Interior design is a project that defines the function, appearance, and appeal of a space to fit the needs, cultures, and lifestyles of its inhabitants. It dates back to ancient Egyptians and encompasses various styles such as modern, traditional, contemporary, midcentury, bohemian, Scandinavian, and more. Interior design is a comprehensive professional practice that conceptualizes spaces to maintain an equilibrium of spatial efficiency and exquisiteness, including layout, flow, usability, and visual properties.
To start designing your home or office space, it is essential to find inspiration. Contemporary interior design is often described as a mix of styles and aesthetics. Interior designers understand different design concepts, themes, eras, and use textures, colors, brands, and lighting to bring a new look and style.
It is important to separate fact from fiction when interpreting interior design. It’s not sinful to invest in designer pieces, but it’s also important to choose the right wall paint, choose a giant wall art piece, and avoid overspending on designer pieces. The biggest responsibility of an interior designer is to create an environment that is functional and safe for the well-being of the public.
In summary, interior design is a complex and multifaceted field that involves creating aesthetically pleasing, functional, accessible, and safe spaces that cater to the needs and lifestyles of its inhabitants.
📹 4 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STUDYING INTERIOR DESIGN | interior design carrer tips
These are the things to know before studying interior design. If you want to become an interior designer, you need to have a clear …
What is the hardest part of interior design?
Interior design firms face numerous challenges, including keeping up with social media, building workflow automation, managing client expectations, communicating with team, filling the pipeline, sourcing products, and clients shopping. Running a design firm requires dedication, patience, and grit, and CEOs may feel lonely at times. However, by focusing on every detail, such as social media and emails, they can complete tasks on schedule and achieve measurable results, ensuring a happy team and successful business operations.
What are the weakness of interior designer?
Individuals may exhibit common weaknesses such as difficulties in time management, perfectionism, or an inability to respond constructively to criticism.
Is interior design a lot of math?
Math is crucial in interior architecture, as it is essential for designers to calculate room dimensions, fabric requirements, furniture, fixtures, and artwork. These skills can be learned through basic math courses or geometry courses. Additionally, understanding interest, taxes, and balancing revenue and expenses is crucial for business operations. A two-year diploma or three-year college degree can provide the necessary knowledge of mathematics.
Mathematics is not always evident in art, as it involves symmetry, geometry, and measurement. Many artists use mathematical findings to create realistic artwork, such as the golden ratio. An AI generator called Papertyper helps students discover the connection between math and art, assisting in creating beautiful artwork, generating essays, and various types of papers.
In interior designing, math is used for tasks such as measuring floor plans, determining material needs, calculating budgets, and analyzing building codes and regulations. Knowledge of math allows designers to accurately calculate proportions, angles, and dimensions, creating aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces.
Will AI replace interior designers?
AI has the potential to improve the ID process, but it is unlikely to replace human interior designers entirely. AI can offer valuable insights and assistance, but it requires human empathy and understanding of clients’ needs. As AI lacks feet, it cannot put on shoes. The best approach is for designers and clients to embrace AI technology as a tool to enhance the design experience. As AI’s capabilities become increasingly essential, new and better design works may reflect the saying, “Form following functions”, as modern interior designers adopt a hybrid approach of harnessing AI technology into their work.
Is interior design harder than architecture?
Interior design and architecture are two distinct fields that require distinct skills, knowledge, and creativity. Interior design focuses on the aesthetics and functionality of interior spaces, working with colors, textures, furniture layouts, and lighting to create visually pleasing and practical environments. It requires a keen eye for detail and a creative mindset, as designers need to bring their clients’ visions to life while ensuring the space meets safety standards.
Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and other physical structures, requiring a strong grasp of engineering, mathematics, and environmental factors. They work closely with city planners and adhere to zoning laws and regulations, which can complicate the design process. Both fields share the common goal of creating beautiful spaces, but the level of complexity in their roles can differ. Architects often deal with larger-scale projects and consider more variables, while interior designers focus on finer details within the walls.
Education and training are also important factors in choosing between these fields. Architects typically require a professional degree in architecture, followed by an internship and passing a licensing exam, while interior designers may pursue a degree in interior design, which can be less rigid.
