Simple tricks to start with
There are many schools in how to create your own personal interior design, there are long educations and serious professionals that really know a lot of tricks into creating an interesting interior. There are even mystical keys (Feng Shui) to a healthy living.
But there is also another side to it, and that is creating an interior that you actually can live in (without banging your head on strategically placed bells . . ) that will be easily maintained while creating a lovely, intimate atmosphere. It has to be easy to clean, child proof, easily adapted to different activities (let’s face it not all of us have a room for every activity, long gone are the music rooms, the hobby rooms or the garden rooms). Here are some easy tips on how to achieve it
1. Decide what a room should be used for
· Take into account all sort of activities and think what is needed for those
· Try and find a common thread in the activities (grown up evening room+ children’s homework room+ a dining room = good bookcases, a good table to write on and to dine on and comfy sofas and armchairs and good side lights emphasising the different “stations”. Avoid ceiling lights at any costs.
2. Put emphasis on what you want to show.
· By placing a light in a corner, drawing the attention there and away from a messy table
· By decorating something that nakedly looks messy
· Put Lights in the windows
· Avoid things that will give you tons of work, like cushions on the sofas (that will always fall down and you have to put them back and fluff them . . . ) or throws.
· Book shelves and side boards are my favourite. Not only good storage but also something you can put a vase on, a light or some photo frames. Instant life to a room.
3. Avoid empty spaces.
· Decorate walls with pictures, mirrors, wall paper or lights. But always make sure that there is something linking the things you put on the wall, together. A certain colour scheme, a certain frame (this will help make children’s pictures all fit together no matter what clever technique they have been taught in school)
· Avoid empty corners, put a light, a big plant or a corner cabinet, just do not leave it empty
4. Re create the space by scale.
· In a small window put a large light, making it the centre of attention.
· On a larger wall, put a beautifully framed photograph or painting in the middle, making this the centre of attention
· Group some picture on a small wall.
5. Give everything its place and stick to it.
If something hasn’t got a space move it somewhere else or get storage for it. This will help you when cleaning up and tidying. It also gives you help when instructing children to clean!
This is just a start, but if you haven’t done this yet, try and you will see that it does make a difference. Happy rearranging
