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6 decor secrets designers wish they knew sooner

Tips that will make not break a room.
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Designing your home involves many decisions that need to be made, which can be very overwhelming. What if your space doesn’t turn out how you imagined?

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Watch: Juliet Love’s guide to decorating your dining table

If you are new to interior design or are having a dabble with decorating your home, we spoke to the experts to find out what they wish they had known sooner. 

Here’s what they said.

Best decor tips from designers

1. Leave some blank space

Kate Plemper, the founder of Interiors + Ko, says resist the urge to fill every space in every room. 

“Every design needs breathing space,” she says. “I can definitely put my hand up and say that I have over-decorated at the start of my career – less can completely be more!” 

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“One of the main advantages of negative space is its ability to eliminate distractions from the main feature and improve its influence. Standing back and viewing a room from where it’s most frequently seen can often uncover how an empty space could be used to feature something you’d like to display.”

bert decor tips
(Credit: Dave Wheeler/@aremediasyndication.com.au) (Credit: Dave Wheeler/@aremediasyndication.com.au)

2. It’s okay to mix old with new

Just because you’ve settled on one style doesn’t mean you can’t bring elements of another into your space. 

“Mixing styles and eras is what brings character to any and every space. Every room wants to feel cohesive and modern like it’s been there for some time. As an interior designer, mixing old with new generates an opportunity to create a unique design concept,” says Kate. 

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“Old pieces offer a classic charm and a feeling of sentiment, and new pieces offer a touch of the modern world.”

3. Trust your gut

A lot of being a designer comes down to trusting your gut. 

“It’s often how I think outside the square and come up with my best designs,” says Kate. “Interior design is a complicated and multifaceted subject – but the key to remember is that anything is possible.” 

best decor secrets
(Credit: Nic Gossage/@aremediasyndication.com.au) (Credit: Nic Gossage/@aremediasyndication.com.au)
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4. Choose a consistent colour palette

Choosing your colours is the fun part! Just make sure you don’t go picking them on a whim. 

Kate says, “Colour will greatly impact how your space feels in terms of scale and size, and it can also influence how a person experiences a space/room.

“The most thoughtfully designed homes should feel connected from one room to the next… think about the overall vision and style of the space.”

The key to choosing your colour palette is to pick three or four key colours. 

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“This is definitely fundamental,” says Kate. “Keeping your colours consistent is the safest way for ensuring your space looks cohesive,” says Kate.

decor secrets
(Credit: Dave Wheeler/@aremediasyndication.com.au) (Credit: Dave Wheeler/@aremediasyndication.com.au)

5. Lighting can make or break a room

Home Expert at Victory Blinds Stuart Clark, says it’s essential to get the lighting right. 

Lighting can make or break a room,” he says, “Mirrors are a great way to reflect natural light around your room.”

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“If you place them on a wall adjacent to a window or glass door, not only will it trick the eye into thinking your room is bigger, but it will also bounce the natural light straight around your room.”

decor tips
(Credit: Dave Wheeler/@aremediasyndication.com.au) (Credit: Dave Wheeler/@aremediasyndication.com.au)

6. Fine grain grout

Trisha Pickersgill, designer and director of stadium design co, says she wishes she knew there were different grades of tile grout

“I wish I knew about the fine grain earlier,” she says. “I find the fine grain maintains its colour for longer, and it also has a nicer appearance when paired with a smooth face tile. However, the colour range is smaller.”

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You might also like:

Decorating tips for dressing up your hallway

How to decorate your bedroom

How to choose and style cushions

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