Note: Affiliate links may be used in this blog post. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through my affiliate link. Read my full disclosure policy.

Hey there!

Did you just buy a new house?

Or are you a student living in a college dorm, and you want to make your room more inviting?

Or do you feel like decorating for the first time, but you don’t know how?

Do you want to learn a few secrets to decorating your home swiftly and neatly?

In interior design, we talk a lot about Scandinavian, bohemian, rustic, farmhouse, etc. 

But when we talk about feelings like calm, cozy, airy, we are no longer talking about style but rather emotions. 

So, it makes it a bit difficult to define how to achieve all that. 

But it also means we can apply some tricks to any style. And with this guide, everything will become easier.

Let’s take a look at some simple secrets to decorating that will help you achieve a cozy feeling in your home!

RULES ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN!

Nowadays, there are tons of secrets to decorating available in personal blogs, YouTube, social media platforms, and more. 

But, of course, as a first-time designer, you will always be keen to follow everything to avoid messing up things.

Nevertheless, that is not always the case!

Every good designer will tell you that the top secret to being a good decorator is breaking almost all the rules.

However, the key to a fantastic project has always been, know the rules first before breaking them. 

And that takes us to the next subject-principles of interior design.

6 BASIC INTERIOR DESIGN PRINCIPLES YOU SHOULD FOLLOW

A good decoration is not only about the aesthetic aspect. 

It is more of setting beautiful things in the correct places and how each element works together in that space to transform lives. 

So, it’s a clever play about all the details in your room.

Of course, ingenuity will always have a place in art and design. 

But it’s still crucial to know some fundamental rules, as explained below, if you want to achieve something fabulous and appealing to both the eyes and senses.

1.) Balance

In design, the balance generates a feeling of equilibrium. 

You can make this stability through shape, color, pattern, and texture in three different ways:

  • Symmetrical-formal

Symmetrical balance occurs where space is evenly split into two sides that mirror each other—for instance, placing two similar chairs on the opposite sides of a coffee table.

This sort of balance is easy to achieve because you only have to repeat items on opposite sides. 

It is often used in traditional or formal spaces to portray serenity and calmness.

  • Asymmetrical-informal

In asymmetrical/informal balance, the visual weights of lines, color, form, and texture are leveled without exact duplication. 

The items are less identical on either side, i.e., two chairs on the other side of a sofa.

This stability can be complex to achieve since it calls for lots of creativity. 

Nonetheless, it produces a more exciting feeling of spaciousness, activity, and contemporary style.

  • Radial

It’s achieved when there is a central focal point with other elements diverging from it all around, i.e., a round dining table with chairs. 

Then, in radial balance, there is a lot of repetition of texture, form, and color.

Often, it is significant to combine all these types of balances to create a more captivating look.

 

2.) Rhythm

It’s all about creating patterns of repetition, transition, and progression to achieve visual interests. 

The purpose of rhythm is to create a smooth flow from one design element to another that will help in moving your eyes freely around the room.

You can select a color or pattern for the pillow, pick it up in a painting, and decorate it in rugs to establish an expansive repetitive rhythm. 

You can also incorporate both small, medium, and large tables in your space to achieve a smooth progression.

However, be sure not to go overboard, okay? 

Think about when you are doing your eyeshadow, say for a smoky purple eye. 

You will not put the purple color on your lids and call it a day. Instead, you will put a transition color in the middle, a darker one in the corner, and a highlight in your inner tear duct, and then you blend them all seamlessly for an unruffled changeover.

3.) Emphasis

It involves creating a focal point then accentuating the space around it to command viewers’ attention to that specific area.

Your focal point should be something colorful and exciting to see; it should break the monotony of your space.

If you walk to a particular room, and your eyes/attention can’t get off one specific item/element, that should be the focal option of your room. 

So, the basic concept here is to stress it to lead the watcher’s eyes.

4.) Proportion & Scale

Proportion is the ratio between the size of one part to another. 

Scale is how the size of one object relates to another or the space in which it’s placed.

To implement scale and proportion effectively, you must find the perfect balance of both size and the correlation between all design elements in a space. 

And that involves early planning.

An excellent example of an inaccurate proportion is a small living room having extra-large sofas, which takes almost all the valuable space. 

Another example relating to scale is placing a tall object, say a stool, besides a shot one, like a sofa. 

That will make the small element look even smaller.

5.) Contrast

As a rule of thumb, opposites always attract, for instance, light vs. dark, small vs. giant, and textured vs. non-textured.

Contrast can give life and character to your room. 

It can be in colors, textures, and patterns. 

Don’t be afraid. Just mix and match. 

High contrast is particularly essential for creating a bold space. 

Here is how to achieve high contrasts.

  • 3/3 Rule

Mark McCauley brought forth this concept from stripping down nature to color. 

Usually, the earth features dark stains on the ground, i.e., soil and mud. 

In the middle, there are plants, buildings, and water bodies in light shades. 

Finally, we have the most light-toned colors from clouds, sunlight, and the sky at the top.

So, in interior design, you can also incorporate these contrasting colors of nature to provide a beautiful balance. 

For example, use darker shades on the floor, medium tones for items in the middle like furniture, and lastly, the lightest colors on top, i.e., in the ceiling and lighting.

