new furniture, a revamped fireplace as a focal point, and eliminating window blinds to enhance the view made this West Vancouver room more inviting.

By Karen Wolinsky

The popularity of home design shows reflects a common desire: We want our rooms to look great. Often we are inspired to make changes, only to find that what looked good in a magazine is out of sync in our home. And, perhaps, a great deal of money has been spent on a solution that doesn’t work. 

As an interior design coach, my mandate is to involve, inform and inspire clients, to help them to create an interior space that reflects their needs, interests and lifestyle. Sometimes people need a thumb’s up before making a purchase, sometimes they seek inspiration, and sometimes they need a guide through the whole process. Many, however, simply need a plan.

Interior design coaching will help you to create and define your direction.

The following are eight important design principles to assist the do-it-yourself decorator in planning an effective and well-presented living space.

1. Define your priorities before you begin

Determine your needs and your budget. Sometimes, the change may require more than rearranging furniture or art, and move beyond paint and other relatively inexpensive cosmetic changes.

2. Create a comfortable conversation area

The basic ingredients for conversation are a sofa and two upholstered chairs, all within reach of a piece of furniture, which serves as a coffee table. Other furniture configurations will work, such as a sectional sofa or two love seats. Anyone who’s just starting out, or who expects to move fairly soon, should stick with the basic sofa and armchairs, because they’ll work in any space. Scale is important. Choose a classic shape. Buy the best quality you can afford. A conversation area should be oriented toward an attractive focal point, such as a fireplace, a specific view window, a wall unit or an eye catching art display. If the room has more than one entrance, the conversation area should be arranged so people can walk around it, rather than through it.

3. Furniture placement is critical

Avoid placing your furniture against the walls. Do not overcrowd your rooms. Establish a traffic pattern within the room.

4. Create balance in a room, visually and physically

 A room is off-balance when all the large, heavy pieces are on one side of the room, and the smaller, more delicate pieces are on the other side. If the seating is of different heights, and/or the artwork is hung at different levels, the room loses its sense of tranquility and cohesiveness.

The quickest and easiest way to achieve a “pulled-together” look is to use pairs of chairs, lamps, end tables and so on. Pairs make a space more balanced and relaxed. It is often best that complementary pieces, such as chairs of a similar height and width, be covered in identical fabric.

A focal point can be a fireplace, a window with an interesting or attractive view, a large painting or group of pictures, or even a fabulous armoire.

Then, dress this area so that it attracts the eye.

6. Artwork

Art is the defining element that elevates the sophistication of a space. Buy what you love–it doesn’t have to be expensive art to provide pleasure.

Two critical mistakes that most people make are hanging art too high and scattering it on every wall. Art should be placed at eye level, and in balance with the space.

7. Creative placement of accessories

Display only the best and most attractive of your collectibles in the home.

If you have a large collection, consider rotating these seasonally.

Punctuate areas with a collection of accessories, and plants to balance the areas. Do not over accessorize. As a general rule, less is always more.

8. Lighting

Most rooms require three types of lighting: task lighting, general illumination and accent lighting. Accent lighting is used to define spaces and to accentuate artwork and feature areas. Lighting can also used to set a mood, which can be aided with the use of dimmers.

Karen Wolinsky, BID, is an interior design professional and an interior design coach with New Interiors of Vancouver. Wolinsky can be contacted at 604-326-0001 or through www.newinteriors.com

Reprinted from: Home Makeover February 2008