What to avoid...

My nerdy boyfriend likes to inform me daily of the dictionary.com "Word of the Day". I usually try to sound interested and excited, but most of the time it's really hard....love ya babe :) However, today it paid off! 

Today's "Word of the Day" is BEDAUB! 

Bedaub:

To overdecorate; to ornament showily or excessively.

Obviously, this is something that should be avoided when designing a space. Before selecting furniture or accessories for a room, you should always ask yourself:

1. Is it necessary?
2. Does it go with the current scheme? Just because it's nice doesnt mean it fits. 
3. Will it complement the other items in your room, or will it overcrowd and clutter the space? 
4. Is there an appropriate spot to put it? Even the best pieces can look awkward if not placed properly.

Simplicity is a key concept that every modern designer should keep in mind, so don't forget the cliche that "less is more", and listen to your nerdy boyfriends.

While this may not seem minimalist due to the abundance of
throw pillows, the lack of furniture and accessories otherwise
balances the space out accordingly. 

Often the key to success with minimalist designs
 is to work with a bold statement piece, and allow
it to be the sole focal point.  

Minimalism is the main concept behind any modern design. 

Design Notes...

I find there are a few basic design principles when transforming any room. Mark McCauley from HGTV offers 10 helpful tips for adding colour to any space. I'd like to share with you the five that I find the most helpful when designing in my own life. 


1. Work around the largest pattern in your house. It may be your furniture, upholstery, or area rug. Pull individual colours from the patterns to use throughout the space; it's less expensive to change a wall colour then to buy new furniture.
2. Use the 60-30-10 Rule. When designing a space, divide the colour into percentages:
60%- Dominant Colour (Typically your wall colours)
30%- Secondary Colour  (Upholstery or Furniture)
10%- Accent Colour (Throw pillows, Floral Arrangement, Candles or small decorations) 
3. Typically a successful design entails going from dark to light vertically. Usually, the darkest colour will be found on the floor and the lightest on the ceiling. Dark flooring is ideal because it hides stains and blemishes, while having a light fresh colour on the ceiling makes any space feel large and open. 
4. Add Black! When you add black as an accent in any space it enhances the colours around it. Try it!
5. Flow. When designing a space you should try to create a cohesive effect. When entering from one space to another you should incorporate similar colours in different ways. For example, if you have a red couch in the living room you should not use a large amount of red in a nearby kitchen. Instead, opt for red accents that carry the colour from the living room into the kitchen. 


Enjoy & Have Fun!


Reference: Mark McCauley, ASID "Top 10 Tips for Adding Color to Your Space", www.HGTV.com