Both fields offer job satisfaction, with interior designers making a significant impact on people’s daily lives and architects contributing to the landscape of cities and communities. Both fields offer unique challenges and fulfilling careers for those passionate about design.
What is interesting in interior design?
Interior design is often overlooked, but lighting plays a crucial role in influencing the accessibility of a space. With an unlimited variety of shades of white, it’s essential to consider the specific circumstances of the space. For example, a relaxing home environment might not require sufficient lighting, while an office space should provide sufficient light for workers to focus. For a normal work area, 500 Lumens per square meter is recommended. Elsie de Wolfe, America’s first interior decorator, is a notable figure in this field.
What makes interior design unique?
A unique interior is a reflection of one’s personality and unique combination of tastes, aiming to suit one’s lifestyle and meet their needs. It should inspire joy, provide comfort, and stimulate creativity. To make your interior unique, acquire art that inspires you, as each person’s taste in art is unique and ever-changing. Mixing different styles, such as street art with cubism or abstract with pop, can create a space that inspires joy, comfort, and creativity. Discover tips on how to make your interior unique from ceiling to floor.
What are 5 interesting facts about interior design?
Interior design is a skill that can transform a room into a unique and functional space. It is not about the design itself, but how it makes us feel. Colors play a significant role in creating a room’s power and transform it into a different world. From bold accent walls to moody hues, each color gives the room a different feel. Pastels provide warmth, dusty teal pairs well with neutrals for a fresh look, and cool grays and blues bring a peaceful feel.
Working from home or in an office, the design of your workspace can promote concentration and productivity. Natural elements like lighting, windows, and live plants can help you focus on projects. The design should be minimal and not cluttered, allowing you to focus on your projects. Actress Elsie De Wolfe has made interior decorating a career, showcasing the importance of interior design in creating a positive and functional environment.
Why not to be an interior designer?
Interior design is a demanding and demanding field that requires long hours, coordination with contractors, suppliers, and clients, and a commitment to continuous education. Breaking into the industry can be challenging for newcomers, as establishing a reputation and building a portfolio takes time and effort. It’s also difficult to secure clients and projects early in one’s career, making it a steep learning curve.
To succeed in the interior design industry, one must possess key skills such as creativity, communication, technical proficiency, and project management. A successful interior designer must have a keen eye for aesthetics, a strong sense of creativity, effective communication, technical proficiency in design software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Planner 5D, and knowledge of building codes, regulations, and construction methods.
Technical proficiency is crucial in design software, as it helps designers create detailed plans and 3D models, allowing clients to visualize proposed designs. Knowledge of building codes, regulations, and construction methods is essential for ensuring functional and compliant designs. Project management skills are essential for keeping projects on track, managing budgets, and meeting deadlines, including coordinating with contractors, suppliers, and other professionals involved in the design process.
In summary, interior design is a demanding and demanding field that requires a solid educational background, continuous learning, and the ability to work effectively with various tools and materials.
What makes an interior designer stand out?
A strong brand identity is crucial for an entry-level interior designer to stand out in the market. Defining your niche and values helps establish a unique positioning. A cohesive visual identity, including a logo, website, and social media presence, reinforces your brand and attracts clients aligning with your style and values. Consistency in branding efforts builds credibility and differentiates you from other designers.
Is interior design hard?
Interior design is a challenging yet rewarding career that involves creating spaces for people to live, work, and play. Specializations include residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, higher education, retail, lighting, corporate, and executive office design. Other areas include furniture, exhibition, kitchen, architectural technology, product design, textile design, stylist, staging, and product design.
A bachelor’s degree in a fine arts-related field is required, with courses including interior design principles, color theory drawing, and computer-aided design (CAD). Residential interior design is the most popular specialization.
