Designer notes

Currently decoration is in an exciting place, having been inspired by the re-emergence of pattern & colour within the world of fashion & home interiors, & with decorating inclinations tending towards the eclectic & individual.

The time & effort you spend choosing the perfect furniture will be repaid every time you enter your room. The most interesting houses have their owners stamp on them. What you value, treasure, & need for your personal space is important & good planning can enhance this.

Tips for arranging furniture -

Rooms & furniture are three dimensional. Room arrangements that look good on paper should take into account the height & size of the furniture in relation to the height of the ceiling for proper balance.

Here are some basic guidelines:

  • Allow 5cm between furniture & walls
  • Plan at least 90cm of clear space behind every chair at a dining table or a desk so that the chair may be easily pulled out for sitting.
  • Allow space for all doors to open & close. On your floor plan draw an arc from the door frame which follows how the door opens.
  • Plan a 90cm passageway through the room, but not through the furniture groupings.
  • Allow 30-60cms of floor space in front of chairs & sofas.

Room Dividers -

A sofa works well to divide a room into separate areas. Use the back of the sofa as a divider, placing other furniture against it, eg, a sofa table.  Chests, buffets, & bookcases can also serve as room dividers.
Lighting -
Place a lamp next to every chair or seat for adequate reading or working light. A table or flat surface should be within easy reach of every seat.

Create a Spacious Look -
If rooms are small, a spacious look can be created by using lightweight furniture with slender legs & open arms. Arrange furniture close to the walls to open up the floor space & avoid too many small accessories. A large mirror can work wonders to create the illusion of doubling the size of the space.

Colour -
Colour is a powerful tool which can be used to help create a certain atmosphere. When choosing a colour palette for a particular room, first think about the mood you want to set.

Use colour to maximise space - Lighter colours are expansive, making the room appear larger. In some cases, you may consider using a combination of dark & light colours to create an illusion. For example, if the ceiling is too high, paint it a darker or brighter colour to contrast with a lighter or cooler wall colour. The reverse would make the ceiling appear higher.

Depending on how they are used, neutrals can balance strong colours or be incorporated as effective contrasts & dramatic elements. Use colours such as grey, beige, taupe, off-white, stark white, white & black.

Colour Schemes -

There is a science to colour, but you don't have to be an artist to use colour effectively, if you understand the relationship of colours to each other. There are many colour schemes that can be devised. Here are some common ones.

Monochromatic Scheme - Select variations in lightness & saturation from a single colour from the colour wheel. eg, all shades of yellow. This look is subtle, elegant & sophisticated. It is a calm scheme that forms an excellent background for accessories & collections.

Related scheme -

Choose colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel. Decide which colour will be dominant & use the others as accents. eg. yellow, orange & red. A related colour scheme using cool colours is very restful, eg. Greens, blues & purple, On the other hand, a related scheme can also become quite exciting when purple & red or pink & orange are combined.

Complementary Colour Scheme - Complementary colours are opposite each other on the colour wheel: red & green, yellow & purple, Blue & orange. These schemes are intense & lively & are often accented with white or black.