The six top interior design secrets that all the professionals know

Kayla Gulec Kayla Gulec
Casa Eugênia por Joao Diniz Arquitetura, JOAO DINIZ ARQUITETURA JOAO DINIZ ARQUITETURA Cucina moderna
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It's always important to know just a little bit about something before you tackle a project with it, and that is especially true of interior design. A good foundation of interior design principles can have a big effect on how a home looks and feels. It's no secret that we here at homify love our professionals, and what better way to show them a little credit than to spread their words of wisdom? 

Interior designers not only bring out the very best of your home's beauty, they also create a space that suits an individual's needs and personality. They get the nature and potential of rooms on a deeper level and can recognize its limitations and design around them. For just about any project, there are some basic design secrets that guide the project, and we're going to share a few with you today.  

If you want to give your home the professional styling touch you've always wanted, take note of these tips and apply where necessary! And by the end, who knows, you might even have your friends and family thinking hired a pro.

1. No need to buy everything new

In spite of what you may think, working with an interior designer doesn't mean that you have to buy everything brand new. The majority of designers and decorators look to use or repurpose anything they can before buying anything new. Moving furniture from room to room is another way to change up a style without spending any money. A dark piece of furniture in a small room will look much better in a larger space. 

And when keeping the old, make sure it is something of value to you, especially with items like knick-knacks. Throwing a bunch of random things around that have no personal connection to you end up making the place look and feel scattered and out of balance. What you use in your home should be a reflection of you, not what magazines say you should have. Any designer will tell you here that the big secret to building the best space possible isn't buying expensive furniture, but understanding how a home is an extension of the people who live in it.

2. Create groups and islands

When designing the kitchen, the most functional and perhaps most aesthetically pleasing arrangement is with groups and islands. An interior design secret that most of the pros follow is to group items together in odd numbers. They do this because it creates interest and captures attention. 

It also brings a sense of warmth when furniture is grouped together, because it creates an intimate setting, and it also leaves space for you to walk around. Placing your furniture against the wall is a good idea if you have a smaller room, but if you have the space, be sure to use it.

3. Approach bold colours with confidence

If you want bold colour, you need to go at it with confidence, but you also need to make sure it all goes together. This scheme looks great because the colours coordinate–the lime green of the couch needs to be replicated in a multicoloured wall. 

Typically, when you're designing with colours, you can divide up the scheme into primary, secondary, and accent colours. A ratio of 60:30:10 is suggested with primary at 60 and accent at 10. So since it is used the most, choosing the primary colour is the most important of the three. And choosing once colour that will flow through every room creates a uniform look and tie the home together.  

4. Arrange your furniture to fit your space

Roma Natural Walnut Bed homify Camera da letto moderna Letti e testate

Let the size of the room dictate where you put your furniture. Too often homeowners buy furniture that is too large for the space they have and it ends up monopolizing the room and ruining the atmosphere. Take special note on how big your room is and where you can place things so that the space is functional, especially in roms like the bedroom. And remember never to block out all of the natural light. 

Lighting schemes can play a big role in accentuating any textural surfaces in the room–while some  objects reflect light, others can create visually absorbing shadows. 

5. Use splashback as a design feature

Using splashback isn't just a practical thing–you can use it as a design feature as well. Many designers like to install interesting splashback with either Mediterranean, mosaic, or quirkily arranged subway tiles to add character to areas like the kitchen. 

But we can also get more creative and use a swirling design like this. The gaps in the tiles where we see the grout adds an artistic touch to the rather plain decor. 

6. Combine textures and colours

When you can't add any more colour to your room, add texture. Brick walls like this do just the trick. They add just enough dimension to the space and because it's white, it doesn't overwhelm the eye. Creating a balance is really important, though. In rooms with ultra sleek flooring, use a fluffy or animal print rug, or furniture with highly textured upholstery. You can also use nature for inspiration by using shells, stones, feathers, or branches as decorative pieces.

Well, that's it for our pro tips for the day. If you liked this guide, then you might also be interested in these textile trends!

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