PLEASE Break These Interior Design Rules!

There have been many times I have a careful plan in place for my home or a client and... it doesn't go entirely as planned.

I absolutely LOVE when that happens!

After spending decades as a TV News Anchor, I know that sticking to the script can be restricting, suffocating and a bit artificial. It's always better to take off the "time to act and sound like a news anchor" hat and be real; let the story tell itself and have a life of its own.

Well, the same goes for design.

If you are always trying to role play when you REFRESH your home and say, "what would interior designers do here?" instead of what you want to do, then you might be walking yourself right into a potential mess. Use their incredible talent and expertise to influence you, but not direct you or else your home will be for them, and you are the one paying the rent/mortgage after all!

Want to get super daring and go a bit rogue?

Let's take some standard design rules and experiment! Let's see what happens when we intentionally break the rules and allow ourselves flexibility. I bet something exciting just might be the result.

Always Create Symmetry

One of the first things I ask clients: "Are you a 'symmetry' person?"

It's important to know because it will guide everything I do for them. I personally can go either way; sometimes I do symmetry for myself but mostly I am rocking the boat just a little and breaking the perfection up on one side with a vase or a plant or a propped picture.

Only small things in small rooms

The REFRESH team laughs at me because when I see a bunch of small things in a styling situation I say, "Uh oh, it's getting too nibbly." It can happen so easily when styling a bookshelf, planning a floor plan or accessorizing a room-- too many little pieces can stress the eye.

This small cottage living room would look cluttered and crowded with a bunch of small profile chairs or couches. Instead, adding a big sectional and side chair with a regular sized rocking chair feels inviting without looking like it's bursting at the seams.

Wood finishes must match

This can be tough for many but the truth is the ship really has sailed on this one. While having all the same wood is a beautiful thing, a "collected look" is too and to achieve that you can mix metals, styles-- and yes-- woods. It's certainly forgiving on the budget too because you can play around with your spaces and not have to buy everything new each time wood trends shift.

You can also add a wooden vintage piece, or family heirloom and make it blend into new woods from recent purchases while maintaining a sense of cohesiveness and giving the room personality.

Furniture in unexpected places

A landing is a great place to do something different. Why waste the space? Sure there are limits because it's a small area to work with and often an awkward size or shape. I have turned them into small little reading nooks with a library wall full of books, and in the case above, I created what I call "a landing lounge." It's a nice spot for my client's daughters to sit with their friends, scroll through their social media feeds, and just kick up their feet and be teenagers.

Fun fact: the adults love to sit there and relax too ;)

Don’t clash colors

Red, bright pink, orange, yellow... how could these possibly go together, right? Well, why not? I think they do, in the most FABULOUS of ways. I love a "clash palette" in clothing, art and interiors and for many this is a massive design rule breaker. But why does it have to be? I think the first time I realized how amazing these colors can be was when I saw a dress color blocked in red, orange, and fuchsia... and I was obsessed! You might want to try too, because taking color chances just might work in ways you never imagined.

Hang everything

Sometimes, honestly, I just haven't gotten to it yet, and art is on the floor leaning against a wall or a mirror is on top of a bureau not yet hung. But I'm not always in a rush to hang them because I find myself liking the look. The pictures or the mirror can sometimes be just fine off the wall and propped instead. It reflects differently if it's a mirror, and if it's art, it looks layered and casual. It's not going to be the right move every time but why not give your walls a break and change it up? Again, "mistakes," or "breaking rules" might just end up being your favorite version of the space you are in.

LET'S DISCUSS

Ok rebels! Are you always going to be a rule follower, or can we get a little mischievous on occasion?

If you've already gone rogue and it worked out well, I am so ready to hear all about it.

Meet in the comments below?

XX Kerri-Lee