30 Easy Interior Design Tips That Will Make The Most Of Every Room

Are you constantly trying to get your home to look “right” with no success? – these easy Interior Design tips are just the thing to help!

I used to design homes for clients in my previous business, and I loved giving them design advice to help them make their homes look amazing.

Not only that, but so that they also reflected their style and tastes.

They hired me because they felt they lacked the skills to create the home they wanted, and lots of them wanted to create their ideal home without making mistakes.

So, now I want to share some of my best interior design tips with you – so you can do the same!

There are so many decisions to be made that it’s easy to be paralysed into indecision for weeks or even months at a time.

Not to mention how much mistakes can cost….

These tips will help you to get started in the right way.

You’ll know the things you need to concentrate on and think about, and they’ll also give you some ideas to make your rooms really say something about you and your style.

So – let’s get going and you can get that design project started today!

30 Easy Interior Design Tips

#1 – Planning is vital if you want to spend your money wisely and not make costly mistakes.

Think about the overall look, style and feel that you’re going for. Why not look through magazines or Pinterest for inspiration.

#2 – If you’re stuck for inspiration for a scheme, take a look at a specific artwork / a fabric / or an accessory you like, and base your colours around this.

It’s much easier to match a paint colour to artwork, than the other way around!

Related: 13 Places To Find Inspiration For Your Design Style

#3 – Know what’s staying and what’s going – you need to know what you will have in the room as then you can build your scheme around it much more easily.

#4 – Just as interior designers do, try and get samples of all the ideas you have for a room, and create your own mood board.

This is just a fancy way of saying gather it all together you that you can see at a glance whether things work or not in the scheme before you buy – you can also estimate the price and budget accordingly.

#5 – Ask advice – don’t be afraid to use in-house interior designers in shops as they can give you some great ideas.

If your budget allows you could ask an interior designer to visit your home – a lot of designers offer a consultation only package where you can get on the spot ideas for minimum cost (some will also be able to source items for you for less so they can be money well spent!).

You will also no doubt be shown ideas that maybe you haven’t thought of before that will make all the difference to your space.

#6 – Think about how many people live in your home, and if you often have guests, think of them too. It’s always worth having enough seating at the dining table and in the living room for them.

#7 – Think about scale – if you have a large room, then go for larger patterns as they will feel more to scale in the space. Smaller patterns can work well as accents but not on main walls as they will feel too busy etc….

#8 – Make the most of every room in your house – think about how you can utilise rooms, and don’t necessarily go with standard uses.

Many more people nowadays are creating a family room/playroom instead of a dining room, or a home office instead of a spare bedroom.

Changing your scheme to fit your needs will maximise your homes potential.

#9 – Don’t be afraid to think outside the box – this is your home, so make it unique to you.

#10 – Know your budget and allocate money to specific parts of the design so you are less likely to overspend. You can still make massive changes with a few pounds.

#11 – To ensure you feel happy in your home, most homes work best when there is a good flow from room to room.

If you like to have different colour schemes in all rooms, try at least to have a more neutral colour in your hallway, so that you aren’t bombarded at every step!

#12 – If you’re scared or simply don’t like that much colour in your home, a good idea is to try and play with different textures and fabrics in your soft furnishings instead of adding too much colour.

This will create just as much interest, and a neutral colour palette doesn’t have to be boring (they are my favourite!).

#13 – When deciding on a colour scheme, paint a large (1m square ideally) sample on your wall (or paint a large sheet of paper and move around the room).

This will show you what that colour will look like in your room, as every room has different colour and light which will make colours appear different from space to space (have you ever painted every room the same colour, only to find it looks darker, lighter, more yellowy etc…. in the different rooms?).

#14 – When decorating, try and use about 70% of a main colour, 20% of a secondary colour, and 10% as an accent colour, and this will create a great scheme for you (don’t forget as well that flooring and furniture has colour too!).

For instance, use a cream on your walls as the main colour (maybe a cream cushion or two as well!), dark brown sofas for the secondary colour, and green plants/cushions and accessories as your accent colour (a bold colour can work well as an accent).

