Don’t be afraid to mix metals
An intentional mixture of metal finishes and hardware in one room, such as nickel and aged brass is a creative way of adding intrigue and playfulness.
Do assess what natural light each room gets at various times in the day
Working with the natural attributes of the room allows you to make good decoration choices. If a room is naturally dark, play off this rather than trying to make it light. Remember that north-facing rooms will inherently be cooler in tone, whilst a south-facing room will be warmer.
Don’t rush to ‘complete’ every room in the house all at once
As you get to know the space and how you live in it, leave pieces such as artwork and occasional furniture until later. It is more important to find things you love over time, rather than filling the space as quickly as possible.
Do invest in good quality products for key touch points
Switches, sockets, handles and sanitaryware are the items that will remain in the house forever, so you may regret going for a cheaper option here.
Don’t paint anything in lime green or bright purple…
…ever.
Don’t put a TV in your bedroom
This is the space intended for calm and rest. Allow your mind to switch off by minimising distractions.
Don’t overdo lighting
Think of what lighting is needed and don’t overdo it. We always prefer decorative lighting, such as pendants, floor and table lamps and lots of candles - using minimal spots and down-lights, these we prefer to only have in bathrooms, as IP rating has to be considered for these spaces too. Also make sure all your lights have the same temperature - 2700K is a good level. And lastly, have as many of your fixed lighting on dimmer switches, using dim to warm bulbs for extra cosiness.
Do layer your windows
Adding both blinds and curtains together will add a level of warmth and luxury. Mixing textures is also something to consider, for instance sheers and heavy linen, or a plain fabric with a patterned.
Do pay attention to your ceilings
Consider cornices and if they are to be made new, have the size and scale match the height and size of your space. Also try and have your contractor place smoke detectors and extractors as much as possible out of sight - there are regulations to follow, but you can still have somewhat of a say on how to ‘hide’ these necessary but not pretty installations.
Don’t install LED strip lighting–especially the ones that change colour
The only places that these should be used is to illuminate the inside of cupboards.
Do have paint sample boards made
Have your decorator make samples boards of paint swatches, which you can move around from space to space. You might have chosen a colour for one room, but then find it’s better suited for another.
Do choose your grout colour
Make sure to not, under any circumstances, leave this up to your contractor. They might default to whatever they have in their van, which is unlikely to be the best choice for the tiles you spent time choosing.
Don’t go for standard curtain heading heights in all rooms
These need to be considered and in proportion to the overall ceiling height of your rooms.
Do use masking tape to test sizes of furniture and rugs
This is an easy and fun way of testing out how the proportions of each piece work alongside each other - before committing to anything that is made to order and can’t be returned.