📹 Interior Design Secrets No One Is Telling You
The tea is getting spilled! In this video I am sharing secrets interior designers aren’t telling you! These interior design secrets will …
I enjoyed your articles so so much you have no idea. There is so much information out there but it wasn’t until I found your website that I actually understood what I was hearing and could run with it. And your personality OMG! Sassy but not rude. Thank you so much for your hard work! My family and I are moving this month. I’ll still be working from home mostly so I would love to receive some advice on how we can incorporate an office into a 12 x 12 bedroom in a way that still keeps the resting and relaxing purpose of a bedroom. Thank you so much again!
One of the interesting things I’ve noticed about your design– it’s timeless. . . classic. I took my design classes in the late sixties (when it was in the Home Economics department, believe it or not) but much of what I learned way back then, I hear you reinforcing. I’ve always said, “in a world of change, quality endures.”
Another great one! Your home looks like it is ready to be photographed for Traditional Home. I always wondered why I was never impressed by 99% of the other YouTubers who call themselves designers …. it’s because their homes//spaces are just full of Instagram trends…definitely not Traditional Home ready. I still can’t figure out how you don’t have millions of subscribers.
LOVE LOVE LOVE your blue Waterford bowl!! I would love a article about lamps and lamp sizes, lamp shade designs to use and avoid. I purchased a lamp at Home Goods today that I saw in your article from the spring and absolutely adored. But overall, I find lamp purchasing to usually end up with mistakes once I get them home. Wrong lamp size….Wrong shade size, wrong shape for the space. A well placed beautiful lamp can make the whole room come together…and the wrong lamp can ruin just as easily. Please guide us!!!
I bought nice down pillows for my bed a few weeks ago and YES, it makes such a huge difference. Ordered more of them for my throw pillows on my couch. Goodbye polyester pillows. Not gonna miss them! 🙈 Also thanks for the reminder that it is our homes and not a photoshooting space. Always important to hear to not lose motivation because it just doesn’t look like in the photos. Yeah well… Because it just CAN’T look like that. And that’s okay. 😊
Alberts 2 second appearance steals the spotlight once again. He’s just too precious. 😭 But really, you give some of the most sound advice on here! I also have a pretty classic/traditional style and I had gotten so used to seeing the super modern sleek all white type of style on here, you are so refreshing to see and have also helped me to realize how much I was subconsciously being influenced by certain people, those who basically think if your interior isn’t all modern and white like theirs then it’s “ugly”. For a minute I was starting to wonder if I was doing something wrong or tacky because I just naturally gravitate towards more traditional style pieces. But seeing your space has shown me that no, traditional design can be made current, and is beautiful. I really appreciate your website!
Bravo….another great article. I sold my house recently. When we were preparing the house for the sale, realtors were advising me to stage my house by removing “personal” items, which I am sure they meant clutter. I wasn’t about to take away the family photos that meant the world to me. The house sold the first day it was on the market! I took courses in the early 80’s in interior design and all the things that you say are good, sound design principles I remember learning and then forgetting because I watch too many design articles on YouTube. I found your article refreshing. Garrett, I may have told you in a comment that my husband has dementia and in the mornings when we start the day, I turn on YouTube (which we call Sharon TV) to watch you and some others I follow. And it’s so hilarious because he calls you my boyfriend! I gently remind him I could be your grandmother!!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with your subscribers. I have seen your website grow and I hope that trend continues.
Another great article! You’re teaching us great tools, things others are not addressing. Selfishly asking will you, can you address lighting in open spaces, I know you said lighting is coming (squealed with delight)….I am struggling with how to pull all the lighting together without being too matchie match. Lighting for me is so intimidating. Thanks again for sharing
Designing a home to how u live. Yes!! I have chronic illness n pain so this is essential. So many talk about the Instagram fast fashion trend not living in the space. I love u talk about the cleaning aspect for looks. Aging in place and day to day things we need like the bin in the kitchen dog toys baskets. Thankyou for sharing ur knowledge and wisdom helping us all to make our spaces luxurious and comfortable. ❤
I enjoy all of your articles, but one thing that I like most about you is that you don’t replace all your furniture and decor all the time. Some of the other “design influencer’s” that I have watched are constantly shopping and buying so much stuff! What do they do with all of it and what do they do with their old stuff? And how much “stuff” does one home need and how can they afford it? 🤔 Thank you for having such good content that makes so much logical sense!
