Do paint your stairs
I sometimes choose unexpected stair colours in my projects, to lure you in.
Do use natural floor coverings
I like to use seagrass matting, on its own or layered with rugs.
Don’t despair if you don’t have original features in your home
If you don’t have the energy to reinstate a cornice in your room then consider using a piece of trim, like a fan edge, at the very top where the wall meets the ceiling, and using small nails or upholstery pins, tack it into position.
Do use solid wooden floors in your home
Or retain the original pine or oak boards – they wear better and you can have underfloor heating with them.
Do hang your pictures
Don’t be afraid to puncture your newly decorated walls – pictures bring your home to life.
Do draw your room to scale
Then you can shop for new furniture armed with a tape measure for measuring anything you find, and a scale ruler for checking the piece will fit, and that you can get it through the door and into the room.
Don’t use a stark bright white for your house
It can feel harsh and headache inducing. Instead try Slaked Lime by Little Green, which is a lovely soft white. Or Wimborne White by Farrow and Ball which is a very warm white.
Don’t forget that your ceiling
It is as important as the walls, so paint, paper or tile it and give it some love. I am particularly fond of tiled ceilings and high gloss ceilings.
Do try a ‘fabric drench’
Instead of a colour drench, try a fabric drench, and upholster your sofa and a couple of chairs in the same fabric as your curtains. This strong look gives the impression of a very considered space, and is calming to spend time in. Art will be particularly arresting when it doesn’t have to compete with lots of different patterns and fabrics.
Do include plants and trees in your interior
A fig tree or a palm in a planter are favourites.
Don’t use too many ceiling spots
Wall lights, ceiling pendants and LED tape can be far more flattering for the interior as well as the inhabitants.
Do light small spaces well
A tiny larder or boot room will benefit from being beautifully lit and you will appreciate the space all the more.
Don’t be a polite designer!
Be gutsy with colours, and bold with furniture sizes.
Don’t turn to Instagram and Pinterest for your decorating inspiration
Instead, open up an inspiring book or magazine. It seems that moving away from screens helps dramatically with the design process, connecting with a different part of your mind.
Do anchor your chandeliers
If you want to hang a chandelier in an entrance hall – and you are lucky enough to have an entrance hall – anchor it by positioning a centre table directly beneath it.
Embrace colour in small spaces
Small spaces matter and set the tone for the rest of your house. So do paint a tiny corridor in a beautiful colour, and do paint the insides of wardrobes in something uplifting.
Do what makes you feel good
When decorating ignore the inner voice that wonders what your friends will say, or what you ‘should’ do. Just do something; make it surprising and uplifting. Make a gallery wall of art that your children did, or pages torn out of a book of illustrations, and frame them in clip frames. There is a magic that starts when you start, and your design decisions can be low in cost but high in creativity.
Don’t be afraid to change things
Interiors evolve over time, just like we do.
Olivia Outred: oliviaoutred.com
