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Interior Design | Homes & Gardens
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Welcome to the home of Interior Design. Find expert advice on every aspect of good design – be it furniture and upholstery, curtains and blinds, and how to use color at home
Latest
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The Minimalism Game is the ultimate 30-day decluttering challenge – here's how to do it
Professional declutterers offer their tips for making the 30-day Minimalism Game work for you
By Chiana Dickson • Published
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Small laundry room mistakes – take your space from dull to delightful by avoiding these 5 design flaws
The real workhorse of the home, a well-designed laundry room with help make light work of every task, but how do you avoid making mistakes when planning this diminutive space
By Jennifer Ebert • Published
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Layerism is the new maximalism: this is how I apply it to my interior design
I've coined myself a layerist – and I believe it's a wonderful way to build a home for real life
By Robin Gannon • Published
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How can I make a small house look expensive? 11 tricks from interiors experts
Discover the ways interior designers make a small house look expensive without a big spend
By Sarah Warwick • Published
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I'm an interior designer and these are my 5 rules for using bold color and pattern in my clients' homes
I know when to keep pushing and when to rein it in. And I love the thrill of adding unique and distinct materials, furnishings, and accessories on a whim
By Isabel Ladd • Published
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7 small bedroom mistakes that are ruining your sleep space, say interior designers
From a lack of storage to playing it safe with your color scheme, experts reveal the common mistakes we make in a small bedroom
By Zara Stacey • Published
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'It really ups the drama' – queen of headboards Kit Kemp shares her 8 design secrets
Transform the look of your sleep space and take your bed to new heights with a beautiful headboard
By Jessica Salter • Published
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How to paint trims with carpet – 5 professional decorator tips to protect your flooring
Painting experts explain how to paint trim with carpet to avoid drips and stains
By Chiana Dickson • Published
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9 whole house layout mistakes – avoid these common floor plan flaws
Is something sitting not quite right with your house layout? Experts share the top mistakes we make when designing our home
By Zara Stacey • Last updated
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Interior designer Charu Gandhi shares her 4 favorite ways to display your treasured artworks and objects
From deceptively simple shelving to insight on how to create an instant art installation, Elicyon's founder and director shares how to showcase beautiful craft works
By Lola Houlton • Published
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Should you paint trim or walls first? Professional painters advise for an expert finish
Painting experts explain whether you should paint your trim or walls first for a perfect painting process
By Chiana Dickson • Last updated
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'It has the power to lift your mood' – interior designer Kit Kemp's 8 top ways to transform with color
Kit explores the importance of using color in interior design and how it can uplift your home with individuality and beauty
By Jessica Salter • Published
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Designer Profile: Elisa Baran
Rising Star Elisa Baran Reinvents Celebrities Interiors from Coast to Coast, Introducing Sleek and Sophisticated Spaces with a New Wave of Brutalist and Wabi-Sabi Style
By Lucy Searle • Published
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'It can look spectacular' – interior designer Kit Kemp shows us 6 ways to ensure you don't overlook a nook
From seating to storage, mirrors and more, Kit Kemp takes us through a collection of creative design ideas for the smallest of spaces
By Jessica Salter • Published
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Everybody's talking about trailing florals – here's why we love this timeless wallpaper trend
Celebrate the beauty of nature with a stunning trailing floral wallpaper – and learn how best to use this style in the home
By Kiera Buckley Jones • Published
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7 small entryway mistakes that designers want us to stop making immediately
We spoke to a few of our favorite interior designers and decorators to find out the most common small entryway mistakes that we are making – and how best to avoid them
By Jennifer Ebert • Last updated
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Everyone's talking about slipcovered furniture – interior design experts explain why this dated trend is back for 2023
Three interior design experts explain why slipcovered furniture is seeing renewed interest
By Kate McGregor • Published
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Done with decluttering? Feng Shui will 'empower you' far more, urges this Feng Shui consultant
Feng Shui consultant Emily Grosvenor explains why Feng Shui is the new ‘Home Editing’
By Chiana Dickson • Published
