Don’t make this mistake with your finishing touches

Finishing touches can be one of the most exciting parts of designing a room. It’s where you finally see everything come together and the whole room softens and feels more like home.

But there are two big traps we can often fall into when it comes to finishing touches. I want to save you from them!

Don’t make this mistake with your finishing touches

# 1 – Not giving them any thought until the end of your project

I totally get why we think it’s okay to leave the finishing touches until the end of the project. They aren’t called ‘FINISHING’ touches for nothing right? But while they are installed at the very end, in an ideal world, they are planned for at the beginning of a project. This is because they take up physical space and so we need to create that space for them to be popped in at the end.

For example. If you have a beautiful piece of art you want on your walls, you need to plan where that is going to go right? You don’t want to do a whole room and then look around at the end to see where you have a space you can put it. It’s best to plan from the beginning where you want to view it. Do you want to see it as soon as you walk into the space? Or do you want to be able to see it when you are sitting down in your favourite armchair?

And what about plants or vases? They make great finishing touches but you need some surface space to put them on. So when you plan your layout at the beginning of a project work out what surface space or floor space you have where you can place some plants or decorative objects.

You don’t need to be so organised that you know exactly which plant and which plant pot! But you do need to just know where you will want these more decorative items so you can create the perfect space for them in the room.

Don’t make this mistake with your finishing touches

# 2 – Relying on them to totally transform your space

This is trap number 2. And I see this A LOT. Don’t over-rely on your finishing touches to deliver the look and feel you want. The core elements of the design should deliver the look and feel you want. The finishing touches are then there to enhance and elevate the final look. 

Let’s look at an example. You want a kitchen that is modern and clean, but you also want it to feel warm, homely and welcoming. If we choose navy blue cabinets with grey stone flooring, a quartz worktop, stainless steel appliances, and chrome handles and taps, we are creating a beautiful modern palette, but it won’t feel warm homely and welcoming. At this point, some people may think they will add the homely warm and welcoming feel through their finishing touches. But that is putting a lot of pressure on your accessories! Instead, it’s more effective to integrate some warmer materials into the space. Try switching chrome for brass on your taps and handles. Or add some wooden shelves. This will create the look and feel you want from the core elements of the design rather than expecting a few accessories to transform your space. 

Don’t make this mistake with your finishing touches

Summary

Your finishing touches are like the icing on your cake. Which makes your furniture, flooring, lighting and colour choices the actual cake! So decide what kind of cake you want to eat and bake that cake. Don’t rely on your icing to deliver the flavour you want! 

If you get the core elements of your room right, and you plan ahead a little, you can really enjoy the finishing touches phase of your project. Have fun with it 😀.

How can I help you?

I offer online interior design services to give you the interior design support you need. You can check out my Design Surgery and Room Planner service here. 

And if you’re renovating or decorating several rooms in your home, check out our luxury home planner right here 🏠.

Happy designing 

Sarah x