I am excited to share these interior design basics with you, because they have been life-changing for me.
Some people who struggle with interior design, may also question the value of it. Why do aesthetics matter? Why is interior design worth my time, money and energy?
Excellent questions! Please allow me the opportunity to answer.
Whether you are cognizant of it or not, your environment affects your mood, focus and daily motivation-- all important components of your mental health and overall wellness. So, why not shoot for optimal levels of all three? A wise man once wrote a book about the power of making your bed in the morning. Admiral William H. McRaven, U.S. Navy veteran will tell you how success in life starts here. I have practiced this for a few years now and am a firm believer in this principle. As a designer, I have noticed powerful effects when I took this idea and applied it to every corner of every room, mashing it with the teachings of Marie Kondo, author of "The Life-Changing magic of Tidying Up."
Yes, I know what some of you may be thinking....
There are so many variables in life that affect mood, focus and daily motivation. It may be hard to believe that interior design has anything to do with it. And I agree; for many of us, our immediate environment may not be the biggest problem to blame. The people in your life, the schedule you keep, the job or career you have, may all be larger factors.
Substantial self-reflection and prioritization is required to identify what may be the root cause or primary culprit for any challenges you may currently be facing with your mood, focus, and motivation. Each season of life has a different compilation of stressors and it is important to take time to accurately assess which variable or improvement strategy you should focus on at this time.
However, I would like to make the case here that if you look at all of the variables at play and the level of control you have over each, your immediate environment may be the best and easiest place to start getting results. You may not be able to get a new job, this very second. And you may not have figured out how to cut out or set boundaries with toxic people in your life. But I am confident, that every single one of us is capable of removing all of the trash and junk from our vehicle, so that the next time we enter that space, we feel lighter, cleaner, more focused, organized and put-together. (See next post on taking out the trash in your life). Let's work on applying this principle to our room, office, cubicle, or house and go over other simple design hacks that will improve your quality of life. The rules below apply to and will produce optimal outcomes for every space and budget, no matter the size!
1) Eliminate Clutter
Failure to eliminate and to prevent re-accumulation of clutter has the ability to cancel out or greatly reduce the positive impact that good interior design has on your space. Any visible junk, large or small, will distract your eye from the art of the design. Things that are out of place, gross, or a source of stress, will stand out like a sore thumb and the eyes will constantly be drawn to rest there, instead of being able to fully admire and soak in the beauty and cohesiveness of the space. It's also just negative energy that is likely weighing you down on a subconscious level and making you feel more overwhelmed and prone to stress than you need to be.
2) SCALE is [aesthetically] PRIORITY #1 for every aspect of Design
This goes for furniture, mirrors, artwork, decor items, rugs, drapery, you name it. Nothing is exempt from this rule. I would argue, it is better to not have the item at all, if the item is going to be the wrong size. It is better to leave the wall blank, or the floor rug-less, or the windows bare, than it is to have any of the above items in the wrong size. You can have an "ugly" piece of furniture, or artwork, but if it is to scale, it will make the room/ wall look amazing. It will look bold, intentional, contemporary and even upscale (no pun intended). The biggest mistake people usually make is going too small. Many times this could be due to the limits of the budget. If that is the case, don't buy something that is too small because it is cheaper. Keep your old stuff or your cheap temporary items, until you can afford the proper piece.
3) Functional Design Flow is priority #1 for happy living
There needs to be an entryway bench, chair or stool near every most commonly used entry/exit point in a house. This is so that you can sit to take your shoes on and off, and set down items such as keys/purse, while doing so.
Getting the "work triangle" right in the kitchen remodel, is more important than all of the colors and finishes you select. This is more of a potential error in large kitchens. If your kitchen is small, your triangle has no choice but to be fine, (and possibly a bit cramped). This is the rule: You should be able to draw a triangle between your fridge, sink, and stovetop/oven and each leg of the triangle should be no less than four feet in length and no more than nine feet. You do not want to be stuck running in circles around a giant island every time you cook a meal, to get from the fridge, to the sink to the oven. Optimal work-flow is key!!!!
Having a closet or coat stand or wall hooks to hang coats, purses and keys near the primarily used exit/entrance is a MUST- HAVE for functional design. Hooks are cheap. You may be able to find a cheap old-fashion coat stand at a thrift store. Make this a priority! A well-organized house, is a well-designed house. This will also help you remain clutter-free. When done right, functional pieces, such as a purse or hat hung on the wall, can become beautiful wall art.
That reminds me, it is also very helpful to have a mirror, either full length at the end of a main hallway, or smaller on the wall near the primary exit/entrance, so that you can do a last-minute check as you leave the house, without having to run to a bathroom that is out of the way. **Every living space needs a full-length mirror! But be sure to not have mirrors in your bedroom, facing your bed. This is bad Fung Shui.