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Exclusive: HGTV's Hilary Farr's method for combining paint and fabrics to create an impressive, 'unique space'
'It's a really important part of making a room look great': the designer's advice will change how you pair colors for good
By Megan Slack • Published
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Can you wash a mattress topper? Experts share the dos and don'ts
Whether you can wash a mattress topper depends on the filling type, cover material, and size – here's everything you need to know, according to the experts
By Louise Oliphant • Published
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American Style: Schumacher
Schumacher is one of America’s most iconic design houses and is a byword for style, quality and innovation
By Arabella Youens • Published
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'Designers are saying gray is dead – I say long live gray-green': how to use the new gray
Timeless, elegant, calming – there is a lot to love about a serene gray green
By Jo Bailey • Published
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Living room color mistakes – 7 errors to avoid and the simple rules that work, according to interior designers
We spoke to a few of our favorite interior designers to find out the biggest living room color mistakes that we are making – and how best to avoid them
By Jennifer Ebert • Last updated
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Experts say this paint technique could drastically improve your sleep – here is how to use it
Sleep experts explain why limewashing your bedroom might just help you unwind
By Chiana Dickson • Published
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How to wash a silk pillowcase properly – expert tips, plus three of our favorites
Make sure you how to wash a silk pillowcase well, to avoid compromising this luxurious fabric – keep it in top condition with these expert tips
By Louise Oliphant • Last updated
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How to get stains out of a mattress topper – our easy, expert-approved method for every spill
Here's how to remove stubborn stains from your mattress topper in four simple steps – using baking soda, vinegar and dish soap
By Louise Oliphant • Published
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About Homes & Gardens: who we are, what we do, and how to contact us
Everything you need to know about Homes & Gardens online and magazine
By Lucy Searle • Last updated
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Are down pillows ethical? Find out how this luxury filling is sourced
Down pillows are a comfortable choice, but the way they can be produced might disturb your sleep. Discover the inside story
By Sarah Warwick • Published
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'A dance between scale, proportion, palette and texture' – how beautifully arranged objects can enrich our spaces
In his debut book, Arranging Things, interiors stylist, Colin King, explores how even the smallest of decorative details can transform the look and feel of our homes
By Zara Stacey • Published
7 basic interior design rules from the world's best designers |
These basic interior design rules cover the layer of decoration on the interior of a space within a building, be it residential or commercial, so while most designers and architects will say there are 'no rules to design', there are still some fundamental design decisions we should consider before beginning to decorate and plan our dream home.
While there's certainly no one size fits all formula, there are still a few basic principles we should master if we want to curate a beautiful home that is fit for family life. After all, the whole purpose of interior design is to create a room or rooms which answer the needs of the individuals living in them, whilst also reflecting their personalities with good design, space, and functionality.
A well-planned and well-designed interior design scheme not only looks beautiful but should also improve your quality of life. Even if you’re not currently renovating or redecorating, these interior design tips could help inform your existing space – from choosing furniture and color palettes to the ergonomics and light levels to consider, and everything else in between.
Get ahead with home decor ideas and advice from the world's best interior designers, and discover how to bring the latest interior design trends to every room, with our back-to-basics design rules that will truly elevate your home in 2023.
'Interior design is an intricate and extremely personal process, however, there are a few key things you can do to get started,' explains interior designer Emma Sims Hilditch, founder of Sims Hilditch .
Any project can be clearly defined by having solid rules in place. These design standards exist to help you accomplish harmonious interiors that convey character. So, to help you comprehend the basic principles of interior design, we delve into each of them in detail below.
1. Know your space
(Image credit: Rikki Snyder)
Interior design is a broad church that covers everything from the intricacies of the color wheel to more practical tips around furnishing your home for functionality. Therefore, we always advise that you know your space well before you make any changes.
‘We always encourage our clients to live in a space first before they make any expensive or architectural changes,’ says interior designer Samantha Todhunter . 'It is important to not only understand the circulation and flow, but also to define what it is you need from your space, and how you would like it to perform.'
