5 Interior Design Rules You’ll be Happy to Ignore

In this myth-busting article from Payday Deals, we’re looking at interior design “rules” that seem to be forced upon us whenever we regenerate the home! The truth is, when self-professed design experts actually talk about these rules, they’re actually just “guidelines” and we can practise a little creative license when we feel like.

So, it’s time to stop being restricted by home design regulations! While some rules are there for a reason, we’ve found 5 that we think you can ignore in certain circumstances. See what you can achieve when you get a little cheeky with your home interior.

You need to stick to one design style per room

Whether you’re trying to achieve the industrial look or another popular theme, did you know you can still place elements of other styles for a cohesive look? Interior designer Annie Santulli told Insider:

"You don't have to design an eclectic space to incorporate a piece that doesn't fit with the interior-design style of the room. A traditional piece can be updated with modern fabrics and finishes, and rustic pieces can add rich and organic texture."

You can still maintain an element of cohesivity by sticking to one colour palette. That way, you hold onto a common connection between the different styles in your room.

All small rooms have to be painted in light colours

You already know that white or light colours can help maximise a small space. However, what if you wanted to go a little darker? The truth is - you can play around with dark, deep hues and still achieve a look that feels comfortable.

Dark walls can make a space feel cosy and intimate, and actually softens corners, which can create the illusion of an expanded room. Decide on the vibe you want to go for, and just go for it.

Art should be consistent

If you’re limiting yourself to one artist or art style, this can actually look a little boring.

Modern homes can play around with different styles, merging their artwork and creating a new element of visual interest for their walls. Opt for different colours and styles of frames, and hang pieces at different levels of the wall. The old rule that art should be hung at eye level? We’re giving you permission to throw that out of the window!

Experiment by creating clusters of wall frames for your own unique wall art. They could contain work from your favourite artists, family photos or even stay as empty frames. Your walls, your rules. 

“Blue and green should never be seen.”

Don’t listen to anyone that tells you which colours do and don’t go together. Colour palettes change with the season and everything is down to personal taste. “Clashing” shades can look beautifully striking together, and some muted “complementary” shades just look boring.

All colours can play well together, as long as you nail proportion and scale. Just because blue and green are both colder hues, you’ll find you can create a unique aesthetic when you get the right shades of each. For example, the indigo and lime colour scheme is creeping into showrooms around Australia this season - and it’s stunning.

Vignettes should follow a rule of 3

The most common type of vignette is a collection of three pieces (or any odd number) arranged as one complete display. 

The reality is that you can actually compose as many pieces as you like. If you’re scrambling to find that final piece that takes you to the coveted odd number, you might end up settling for something you don’t like. 

Our advice is that you choose items that display your personality and go from there. Create interest with varying heights and shapes, and allow your display to tell its own visual story. Whether that means three items or ten items really doesn’t matter so much.