours and finishes, and in all types of light.
TIP Keep a swatch file of all the fabrics you use in your home. It’ll come in handy when you shop for other items that will sit in the same space.
TIP Keep a swatch file of all the fabrics you use in your home. It’ll come in handy when you shop for other items that will sit in the same space.
Be patient with paint
Testing a paint colour sometimes takes longer than applying the actual paint. Don’t begrudge this time because your patience will pay off. Experts advise that you should always test paint on the intended walls in the intended room. The surface texture of a wall is different from that of a sample sheet. Apply two coats and always use a primer when working with strong colours, then do test patches on every wall that’s to be painted.
Painting a room? Here’s what you need to consider
Testing a paint colour sometimes takes longer than applying the actual paint. Don’t begrudge this time because your patience will pay off. Experts advise that you should always test paint on the intended walls in the intended room. The surface texture of a wall is different from that of a sample sheet. Apply two coats and always use a primer when working with strong colours, then do test patches on every wall that’s to be painted.
Painting a room? Here’s what you need to consider
Cross style lines
Even if you love a particular style, copying it down to the last detail leads to unimaginative results. Designer Anne Ellard calls it the catalogue look and says, “I prefer a natural, eclectic look that incorporates different styles and pieces from different eras.” Don’t be shy about crossing style boundaries, you want your home to look lived-in and welcoming, not dauntingly styled.
Even if you love a particular style, copying it down to the last detail leads to unimaginative results. Designer Anne Ellard calls it the catalogue look and says, “I prefer a natural, eclectic look that incorporates different styles and pieces from different eras.” Don’t be shy about crossing style boundaries, you want your home to look lived-in and welcoming, not dauntingly styled.
Balance price and quality
High-end furniture doesn’t automatically make a room beautiful, but keep in mind the old adage that “something cheap is eventually expensive.” A poorly made, low-priced item will show its true colours sooner than you’d like, leaving you with a nonreturnable lemon. Always buy the best you can afford.
TIP If you’re unsure, calculate the cost of an unremarkable bargain-priced item plus the replacement cost for when it gives up the ghost. Then decide if you’d rather buy one quality standout piece that you’ll adore and use for years. A modern classic, such as the Bertoia Diamond chair seen here, a genuine global-style rug or a luxurious sofa is a beautiful investment that will lift a room to stylish heights.
High-end furniture doesn’t automatically make a room beautiful, but keep in mind the old adage that “something cheap is eventually expensive.” A poorly made, low-priced item will show its true colours sooner than you’d like, leaving you with a nonreturnable lemon. Always buy the best you can afford.
TIP If you’re unsure, calculate the cost of an unremarkable bargain-priced item plus the replacement cost for when it gives up the ghost. Then decide if you’d rather buy one quality standout piece that you’ll adore and use for years. A modern classic, such as the Bertoia Diamond chair seen here, a genuine global-style rug or a luxurious sofa is a beautiful investment that will lift a room to stylish heights.
Size it up
“Measure twice, cut once” is timeless advice. An often-neglected measurement is the arm height of dining chairs – don’t buy chairs without it. Check the height against your tabletop if space is tight and the chairs have to be tucked under when not in use. Having them protruding into a high-traffic space impedes movement around the table. In this situation, the best option may be going with armless chairs. These smart striped designs fit neatly below the tabletop to allow free traffic flow.
TIP Check the seat height if buying vintage chairs, as some are lower than modern ones and make an uncomfortable fit with a contemporary table.
“Measure twice, cut once” is timeless advice. An often-neglected measurement is the arm height of dining chairs – don’t buy chairs without it. Check the height against your tabletop if space is tight and the chairs have to be tucked under when not in use. Having them protruding into a high-traffic space impedes movement around the table. In this situation, the best option may be going with armless chairs. These smart striped designs fit neatly below the tabletop to allow free traffic flow.
TIP Check the seat height if buying vintage chairs, as some are lower than modern ones and make an uncomfortable fit with a contemporary table.
Just a few centimetres can makes the difference between a perfect fit and a disastrous overspend. If you’ve had an architect draw up plans for a renovation, keep the drawings for later reference, as these measurements are precise. Also keep a tape measure in your bag to use whenever you shop; you never know when it will come in handy for spot-checking.
Face facts about DIY
DIY delusion is a common ailment. Be realistic about your capabilities. “If I sanded that back and painted it and changed the knobs and shortened the legs, it would be just perfect,” you might say. But maybe you won’t. Maybe it will just sit in the garage because you don’t have the skills, or tools, for the job. Unless you’re handy at major alterations, keep looking until that ideal piece comes along.
DIY delusion is a common ailment. Be realistic about your capabilities. “If I sanded that back and painted it and changed the knobs and shortened the legs, it would be just perfect,” you might say. But maybe you won’t. Maybe it will just sit in the garage because you don’t have the skills, or tools, for the job. Unless you’re handy at major alterations, keep looking until that ideal piece comes along.
Get the lights right
Don’t detract from a fabulous pendant light or chandelier with an awkward hanging height. It’s easy to get it wrong over a dining table: allow a minimum of 80cm between the light base and the tabletop, or it will visually intrude between diners. A general rule is to leave about 1.5m between the light base and the floor. To avoid errors, consult a lighting designer, as other factors such as ceiling height, strength of light sources, size of shades and chain length can affect calculations. Here, this trio of warm metallic pendants is just right.
TIP When buying lighting, ask for the light to be illuminated in a dark room so you can see how it looks at night and check the spread of its glow. Some lighting stores have a cubicle for this purpose.
Don’t detract from a fabulous pendant light or chandelier with an awkward hanging height. It’s easy to get it wrong over a dining table: allow a minimum of 80cm between the light base and the tabletop, or it will visually intrude between diners. A general rule is to leave about 1.5m between the light base and the floor. To avoid errors, consult a lighting designer, as other factors such as ceiling height, strength of light sources, size of shades and chain length can affect calculations. Here, this trio of warm metallic pendants is just right.
TIP When buying lighting, ask for the light to be illuminated in a dark room so you can see how it looks at night and check the spread of its glow. Some lighting stores have a cubicle for this purpose.
Guarantee success
In the excitement of unwrapping and setting up a new appliance or piece of furniture, most of us have all been guilty of discarding the guarantee details. Things break, so keep a file of guarantees and all receipts. Always clarify the warranty details for major items. Is the construction covered but not the fabric? Are there special conditions? What’s the claim procedure?
Have you ever made a decorating blunder? How would you avoid it next time? Tell us in the Comments below.
In the excitement of unwrapping and setting up a new appliance or piece of furniture, most of us have all been guilty of discarding the guarantee details. Things break, so keep a file of guarantees and all receipts. Always clarify the warranty details for major items. Is the construction covered but not the fabric? Are there special conditions? What’s the claim procedure?
Have you ever made a decorating blunder? How would you avoid it next time? Tell us in the Comments below.
Lack of confidence leads to indecision, which leads to timid decorating choices. Don’t end up with décor so middle-of-the-road, it says absolutely nothing about you. Instead, stand up and express yourself. That comfort zone you’ve been sheltering in could be stifling the real you. Step into the design ring – there’s lots happening in there.