Come through, Prof. LeChic! These little chats give me so much more confidence in owning my own aesthetic. At our previous home, I was a young bride and wanted to impress the “Grown Folks.” In this new home, I’m a “Woman of a Certain Age” and I’m going to be me, and help my husband be himself (within certain aesthetic boundaries… lol). We were already on an okay design track, but we now have food for thought and understand how to elevate this place from moderately cool, to freaking FABULOUS! Thank you!!!
Excellent discussion on the nuts and bolts, so to speak, of the job. Brought up a couple of memories…at my second interview for a position with an Ethan Allen franchise some twenty years ago, the general manager asked what I thought the most thing was in meeting with a potential client. I said, “To listen.” I saw by the look he exchanged with the store manager that I had nailed it. Got the job…still miss the work.
Just a hope for the lighting article you’re working on. Can you please give some suggestions for making lighting in a space look consistent? Having a difficult time trying to find an overhead, sconces, tasks and table lamps that I like without buying the matching set of everything. And yay more Albert always!! 🐶💕
I just spent the last two years redecorating my home. Paint, floors, furniture, lighting, and art. The whole thing. It’s beautiful and I’m content with what I did. My question is, how do I make it look lived in, and not perfectly staged? I live alone, and so it’s not messy. If I have a cup of coffee, I take the cup away when I’m finished. There are no newspapers to leave lying around since I read on my iPad. I make my bed so that the room looks finished . If I’ve used a throw, I fold it after I’m finished using it (usually) I like a neat look. I’m not sure how to make it look more Lived in, without it looking like I’m a slob! 🤷🏻♀️ looking forward to your take on this,,, thank you.
I’m so glad you created this article! I kept trying to create my room to somewhat mimic the magazine photos & felt like a failure. I finally decided the photos were an unrealistic goal which is precisely what you’ve been saying. Yay to my dog bed & her toy box! I have been working around a dark teal worn in hand me down leather sofa & loveseat set to look nice until we can afford a new set in a different color. Love your website & thank you!
Thank you, Grazie, Merci, Asante, Gracias, ….. I don’t know how many languages to say it, thank you, for the explanation on the topic of accessorizing. Some people that I know personally AND that I have seen on YouTube, are changing OUT their accessories and home decor it seems like every three months/seasons. I don’t know where they get the energy, the money or the tenacity. To Each His/Her Own, I guess. I’ve learned to live in my home and let it be! I have had to learn this over the years and especially through the advice of my husband and our bank account 😮. Please keep schooling us, saving us coins and showing us that “home truly IS where the heart is …..NOT in decor.
Fantastic advice Garrett! Albert is soooo sweet. I would like to know how to take ideas from an inspiration room and apply it to your own room. I found a living room I love that looks nothing like the room I will have in terms of architectural features but the shape is the same and I love the furniture and accessories they used and it is the same vibe as my room. I am having an issue deciding what to spend my money on to make the biggest impact. Thanks for all you are doing for us!
Thank you!!! I love my family photos. People who visit love seeing my family/history/memories. It makes for great conversations. The grandkids love it. Gives them a sense of their ancestry & they do ask questions. My bedroom is full of pictures & my family photos downstairs are confined to a large curio cabinet. It’s not like you walk in my house & there’s my wedding photo but my photos are out & on display & will stay there.
Lighting is so important! I remember our old home was so depressing because the lighting wasn’t adequate. Parts of the room were left dark and it felt wrong. I complained to my Dad and insisted that it better not be problem in our new home. I did had to my scold him for the terrible choice of paint though, (Sky blue and brown, like why???) Had him get it fixed the very next day (I told him that all the brown should be painted white asap!). He may be the man of the house, but he really has no eye for aesthetics.
Wonderful article! Thank you, Garrett. You are so common sensical – so refreshing. And how you legitimate the reality of people’s lives, rather than promote the unattainable, be it the spotless home, the non-existent electrical cords, or the perfect (read, bloodless) accessories, is incredibly empowering. You are wise beyond your years, my dear❤️
I LOVE LOVE this article! Just because it’s really like having a little chat with you (please do more of these), and of course, you’re always sharing your knowledge and expertise on interior design. It’s also good to get a glimpse into how interior design works as a profession, and the bit about styling for photos…thank you!