Emma Deterding, founder and creative director, of Kelling Designs agrees: 'The goal of space planning is to create efficiency. For us, this means eschewing current trends and dictums, including unnecessary or impractical home additions. 'We’re finding that most of our clients come to us thinking that want to replicate the latest interior trend,' she says. 'We often try to guide them toward longer-term, liveable solutions.'
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This national best-seller is a success for a reason: within the pages, interior designer Amber Lewis shares her most loved design secrets and know-how.
(Image credit: Project by Sean Anderson / photograph by Haris Kenjar)
This may seem obvious, but it is easy to forgo comfort in the name of fashion. We've all been there, so instead think about making your home as liveable and luxurious as possible. Pay no mind to outdated decorating rules, and remember that comfort is key.
Fashions and fads fade, so don't get drawn into trying to make your space look 'cool' or, so ultra-modern that it no longer resembles a home. 'It is vital to add practicality and livability to a home renovation project. A home must respond to the needs of its occupants, therefore always design with purpose.
'A comforting, cozy room will soothe the soul,' says Tamsin Johnson, Australian interior designer and author of Spaces for Living . If you want to up the comfort factor in your home, then think about using texture in interior design to add further depth and dimension.'
'Natural textures, whether they are stone or wood or linen, can help to anchor a minimal space. It means that the overall look doesn’t feel too contrived, uptight, or overly designed. They bring a laid-back quality that always works well.'
Spaces for Living, Tamsin Johnson| $48.30 at Amazon
The first book from Australian interior designer Tamsin Johnson, known for her fresh interiors that evoke luxurious ease and coastal sophistication.
3. Consider flow and circulation
(Image credit: Sarah Brown)
Before bringing furniture and furnishings into your home, it is vital that you first think about how you will use the space. ‘Care needs to be taken to watch the traffic flow,' says Suzanne Duin, founder of Maison Maison . 'This is particularly important if the space you are designing is multipurpose.'
'The flow is entirely dependent on the space available, how you plan to use it, and how often,' says Oana Sandu, lead designer, at Blakes London . 'Think about circulation: Where do you want people to congregate? Do you plan to entertain in said space? Will it be used for at-home work? Make sure that your design factors enough space for everyone to move around freely without interruption or annoyance.'
4. Play with scale
(Image credit: Laura Butler-Madden, photography by Paul Raeside)
Playing with scale in interior design is a trick that interior designers and decorators use to create a high-impact space. Often people wrongly assume that small rooms should have equally small furniture when, in fact, it is quite the opposite – the bigger, the better.
Upscaling can be done simply – with a piece of furniture, artwork, a lamp or pendant light, a pattern on a cushion, or an accessory within a room – or it can be created with a more complicated approach, with wallpaper or tiles.
In either case, it will help your scheme reach a whole new level – and it’s a technique the world’s leading interior designers employ to fabulous effect. Playing with proportions also has the power to make a large room feel cozy and intimate, but upscaling can also make a small room feel a whole lot larger and more impactful than it really is, and of course, a super-sized feature is instantly attention-grabbing.
5. Achieve balance
Designed by Joyce Downing Pickens of JDP Interiors
(Image credit: Photography / Bess Friday)
Balance in interior design should inform the very essence of your room. 'It is one of the most important concepts in all of my projects,' says New York City-based interior designer Phillip Thomas. 'Balance is a principle of interior design that visually stabilizes a space. It is the harmonious arrangement of components – it ensures that no single element in a room overpowers another in terms of visual weight or dominance.'
When designing any space, no matter how big or small, a vital consideration is balance – perhaps particularly in an open-plan room where the aim is to create a space for the entire family. To do this, says designer Joyce Downing Pickens of JDP Interiors , be sure to have a single highlight color – or a hero design if it’s a pattern – and layer it with others in smaller scale or quieter styles to ensure there is a focus on the highlight tones.
‘Pale-toned wood, leather, and metal elements, combined with the correct balance of scale and color, work together to great effect. I’m particularly fond of this calming design. It is so versatile; the art, chosen to harmonious with its surroundings, helps to anchor the scheme.’
