What I Wish I'd Known About Home Decor 5 Years Ago

There is a learning curve in design where in the beginning, a budding designer has the ability to identify why something "doesn't look quite right", yet is unable to identify exactly what is throwing off the mo-jo. Oftentimes, good design comes from a period of time spent making minor adjustments and experimenting with elements until they eventually benefit the whole.

As an Impatient-American, I lament the time I spent figuring out basic principles and would like to impart some of those bits of knowledge today. This isn't a replacement for last-minute tweaking, but hopefully these tips will save you some time in the beginning stages, so here are some things I wish that I had figured out a lot quicker:

1. Furniture does not have to be against the wall.

 

If you're fortunate enough to enjoy a spacious living space or open floor plan, the temptation exists to immediately line the furniture up along any available wall space. This line-up strategy works well in police stations, but does not lend itself so easily to interior design. Oftentimes this set-up spaces pieces used for seating too far apart, as the ideal comfortable distance between two people conversing is between 5 and 7 feet. Too much space takes a big chunk out of the conversation-inducing vibe many of us want for living room spaces.

2. Don't hang your art too high.

 

The most universally-accepted height for the center point of a wall-hanging is between 57 and 60 inches from the floor. This is because that is eye-level for the average person.

Shout out to everyone else who didn't take into account that eye-level is not the same as  height over here.

Objects such as couches or televisions may necessitate adjustment of this measurement, but this is a handy rule of thumb to follow.

3. Baskets, baskets, and for the love of God...baskets.

 

We've already covered more uses for baskets if you happen to be a pet-owner, but the most important thing to remember is that baskets hide many organization sins. Deposit clutter into basket, and suddenly it is a decorative accessory. Do piles of mail accumulate on your entryway table despite your best efforts? Place a small basket that you can drop it into daily.

Of course, there is a limit to how many baskets you can use in your quest for de-clutterization, but it remains a quick fix, and may just be what stops your living room from looking like District 13.

4. Odd numbers are our friends 

 

This one translates to many design disciplines. One of the first things photographers learn is the rule of thirds (diving a screen into thirds and placing the subject of the photo on one of the dividing lines). In the case of web design, you may notice the proliferation of three-column layouts.

When it comes to interior design, think about arranging any vignettes (groups of objects) in arrangements of 3, 5, or 7. Something about odd numbers lends itself to a more natural look, so try it!


As always, rules are meant for breaking, so if any of these tips don't speak to you, the beauty of design is that it is whatever you would like it to be. Have fun making your space reflect your style!

*Post written by Sharae Terrell, Digital Marketing Associate for Redwood Living