Great insight! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your articles thoroughly. I always wondered how designers add decor to fit the scale of your space. At times I think my space may be to small to add a large vessel or add a tall lamp…but then I see photos of a small decorated “styled” area and it looks great! Not overpowering at all..I definitely do not have an eye for that. 😅
I’ve been loving your advice on design and styling and I’ve been binging your articles while trying to redesign my living room–I was wondering if you could do a article (or even a small series!) about the different design styles (art deco, modernism, boho, etc), the history of them, aspects from each that you might consider “timeless”, and how to fix cliche mistakes people tend to make when trying to style their rooms in a particular way. I can’t wait to see how this website grows!!
Loved this new article, living and learning, always, I have a few thousand hours ( and I mean a few thousand ) of perusal decoration/renovation of tv shows, magazines, books and I still lean a lot from you today, I am happy to say that I do have all my lighting on dimmers, basic pieces are white ( love white ) but then I have small pops of 3 or 4 different colours depending on the season and those pops flow through the whole place, yay, feel so proud of myself but for me decoration is a living entity, I am forever trying to improve but some things are on their places and will not budge, maybe because there is no better place for them, I would love to see Albert, being a yorkie mom and a dog lover I do love to see other peoples pups, thanks for a great article, keep teaching us, love your honesty, common sense and great taste, I do love timeless pieces and your articles show me I am on the right path, stay well.
Hello, I am your new member of the website. I live in Croatia, in Zagreb and I use Google translator because I don’t know English, so I’m sorry if there are any typos. I like your website, and you are special to me, very distinctive in an acceptable and charming way. I love decorating my home, so I’m always on the hunt for a new idea. I wish you a lot of success at JT. Please can you tell me which JT websites you like and recommend? Thanks in advance. Best regards!
As always…Excellent advice to decorate accommodating your lifestyle! I applied this in my bedroom and my ugly CPAP machine. I chose a night stand with deep drawers to accommodate my CPAP. I drilled a hole inside the drawer to run to power cord. At night I simply pull out the drawer to access the face mask. Daytime….all I have to do is fold the mask and hose back into the drawer then close the drawer. Albert….💓💓💓💕💕
I am looking forward to your lighting article! For the past year I have been redesigning my living room. I am nearly finished, but as you were talking I realized that a chandelier would be the finishing touch. I have adequate lighting, but I have high ceilings and a hanging fixture would be the icing on the cake. Thanks for the inspiration!
I’m a relatively new subscriber, recently widowed and dealing with significant “deferred maintenance” that just happens to include replacing really lovely wood ceilings that suffered from water and insect damage. (I live in Central America where the rainy season lasts 8 months and the insect season lasts 12.) At any rate, the ceiling color is going from a warm wood tone to white, which, of course, changes everything! But your discussion of lighting just convinced me to go ahead and order a “statement” ceiling fixture. Originally I was going to wait a bit and “live with” the new ceiling, but you convinced me to go ahead and order it. With a dimmer switch, of course. I appreciate your expertise — and I love your blue and white porcelain collection!
Garrett, as usual your article is information-packed and on point. I’ve been a subscriber to your website for quite awhile now, but for some reason I’ve not received notification when your articles are released. And yes, the notification bell is clicked for all articles. I always look forward to your presentations. So when I see that I haven’t been notified, I then search for you by name. Any advice you can give on this dilemma would be greatly appreciated. Keep doing what you’re doing. Its greatly needed. 💕
I just love your space. The antique wood furniture is chef’s kiss. I’m redoing an actual late 1800s farmhouse. I demoed it down to the studs this summer. Horsehair lath and plaster. The plumber, builder, and electricians are now in. It’s getting to the fun part. Facebook market place has been my friend. Found solid cherry kitchen cabinets for 1500$ and an amazing pair of cherry built ins that are 9ft tall each one with original glass from the 1800s for only 300$ for both. One is going to be my kitchen pantry the other with the glass by my rock fireplace. I also have an original wood beam. I’m so excited and you are giving me so many ideas and inspiration. Thank you so much.
