The notion of completing a house in one go means your budget can be stretched too thin. Houses are never really finished so better to concentrate on the major purchases first and save up for the rest. Simple roller blinds on the windows whilst you wait for proper curtains mean you aren’t wasting money in the meantime and sparing landfill at the same time.
After all, which life are you saving them for? The best decorating is about enhancing your everyday life so make an effort to elevate even the simplest moments. Make beds beautifully, get the best linens out, drink from the good glasses and use a silver tray even when it’s just for a jug of water.
A well-made sofa will last a lifetime and beyond, so save up or buy vintage and recover.
There is nothing worse than mimsy furniture. If it goes through the door, it’s the right size. And think about verticality – a tall bookcase or a mirror which reaches up towards the ceiling will help to increase the feeling of height in a room. In a room with a low ceiling try to stretch the proportions upwards and avoid anything letterbox in shape.
If it makes you feel nervous it means you’re pushing yourself. And try switching your scheme around and put the pattern on the sofa rather than the curtains or vice versa.
If you are pattern-averse, they will help break up an otherwise plain scheme and introduce rhythm and texture.
It’s incredible what you can pick up for very little money. Silver plated cutlery for instance is often cheaper than buying new, French heavy linen sheets which can be dyed and used as unlined curtains on clip-rings so that no sewing is required!
Antique or vintage pieces will help ground a room, knocking the edges off a newly decorated room helping it feel settled and easy to be in. Good things get better with age so don’t worry about marks and scuffs too much.
If you are at someone’s house and it feels marvellous, think about why that is… is it the lighting, or the depth of the sofa, or the weight of the curtains at the windows? Take note of these details and you will have a better sense of direction when doing your own.
Remember that your home is meant to please you and reflect your own personality not impress your friends so have fun with it and don’t worry about anything too much.
If you like it and can afford it on the day – buy it.
When embarking on a building project, think carefully about how much time you have to attend site meetings and if you have the many, many hours needed to look for all the switches, handles, taps, tiles etc that you are going to have to find and order.
…unless you are absolutely certain his taste is aligned with your own. Either take the time to source things yourself or hire a professional.
These are so often overlooked and yet they bring a level of detail to a scheme which makes things look nicely finished.
In a neutral scheme it will make the off whites appear dirty and will cheapen stronger colours, rather use a chalky white or a diluted version of the colour itself which will sit softly against its neighbour.
No one needs a house that looks like an airport landing strip – mid-level lighting from wall lights and lamps is much more flattering and flexible in that you can place a lamp where you need the light most and a 5amp circuit so that they all turn on with one switch feels very grown up.
What you want is a degree of overlap, a visual trick linking everything so that the eye travels around the room.
More great decoration stories from House & Garden
- 50 stylish living room ideas to copy now
- Farrow and Ball paint colours in real homes
- Small room ideas from the House & Garden archive
- How to hang pictures on walls at home
- Bright bathroom ideas to make a splash
- Hallway ideas to make a great first impression
- Patio, garden decking and terrace ideas
- The best garden furniture stores to help you spruce up
- A guide to the best interiors shops in London
- How to decorate a Georgian house
- The best mattresses to buy for quality sleep
Joanna Plant is a member of The List by House & Garden, our essential directory of design professionals. Visit The List by House & Garden here.