Feeling a little broken this week as did a 67 mile bike ride last Sunday (my first). Up to 40ish miles I was fine but after that I think my legs had enough, got off and walked away!! Still serves me right for going out with a bunch of cycle enthusiasts.

Anyway lets get to it, RULES is such a strict word I find and although people think there are rules within interior design, I don’t! Design is so subjective, what works for one doesn’t work for another. I don’t really have any rules when designing a scheme, although I sort of follow my own but only what helps me put a design scheme together not an industry set of rules. So I say break the RULES (love saying that).

1). Don’t use symmetry, it’s one of the most common things done in interiors, you know when lamps arrive 2 by 2 and park them selves on a console table.

2). Matching! I hate matching it’s definitely one thing I really try not to do, if you use a fabric on curtains or blinds this doesn’t mean you need to use the same fabric on the cushions! Mix it up, it creates intrigue, far more of an interesting look and the same goes for accessories, mix them up and it will look like you have collected them over time.

3). Furniture, this on is a biggy and probably one of the hardest rules to break. In my opinion this has to be mixed, if you look a the best interiors the furniture is always an eclectic mix, modern lines like a simple sofa teamed with an antique or vintage piece.Get this right and BINGO! when guest enter the room they won’t know what to look at first, it confuses the eye when things jar and creates a much better interior! and please don’t push all the furniture up against the walls like its a naughty kid thats been told off!!

4). SCALE! now playing with scale is a little scary I know, as the brain is telling you to put small items with small!! (am I making sense) So using an oversized lamp on a small table for instance seems crazy but can totally change the vibe to a room and again confuses the eye. Please please don’t be afraid to use larger pieces of furniture, trust me it works! Using small furniture especially in small rooms is one of the most common mistakes I see.

5). Last but not least COLOUR. Throw the oddball colour in the mix, works a treat and going darker (I know, I know I’m always going on about this one!) on the walls creates warmth and cosiness, who wants to sit in a white sterile room………….not me!

A few pics to inspire (courtesy of lonny magazine and Remodelista)

Mixing up the furniture, I would never of thought about using the white chairs with the antique table, it creates the interest, not everyones cup of tea I know but it shows you how it can be done! Loving the colour on the walls.

Perfect example of how to use different patterns of fabric, no matchy matchy going on here. And a great use of colour.

And here you have scale! the large mirror works so well but for me the small table in front with the oversized vase and eucalyptus is what sets it off!

Have a great day!