Bonjour Garrett, Always such a pleasure to hear what you have to say about interior design. A huge thank you for all the tips, the suggestions, the teachings in this article. You are precious and truly being in your company is lovely. Take care, wishing that all your projects go according to plans. – Rosalind –
Thank you for the tips! I wonder if topics like how to incorporate your partner’s taste in a space can be done, like, with examples if possible. Also, children transitioning to teens and then to adults, how to think about this process and decorate their spaces accordingly and not feel like I’m living in a daycare nor them in a black and white movie (black and white kids’ rooms are not it for me)
Can you give advice on how to incorporate the colored lighting, like from Phillips Hue? I love being able to use WiFi to control them, and I love being able to set the mood during a movie, or revealing a new tasting menu or dancing around the living room…whatever it is, I just like occasionally having pink or blue lighting. Even the Nanoleaf designs are just fun for the kids and beautifully colorful…BUT, it can look really tacky at times because of all the plastic. Would love to see you try to design around the different types of brightly colored smart lighting.
I love your articles. Always both informative and fun. I’m looking forward to seeing more on lighting. It can really set a mood as well as allowing us to see in the dark. 😁 I’d enjoy seeing how you decorate for the holidays. I’m not big on constantly changing things around either. Once in a while I will try what I have in a different way and wonder why I hadn’t thought of that before. That’s part of the fun though. It also opened my eyes to the fact that what I have in different rooms are interchangeable. That tells me that over the years, I must have developed my own style. Imagine that! My rooms”flow” . Take care.
Why do I simply detest overhead lighting ANYWHERE!?! Yes, dimmers are absolutely critical, but I have always preferred lamps, be they table lamps or floor lamps or wall sconces. The only overhead ‘lighting fixture’ that I will tolerate is a chandelier of some sort over a dining table. And THAT needs to have several — minimum 5 — ‘arms.’ The reset lighting might be an option, but since I don’t have it, LAMPS, LAMPS, LAMPS! Garrett, can you change my mind on this?
I love this article. Listening to you talk about all the aspects of design really makes me feel disappointed in the designer I worked with redoing my main floor. I can’t complain about the big ticket things – the kitchen, bath, paint color, upholstery and lighting are all good. But she never worked with an overall plan and didn’t pull the space together. No finishing details. The spaces look unfinished and I don’t have the talent to pull it all together with pillows, decor etc. It would be great if you could do more articles on how to do styling/accessorizing.
Loved this article! I always tour builder model homes and notice the doors to bathrooms are missing to make the hallways feel spacious, so home owners are then shocked when the door is awkward in their own home. Builders also place a 1-2ft. curtain rod all the way to the ceiling of the bathroom and cover only half of bathtub/shower area with a real fabric curtain. It feels luxurious in the bathrooms but no one can realistically do that. Home owners then wonder why they can never get that “model home look” Going to keep all your tips in mind next time I tour for inspiration!
I thoroughly enjoyed this casual chat article! Thanks for the timely reminder about dimmer since our house is scheduled to get wired next week. I just love how you always circle back around to the “This is your house, you have to live in it” theme. Absolutely you keep the Waterford bowl out of it speaks to your soul! We have a Waterford decanter with Irish whiskey in it and even though my style is more earthy in general, looking at that decanter always makes me happy – it stays!
I’ve always wanted to have a timeless style. Nothing infuriates me more than unnecessary waste. Growing up with a horder I want my place to look beautiful but have found minimalism empty and impersonal. How would I make our house look like a home and not impersonal but avoiding dust collectors or clutter.
New subscriber!! Fellow trained and experienced interior designer, NCIDQ, CKD, CBD, CAPS !!! You are always right on the money!! So MANY you tube ‘designers’ have NO FORMAL TRAINING!! They might be good but I always look for some one who took their time and money and put it where their mouth is! You give a ton of ‘master class’ lessons and don’t try to bleed you viewers for ‘exclusives’. Keep it up and Carry On!! ( and I’ll keep perusal and learning!!)