Joyce is a Los Angeles-based interior designer and owner of JDP Interiors. JDP Interiors is a full-service interior design firm focusing on curating beautiful spaces that seamlessly blend new and old-world design aesthetics.
6. Consider color
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
Choosing the right shade for a space can present endless choices and subtle nuances to understand and overcome, therefore, getting your room color ideas just right is crucial.
Color theory in its entirety can be complicated but there are a few basic principles to help steer you in the right direction, explains Patrick O’Donnell, brand ambassador for Farrow & Ball . As well as the meaning behind each color, a good place to focus on is light and contrast.
When choosing a room color, a key factor is light, and the best way to address this is by considering the aspect of the room. ‘As a general rule, to lighten up a north-facing room, avoid anything with a green or grey base or don’t fight it and paint it dark which creates a cozy and cocooning feel,’ says Patrick. Meanwhile, using soft, pale tones is a great way to maximize the feeling of light and space in a south-facing room. Light in west-facing spaces is cooler in the morning and brighter in the afternoon so warm tones will work well, while light blues and greens can have a calming effect on east-facing rooms.
Designers also talk about another element when using color: contrast. As a result, don’t be tempted to lean on analogous colors – those that sit side-by-side on the color wheel – the result will be harmonious but might lack in vitality. Equally, a scheme based on complementary colors will result in maximum contrast but will need to be softened by neutrals.
7. Layer up with textural elements
(Image credit: Project by Becca interiors / photograph Rikki Snyder)
This final basic design rule may seem trivial, but using texture in interior design can make or break the final look.
Creating texture is not simply just about how decor and soft furnishings feel, but it's also about 'visual texture' – using different materials to add interest and breathe life into a room. Quite simply, without texture, a space will fall flat. It's crucial to look at the room as a whole and bring an area together with mixed materials for vibrancy and warmth. It's a way of adding depth and dimension to a room as well as comfort.
Interior designers often use texture in the form of tactile objects like fabrics, wood, and stone to add physical comfort and visual interest to a space. Mixing materials and layering in interior design is key to making textural elements work.
Becca Casey, of Becca Interiors , explains: 'Texture is all about creating tactile moments that delight the senses. It refers to the feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface or material. Using plenty of texture will also help to stop a space from one dimensional and shallow.'
Layering textures helps to add depth too. 'The layering of materials, colors, and shapes all amount to give your interiors an overall texture which can define the look and feel of a space,' says Martin Waller, co-founder of Andrew Martin .
Becca Interiors is a full-service interior design firm rooted in Greenwich, Connecticut. Having previously honed her skills in New York City as a senior designer for Jenny Wolf Interiors, Becca founded Becca Interiors in 2016. After developing an ability to blend the reclaimed with refined and the ordinary with ornamental, Becca has developed a unique design ethos rooted in nature.
