5 Interior Design Secrets That You Need to Know
5 Interior Design Secrets That You Need to KnowFor the past seven years I have had the pleasure of working with hundreds of clients. That means that I have seen A LOT of homes! After a while I started to notice that there are some design faux paus that are made time and time again. These mistakes are easy to fix and avoid so I am sharing my tips with you!1. Drapery PanelsYour drapes should always hang just above the ground. Have you heard of the term “high waters” for pants that are too short? Yep, your drapes will look like high waters if they are too short.Drapes should extend beyond the width of the window by 10″ on either side. You should not be able to see any light coming from the window on the outer edges and you shouldn’t be able to see the edge of the window frame.Drapes should be placed closer to the ceiling than to the top of the window. Hanging the drapes 10 or more inches above the window will make your ceilings appear taller and give grandeur to the room.
2. Art above the mantleToo often the art that is hung above the mantle is too small. If the art is too small it looks awkward and out of place. A good rule of thumb is to select a piece of art that is two thirds the length of the mantle. Keep in mind that the fireplace is most often the focal point of the room so the art needs to match the scale of the mantle and fireplace.
3. Bigger is better-When selecting accessories for coffee tables, mantles, side tables select a few large items rather than several small ones.Several small things gathered together look like clutter because the eye doesn’t know where to focus. It’s better to select a few favorites or one large statement piece.
4. Rug SizeThe living room rug should be large enough so that the front legs of the furniture can sit on the rug. Or the rug can sit just in front of the front feet of the furniture. See the image above.The dining room rug should be large enough so that the table and chairs can sit on it plus a little extra room so that when sitting in a chair all four legs are on the rug. See image below. 
5. Lamps!I write lamps with an exclamation mark because many homeowners don’t have them and those that do have lamps with the wrong size or finish.Table lamps and buffet lamps are great for lighting your space and they add pizzazz and who doesn’t like pizzazz?!Here are a few guidelines to help you select the right lamp.1. Measure the piece of furniture that the lamp will sit on. The lamp should be no more than 1-1/2 times the height of the furniture and the shade should not hang over the the edge of the furniture.2. I typically recommend a lamp that is 26″-30″ tall for a side table or night stand.3. Consider the style of the furniture and the color that the lamp sits on. Select a contrasting color or finish. If you have an espresso side table, do not pick a lamp with an espresso finish. Select one with a nickel or painted ceramic finish.
These are my top 5 interior design secrets. If you are staging your home to sell, moving into a new home or needing a redesign, keep these tips in mind!Cheers to a beautiful home,Holly