There are many things I love about working as an interior designer. I love that it challenges me both mentally and creatively. I love that I get to meet and work with such a wide range of people. And I especially love the feeling I get every time I transform a tired house into an inviting home.
On the flip side, there are a number of things that really upset me as an interior designer. And, because I see or experience these things on a semi-regular basis, I thought I’d share them with you today.
Things that upset me as an interior designer
(in no particular order):
Vertical blinds.
To be blunt, vertical blinds should never, ever be used in a home. Though acceptable in a commercial setting, vertical blinds add nothing to a décor, and should be avoided at all costs.
Curtain tracks fitted onto window frames.
If you want your drapes to look good (and why wouldn’t you?) you need to have them installed properly. Though it’s not an overly complicated job, you should call in an expert curtain fitter If you don’t know what you’re doing. There is most definitely a right and a wrong way to install your curtains.
Matching furniture.
Some matching furniture is just fine, of course, but when you have a full living suite with matching dining suite you end up with an interior that resembles a catalogue for inexpensive furniture.
Accessories without a purpose.
We all love accessorising, but filling a room with knickknacks and collectibles just for the sake of it is never a good idea. Accessories should add either meaning or depth (or, better yet, both) to your interior. Height, shape, colour, and sentiment are all good things. Odds and ends with no collective reason are not. It’s also worth mentioning that when it comes to décor pieces, you’re better off grouping similar items rather than dotting them around here and there, as this creates definite interest.
I always tell my clients that any art they display needs to be chosen because they love it. Truly great design is done with a purpose.
Too big, too small, too low, too tall.
I cannot emphasise the importance of scale enough. Put big things in big spaces, and small things in small spaces: it really is that simple! One small coffee table sitting all on its own in the middle of a large room looks terrible. Likewise, small pictures or photos mounted on their own on a large wall look simply ridiculous. If you wish to hang small prints you need to either place them on a wall that looks good with scale, or make a grouping of pictures instead. Care should also be taken to avoid hanging pictures too high (or too low, though this is a less common problem) on the wall. As a general rule of thumb, pictures should echo the wall shape and should be viewed looking straight ahead.
The tone on tone room.
To bring an interior to life you need to add texture, colours, shapes, and contrast, and I always advise including living plants for extra vibrancy. When you opt for the same colour palette and flat surfaces you end up with a blah room. Understated should not be confused with underwhelming.
The client with a picture.
It’s always helpful to get a general idea of the sort of look and feel you’re after, but why hire an interior designer in the first place if all you want them to do is recreate a picture you’ve seen in a magazine? As a professional, I want to design something special for you. I’m always happy to take inspiration from photographs, but copying a look exactly is something I would never do.
Interior Designer, Tauranga
If you need any assistance avoiding these design no nos then give me a call – I’d love to create an interior that works for you.
