Common Design Dilemmas & How to Solve Them
We’d love to buy a piece of property and build our dream home. It’s the right size, shape, colour, and layout to match our needs and style. Unfortunately, building from the ground up isn’t a reality for most homeowners. That means finding a way to decorate or renovate the home you buy to match your design style.
Here are some of the top design dilemmas and how you can overcome them.
Oddly shaped rooms
Alcoves, small rooms, and odd shapes are complex interior design dilemmas. Many homes have small spaces designed for the family before. Unfortunately, they weren’t designed for you, and now you’re left with an odd nook with no purpose and no furniture to fill it.
How ample is the space you’re working with, and is it part of another room like a kitchen? The best way to use odd spaces in your home is to get creative with a breakfast nook, a reading nook, a mini-office, or displaying a piece of art that means a lot to you. What will be most practical for you?
Unsightly fixtures
Some converted buildings may look industrial, and some older homes have charming aspects like old radiators. These fixtures may appeal to some, but things like exposed pipes or radiators may be an eyesore for others.
If you’re dealing with exposed building fixtures like pipes, you can pay to drop the ceiling or build around them. You can also find ways to incorporate them into your interior design. Paint the pipes the same colour as the walls or roof, and pick one to paint your feature colour to make the feature part of your interior design style. Not sure what to do with a radiator? Turn it into a hallway table with a custom cabinet that slides over it and tucks it out of view.
Low ceilings
Low ceilings can make a space feel cramped, dark, and uninviting. Luckily there are a lot of interior decor tricks to make low ceilings seem higher that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Instead of trying to find ways to make your ceilings higher, give the illusion of height with these tips:
- Opt for low backed furniture
- Hang tall mirrors
- Choose lighter colours
- Hang drapes or curtains higher up on the wall
Dark spaces or inadequate lighting
Speaking of low ceilings, smaller spaces with lower ceilings or fewer windows can make a very dark home. Instead of hanging light fixtures from the ceiling and making the room feel smaller, look for creative ways to brighten the space. Invest in quality floor lamps and choose bright colours to bounce more light around the area. You can never go wrong with white in a darker room.
Furniture matching for the space
The most challenging design dilemma is moving into a new space with pre-existing furniture. For example, the mid-century furniture you carefully chose for your previous home may not mesh with the older style of your new Victoria-style home. What can you do?
There are ways to mix design styles to make it work. The best partnerships mean a compromise on both sides. Look for ways to alter the home’s interior design to match your furniture and find new pieces that can create a feeling of cohesion between the two styles. Perhaps all you need to do is update the wallpaper and pick up new throw pillows or a side table to place beside the sofa.
Interior design and decorating an entire home can feel overwhelming. Our best piece of advice is to focus on each room one at a time. That way, all of the dilemmas don’t feel so overwhelming.
If you need some help creating a plan of action, our interior designers can help you. Figure out what to do with that odd space or how to make your living room feel larger with essential interior design tricks. We’re here to help. Get in touch today or visit our showroom downtown Victoria on Yates Street.