Questioning if you or someone you know is in need of a design intervention? Check out the following tips on how to turn your home from a “don’t” to a “do”.
Don’t: Match Everything.
Do: Coordinate. Just because you have a cheetah print comforter doesn’t mean your whole bedroom needs to look like an African safari. It’s okay to pick a statement item and then choose coordinating, not identical pieces to go with it to give your room a feel of unity.
Don’t: Overdo it on themes. Do we love apples? Yes! Is carrying this theme out by having an apple patterned garbage can in your kitchen overkill? Absolutely!
Do: Moral of the story, too much of a good thing, is not a good thing. It’s okay to have accent pieces that mesh well together; it’s just never a good idea to center the theme of an entire room on a season, object or animal.
Don’t: Be a slave to trends (lava lamps, fire engine red rooms, avocado green toilets, etc.)
Do: Stick to timeless looks on major purchases. It’s okay to incorporate the latest looks in your home, just be mindful that home design is a constant evolution and that today’s “it” thing will be gone tomorrow so don’t devote a lot of time or finances to short-lived trends.
Don’t: Live in a museum. Your home is meant to be lived in. Don’t spring for furniture that you’re afraid to use because of the cost to replace it.
Do: Protect your furniture with stylish throw blankets,pillows or stain-resistant spray. But select pieces that you’ll both love and use.
Don’t: Live in someone else’s house.
Do: Decorate on your own terms and select accessories, colors and fabrics that reflect your own style. Anyone else’s opinion should be taken with a grain of salt.
Don’t: View your home as multiple rooms that have no relationship to each other.
Do: Make sure that your rooms have a flow to them. Choose colors, fabrics, accessories, etc. that complement, rather than compete with each other.
Don’t: Take the cheap way out.
Do: If budget is a factor, commit to furniture that is stable and timeless so that you’ll get your money’s worth. It’s much better to spend a little more upfront and buy one couch than to buy the same type of furniture repeatedly because you didn’t invest in quality.
Want to see some more Don’ts? Visit our Pinterest Board: http://pinterest.com/linduscon/home-design-donts/
Tune into AM 830 WCCO on Saturdays from 9:00-10:00am hosted by Denny Long and Andy Lindus to ask questions regarding your home improvement projects. Call us now at 1-800-873-1451 or check us out on the web at www.lindusconstruction.com to schedule a free in-home estimate.