Functional Design, also means prioritizing well-placed and sufficiently sized storage. This includes bins, baskets, closets, cabinets, shelving, especially in the bathroom and kitchen. You want to be able to have everything you use frequently, at your fingertip, to improve efficiency and to make preparation as effortless as possible. I am more of a cabinet girl, because I prefer a clean, minimalist, clutter-free look. Shelving can look very nice in magazines, but you have to know how to style it correctly and need discipline to keep it from accumulating junk which will be on display for all to see.
4) Always Follow the rule of: Less is More!
Too much furniture, too much wall-art, too many decor items, too many side tables, is just.... too much!! Less is ALWAYS MORE. (Okay, again this is coming from a more minimalistic/ modern girl). But I believe this to be true with every interior design style. Your eyes need to be able to rest on a focal point in each room. You do not need 20 different focal points. Every wall does not need artwork. Simple, proportionate (properly scaled!), statement pieces, will create a better look, whether or not your style preference is glam, modern, traditional, farmhouse, industrial, etc. Bohemian, eclectic, are the only two possible exceptions that I can think of because they sometimes involve more of an intentionally cluttered vibe, but there is still a way to do it properly! Having one main focal point in each room and every item to scale is still crucial.
5) Master lighting to properly display your clutter-free, well-designed space
If your space is dark, none of the above design hacks matter. Your hard work in living clutter-free and creating a well-designed space will not be on display (depending on how dark it is.) Most of us have at least some basic lighting, so darkness may not be your primary issue. But there are other common mistakes that can cause your room to feel eerie or unpleasant, or just as if something is missing.
Mixing light bulb color temperature in the same room and especially within the same layer of lighting is a sure way to cast people, wall paint color, and items in an eerie light with conflicting under or overtones.
Please be careful to not use 4600K plus lighting throughout your entire house, unless you want to feel like you are in a hospital, garage, or office building. Warm white is truly soft and cozy, perfect to set a beautiful ambience in every room. You may find you want a middle, cooler option for areas where you really need to see brightly to do work in. I prefer to have as much natural light as possible in these areas, so that I can avoid the cooler lighting, because its too harsh and industrial for me.
Forgetting task lighting is a common mistake. Reading, floor and desk lamps, appropriately placed, are crucial for functionality and add an extra layer of lighting to create options for a variety of needs.
Missing the opportunity to make a statement with a beautiful, properly scaled ceiling fixture, in the front foyer, dining room, and other rooms, is another common mistake. Do not pick something too small for the space. It will look silly and lost. Your statement fixtures are like adding jewelry to your outfit. It's the perfect icing to a delicious cake. Me, personally, I want a chandelier in every room and walk-in closet. I am only partially exaggerating. This is not everyone's taste and certainly not for every house and design-style, but choosing lighting fixtures is one of my favorite aspects of design. Please let me help you pick the bathroom mirror sconces, and the kitchen sink pendent light, and the island pendent lights. Oh, and the dining room ceiling fixture and dining room table!
That's it for this post! I hope you find these hacks helpful. I have enclosed a quick-guide below for those who want more help with becoming clutter-free. I will say my parents raised me with many of these rules. However, as an adult, I did not start implementing them in my own home until I became free from the toxic work environments and toxic relationships I was in. I was too mentally and emotionally drained all of the time to put my shoes away or handle my mail appropriately. It just piled up. I say that to say, don't beat yourself up if you are not there yet. You will get there! Especially if you hang around here long enough. :)
A Quick Guide to Clutter-Free Living:
1. Every item you own has a home where it belongs and that is where it needs to be returned to whenever not in use.
a. This will reduce the frequency of not being able to find something the moment you really need it, which creates avoidable stress and can make you late to important events or appointments.
2. No more than one alternate pair of shoes per person by any door at any time and those pairs should really be thrown into the closet near by so that they are not visible.
a. If you are not wearing it today, it belongs in your bedroom closet or mudroom closet.
3. Piles of laundry should be hidden and put away as soon as possible. This goes for clean and dirty. Both should be tucked away inside a closet at all times, unless you are actively folding or putting away.
4. There should be NO VISIBLE trash or recyclable receptacles anywhere. The only exception is a small lidded trash bin next to each toilet. All others need to be concealed in a cabinet or closet.
5. Closely related to #4: There should be no visible loose trash or recyclables laying around the house as anytime. These items need to be directly placed into the appropriate bin within the respective cabinet.
6. All Junk mail needs to be immediately disposed of, important documents filed appropriately, and bills or action required items placed into a particular drawer or onto a bulletin board in office to be dressed asap.
7. All visible dirt, dog food, and other soiled or gross particles or spills need to be cleaned up immediately.
8. Bed should always be made and couch throw pillows should be situated when not in use.
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