8 Rules These Interior Design Experts Always Break
If you subscribe to the ‘rules are there to be broken’ ethos, you’re going to like this. We’ve spoken to a handful of interior design experts to find out the rules they love to break when it comes to styling a home. From wild print clashes to adding drama in small spaces, here’s what they had to say…
1. Avoid pairing red with pink
“One of my favourite rules to break is pairing red and pink in a colour scheme. Traditionally seen as clashing colours, I find these two shades work beautifully together when balanced thoughtfully. “
“Red brings boldness, whilst pink adds softness and when combined they create a dynamic yet harmonious space that feels fresh and exciting. A perfect example of this is this beautiful bedroom from my Georgian Townhouse project in Stockwell.”
Sophia Ayrton-Grime Interior Designer & Founder of Studio Raff
2. Not using wood in bathrooms & kitchens
I think using timber in kitchens and bathrooms instead of the more traditional tiles and stone brings warmth and softness to the space. Choose a timber that has age to it and depth of colour – general use and water will mean that you get a colour change but this doesn’t have to be a negative.”
Melissa Hutley, Interior Designer & Co-Founder of Hutley & Humm
3. No dark colours in small spaces
“I love making small spaces cosy and atmospheric with dark colours. They are never going to be big bright rooms so don’t even try. Embrace the smaller rooms and make sure you concentrate on giving them plenty of atmospheric lighting.“
Melissa Hutley, Interior Designer & Co-Founder of Hutley & Humm
4. No clashing prints
“I love to add layers of pattern. It’s all about scale and style. One of my favourite tricks is to use a stripe with a floral – it tempers the ‘prettiness’. Using large patterns and then the same pattern but at a smaller scale is another trick to create ‘layers’ in a space.”
Laura Stephens, Interior Designer
5. Blue & green should never be seen
“I love to use blue and green together. I recently used a blue textured wallpaper and grass green coloured paint on all the woodwork. Tying the green accents in with soft furnishings made the scheme hang together.”
Laura Stephens, Interior Designer
6. No statement pieces in small spaces
“Playing with the scale of items is one of my favourite things to do in a room. For example, an oversize lamp and shade in a relatively small space can create impact and drama. The same applies to mirrors. Even in a small room an oversized mirror can make the room feel double the size and can really help to reflect light in the space.”
Laura Stephens, Interior Designer
7. Leaving rugs out of the kitchen
“I love to use rugs in a kitchen which is often considered a no-no. They can bring so much to a space – a kitchen doesn’t need to be a plain wood/ tiled floor – have some fun.”
“I always use a rug made from PET Yarn which is super durable, and is made of recycled plastic: bottles are broken down and spun into a soft and durable yarn, so it’s a sustainable material. The 100% recycled PET collection is handwoven on a loom, making them feel as soft as wool but extremely durable, especially in areas you need to clean all the time.”
India Holmes, Creative Director of Pelican House
8. Only using light & bright tones in small rooms
Opting for a deeper warmer tone will envelope the whole room,
‘The notion that smaller rooms or rooms with less natural light should be counterbalanced with light colours is outdated and always worth breaking ‘the rule’.
“Opting for a deeper warmer tone will envelope the whole room, including the ceiling, and can elevate the space making it feel cosy and luxurious.”
Gemma McCloskey, Founder & Creative Director of Cúpla