Just discovered this website and I’m already a subbed fan! Thank you for all this valuable insight. I’d love to hear your tips and thoughts on how to make small, tiny spaces seem cozy without overwhelming them. I live in a tiny flat in London and really don’t know how to tackle the living room without making it feel cluttered.
LOVE LOVE YOUR articleS; you provide amazing information! I need help with our home……we just moved in this weekend in our 1940s Los Angeles bungalow apartment. Would you be able to use us as Guinea pigs to help with space planning? We even have a mastering studio as the curve ball lol or do you have someone you recommend to help us in the LA area?
Hi Garrett! I love, love, love your articles! I usually watch on my TV, so that is why I had not subscribed sooner. I tried looking up your curtains article, but could not find it. I have sliding doors in the living room, that then transition into the kitchen dinning area’s bay window. I have draperies from end to end, that encircle/hug the bay, with a 3-way bay window rod. However, the rods are spindly, I did not notice this 16 years ago, when I bought them, and there was not a lot of diameter varieties, at least none that I came across back then. The living room ones are of course sagging. So I was just going to buy a larger diameter rod set(s) in the silver nickel color, which is what I have. Any other suggestions since I am going to buy new rods? Also, I have to mention, the ceiling heights in both areas in order to match are std. 84″. I had wanted to do ceiling height in the Living room, but then the adjoining bay area has to drop back down to 84″ max. height. I have searched so much for this solution.If you can answer this, I would so appreciate it, if not, that’s ok too. I hope I did not take up too much of your time…With Kindest Regards, Carmen
My husband & I have only been in this home for 4 months. I currently am putting together a notebook where I am putting all the rooms in to scale & including things like electrical outlets, the duct work for heating & air returns ( house was built in 1955) A lighting plan would be Awesome to include. Also I am including some magazine pictures of rooms I like. Then after the holidays I am going to meet with someone to come up with a Master Plan that we can work on in the coming year. I love your articles & all your tips. Thank you for sharing with us all.
Wow! An entire (overview) design course. That was both informative and enjoyable. I’m always curious about the height of things like how high should a coffee table be? How high should nightstands be? Etc. Should you vary the heights of chairs and couches? Anyway, loved the article. I love your website Albert er uh I mean Garrett.
I am your latest subscriber. “We want to know how you live.” is such a great comment. We live in a rental in the great city of Istanbul with a terrible owner and cannot move right now since the rents have skyrocketed during Covid. I want to own my next house and do not have any cords floating around and have luxurious light switches and hide all my electrical equipment in the kitchen and have little bar and coffee corner and choose my own cabinet door handles and have the best matte black faucets and turquoise backsplash and use the colorful wallpaper I have been saving for years. I hope I’ll have the budget for an interior designer. Thank you.
I’m a new subscriber! I’m looking forward to your article on lightning. It’s one of my favourite things in my space. I actually like my space more at night because of it. I recently bought a new dining room light and I was a bit limited in my choice because my table is off center and I needed a fixture that would hide that and it does that job, but the problem is that when we’re sitting at the table, it feels like a couple of people are under the spotlight, so to speak. Lifting the chandelier would solve the problem, but it would no longer be at the standard (recommended) height over the table and I’m wondering what you think about that.
New subscriber today! Well, I am addicted to your website! We’ve had an emergency move to another state to care for inlaws and found a haggard mobile home for a song. It was filled with smoke and we are gutting it Could you do a article on decorating mobile homes in a traditional (not Farmhouse or Minimal) style? We have a Basset Mission style sofa that will go with the gigantic, but excellent quality, dark entertainment center that came with the house.
I am a new subscriber been binge perusal you now absolutely appreciate you you are a beautiful designer and are full with so much important information I need and crazy witty funny you are an absolute joy to watch and listen to thank you for all you are and all you do sending my love light and good thoughts always ❤️✨
It’s great that you compared styled homes to airbrushed photos of models. It is very important for all of us to realize that we shouldn’t compare anything in our life to aspirational / editorial content. The model doesn’t even look as pretty as the model, so it’s ok that we have crow’s feet around our eyes and power cords on some of our light fixtures.
