What’s hot and what’s not in home design changes faster than you could replace your accent wall paint. One moment bold colors and floral patterns are in, and then they’re the out the next.
If you want to stay in style through and through, without losing so many bucks over trends, stick to these timeless interior design rules:
1. Play with different textures
Texture refers to the perceived tactile quality of surfaces of elements in the room. Imagine the smooth, even finish of marble countertops or the fluffy, soft material of fur rugs. That’s texture.
When you’re able to get different combinations of textures in your space, it can offer visual interest and break the monotony in the area. It’s also the key to transforming a cold, impersonal room into a warm, comfy space.
The easiest way to add texture is through fabrics and textiles, such as silk pillowcases, linen tablecloths, and tapestries. Rugs can also help.
If you’re renovating and planning to use laminate flooring, Santa Ana, CA-based interior designers highly recommend using ethnic rugs as this complement the wood finish of the floors. You can also introduce texture through plants. Some homeowners opt for living walls in bedrooms to improve the relaxing vibe in the area.
2. Prioritize symmetry
Symmetry is aesthetically pleasing for many reasons. For one, it’s familiar. People see it everywhere, in leaves, animals, even faces. So, when they spot it in a room, they’re quickly drawn to it precisely because they’re used to it.
Another reason symmetry is a delight to the eyes is it gives a sense of balance and order to the look, helping people make sense of all the other elements in the space. So, regardless of the room or the kind of aesthetics you’re going for, symmetry is a universal element that can make your design timeless.
The classic way of pulling this off is placing identical items on each side of a central axis. For instance, you could place matching sofas on each side of a coffee table or bookshelves on each side of the fireplace. The principle is just to mirror elements on either side of the center line.
3. Put colors based on 60-30-10
It’s always best to have three colors in your interior design. Hues that belong to the same group in the color wheel. For the actual application of such hues, you need to follow the 60-30-10 rule.
This just means that one color should cover 60% of the space, making it your dominant hue, the next one should have 30%, being the secondary hue, and the last one should be reflected in the last 10%, as it’s your accent hue.
The dominant color usually goes to the walls and the floors, the secondary to the furniture, and the accent to the minor details, like vases and throw pillows. If you’re planning to go for just one color though, vary the shades to avoid the flat, boring look.
For sure you’ve heard of so many home design trends — go minimalist here, use dark, moody colors there — but if you’re aiming for aesthetics that never go out of style, stick to these mentioned rules. You’ll be able to pull off a timeless design.
