Home Decor: My 5 Tips by iSCO Designs
- Francis Lanuza
- Feb 17
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
When you pick up an interior design magazine or scroll across Pinterest and see a well interior designed room, don't assume that it was done just like magic. Good interior design is not just about buying nice things and slopping them together; it is actually more important to make sure that they work together in harmony. To guide you into how this works and to make sure that your home decor actually fits your space, here are some pro-tips to have in hand.
1. Scale and Proportion
A rug that is smaller than a sofa will always look off. When we talk about scale we are factoring in the size of objects in relation to the room. Proportion is then how these objects relate to each other. This is why as an interior designer, I always try to put things into a floor plan and a 3D model, to see how the elements work in scale and proportion.
Pro-Tip 1: Always measure your space before buying furniture or home decor
When furniture shopping, have a rough floor plan and a tape measure with you. All elements should physically fit without being overcrowded.
How to Do It: I usually work with the Rule of Two-thirds, meaning a piece of wall art hung behind a sofa should be around 2/3 the width of that sofa. Also, make sure the rug is always longer than the length of sofa in a room.
2. Colour Palette
Every professional interior designer knows how powerful a cohesive colour palette is. It makes all the pieces come together, making it feels that everything was done intentionally rather than hastily.
Pro-Tip 2: Try the Rule of Three
Pick one dominant colour, one secondary colour, and one accent color (or material finish) to guide your decor choices.
How to Do It: Apply the three colours in a 60-30-10 ratio. 60% of the room for the main colour (like the walls), 30% in your secondary colour (like in large furniture), and 10% for your accent colour (cushions, art).
3. Find or Make a Focal Point
A room without a clear focal point allows the eye to wander around. There is nothing to draw people in, and it can make them feel uneasy
Pro-Tip 3: Find an existing feature to highlight
This could be a fireplace, a large window with a view, or a prominent architectural detail.
How to Do It: Make sure to highlight that selected feature: frame a window with appropriate curtains or have shelves or furniture on both sides of a fireplace. If there is no focal point naturally, create one by having a large statement art piece or a eye-catching sofa.
4. Layer, Layer, Layer
Another thing that can visually create visual unease or a sterile boring-ness is a room where every surface is smooth and flat, or a room full of the same fabrics. Interior design thrives on a variety of texture, it adds depth, warmth, and interest.
Pro-Tip 4: Pair home decor materials that have contrasting textures
As smooth brass lamp with a rough wooden side table, or a soft velvet sofa with a jute rug.
How to Do It: You can introduce natural elements in your home decor like indoor plants, woven rattan baskets, or earthen ware/stone objects to break up smooth, synthetic surfaces.
5. Value Having Negative Space
Here is where your editing capabilities should come in. An empty corner need not be always filled in. Experienced interior designers knows that negative space (or the empty area around and between objects) allows your eye to rest.
Pro-Tip 5: Edit, especially where home decor is concerned
If any corner of the room looks visually crowded, edit some more.
How to Do It: De-clutter a coffee table. Insert decorative items rather than just rows and rows of books in a bookshelf. Try to not overfill a wall with frames. Have enough clear walking pathways between furniture to open up the space.
If you need a design partner to bring these interior design ideas into your home, I now have an Interior Design Service available on Fiverr (click here)! Or click the image at the bottom of the blog.
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