Soo good! Love your website. My article idea is talking more technical about this “creating flow”. It’s always mentioned in interior design vids and i understand the concept, but no one ever really explains it technically. from what I can make out it’s creating colour connections, clear pathways, continuity, etc. but perhaps designer hacks on that would be good and what are common mistakes you see that disrupts this ‘flow’.
I also have a grand piano in my living room. It’s a struggle to fit it in the room. If I had not used graph paper I would have had a mess. I didn’t want to move everything around, too heavy. It’s hard to get everything placed. I would love to see an overhead of how your living room is set up. The placement of your piano has my curiosity. Thanks for these chats. Great info!
Great article Garrert! When you do your lighting article, maybe caution folks to be aware of ceiling fixtures made of LED lighting, they can’t always be used with a dimmer switch. That’s my situation and I’m really disappointed. Although it’s nice looking, I’d rather have dimming capability. Thanks again for fabulous advice!
I love your articles! I had watched a couple and am now subscribed. You are so informative, but down to earth, and your opinions are well reasoned without being judgey. I hope your website continues to grow. Quick question: how would you recommend someone with no education in interior design break into that world? I have had a career doing something completely different, but love home decor and have decorated multiple homes over the years. People really like and complement my aesthetic but other than starting as an intern in a design firm I’m not sure how to proceed.
I’m fairly new to your website but I’m here for good. I don’t know your cost but I’m in southern Cali and just need direction. I do TikToks in my spaces when not traveling and love my kitchen but not so happy with my family room which is part of my kitchen. I have a very expensive Persian wool rug that was gifted to me but doesn’t really match my decor that I love to display in winter months however I think my decor is all over the place. I have a modern white leather u shaped sectional that I can make L shaped and an antique buffet that I inherited from my grandmother that I do not want to get rid of and a modern overhead lamp although everyone loves my family room. I’m just not happy with it. Maybe it’s the coffee table that I kind of don’t have I say that because U-shaped limits me to the size of the coffee table, so it’s more like a end table in the middle of my U-shaped sofa. Do you do consultations off of pictures only and what are your fees for that? I also dislike my stair rails. I know I have many pieces to work with because I by what I love just don’t know how to put it together. Again friends and family love the place. My mess is behind close doors in the closet I dislike piles and a Chachi but because I have a mate I find myself picking up behind him constantly. What upsets me the most is that when he comes in he places his keys and hair brush on my marble island which is gross to me. I have baskets for all his g gadgets that he seldom uses yet his kids keep buying him more which I pile in the garage and he doesn’t even notice when I remember.
I genuinely LOVE how you emphasize how, yes there are decorating “rules” but decorating your home is personal and if something is important to you or you absolutely love it, the rules don’t matter because it’s YOUR home and you have to live there. I love how you stress functionality over aesthetic. Which is rare on social media. Things can still look nice and fit your life style. ❤
Thank you for addressing lighting. I married a widower and we live in his low-lite house–ugh! If I stand in front of the firelace, I can see many sources of light (not counting the windows with plantation shutters). I can see into the master bedroom with a dark brown ceiling fan. I can see the entry ceiling light. (modern). I can see the 2 ugly livingroom lamps. I can see the tan hanging glass bowl fixture over the dining table (depressing). I can see the brown ceiling fan over his recliner. I can see 3 lights hanging down over the kitchen center island counter and the recessed lighting in the ceiling above them. Help! House built in 1992. Nothing cohesive here. No flow. I’d like to sell this house so nothing too expensive. Maybe all whitish fixtures that would blend with the ceiling and disappear. Walls are that Southwest creamy sand color. Wood-look floors. Furniture & cabinets are dark brown. This is a man cave! How can I blend the light fixtures? Bunny in Phoenix, Arizona.
‘dimmers are essential’ — that’s so true. I like working at night as it gives me peace and quiet and I like my space a little dark. I’ve only recently discovered smart bulb and it is life changing. Now every single light source in my house is dimmable and colour adjustable. It’s amazing how brightness and colour change the mood and character of the space.