The 5 Golden Rules of Interior Design

Keeping up with home trends might feel like an impossible challenge, as popular color schemes can fall out of style, and trendy furniture ca...

Keeping up with home trends might feel like an impossible challenge, as popular color schemes can fall out of style, and trendy furniture can become outdated in a matter of months.

If you want to create a beautiful, stylish home that wows every guest that comes over, it’s time to ditch fleeting trends and focus on tried and tested tactics. Transform your property by learning the five golden rules of interior design below.

1. Follow the 60-30-10 Rule

To follow the 60-30-10 rule, you must choose a dominant shade, a secondary shade, and an accent color. Most professional interior designers will decorate 60% of a room in a dominant shade, which tends to be a neutral color that features on the walls and flooring.

The secondary shade will cover 30% of a room, and it is often a bolder color featured in the furniture. The accent shade should account for 10% of your interior design, which is often used in various accessories, such as cushions, throws, and ornaments.

2. Three is the Magic Number

If your accessories appear cluttered, you might need to follow the rule of three. Placing home accessories into groups of three can create an organized interior design that can tie your chosen color scheme together.

So, follow the rule of three when adding decorative items into rooms across the home, and use different scales to add height, texture, and character.

3. Focus on Form and Function

According to Frank Lloyd Wright, a respected architect, “form and function are one.”

While you will want a furniture item to be stylish, you must ensure it is practical, too. For example, a sofa might offer a great focal point, but is it comfortable and functional for your needs? Before you buy an item, ask yourself if it offers both form and function. If you’re updating your living room, a modular sofa could tick every box, as it offers comfort, style, space, and flexibility.

4. Master the Color Wheel

Don’t choose a color scheme because it’s popular in an interior design magazine. Use a color wheel to find a shade you love and a complementary hue. Shades directly opposite on the color wheel will complement each other, and the tactic is commonly used by interior designers for professional projects.

It can provide greater confidence when decorating your home in various shades. It doesn’t hurt to brush up on the psychology of color, either. The shades you choose can determine your mood and mindset in a room. For example, orange is a stimulating, warm color that can trigger creativity, so it’s perfect for a home office.

5. Keep Your Interior Fresh

Never become too attached to your belongings, as you may need to phase them out in the near future. If you follow the 60-30-10 rule, you can then make small adjustments to your property throughout the years to keep your interior design fresh and attractive.

For instance, you might need to replace your cushion covers, change your side table, or say goodbye to decorative items that no longer bring you joy.