Keeping it simple lets a home shine
One of the biggest flaws in interior design is not knowing when to stop.
Sure, there are homes and rooms for those who love to collect or have inherited heirlooms or antiques — where more is almost a requisite. But those interiors are anomalies and, more often than not, require a very expert hand.
In most households, including mine from time to time, the biggest flaw is to think that we need more, rather than less.
Overly decorated households are the No. 1 thorn in the side of interior design.
While I am always an advocate for interiors through which the personality of the homeowners may shine, I am even more adamant about editing. Here are a few tips to keep from making mistakes.
• It's costly, difficult and emotional. So why not get the help of a professional? For a small percentage of your overall budget, you'll have the guarantee your project will look great for years to come.
• Establish a realistic budget for your design. The more candid you are with your designer, the better the end result and design will be.
• Be open to new ideas, especially if they aren't exactly what you expected. An outsider's point of view can offer you a bit of the unexpected.
• Don't ignore your foyer or entry. This place deserves to shine. Sometimes this is the only place your guests see. A foyer is certainly the spot for a statement.
• If there is something you dislike about your home, such as a rug or outdated wall covering, by all means — have it removed. It's impossible to appreciate your new furniture with backgrounds you don't like.
• Another common “disaster” in decorating is the habit we all have of pushing the furniture against the walls of a room. Our parents did it, and our grandparents did it — usually to make the furniture fit a small space. Try placing the furniture from the center of the room with access and circulation from the edges.
• Never settle or aim for an interior where everything matches. Colors and furnishings should complement one another, not match or clash.
• Rugs can float, but keep the size in relation to the room and/or your seating arrangement. Too small of a rug will look like a stamp on an envelope.
• You should be selective when accessorizing your home. Not every gift or accessory should make it onto your tabletops. Add only the items that make an impact to the decor and are the size of a basketball or larger. Small accessories or figurines tend to clutter your home. This makes the interior look unnecessarily busy, collects dust and seems dated.
• Make sure to select your furniture and fabrics first. Wall colors can always be adjusted at minimal cost, but once you have made your fabric and furniture choices, these are harder and cost a lot to change.
Keep you interior design as simple as your taste and intuition allow you. There is always time and there are always things to add along the way.
• Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida.
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