Collections

Collections Look Better Collected

Many people make the mistake of scattering their collections all around the house. But just as museum puts the Roman classics together in one area and Impressionist art in another, your collections should be centralized in a room to showcase the work.
If you like Depression glass, place the pieces on one table or shelf that can be backlit by the afternoon sun. If your hobby is black and white photography, don’t hide your work in a dark hallway: dedicate one colored wall to your best photographs. Your collection of Pez dispensers might look cool lined up on a bookcase shelf.

Collections

Collections Look Better Collected

Many people make the mistake of scattering their collections all around the house. But just as museum puts the Roman classics together in one area and Impressionist art in another, your collections should be centralized in a room to showcase the work.
If you like Depression glass, place the pieces on one table or shelf that can be backlit by the afternoon sun. If your hobby is black and white photography, don’t hide your work in a dark hallway: dedicate one colored wall to your best photographs. Your collection of Pez dispensers might look cool lined up on a bookcase shelf.

Focal Point

Choose a Focal Point



Your focal point – the area that demands attention as soon as someone enters a room – can be just about anything, but remember the rest of room’s design will be built upon and around it.
The focal point may be something you add, like a stunning piece of artwork from which you took color inspiration or a rug in an interesting shape. It may also be a feature of the room, such as a fireplace or a wall of windows overlooking a garden...

Focal Point

Choose a Focal Point



Your focal point – the area that demands attention as soon as someone enters a room – can be just about anything, but remember the rest of room’s design will be built upon and around it.
The focal point may be something you add, like a stunning piece of artwork from which you took color inspiration or a rug in an interesting shape. It may also be a feature of the room, such as a fireplace or a wall of windows overlooking a garden...

Use of Colors and Neutrals

Understanding the Use of Colors and Neutrals

This is one of the key basics of interior design, but it doesn’t need to be complicated. Any good art store will have a color wheel you can twist and turn to see examples of:

- Primary colors.
- Secondary or complementary colors.
- Tertiary colors.
The color wheel explains how to balance the use of color for what is known as a harmonious effect.
Neutrals are forms of white, black, gray and beige. Neutrals are predominately used as the foundation of a room’s scheme, but can also be the primary decoration, then accented with color.
Stores with a wall of paint swatches also have samples and guidebooks of how to blend colors and neutrals, as well as instruction cards that feature set color palettes that simplify color and neutral matching. Use these examples as shown or as inspiration for your own creations.

Use of Colors and Neutrals

Understanding the Use of Colors and Neutrals

This is one of the key basics of interior design, but it doesn’t need to be complicated. Any good art store will have a color wheel you can twist and turn to see examples of:

- Primary colors.
- Secondary or complementary colors.
- Tertiary colors.
The color wheel explains how to balance the use of color for what is known as a harmonious effect.
Neutrals are forms of white, black, gray and beige. Neutrals are predominately used as the foundation of a room’s scheme, but can also be the primary decoration, then accented with color.
Stores with a wall of paint swatches also have samples and guidebooks of how to blend colors and neutrals, as well as instruction cards that feature set color palettes that simplify color and neutral matching. Use these examples as shown or as inspiration for your own creations.

Big vs. Small

Big vs. Small

The size of a room or the features within it dictates basic interior design elements. If you have a small office, for example, an antique roll top desk smack in the middle of room will make the room feel crowded. A better choice might be a more "airy" piece of furniture.
The proper use of scale applies to paint and fabrics as well. While rooms painted white appear larger, that doesn’t mean all small rooms should be white. A tiny nursery can be very intimate in forest green – but adding a wallpaper border of giant teddy bears may be a bit too much, making the room appear off-balance.
The general rule is larger rooms accommodate bigger furniture and patterns well, just as smaller rooms work better with less furniture and reduced prints.