The "Myths" of Home Design

The "Myths" of Home Design

Home design is my passion, and I consider myself a lifelong student of this subject. I pour what I have learned over the years into every one of my client's projects. While some quintessential rules of design that I can share with my clients, there are also some common design "myths" that many have come to believe. In this post, I would like to bring to light some of these for you.

Myth #1: You Have to Address Every Wall in a Room

Many times, people think that you must have either art, wall decor, or mirrors to ensure that each wall in a room is "addressed" or adorned in some way. In reality, there is magic in the negative space. Sometimes leaving a wall blank or empty can serve to call positive attention to other pieces in the room. Four full walls can become distracting and busy, and I often encourage clients to consider reserving some portion of a room to serve as a "clean space." Always remember the less is more rule of thumb.

Myth #2: Dark Colors Create a Feeling of Small Spaces

You've likely heard it (or even said it) so many times: "I like that color, but it will close the room in." The fact that dark colors make a room feel smaller is a myth. When all design elements come into play -- from furnishings to wall art to the natural elements of light -- the design should be considered a cohesive look and feel. Pieces like this can provide the right type of accent, so a darker wall color doesn't evoke a feeling of the space being too small.

Myth #3: You Can't Mix Metals

It is common to believe that all materials made of metal have to "match" - for example, if your wall art has silver frames, then your table, lamps, etc., must also have similar silver finishes. We encourage our clients to steer away from trying to keep all metals consistent in a living space. Mixing metals, from brushed silvers to polished nickel to classic gold finishes, will add dimension and interest to spaces.

Myth #4: Everything Has to Match

It's true! Not everything in a space needs to "match." Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to purchase matching furniture sets or seek out accessories that match exactly in color and texture.

In fact, the look and feel I always try to achieve is one of cohesion. If you're interested in learning about how I approach cohesion through design, see this blog post. Curating a design that embodies a wide variety of items to create that cohesion for my clients brings me great joy.

If you have questions or would like to talk to me about your own home design project, please contact me at kelly@kellymarieinteriordesign.com.