Written by Rebecca Connolly

We get asked questions about interior design all day every day - and we love it! There are some questions that continually crop up over and over again. In this week's blog we have compiled a list of our most frequently asked design questions. We will do our best to answer them and help you move forward with your project with confidence. Think of this as your handy guide to all things interior design and refer back to it whenever you are making changes to your home.

We know how hard it can be when you are making changes to your home. There is a lot to consider, whether you have a rented flat or you are embarking on a complete home renovation. So we are here to help answer those difficult questions - grab a cup of tea or coffee and get comfortable.

These five frequently asked interior design questions and answers will cover some of the fundamental rules we use when designing for our clients. Try combining a couple of these tips to turn your home into a sanctuary you’ll never want to leave!

1. ‘I don’t know where to start… Can you help?’

This is how most of our video calls with our clients begin. Many clients have started their search on google, looking at different products, however that’s often where it ends. They find it very difficult to visualise the entire room and feel a lack of inspiration. We know how you feel - overwhelmed by choice and the feeling of your brain flitting from one idea to the next. 

Do not panic! There are a couple of things you can do to focus your ideas.

Make a moodboard - moodboards are a fun way to find your style. We use them as professionals to put our ideas down on paper. It is a great tool to use to gather inspiration, thrash out ideas and communicate with our customers. However, you don’t have to be a professional to create moodboards! It is all about you, your requirements and what you are drawn to - you should find it quite an enjoyable task. Read more about how a moodboard can help you here

Gather inspiration - and let's not forget about Pinterest! We use Pinterest at the beginning stages of every project. Drawing inspiration from others is so helpful, as a picture can often translate what you want to achieve far better than words. So make some Pinterest boards and pin your favourite images that speak to you, it all helps build a picture of what you want to achieve. Tip: make different boards for different areas of your home - you will quickly become overwhelmed if you put all your ideas down in one place.

Start with the floorplan - the other big factor to any space is the size. We’ve all heard friends or family say “I shouldn't have bought it as it doesn’t really fit” or something along those lines. When we work with you, we start the process by creating a floorplan online. This means we are able to try out different sizes of furniture and rugs to see what the optimum sizes are for your space. This prevents you wasting money in the long run on something that doesn’t work for the space.

Are you overwhelmed by the amount of decisions you need to make? We can help with our affordable interior packages - click here.

2. ‘I need to choose a paint colour first, how do I decide on the best shade?’

This is a common mistake we see customers making. As tempting as it might be to reach for a tin of paint, don’t make it your first decision. Plan your upholstery colours, carpet and curtains first. Once you have found the perfect fabrics, then look at paint. There are many, many more paint colours available than there are fabrics and carpets. And if you struggle to find the right paint shade, you can always get a special colour mixed. Fabric on the other hand is much harder to match to a paint colour you have already committed to. And to find the sofa shape you like, in the right size and price, and in a colour that compliments the paint colour - it might leave you having to make compromises that undermine the look you’re trying to achieve.

Looking for a neutral paint colour? Click here

@beetrootandblack

@our_1930srenovation_story

3. ‘Can I mix wood tones in the same room?’

Interior trends change over the years. At the moment we are seeing a real eclectic mix of materials and finishes in our homes. Gone are the days where you would buy a matching three piece suite. It is all about showing your personality with interest and difference in the space. So our answer is yes, you can mix wood tones, and more importantly - you should!

Mixing wood finishes can look fantastic! However there are a couple of rules to getting it right. 

The most important rule is to make it coherent. Wood has undertones to it which together make up its overall colour. We read colours as warm, neutral or cool. The important thing is to go for the same level of warmth or tone in the materials we put together in a space. Firstly you should pick a dominant wood colour. This could be your wooden floor. In this instance you should compare every other wood tone you are thinking of putting in the space against this and study the wood to find out what tone it has. A very warm orange wood such as cherry will not sit very well with a cool grey oak. However a cherry wood would sit really well with a walnut as they both are a warm tone. 

Break it up with a rug - we often see clients worrying about the dining table being the wrong type of wood to match the wooden floor. It is important to have a sample of your flooring to be able to see all the colours in the grain. You do not need an exact match here and often we suggest having a large area rug underneath the dining table which will break up the two surfaces. 

Repetition - when designing any space this rule is key. Once you have found your wood tones, repeat them in the room at least twice. This doesn’t have to be large pieces of furniture, think small wooden bowls, picture frames in a gallery wall or the base of a floor lamp. By repeating the wood tones you are creating a sense of continuity in the room.

@1930s_semi_charmed_life

@homeofcontour

@gareth_at_31

4. ‘How do I choose the best furniture sizes for my room?’

When you buy a new property or make changes to a space it can be really tempting to jump straight into purchasing furniture - especially with the long lead times we are seeing at the moment! When you look at the house listing and see the floorplan do you take much notice or are you mainly focused on the pictures and possibilities? 

We know you are excited, but maybe it's time to pause and just check… Will it fit???? 

The best thing to do is create your own floorplan - there are lots of websites where you can do this. We love creating floorplans for our clients. As we said earlier we start every project by drawing out the floorplan so we fully understand and know the space we are working with. It really helps you narrow down your searches as you know exactly what size furniture you need. 

Are you struggling with the layout in your room? Click here our Midi Living package is the perfect solution!

@ourtravelhome

@athomewiththelloyds

@homeby_amy

5. ‘How do I design my very small space?’

There are a number of easy ways to trick the eye into thinking a room is bigger than it really is and to create a feeling of space. If you can get your clutter under control too, you’ll have a stylish room that feels spacious and functional. Once a room is well planned and styled, you forget about it’s size.

Think about the practicality of the room, what is its primary purpose? Small rooms can often look cluttered if there are too many pieces of furniture, therefore it is best to reduce the amount you have. This could be an opportunity to create some clever built in storage or use multifunctional pieces to increase your floor space. 

Don’t automatically go small on everything in the room. Just because your room is small doesn’t mean you can’t have a large rug or a large pendant light. Some elements of the room being a larger size will actually help to trick your eye into thinking the room is bigger than it really is. 

For more ideas on how to design a small space see our blog on 9 mistakes to avoid in a small bedroom

@homebyalina_

@my_midcenturyboho_newbuild

 If you like these ideas and would like some help tailored specifically to your home, budget and style, get in touch. We’d love to help you!