We at hiphome believe in updating skills and regular training. Therefore with the New Year just starting we thought a reminder of the top 10 interior design mistakes to avoid in 2010 would be a great start. Happy 2010!
from the team at Hiphome
By Clint Calder
http://home-design-software-review.toptenreviews.com/interior-design/top-10-interior-design-mistakes-to-avoid-pg11.html
10 Buying paint before fabrics and furniture
Colour will always be one of the most important decisions in the designing process. Do not rush it. Not only is painting the most time consuming, but it's also the most permanent of all your decisions. A table or couch can easily be moved, but paint is another story. Be sure to pick the furniture and other accessories for the room, and then take pieces of fabric from them to match to the paint that fits the best. You will find it much easier to match the paint to the furniture, rather than the other way around.
9 Bad Lighting
Every project can look good in the dark, but what happens when you turn the lights on? As you design your projects, don’t forget to keep in mind one of the most important features of a room. You will find that lighting makes or breaks a project. The lighting is truly the emotion of the room. You don’t want the room to be so bright you feel like you’re in a lightning bolt, but at the same time too little lighting will cause the room to have a gloomy feel. There is a grand variety of lighting fixtures to choose from, so don’t be afraid of a little research.
8 Colour co-ordination
The colour of a room is not solely depicted by the paint on the walls. The shades and tints in the furniture will greatly influence the mood. Be sure not to over-do the room using just reds if you want a red room. Add contrasts and compliments in your colouring schemes and you won’t regret it. Most home-improvement retailers have colour swatches and samples that will help you choose the best colours for your room
7 Over-furnishing a room
It has been said that your bedroom reflects your state of mind. A room that is overcrowded with coffee tables, couches, footstools, paper baskets or whatever, can cause the mind to feel the same way. Be sure to leave plenty of walking space. Stay away from the tendency to fill in the empty spaces. Leave some room. It will be much easier for you to relax and kick back.
6 Getting furniture without first checking room dimensions
Oversized furniture takes its toll on rooms. It will make the room appear small and cramped if not handled correctly. There is nothing wrong with large furniture if the room can handle it. Using smaller furniture will open up a room and give it a roomy feel. WARNING! Be sure that your furniture will fit through the door.
5 Not paying attention to acoustics
How you arrange the room for acoustics may be one of the more difficult decisions. This will be most important for the theatre or entertainment rooms. Nothing is more important than sound when it comes to watching a movie. Don't use a lot of hard surfaces in the theater rooms that allows the sound waves continue to bounce around. Capture them with carpets and soft sofas. Hardwood floors look great in living spaces, but you may want to throw a few rugs on the floor to keep the noise down. You may be surprised at how important acoustics really are.
4 Not involving nature
One of the greatest ways to improve the feel of a room is to add a few plants here and there. Adding plants creates a more natural feel to the room, and with the right plants, you will have a new and refreshing essence to fill the air. When designing a room, never forget to include the five senses in your decision making.
3 Not allowing enough time for the design process
It is not a race to the finish. Effective interior designing requires a lot of planning and organization. If you rush through a few steps, you may find yourself making decisions that have unfortunate consequences. So be careful!
2 Placing photos too high on the walls
Where your art/photos go on the walls is completely up to you. It is different for everyone. Keep in mind how tall the people you want looking at these are. Too low and your visitors will go away with a bad back; too high and they won’t even try. The height of the photos will also format the appearance of the wall, making it seem taller or shorter.
1 Not using mirrors
Mirrors are a bit under-rated. Using mirrors will make rooms appear much more spacious. The lack of mirrors or windows seems to give the room a boxy feel. Don’t hesitate to hang a decorative mirror or two on your walls. Be creative. You can find many different shapes and sizes of mirrors at your local home-improvement retailers. Not only will your room look bigger, but it will also make the room brighter as it reflects the lighting.
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