Back to Blogs
“But it looked good in the showroom!” You tell your partner (or pet) as you both look at your newest purchased item in a look verging on disgust.
Our agents at Frank Salt Real Estate, leading real estate agency in Malta, have seen it all, which is why they’ve decided to share some common interior design sins to avoid committing as a homeowner.
1. Thou Shalt Not Overmatch
As with an outfit, when all the elements of an interior are too matchy-matchy, it doesn’t look good. While coordinating pieces indeed add cohesiveness to the space, going overboard with the matching will create a room that’s bland and lacking in contrast and character. Avoid one-stop shopping in order to steer clear of this design sin! There should be a dominant style that accounts for about 80% of the room and the remainder can be anything else.
2. Thou Shalt Not Be Vanilla
“Vanilla is my favourite ice cream flavour” – said no one, ever. By playing it too safe and sticking to only neutral colours, you will create an uninteresting space. By no means are we implying your space should look like a carnival float. Adding a single wall of an accent colour or accessorising with cushions or mirrors in bolder colours will inject a pop of colour and add personality.
3. Thou Shalt Not Live in a Cave, Nor a Rave
Good lighting is critical to any space, and an absence of it is one of the interior design sins that can actually ruin the entire scheme. Relying on one source of lighting, such as a single ceiling fixture, is not a good idea. The room should have different types of lighting with different purposes: ambience lighting, accent lighting, task lighting, and general lighting.
4. Thou Shalt Not Over Furnish
Unless you want to feel like you’re living in an auction hall, don’t over furnish any space. Overcrowded rooms feel crammed and will impede traffic flow by restricting space and movement, so choose furnishing wisely! The same goes for accessorising; the nicest rooms with the most pleasant feeling have just the right amount of accessories on display. Edit accessories carefully and place them strategically for a cohesive overall look.
5. Thou Shalt Not Create Disjointed Rooms
Think of your house as a whole rather than every room as a separate entity; consider the overall design flow from one room to another to avoid creating a disjointed look. The best way to create a cohesive look is to tie a scheme together by using a versatile colour palette that can be interwoven in different tones throughout your home. So if say, you use a blue, use different shades of it, scattered around, in different textures.
With an untrained eye, it’s sometimes easy to fall into the trap of these common interior design sins! However, these crime sins can leave your space falling short of its true potential. And if you’re still unsure, Frank Salt Real Estate provides a fully-fledged home interiors service with interior designers who are itching to make your property look like a photoshoot set for the Houzz app.
Looking for property for rent or sale in Malta?
If you’re looking for your dream property in Malta, visit one of our branches or contact us for more information. Our helpful agents will guide you through the process!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook for more updates!
