Image credit: Minette Hand

5 Essential Design Rules to Absolutely Never Break

by JESSICA ISAAC

Image Credit: Lorem Ipsum

Image credit: Natalie Jeffcott

Somtimes, having a few guidelines to follow can give you the freedom to hone your creativity in other areas. Here are five interior design rules to consider if you want to do things right the first time around.

Image credit: Emma Fiala

Avoid Awkward Curtain Length

“Measure twice, cut once” applies here—take the time to prep by measuring and marking your rod placement before you break out the scissors and sewing machine.

Image Credit: Lorem Ipsum

Image credit: Samara Vise

Choose Properly-Scaled Rugs

A good rule of thumb is to choose a rug that is the proper scale for your space that all of your existing furniture fits on. Natural fiber rugs like jute and sisal, provide great affordable large-scale options.

Image credit: Lula Poggi

Picking a Cohesive Color Palette

Choosing a color palette and working it in evenly throughout a room is a foolproof way to ensure your space will feel put-together.

Image Credit: Lorem Ipsum

Image credit: Natalie Jeffcott

Hanging Art Work at Eye Level

A good rule of thumb is that most art work looks best hung where the center of the art is between 57″-60″ (around eye level for most people).

Image credit: Bethany Nauert

Varying Your Light Sources

When all of your lighting comes from one bright source in one location, it falls flat. Placing multiple soft lights in a variety of locations enhances the ambiance and creates depth and warmth.