The Do’s and Don’ts of Decorating Like an Interior Designer

Interior designer Kelly Hoppen's waxes lyrical on her expert dos and don'ts of decorating your space

The interior designer offers her principles for good design

Do go for function over form

Always prioritise the purpose of a space before designing it, rather than the reverse, as doing so makes the process a lot easier.

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Do begin by designing hard finishes and choosing the colour palettes, arranging them on a board

This helps visualise the overall design before selecting architectural features, joinery, furniture, and accessories. It also allows for easier adjustments as the design progresses.

Start by designing hard finishes and choosing the colour palettes, arranging them on a board. Image: Supplied.

Avoid painting skirting boards, dado rails, and door frames in contrasting colours. To me, this is akin to wearing white socks with a dark suit; it visually shortens the appearance, much like how contrasting colours can disrupt the visual flow of a room.

Do plan your lighting early

After sketching a floor plan with furniture placeholders, use a highlighter to mark potential light sources including where natural sunlight meets artificial lighting. Image: Supplied.

After sketching a floor plan with furniture placeholders, use a highlighter to mark potential light sources from the ceiling, walls, and floor. This helps determine where to direct light, such as on artworks or sculptures, and where to create ambient lighting effects.

Don't leave art to the last minute

Consider at the beginning of your design process. Like furniture, art needs to be thoughtfully placed and measured to ensure balance on the walls.

Do think about flooring in a visual way

Draw grid lines into your floor plans to denote areas where you want different floor textures, paying special attention to doorways and focal points. Fill these areas with crayon to visualise the textures.

When you’re after different floor textures, pay special attention to doorways and focal points. Image: Supplied.

Do Always pay careful attention to windows

Look at their shapes, heights, and sills to decide on appropriate window treatments early in the design process. This decision significantly influences the design and atmosphere of each room.

Be mindful that natural light will significantly affect the colours and textures you choose. Image: Supplied.

Don't forget about natural light

Don’t neglect the sources of natural light in your space during the day, as well as the areas that lack it. This will significantly affect the colours and textures you choose.

Don’t forget to design the exterior

Choose fabrics appropriate for the climate of your area; consider how you want to feel in your spaces, as texture significantly contributes to the final experience of an interior, often more than you might expect.