Do make sure you consider the orientation of your room
If it is north facing don’t aim for a sunny and bright room, as you will likely be disappointed.
Think about function
It is incredibly important to anticipate the function of the room and the traffic that will be flowing through. A room that simply looks beautiful but has no functionality will never be timeless.
Don't forget storage
It is a common mistake to not consider storage and focus entirely on aesthetics. When designing your house make sure there is storage in the right places, no matter how small. Otherwise, you will have to add it later and often there is no room and it is much more difficult to do.
Do start with a rough furniture layout
I like to place the main sofa first and then add the chairs and tables. Think about where the lamps will go so that your sockets are all in the right place, and make sure you always have a spare socket for a hoover, ideally near the entrance.
Don't be afraid of pattern
If you like patterns but are worried about where to start, cover your sofa and some of the chairs in plain fabrics and add patterns in the form of cushions, throws and lampshades.
Don't be too matchy
Colours and patterns don’t need to completely match, as long as the overall look works. Include textures like the odd chenille cushion or velvet throw; this will make your room cosy and inviting.
Do scale up
Don’t be afraid of going large with the scale when selecting patterns or the size of your furniture. If you want to make a small room feel bigger or higher, fill it with over-scaled patterns and furniture.
Don’t be afraid of mixing different periods of furniture
If you look at the interiors of stately homes, they are always filled with inherited furniture from different generations creating an evolved look.
Do avoid trends
If you are looking for a timeless look don’t be too influenced by the current trends. If you do your house will quickly become outdated, and you will have to change the decoration every few years.
Alidad talks extensively about all of this and more in his online course with Create Academy, ‘How to Create Timeless Interiors’.
Alidad is a member of The List by House & Garden, our essential directory of design professionals. Visit The List by House & Garden here.