  • 60-30-10 Rule

This Rule is all about choosing the perfect color palette for your space. 60% is the main shade and should be neutral to complement easily with other elements. 

It will also serve as a backdrop to your room. 

You can use it on walls, rugs, and sometimes, a sofa.

30% is the secondary shade to apply on window treatments, furniture, bedding, and accent chairs/walls. 

Finally, 10% is for the bold accent colors that you can use for décor, artworks, and throw pillows.

  • Rule of the Odds

It involves arranging or grouping items in odd numbers. But remember that the things that go in the grouping must be unique to create visual interest. 

If they are different, they need to have a friendly demeanor to tie them all together. 

It can be a unifying color, material, or texture, among others.

  • Height Variations

Never put items of the same height next to each other. Varying sizes help create separations to help your eyes bounce over each item and avoid looking flat.

But what if the variation is too broad?

You can use height raisers! 

Use other objects like books to add height, and this way, it will make the items look more cohesive; hence, bridging the gap.

6.) Harmony

It’s created when all the elements come together to create a unified message. 

Then, just like rhythm creates some excitement, harmony makes sense of restfulness.

AVOID THESE COMMON DECORATING MISTAKES AT ALL COSTS

I know I said that design is personal because no one restricts you on what you must/should follow. 

While that may be true, some common mistakes will not only make your space look bad but can also blemish the value of your home.

Remember, when you know better, you can do better!

Here are the eight common mistakes you should avoid if you want your space to look as stunning as you had envisioned it to be.

  • Wrong furniture arrangements: It is illogical to push all furniture against the wall and not allow enough clearance between the pieces of furniture. So, always center them and allow a generous space of about 2.5ft between them to create an easy flow.

     

  • Hanging artwork and televisions too high or too low: You should not have to strain your neck when gazing at a divine piece of art or a television. Therefore, they should be at the correct height, neither too high nor too low.

     

  • Shopping at one place only: When you do one-stop shopping, you will end up buying a whole set or somehow similar items. Therefore, try to be diverse. Try boutique, online stores, retail shops, market stalls, and more.

     

  • Not swapping out: Sometimes, it is good to leave the past behind. If trends are changing, then change with them! And also, know that you can alter some builder-grade finishes. You don’t have to confine yourself to something unpleasant because you found it there, and it feels wasteful to get rid of them.

     

  • Wrong measurements: Good décor elements should fit into your space perfectly. For instance, an area rug should define your area and not your table only. So, you need to purchase one that comfortably sits beneath your sofa, coffee table, and all other accent furniture around.

     

  • Painting before everything else: It is easier to pick a color that will compliment your furnishings instead of the other way around.

     

  • Not knowing/ignoring your design style: When you don’t realize what you want, you will buy everything at random because they look nice, and before you know it, you will have jeopardized your décor already.

     

  • Hanging curtains and drapery panels at window height: The goal is not to frame the window but to frame its elevation. So, instead, suspend them as close to the ceiling as possible, say 1-3″ below the top to make the room look larger, ceiling appear higher and avoid the look of a blank wall space you look directly above the window.

Related Article: Interior Design Style 101: How To Discover Your Decorating Style In 1 Step

CREATE A GOOD DESIGN PLAN

Most of the mistakes above arise when you don’t have a design plan. 

It is like leaving for a trip without a destination map. 

But these four steps will help you figure out how to start and get going.

1.) Find your Style

Always make big decisions first before smaller ones! 

Therefore, try to picture what kind of home you would fancy living in, disregarding costs. 

If you want some inspiration, then go through magazines and blogs to collect images and inspirational ideas.

What if shows and magazines still haven’t led you to your true style?

If that is the case, then look through your closet and find your favorite pieces, which will direct your color and texture preferences. 

Of course, don’t forget shoes, accessories, pieces of furniture, or art.

 

2.) Plan and Budget

First, you should know that your space needs to meet all your functional needs! 

Therefore, list all essential elements like furniture, lighting, area rugs, accessories, electronics, etc.

Then, get a pen, a piece of paper, and a measuring tape and sketch a rough floor plan to help you understand where each item needs to go and the correct size of these fixtures, which will fit perfectly in your space.

Finally, make a budget for how much you want to spend.

3.) Choose a Theme

Now, you know what you will buy, but what style do you have in mind? 

What emotions are they going to evoke in your room? Is it cozy, energetic, elegant, or relaxed?

In Interior design, we uphold the phrase “the devil is in the details.” 

And an easy way to make your home design unified is to have a common theme throughout. 

So, do you prefer modern to traditional? Rustic to the farmhouse? 

Earthy to industrial? 

Do you love nature motifs? What about vintage accessories?

4.) Items That Meet Your Needs and Standards

Since you already know everything that your space needs to function, you can now head for shopping. 

Pay attention to critical features like colors, patterns, textures, and shape, among others.

And be sure to stick to your initial plan so that you can be in control and on budget. 

However, if you remain with some coins in the pocket, you can add a few décor staples to accentuate your ensemble.

MAKE A BEAUTIFUL HOME!

Let your home be an explicit rendition of you. 

Put your deboss on it and permit your style of living and, most importantly, your personality to shine through, not any conventional rule. 

Recall that the prime secret to decorating is to always think outside the box and apply your theme.