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You know when you look at a room and it just feels ‘designed’?
Well, it’s not always because someone knows the rules and can create an effortless, well-balanced layout and a cohesive scheme at the drop of a hat. Sometimes it’s just because a few simple tricks have been used that give the room an edge. Simple elements that can make all the difference and really elevate a room to the next level.
Want to know what they are?
Here are five items to make your room feel ‘designed’.
1. Full-Length Curtains
There’s a reason full-length curtains aren’t cheap, and that’s because they make a space feel expensive and well-designed. Their height and length will elongate any space, particularly if you mount the track or pole as close to the ceiling as possible. This will make your ceilings and windows feel taller and will make the room feel larger. Plus, the long drape of fabric creates a more layered and luxurious feel.
Blinds and shutters can also look pretty but there is just something about the elegance of full-length curtains that make spaces feel extra special.
2. Painted Radiators
If you have basic, boring, ugly radiators, which is the case for most of us, then the best thing you can do is make them disappear. And the best way to do this is to paint them the same colour as your walls. Use an eggshell finish of your wall colour to magically transform your white, perfunctory radiator. By blending it with the wall it will blend seamlessly with the scheme, rather than sticking out like a white and basic sore thumb.
3. Large Artwork
Artwork that is too small and hung too high is the enemy of good interior design. So if you want your space to feel designed and expensive, choose larger pieces of art that fill the wall space. You can also group smaller pieces of artwork to create a large overall shape, but larger format artwork often feels more elegant and top-end.
4. Lamps
You’ll struggle to find beautiful interiors that don’t have a well-planned, layered lighting scheme. This will normally be made up of ceiling pendants, wall lights, floor lamps, table lamps and task lights. But unless you are designing a room from scratch it’s unlikely you will be able to install or alter your hardwired lighting, so this is where lamps are your friend. Table lamps (the bigger the better) that have linen shades that beautifully diffuse the light will create a beautiful atmosphere and ambience.
Try to create lamp light in several corners of your room so the lighting feels balanced and there are no dark areas. This will mean thinking about your layout. Whenever you are thinking about where to place furniture in a room, always consider the lighting. To have table lamps you need an adequate surface to put them on, and for floor lamps, you need adequate floor space. So always plan your furniture and lighting at the same time.
5. Large rugs
A large rug is the foundation of most beautiful rooms. A rug that’s too small will make your room appear smaller and less designed. The requirements for rug size will vary from room to room but a good test is that it should be large enough for your furniture such as your sofa and armchairs to sit on top of your rug, rather than your rug sitting in the middle of your furniture. You also want it to be large enough so that when you walk around your furniture such as your bed or dining table there is room for you to walk entirely on the rug, rather than being forced to walk with one foot on and one foot off the rug, this does not feel well designed!
How can I help you?
If you have any questions then drop me a comment below or email me at sarah@paperroomcreative.co.uk.
And if you would like some in-depth interior design advice book a consultation with me! I have Design Surgery appointments where we can chat about all things interiors and I can help you with your project. Find out more here.
Or treat yourself to a Room-By-Room Planner, a must-have for home renovators.
Until next time, happy designing,
Sarah x