#15 – If you like to change your scheme as you get bored after a couple of years (or if you like to keep up with the latest interior design trend), invest in neutral larger products (sofa, curtains etc..) as these cost more to replace.

You can then add in the colour with cushions, rugs, throws, accessories and artwork. That way you won’t spend a fortune on updates, and you can update more regularly!

Related: 13 Places To Find Design Inspiration For Your Home Décor

#16 – Go with the seasons – if you like to feel cosy in the winter and really fresh in the summer – then consider having 2 sets of accessories for your rooms, and change when the seasons change (thin curtains vs. velvet ones, or deep reds vs. soft greens etc…).

Just think about storage for the out of season items though as you don’t want to create more clutter than you need.

#17 – Lighting is absolutely critical in a scheme, think about what different times of the day you use a room, and ensure that you have suitable lighting for each time (bright lights won’t work well in a room that you want to use to relax in the evening, for example – and dim lights won’t be best for a kitchen when you are preparing food).

I like to have dimmer switches on most lights as you can then change the level of light depending on what you are doing.

Also, work with the natural light in the room as much as you can, as this makes a difference to the look and feel of the space without you adding in any other lighting.

#18 – Always measure each furniture piece you buy and check it will fit in the space you want it to. Remember that it will always look small in a showroom… (Also, make sure it will fit through your doors when it’s delivered).

This is especially important when you’re designing a small space.

#19 – Invest in a few key items and add in cheaper accessories to not only create a scheme that suits you completely, but also won’t break the bank!

You don’t need to spend a fortune to create a great look.

#20 – Symmetry works well in design schemes.

Think about what’s around a fireplace, or artwork above a sofa in your living space – and try and make it symmetrical as this will please the eye.

#21 – When accessorising, use odd numbered items as much as possible, as this always looks best.

Related: Why Odd Works Well in Design

#22 – Double up aesthetics with practicality – a bed or coffee table with storage, a bathroom mirror with storage behind it, built in cupboards in alcoves etc… all maximise space and help your rooms feel less cluttered as everything can have its place.

#23 – Plan ahead – if you know that you want a specific item of furniture, be prepared to wait for it – as most shops have sales at certain times of the year – you may well pick up a bargain!

TIP: Look online for people selling items as well as you can pick up bargains – eBay is a great place to try for picking up items if you know what you are looking for.

#24 – Don’t be afraid to customise furniture – painting wooden furniture gives a great shabby chic feel to it, (or a different style can be achieved as well, if you prefer a more modern design). It’s a quick and easy update for little expense.

Related: How To Paint Furniture – Step by Step Guide

#25 – Try and add a focal point to every room – so that your eye focuses on one thing as you enter the room.

Commonly this is a fireplace, a bed, a feature wall etc…. This is one of those decorating tips that really will make the room feel much more finished and complete.

#26 – The final touches are what brings a room together – a few cushions, throws, rugs etc.. will work wonders.

Start looking around when you’re out and about, because you can pick up some great cost effective options from lots of places (and most supermarkets).

#27 – Think about practicality when creating a room scheme – even if you would love a cream sofa – if you have children and/or a dog, is it really practical?

Hard floors wear better than carpet in family areas.

#28 – I like to use the same carpet or flooring throughout a house (or at least throughout the same floor of a house).

It makes every room feel larger because it’s harder to see where one room starts and the other ends.

#29 – Create your own artwork by framing your photos or your childrens artwork , or even a favourite or expensive wallpaper, professionally – a deep mount creates a really professional and truly unique piece.

Related: How To Display Kids Artwork

#30 – Get the professionals in – DIY is all well and good if you are good at it – but it is a costly mistake to start doing things yourself if you haven’t got the experience.

Do you really want to pay for wallpaper again because you haven’t been able to hang it exactly right? Paying a professional is of course more expensive than doing it yourself, but is usually worth it!

There you have it – 30 amazing Interior Design Tips that will help you make great decisions (that last!) on your next project

I hope that at least one of these tips will help you avoid costly mistakes when you next come to redecorate a space in your home, and wish you every success with your next project!

Read Next: 5 Easy Steps To Find Your Decorating Style Quickly