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They say that rules are made to be broken and this is most certainly the case when it comes to interior design. However, it is all about breaking the right sort of rules. This means breaking rules that are going to give your home a striking and stylish appearance, rather than a messy and confused one. With that in mind, read on to discover more about the home decorating rules that were made to be broken.
Ceilings should be painted white
For some reason, it seems to be an unwritten rule that all ceilings should be painted white. If you walk into 100 homes, you can bet your bottom dollar that the vast majority of them would have white ceilings in every room. However, this is definitely a rule that was made to be broken. You can paint your ceilings in an interesting shade to give your room a unique feel. Whether you opt for pale blue, olive green, or even a patterned design, is completely up to you, but don’t feel like you need to stick to white.
Your artwork needs to be level with your eyes
A lot of interior design websites and publications advise us to place our artwork at eye level around the home. However, your home is not intended to be a museum, and placing everything at eye level can make it look a little bit formal and rather boring. Instead, it is quite simple: you should place your artwork where it is the most aesthetically pleasing. Large framed photo prints can look incredible in unexpected areas.
Will I still like it in 10 years?
Whenever we are shopping for something for our home, we are often told to ask ourselves whether we would like that piece of furniture or decoration in 10 years’ time. This is something you need to get out of your mind. After all, who knows what you are going to like in 10 years’ time? It is all about living for the here and the now and embracing the style that you like at this moment in time. Stop feeling like you need to go for boring pieces simply because you need to play it safe. If you find these items and furnishings boring now, the chances are that you are still going to find them boring in 10 years’ time.
Old and new furniture does not work together
Many people have already broken the so-called rule that you should never mix and match patterns. However, we have seen that this can have a beautiful effect, not only with regards to interior design but when it comes to fashion too. So, if you are feeling especially brave, why not try mixing old and new styles together in the same room? Modern furniture and antique pieces can work together in the same space, yet it is all about how you use them. You can take a look at the likes of Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration with this trend, all of the other trends mentioned in this post. This will give you a unique perspective about some of the different ways that you can style the furniture pieces in your home.
Following what is in trend
While there is nothing wrong with having an interest in the latest interior design trends, you should not follow them merely because they are deemed stylish right now. Of course, if you like the trends that are making the headlines, then great, you can incorporate them into your home. However, if you are not a fan, do not feel forced to bow down to what is popular. After all, your home is an extension of your personality. It is a representation of who you are as a person, and most importantly it is your home – the place you are going to live in and seek comfort in each and every day. Therefore, it is important that you discover your own home decor style. So what’s your home decor style? To determine this, you should identify what you like and define your favourite colours. You can then identify the styles that you like the most, be it classic or coastal, cottage or industrial, or minimalist.
Only decorating with one kind of wood
A lot of people go to hell and back trying to match all of the wood finishes within their home. They end up being forced into choosing a specific table or cabinet just because it has the same finish as the other wood that is already in the house. However, this is simply not worth the effort. There is nothing wrong with mixing and matching woods. In fact, it can actually add dimensionality to your space.
Furniture looks best against your walls
When sorting out the layout for a room, a lot of people assume that their furniture should be pushed up against the wall. It is understandable why you may think this way, as this is what we have been told to do and it seems the logical way to make the most of the space that is available. However, if you actually take your furniture away from the wall, you can create a more inviting room and it gives the illusion of more space.
Final words on seven interior design rules that we love to break
So there you have it: some of the most popular and common home decorating rules that were actually made to be broken. Some other rules that you do not need to follow when it comes to your home are as follows: all dining chairs have to match, pick one furniture style and stick to it, every room needs a pop of colour, you should not mix and match black and brown, every room needs overhead lighting, and art should only be hung on the wall. Break these interior design rules and see the positive impact that it has on the overall feel and appearance of your home.
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