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Tudor country house
ItalProject
Country guest house 420m2 with residential attic floor. It was built using frame technology on a UWB slab. Tiles and natural stone were used in the decoration of the facade of the house. The roof is soft tiles. Wooden windows
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debora carl landscape design
A once forgotten side yard turns into a charming gravel garden Martin Residence Cardiff by the Sea, Ca
Pictured: Small Regular Mediterranean Side Yard Garden
Stanford Garden
Richard Kramer
Design Idea: Classic Backyard Shaded Fountain with Pebbles
Hidden Hills Cottage
Moondrop Interiors
Designed by Chelsea Pineda Interiors Landscape by New Leaf Landscape
Pictured: Classic front yard and garden with stone paving and fence c
Very private backyard enclave
Morgan Howarth Photography
Very private backyard enclave waterfall
Fresh design idea : summer regular backyard garden in a modern style with a waterfall, midday shade and stone paving - great interior photo
Bayside
David R. Lamb, Landscape Architect
This propery is located on the south side of Center Island at the edge of an oak and ash woodlands. orignally, it was three properties having one house and various out buildings. topographically, it more or less continuously sloped to the water. Our task was to creat a series of terraces that were to house various functions such as the main house and forecourt, cottage, boat house and utility barns. The immediate landscape around the main house was largely masonry terraces and flower gardens. The outer landscape was comprised of heavily planted trails and intimate open spaces for the client to preamble through. As the site was largely an oak and ash woods infested with Norway maple and japanese honey suckle we essentially started with tall trees and open ground. Our planting intent was to introduce a variety of understory tree and a heavy shrub and herbaceous layer with an emphisis on planting native material. As a result the feel of the property is one of gracefulness with a challenge to explore. 9
Terraced3 Belsize Gardens
Original design example of a contemporary style yard and garden with retaining wall and decking
Quarton Garden
Zaremba & Company
Photo by George Dzahristos
Home Inspiration: Neoclassical (modern classic) yard and garden with retaining wall and midday shade
Holladay Residence
Clayton Vance Architecture
Design idea: Sunny yard and mid-sized garden Classic style side yard with good lighting, retaining wall and gravel
Long Beach Drought Tolerant Landscape
CaliScape Landscape Services
While the Southern California drought is keeping homeowners water usage to a minimum, there are an abundance of plants that thrive on minimal water. A combination of drip irrigation systems and drought tolerant plants can keep your exterior spaces green and beautiful as well as water efficient. This image features our design a few months down the road. With the addition of a few spring flowers, this front yard is officially ready for the Spring and Summer season.
Julianstown House Extension
McKevitt King Architects
Richard Hatch Photography
Fresh design idea: large sunny, summer lot and backyard garden with retaining wall, good lighting and clinker paving - great photo of the interior
Stone Retaining Walls and Sitting Walls
English Stone
English Stone
A fresh design idea for a mid-sized rustic backyard yard and garden with a retaining wall and stone paving - great interior photo
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Dave Ryan Landscaping Nantucket
Pictured is a medium sized sunny regular backyard garden in a classic style with a retaining wall, good lighting and stone paving
Landscape, retaining wall, steps and driveway
Manzer's Landscape Design & Development
Home Inspiration: Sunny, Summer Lot and Medium Size Front Yard Classic Style with Driveway, Retaining Wall, Good Lighting and Paving
Rock Garden–Glocester, RI
Andrew Grossman Landscape Design
Rock garden bordering stone wall and viewing terrace. Plantings include a variety of evergreen groundcovers along with heathers, flowering shrubs, and low-maintenance perennials.
Modern Front Yard Landscaping
Techo-Bloc
This front yard landscaping project consists of multiple of our modern collections! Modern gray retaining wall: The smooth look of the Raffinato collection brings modern elegance to your tailored spaces. This contemporary double-sided retaining wall is offered in an array of modern colours. Discover the Raffinato retaining wall: https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/walls/raffinato-smooth/ Modern gray stone steps: The sleek, polished look of the Raffinato stone step is a more elegant and refined alternative to modern and very linear concrete steps. Offered in three modern colors, these stone steps are a welcome addition to your next outdoor step project! Discover our Raffinato stone steps here: https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/steps/raffinato-step/ Modern gray floor pavers: A modern paver available in over 50 scale and color combinations, Industry is a popular choice among architects designing urban spaces. This paver's de-icing salt resistance and 100mm height makes it a reliable option for industrial, commercial and institutional applications. Discover the Industry paver here: https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/pavers/industria-smooth-paver/
Landscape Design
WINN Design+Build
Stylish design: large sunny, summer lot and backyard garden in modern style with retaining wall, good lighting and stone paving - the latest trend
Browns Point Residence
Urban Oasis Design & Construction LLC
This new construction home was in need of a complete landscape design and installation. All details were considered to create intimate spaces as well as a sweeping backyard landscape to compliment the views from the home. The home sits on two lots which allowed it to be built at the desired size. The front yard includes a modern entry courtyard featuring bluestone, decorative gravel and granite sculpture - as well as decorative concrete planters.