10 Decor Myths to Debunk Right Away
The only rule to follow is to design your home to best represent your taste and style
Someone, somewhere, makes a wise decor choice and going onwards, passed through generations, it becomes a rule of thumb. And while decorating, these rules or myths are probably the first thing that cross our mind. Today, we become the breaker of the chains that bind us about and debunk 10 of the biggest decor myths.
2. All-white makes rooms look spacious
While white and lighter colours do give an illusion of space, it is the size, scale and placement of the furniture that matters more. Also, good decor does not necessarily mean a spacious-looking room. A small room can be converted into an intimate haven for the family by adding colours to the walls and upholstery.
While white and lighter colours do give an illusion of space, it is the size, scale and placement of the furniture that matters more. Also, good decor does not necessarily mean a spacious-looking room. A small room can be converted into an intimate haven for the family by adding colours to the walls and upholstery.
3. Do not mix patterns and prints
This is another design misconception that needs to go out of the window right away. There is no better way to add colour, texture and character to your room than mixing up patterns and prints. Whether it is checks, stripes or florals, they all have the potential to coexist. Just a caveat, though – try and stick to a colour scheme. Note the use of blue and fuchsia in this room, with a dash of soft green for balance.
Browse through these living room photos for more bright ideas
This is another design misconception that needs to go out of the window right away. There is no better way to add colour, texture and character to your room than mixing up patterns and prints. Whether it is checks, stripes or florals, they all have the potential to coexist. Just a caveat, though – try and stick to a colour scheme. Note the use of blue and fuchsia in this room, with a dash of soft green for balance.
Browse through these living room photos for more bright ideas
Prints and patterns are brought to life in this fabulous dining room in three colours – white, turquoise and red – and a sprinkling of gold. Look at the clever use of piping on the chairs, which matches the wall at the back.
4. Everything should match
Gone are the days when everything needed to match perfectly. Design has moved towards having contrasts and statement pieces: it not only breaks the monotony of a single colour but also lends character to your space. We love how a little whimsy is brought into this space with mismatched coloured chairs
Pro tip: To bring in cohesion, either mix the styles and keep the colour the same or mix the colours and keep the type of furniture and design the same.
Look for dining and kitchen furniture on Houzz products
Gone are the days when everything needed to match perfectly. Design has moved towards having contrasts and statement pieces: it not only breaks the monotony of a single colour but also lends character to your space. We love how a little whimsy is brought into this space with mismatched coloured chairs
Pro tip: To bring in cohesion, either mix the styles and keep the colour the same or mix the colours and keep the type of furniture and design the same.
Look for dining and kitchen furniture on Houzz products
5. Furniture should go against the wall and never against windows
We tend to push our furniture against the wall, by default. What we don’t realise is that by doing so, we end up encouraging foot traffic in front of the furniture. Also, a lot of window space is wasted because of the shyness to add furniture against it. We say, do it! It not only looks good but also creates an extra seating area.
We tend to push our furniture against the wall, by default. What we don’t realise is that by doing so, we end up encouraging foot traffic in front of the furniture. Also, a lot of window space is wasted because of the shyness to add furniture against it. We say, do it! It not only looks good but also creates an extra seating area.
6. Only have a single focal point in a room
While having a single focal point is not a bad idea at all, there is absolutely nothing wrong in having multiple focal points, too, in a room. If one wall in the room has a splash of bright colour, the other wall can have a fireplace or a window seat. These do not necesarily compete with other; in fact, they add another dimension to your room.
While having a single focal point is not a bad idea at all, there is absolutely nothing wrong in having multiple focal points, too, in a room. If one wall in the room has a splash of bright colour, the other wall can have a fireplace or a window seat. These do not necesarily compete with other; in fact, they add another dimension to your room.
7. Always adhere to one design style
Don’t we like variety? In clothes, our food, our tastes? Then I do not see the sense in imposing a single design style to our homes. Homes can be modern and yet interspersed with antiques, a mix of boho and contemporary. Having multiple styles gives a layered effect to your home.
Don’t we like variety? In clothes, our food, our tastes? Then I do not see the sense in imposing a single design style to our homes. Homes can be modern and yet interspersed with antiques, a mix of boho and contemporary. Having multiple styles gives a layered effect to your home.
8. Accessories define the mood
It is usually the style and the colour scheme that sets the mood of a room. Accessories add to the mood, no doubt, but they cannot make any statement without a well-thought-out colour scheme.
It is usually the style and the colour scheme that sets the mood of a room. Accessories add to the mood, no doubt, but they cannot make any statement without a well-thought-out colour scheme.
9. Your couch is the most important thing
The living room couch has received importance since the year dot, and for all the right reasons. However, that alone is not the hero of your home. It is equally perfect to have your dining table or art or any other piece of furniture make a more prominent statement. The stairs in this case, if you like.
The living room couch has received importance since the year dot, and for all the right reasons. However, that alone is not the hero of your home. It is equally perfect to have your dining table or art or any other piece of furniture make a more prominent statement. The stairs in this case, if you like.
You can add a bunch of mirrors to any plain-Jane wall and turn it into your room’s focal point. And yes, multiple focal points can co-exist, as we have already discussed above.
Red cannot be used as a wall colour
When I was doing up our home, I wanted a red wall in the kitchen, with a retro print and a checkered cloth. People were dead against it because, they said, red is an accent colour and cannot be used as a wall colour. Tell you what? It very well can be. Just take note of the space to which you are adding it and with what you are pairing it. For example, the red wall in this space is paired up with high-contrasting colours, creating a delightfully eclectic effect.
Read more:
Top 10 Decorating Rules
Golden Rules of Proportion You Need to Know
Tell us:
Do you want to debunk any design myths? Go right ahead in Comments below.
When I was doing up our home, I wanted a red wall in the kitchen, with a retro print and a checkered cloth. People were dead against it because, they said, red is an accent colour and cannot be used as a wall colour. Tell you what? It very well can be. Just take note of the space to which you are adding it and with what you are pairing it. For example, the red wall in this space is paired up with high-contrasting colours, creating a delightfully eclectic effect.
Read more:
Top 10 Decorating Rules
Golden Rules of Proportion You Need to Know
Tell us:
Do you want to debunk any design myths? Go right ahead in Comments below.
This is probably one of the oldest design myths that have numerous followers even today. However, this needs to go away, and how! As opposed to this common belief, moody hues add a certain level of sophistication and cosiness to your room. You just need to know how and where to use dark shades. For instance, using a single colour, even a darker one, across all the walls unifies the the whole room by blurring the lines. This actually makes the room feel larger.
Consult with a Houzz professional to break the rules successfully