15.1 Rules
The best part about interior decorating is that there are no rules in interior decorating!
The rooms with that extra punchy "wow!" factor usually break the conventional rules of decorating. Sometimes, a pattern that died in the 80's is just the thing an interior needs to elevate it from nice to fabulous. Other times, two colors that should not otherwise go together are irresistible when the right tones are paired with one another. Still, a decorator may discover a fabric completely foreign to her and find it is a perfect fit for a room she's been itching to finish.
When decorating one's own home, the number one rule to follow is to only use colors, patterns, textures, textiles, finishes, and furniture pieces with which one has absolutely fallen in love.
A homeowner is surrounded by her home décor every single day. One becomes inspired, relaxes after a long day, entertains guests, raises a family, and often times works in the home environment. It is therefor of the greatest importance that a homeowner likes every last bit of her home, from the finish on the bathroom faucet to the focal point in the living room. Never select even one bit of décor about which you do not feel thoroughly enthused. You will always regret the choice and think to yourself: "I should have gone with that other finish."
Take this rule to heart when selecting furniture. Although it is important to choose and stick to a style, it is important to remember that most furniture objects can be spruced up in one way or another to fit a particular style. A change of paint, upholstery, or hardware can completely transform a piece of furniture. If you love it and can't live without it, take it home. You will either transform it to fit your current style or find a way to make it work in its current state. Take the case of an antique red lacquer chest that dates to 18th century China. When left in its original state, it will be a definite statement piece in a Midcentury Modern home, no matter what the color scheme, and when painted cream, the chest will look natural in a Country French interior.
While there are no hard and fast rules in interior decorating, a decorator will benefit most from thinking in terms of the elements of interior decorating. As a reminder, the elements of interior decorating are: Space, Line, Form, Color, Pattern, Texture, and Light. For example, when looking at the aforementioned 18th century Chinese chest, do not think of it as "an 18th century Chinese chest," but rather as a rectangular form with horizontal and vertical lines and red color. Notice the blotched and striped patterns in the wood grain and areas where the paint has worn away. Take note of the differences between the even, beaten tactile texture and gruff, slightly shiny visual texture.
At every decorating stage, it is crucial to consider not only the elements, but also the principles of interior decorating. Unity, Harmony, Balance, Rhythm, Contrast, Emphasis, and Scale and Proportion work together and against one another to create a particular atmosphere within an interior. The red chest will look unified and harmonious in a room with a red color scheme. If used as a buffet table in a dining room, the chest will symmetrically balance a bar cart on the opposite wall. Using two similar chests in the same room is a way of creating repetitive rhythm, while using one red chest and another black chest is a method of creating contrast. In a predominantly black and white interior, the red chest could be emphasized as the focal point, and when paired with a different style chest of similar size, the two together will feel in proportion.
Adhering to the rule of thinking in terms of the elements and principles of interior decorating will make interior decorating a lifestyle, as opposed to a job. It will fundamentally change how you view your environment and ultimately make you a better decorator.
15.2 Myths
1. Decorating is a natural talent.
Decorating is an art and skill that requires practice, just like playing the violin or crocheting. With a fundamental understanding of the concepts, namely the elements and principles of interior decorating, anyone can develop the skills and background knowledge necessary to be a good decorator. Decorating is an acquired skill, not a talent.
To develop your own talent for interior decoration, practice the tips and tricks suggested. Keep a texture notebook to continually expand your texture and textile vocabulary. Make a mental note when you walk into a room of the colors and patterns and determine how these elements of decorating effect the mood of the room. Continually ask yourself how a particular interior makes you feel.
Do the same with lighting. Look for the four types of lighting (ambient, task, focal, decorative) in every interior you enter--from a friend's home to a hotel room and from a restaurant to the doctor's office. Question whether all four types of lighting are present and how the absence of one type of lighting affects the overall mood of the room. Consider how artificial lighting versus natural lighting changes the way colors, patterns, and textures are perceived.
2.The best decoration requires a big budget.
This is a big myth that has absolutely no truth to it. While a big budget opens an unlimited number of possibilities for a decorator, it is in no way required. Sometimes, too big of a budget can even feel overwhelming. Decorators often find the greatest furniture and other décor pieces in the most unexpected places. Estate sales, flea markets, swap meets, Goodwill, vintage and second hand stores, Craigslist, E-bay, and even "Free Your Stuff" and similar Facebook groups can be some of the best resources for inexpensive, or even free objects to decorate an interior. A good decorator is always on the lookout for décor treasure. She knows how to up-cycle, upgrade, and otherwise salvage furniture with new hardware, a great paintjob, or alternate upholstery. Great budget decorators are not only thrifty, but also handy. They attend free workshops at their local hardware store, know how to install certain pieces of décor, and most importantly, know when a project is big enough to be worth shelling out the few extra dollars for a professional installer.
3. A good decorator adheres to the trending styles.
No way! An interior should reflect one's personal style and tastes. Trends are in one year, out the next, whereas an individual's love for classic films or penchant for Japanese screens is likely to last a lifetime. Use décor that you as the homeowner or your client absolutely loves, that makes a the client smile and feel good, even if it that particular décor element is on all the "out" lists for that particular year. Your or your client's happiness is the ultimate goal.
