Some people have a natural eye for design, but if you’re one of those who can’t do anything without consulting Pinterest boards and Instagram feed, we feel you. And even for those of us who live and breathe interior design, some inspiration and guidance never hurts. We’d love to have an interior designer on speed dial before deciding exactly where and how to hang that new wall art we bought on a whim so we don’t make any major mistakes. But until we win the lottery, we’ll have to settle for trusting our gut—and taking plenty of interior design tips where we can get them.
With this said there’s a world of difference between a room designed by a professional interior designer and one done by a home decorator. From balancing colour schemes to hanging artwork, planning lighting and even positioning curtains, designers have a box of tricks that can turn an average scheme into a fabulous space. We’ve rounded up some of the trade’s best-kept secrets from aura Living to take your décor to the next level.
Symmetry is not a must
Many homeowners believe that creating a perfectly symmetrical space will result in a flawless interior design scheme, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, by sticking with a symmetrical design you could actually end up with a flat space that lacks warmth and personality. Instead, aim for balance. Hang your wall art off-centre, add texture to create cohesiveness and group mismatched pieces of furniture together for a playful twist. Asymmetrical elements will draw the eye and provide plenty of intrigue.
More than one
Clusters of smaller objects are more visually appealing than a single piece. This is true for virtually every interior decor item — right from artwork, to cushions and vases, even pendant lights. The pieces don’t necessarily have to match entirely, they just need to look visually similar. For example, you could arrange clusters of earthen pots in different sizes, two pairs of cushions in different patterns etc.
Mix cool and warm tones
Focus on mixing cool and warm tones. Mixing tones can often seem like an intimidating task, but once you find that perfect balance, you can truly create some magic. It’s the way you can make your designs timeless: If trends fluctuate between cool or warm, the space still looks current and relevant. Aura living believes a room can be light and airy while still being inviting and intimate—why just choose one? Through mixing cool and warm tones, you can achieve that balance and contrast to make a space feel complete.
Space it out
One of the most common design mistakes that non-designers make – especially in open-plan spaces – is cramming too much furniture into an area without leaving enough room for people to walk around comfortably. The most frequently-used thoroughfares in your home should be at least 90cm wide – just enough for two people to pass each other.
Balance color
Want a failsafe way to proportion a three-colour scheme? Stick to 60% for your dominant colour, 30% for your secondary colour and 10% for your accent colour and you’ll find it hard to go wrong. To add a fourth colour into the mix, split the secondary colour or, at a push, the dominant colour, but never the accent. Look at these aura schemes for inspiration.
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