November 17th, 2014

12 Interior Design Tricks the Experts Don’t Want You to Know

The key to a great interior is to find creative, clever interior tricks that don’t cost a fortune. We all want a beautiful space, particularly if you have a large number of people in your building, but a big budget is not always in reach.

Whether you’re building a store or restaurant from scratch, revamping some tired decor or even just re-doing your home, these 12 ingenious interior ideas – straight from the designers – will have your area looking spectacular in no time.

12 ingenious interior tips and tricks

1. Hit the hotel auctions

5 Star hotels and resorts often reinvent themselves, so why not make the most of a mass sale. Earlier in the year, the former celebrity hotel the Ritz Carlton in Double Bay auctioned off a huge range of items, from an armchair Princess Diana sat on to a nightstand where Elton John sat his sunglasses. Just about every item was high-class, had been touched by a celebrity, and was a bargain.

2. Embrace decorative mirrors

Mirrors can be used to make even the smallest of spaces feel lighter, brighter and more spacious, especially when placed directly opposite windows. (Bonus points if your windows have a great view.) Being decorative, a mirror can take the place of artwork while still giving your art a practical element.

3. Mix it up

Most interior designers will tell you that your home should be a reflection of who you are and, let’s face it, most of us are many things! Why settle for just one style when multiple styles can look so good? If you want to put your antique dresser next to your modern bed, go for it. If you want a fine Persian rug in your contemporary living room, that’s fine too. There’s no reason why the past and present can’t mix in design, and sometimes matching decor is just plain boring.

A good rule to follow when mixing styles is to apply a 80/20 concept. Keep 80% of your style the same, then throw in 20% of something different.

4. Add lavish curtains

Curtains dress a room, and are the final touch that helps raise the tone and spirit. Window dressings that are luxurious lift the entire room to luxurious, so whether you choose curtains, blinds or shutters, make them high quality and expensive. You’ll be glad you made the investment.

5. Paint last

When moving into a new space, you most likely want everything ready for your arrival, including paint. But most designers will tell you that this is a bad move. There are thousands of paint colours with hundreds of tints, tones and shades, and you cannot possibly “guess” what will compliment your decor. In order to match the right wall colour to your upholstery, artwork, furnishings and rugs, make painting the walls the last job to tackle.

6. Hang artwork at the right height

The average human eye level is 57 inches, so aim to hang artwork between 57 and 60 inches from the ground. Don’t be fooled into thinking that because you have high ceilings, you need to hang your art higher. Art should be hung according to human scale, not room scale.

7. Create a focal point

Think of each room as any great movie – there should be one leading character that captures your attention. Without a “leading lady” decor becomes boring, but when there’s more than one decor becomes cluttered. Think carefully about what your piece should be, and make sure it’s alluring. It could be an incredible headboard for your bed, a custom made dining table, or a magnificent pendant light in the kitchen.

8. Add what you can afford

If the luxurious wallpaper you picked out is too expensive to cover an entire room, choose just one wall and make it a feature. As the saying goes, less is more so don’t be afraid to add tokens of opulence.

9. Vary textures

Texture is an important element of any design, and varying textures can add dimension. Try mixing soft, cosy furnishings with wooden panelling on the walls, or install face brick veneers for a rustic effect. Some great combinations include: leather and wood, leather and chrome, glass and metal, and wood with glass.

10. Reupholster

Examine your existing furniture to see what you can salvage, or hunt around for high quality goods that simply need a facelift. By sourcing your own fabric, you can have an old sofa reupholstered for a flat fee plus you have a unique design that is custom made to suit your style.

11. Go green

Every single room should have some element of green in it, be it just one plant or multiple. Plants are inexpensive but can completely change the feel of a room, plus they help clean household air and balance humidity. Even better, they can absorb pollutants and remove harmful gases from the air.

12. Use area rugs

Throw rugs offer warmth and texture, and are a great way to introduce colour or tie in different elements. When teamed with hardwood floors, area rugs look beautiful but also offer the comfort that’s often lacking. Try changing your area rugs to suit the seasons.