7 Home Design Rules to Break
Go ahead, think outside the box.
When it comes to interior design for your home, some rules are made to be broken. Whether it's mixing fabrics or introducing an oversized piece of furniture, it's possible to achieve a good look when you're not following all the classic rules of interior design. Thinking outside the box is becoming even more accepted in home design: "Overall, I think there's just less rules," says Lee Crowder, design gallery and model branding manager for Darling Homes, a subsidiary of homebuilder Taylor Morrison Inc., based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Here are seven home design rules you can feel empowered to break.
Furniture has a specific place in each room.
Traditional design and the rules of feng shui may tell you to create a U-shape with living room seating or place your bed on a wall opposite the door, but not every space makes following the rules so easy. "Don't be afraid to break tradition in order to make the most out of what you have," says Lauren Makk, home editor for Yelp. "Measure the length and height of each wall, and take note of windows, plugs, air ducts and any unusual architectural feature so these features accentuate the furniture you have and vice versa."
Keep the room looking uniform.
There are those who dislike mixing furniture styles from different decades, but an entire room of midcentury modern can also make it look like you've transported back to the 1960s. Don't be afraid to put a more modern side table next to a traditional armchair, especially if you're showcasing unique pieces. An antique chair or a coffee table made by a local carpenter may not fit with a uniform design aesthetic, but these pieces offer variety and invite conversation. A survey commissioned by high-end goods online marketplace 1stdibs, released in January, asked 630 interior designers about trends and expectations for 2018. Forty-six percent of respondents said they plan to buy more furniture from artisan craftsmen rather than big-name furniture designers.
Every home needs a dining room.
Even in the age of the open floor plan, many people assume they need to make room for all the traditional spaces on the main floor of a home: living room, dining room and kitchen. But Crowder says in new home construction, builders are encouraging homebuyers to choose a layout based on their preferences and needs. If you never entertain and typically eat in the kitchen, why waste space with a dining table for eight? Instead, that space can fit your interests and needs, whether that's a home office or study area, a reading nook or spillover seating when you have people over for casual get-togethers.
Keep most walls neutral, but add an accent wall for a splash of color.
Longstanding practices often tell homeowners to stick to a neutral wall color, then introduce a fun pop of color on just one wall. While neutral walls may be best for a house on the market, it's not something you have to stick to while you're happily living there. "Painting is the quickest and most affordable thing you can do to change your space, but it takes guts to commit to an exciting new shade," Makk says. "I say take the leap and commit to painting all [four] walls of your space."
Fixtures and finishes should match.
The trends for metallic lighting fixtures and plumbing hardware throughout the home change every few years, just like preferred color palettes. One year brass is out of style and the next it's in, but you can't reasonably be expected to change out all your fixtures to keep up with the times. Instead, embrace the mixed-metal look. "People can step out and do a few more eclectic things than they felt comfortable doing before," Crowder says. Black or nickel plumbing combined with chrome lighting fixtures work well together, she says.
Don't mix patterns.
A decades-old rule that can still be hard to break today is mixing patterns, which some people think looks too busy, particularly when textiles are mixed. But when paired with complementary colors or similar styles, multiple patterns can actually result in a more dynamic look. Mismatched pillows of different patterns that go together can be a simple way to incorporate more than one print into a space, or you can make a bigger statement with printed fabric on a chair or couch, rugs or wall art.
Keep current with trends.
While you may be in love with the current design trends you see on HGTV, embracing a style that's uniquely yours will have more longevity with your home design. Designers who responded to the 1stdibs survey reported that clients too often try to follow trends and would be better off diverting from whatever rules are currently en vogue. Makk agrees, noting that "good design is about curating a timeless space that transcends trends and truly reflects your personal aesthetic."
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