"We’ve enlisted the help of interior designer
Vanessa Arbuthnott to share her designer tips and
secrets so you can gain that insider knowledge and
transform your home like a professional."
6) OLD TO NEW
If you have a blank canvas it’s easier, but more often we must
work with existing sofas or rugs etc. Look closely at the rug
and see if you can work with the colours within it. Maybe you
can reupholster the old favourite sofa to give it a new lease
of life? Decide if you are someone who likes pattern or plain;
traditional or contemporary; and look at a colour wheel or
nature itself to see what colours go with what. For instance,
pinks and reds with greens, orange with duck egg, yellows
with grey and blues.
7) FURNITURE
INTERIORS
Decide on the furniture you want in your room. Think about
scale, in a large room you need a big sofa and footstool.
Most designers recommend that even small rooms should
have one large statement piece, even if it is a headboard in a
bedroom. A balance of large and small pieces will create an
appealing living space.
3) ANALYSE THE LOOK
Collect pieces as you come across them, this way you will
purchase things you’ve fell in love with rather than settling
for what’s available in certain stores or online at the time you
need something. This way you can spend time analysing the
look and colours of your room with accessories. The more
time you take to add things into your house, your interior
design knowledge will expand as you can understand what
works best with certain features.
4) COLOUR AND FABRICS
Start to home in on the colours you want to use – three
colours are always better than two: use these colours
throughout the room: for the painted walls or wallpaper,
furniture, blinds and curtains. The third colour could
be a highlight for cushions, lampshades, bed quilts and
accessories such as a tablecloth or even a painting or
sculpture.
5) PAINT AND PAPER
Remember that colours can change depending on lighting
so buy sample pots and paint. Paint at least A2 sized paint
patches, on the lightest and the darkest walls in the same
room, to see how the natural light affects the shade. Tape
wallpaper samples to the walls and drape large returnable
samples over existing furniture or pin them to existing
curtains and blinds. Stand back and see what you think!
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