When it comes to interior design, having a professional’s insight and secrets can alleviate the indecision we may face when considering fall-inspired decorations or debating whether to paint our bedroom black.
Imagine the peace of mind of having a reliable source answer our pressing questions, like “How do I make a unique fall tablescape?” or “Will I regret painting my hardwood floors?”
Expert Advice for a Harmonious Home
Every interior design enthusiast can benefit from having a pro in their corner, offering guidance.
Even those with a natural flair for interior design often turn to Pinterest boards for reassurance before making changes in their home.
Whether you’re a DIY genius or a crafting novice, a professional’s insight and interior design secrets are invaluable.
For instance, understanding your favourite designers’ interior design secrets can help you distinguish fleeting trends from timeless ideas that are making a comeback.
Such wisdom is critical when making permanent home decisions.
Since not all of us have an interior design expert on speed dial, we’ve gathered insights from our favourite pros to share the interior design secrets they usually reserve for their clients.
Balancing Patterns with Grounding Elements
If your home is filled with patterns, an interior design secret from Colleen Simons is all about using certain pieces as grounding elements to take a bit away from the busy prints.
“The color and glaze on the lamps help balance the tones in the wallpaper,” she explains of this dining room.
“The rug was a late—but wonderful—find. The brown is nice and grounding and all the colorful squares bring life and cheerful color to the room. Chic, not serious, and unique. My favorite combination!”
Thinking Outside the Box with Portable Islands
This Texas house didn’t come with a kitchen island, so the team at Fort Design Studio sourced a portable wooden island from Chairish to use instead.
Not only does this give the kitchen a wholly unique look, but it warms up the space.
It’s okay—even encouraged—to think outside the box when it comes to decorating your home.
Finding Tools to Simplify Your Life
In the same Texas home as above, the Fort Design Studio team installed a pullout Rev-A-Shelf spice drawer to the right of the stunning range.
Hilary Colia, one of the designers who worked on this project, explains that this “blew [the] client’s mind—she had been storing all her spices in the pantry and walking back and forth when needed.”
There are tools out there designed to make your life easier, depending on your lifestyle—if you find them, take advantage of them.
Tweak Your Layout for a Bigger Space
“Just by rearranging the space, it feels double its original size,” architect J.E. Schram explains of his remodeled home kitchen.
The architect actually took up more space in the remodel, adding about 50 percent more countertop area and 60 percent more cabinet space.
However, by simply moving the fridge and the range and hiding away smaller appliances to reduce clutter, Schram made the kitchen feel so much larger.
The Benefits of Downsizing
Though the phrase is “bigger is better,” designer Jaqui Seerman proves that isn’t always the case.
While some aspects of this Beverly Hills home became a bit oversized—like the primary baths—other aspects, like this breakfast nook, got the opposite treatment for the better.
“We downsized this breakfast nook from seating for 10 to six, and now it’s one of the most frequented corners of the house,” Seerman says.
Incorporating Rich Tones for a Cozy Atmosphere
When decorating in a mainly neutral color palette, making sure the space doesn’t feel one-dimensional is key.
This interior design secret involves adding rich hues and textures as accents throughout.
Lindye Galloway, the designer of this bedroom, explains, “To achieve a sense of tranquility and comfort, we kept a neutral palette and added a few rich tones in accents and blended textures to add some subtle interest.”
Telling Your Story Through Design
Get creative in the way you tell your family’s story through your interior design.
In this NYC home, Christie Ward of design firm Ward + Gray says, “While we were working on the project, the couple got engaged in Rome, so we wanted to find a way to make a subtle nod to that story.
We designed this marble patterned floor tile that was inspired by a floor we once saw in a Roman church.”
Combining Textures and Layering for Depth
“When things are really tonal, texture and layering are a must,” designer Michael Ellison says of this Nantucket home.
He used plenty of natural stone, distressed leather, rattan accents, jute rugs, and faux-vellum walls to create this intimate gathering space for his clients, relying on the different textures to provide depth and interest to the entire home.
Blending Traditional and Modern Elements
In this Los Angeles home, designer Jeremiah Brent explains, “The goal was to find the balance between the pedigree of traditional design and the playfulness of modern design.”
By doing so, he created a spacious and beautiful retreat that encourages conversation and connection for a family that loves to entertain.
Revamping Fixer-Uppers into Dream Homes
This once-dilapidated floating house didn’t look like it had much going for it when Donna and Eric Colson purchased it.
“It was red-tagged, completely dilapidated,” Colleen Dowd Saglimbeni, founder of CDS Interiors, says.
However, Dowd Saglimbeni was able to completely transform the structure thanks to its good bones and small but open layout, using the panoramic views of the bay as her jumping-off point in designing the ultimate entertainment space.
Using Ceilings for Balance
In this small maximalist’s home, designer Nick Olsen needed to capture his client’s more-is-more aesthetic without making the space feel too crowded, so he decided to paint the ceilings white.
“With all this boldness, you need relief,” Olsen says. He also added a range of earthy elements, like jute and bamboo, to further encourage the balance.
Bringing in Local Elements for Harmony
“We intentionally avoided competing with the picturesque marsh views and wove their tones into various spaces instead,” Cortney Bishop says of this Charleston, South Carolina, home.
Her interior design secret involves looking to the outside elements, like taking inspiration from the live oaks along the water for the white oak flooring and cabinetry in the kitchen.
She wanted to provide harmony in the entire property, creating “an immersive depth that seamlessly blends with the surrounding environment and the old trees,” as she puts it.
From incorporating rich tones to telling your story through design, these interior design tips and tricks can help you create a harmonious and beautiful space that reflects your personal style.