4. Safer is better.
On the contrary--the best decorators take the most risks. Did you find a bold pattern that you love but freaks you out when you think where in the world you could possibly use it? Buy it! You will find a place for it, whether it is on a single throw pillow or to cover an entire accent wall. Bold decisions are always the best decisions. This does not mean bold colors, patterns, or textures are the better choice. Depending on the room, a decorator may think a delicate lace is just as or even more risky than a big graphic. Go for it!
5. Never mix patterns and prints.
This is the biggest myth of them all. Mixing patterns and prints creates contrast and visual interest. It is a great decorator's best-kept secret to unique interiors that even when inspired by the pages of a magazine, look entirely one's own. Plaid, paisley, stripes, polka dots, and big floral patterns can look harmonious in a single interior. (Really!) The key to making this technique work is to keep the principle of unity in mind. Use a singular color palette and transform the otherwise chaotic patterns into a balanced composition. The same goes with textures--always mix textures.
6. Every room should have one focal point.
Rooms can have one or more focal points. The most common example is a living room with a fireplace and television. Sometimes, each wall demands its own focal point. Imagine a three-walled living room with a fireplace on one wall, a large-scale artwork on another, and a grand bay window on the third. Each of these features is worthy of its' own emphasis. To work with multiple focal points, consider several seating groups and be sure to use appropriate task lighting to highlight each focal point.
7. An interior must have a single style through-and-through.
A person's taste is as complex as a person herself. A person may like Russian stacking dolls and Moroccan lamps but crave the simplicity of Midcentury Modern design. There is no reason she cannot incorporate each of these elements into her very own interior. A home is meant to be a reflection of a person's individual personality. The more layers, the more interesting a home is likely to be. Do not hesitate to blend, infuse, and merge opposing styles. Doing so is the best way to make a home truly feel like one's own.
8. Always include a contrasting accent color.
While an accent color can make a room pop and create visual excitement, some interiors may require a more subdued visual experience. It is also important to remember that for every hue, there are an infinite number of tones and tints. A "grey" room is not just grey. It is also white, silver, pewter, cloud, flint, slate, dove, graphite, fossil, and lead. In the example of a grey room, cooler tones of grey contrasted with warmer tones create variety and visual interest in a similar way as the addition of green or pink would. Such a strategy can also make an interior feel more sophisticated and give it more depth. A monochrome room further gives a decorator space to play with a number of different textures, as well as the balance between positive and negative space.
9. Small rooms should be light and neutral to make them feel larger.
Prevailing wisdom says small rooms painted in warm tones are claustrophobic disasters. This is not true. When lit with layered lighting, and harmoniously balanced with appropriate textures, patterns, lines, and forms, a small room painted in a dark tone can feel warm, dramatic, glamorous, sophisticated, cozy, or intimate. Spaces do not always need the illusion of bigger space. Sometimes an enveloping hug is exactly what one wants from a room.
10. Wood finishes should match, as should metal finishes.
Mixing is among an interior decorator's best strategies for infusing an interior with personality and making it feel truly unique to a particular homeowner. Just as patterns and textures should be mixed and layered, so too should finishes.
A variety of wood finishes creates depth, whereas mixed metal finishes activates visual interest.
To successfully mix wood finishes, use the principle of unity to select finishes that complement one another. Undertone is a typical unifying element. Woods have undertones of varying colors, from red to yellow, and from lighter neutrals to darker browns. For example, pine and burgundy share brown tones, whereas sierra and red cedar share red tones. Grain is another unifying element. All wood has a pattern known as "grain." Silver grain has prominent rays, curly grain creates zebra stripe-like waves, bird's eye is characterized by small pockmarks, ribbon grain has long lines that appear pixelated, and burl grain swirls and loops in a way similar to a hurricane seen on a Doppler radar. A decorator who can pick up on a single grain and employ it as the unifying element in a room of mixed woods can give a room rhythm and subtle harmony.
When mixing metal finishes, use the same unity principle by selecting either all matte or all shiny finishes. A kitchen with a stainless steel range hood and black stainless steel cabinetry adorned with copper nobs and pulls will look unified when all finishes are either shiny or matte.
15.3 Resources
For additional interior decorating resources, refer to these titles:
Fundamental of Interior Decorating and Design:
The House in Good Taste by Elsie de Wolfe
Geometry of Design: Studies in Proportion and Composition by Kimberly Elam
Elements of Style: Designing a Home & A Life by Erin Gates
A Place Called Home by Jason Grant
Decorating in Detail by Alexa Hampton
Styled Secrets for Arranging Rooms, from Tabletops to Bookshelves by Emily Henderson
It's the Little Things: Creating Big Moments in Your Home Through the Stylish Small Stuff by Susanna Salk
The Color Scheme Bible: Inspirational Palettes for Designing Home Interiors by Anna Starmer
Toward a New Interior: An Anthology of Interior Design by Lois Weinthal
The Four Elements of Design: Interiors Inspired by Earth, Water, Air and Fire by Vicente Wolf
Style-Specific Texts
The New Bohemians: Cool and Collected Homes by Justina Blakeney
Modern Rustic by Emily Henson
A House in the Country by Peter Pennoyer
Wanderlust: Interiors that Bring the World Home by Michelle Nussbaumer
Modern Mix: Curating Personal Style with Chic & Accessible Finds by Eddie Ross
Beautiful: All-American Decorating and Timeless Style by Mark D. Sikes
Past Present: Living with Heirlooms and Antiques by Susan Sully
