Don't arrange all your furniture in a timid circle around the fireplace or cluster everything in the middle of the room like nervous partygoers
Push pieces into corners for interesting perspectives and more dynamic floor plans.
Do consider sound as carefully as sight
A room should have its own acoustic personality-the satisfying crunch of pea gravel underfoot, the reassuring lock of a solid door, the delightful tap-dance of footsteps on parquet. Think about what will be hushed and cosseted versus what will echo and click. Sound is decoration you can hear.
Do think with your nose as well as your eyes
We champion natural scents: the clean brightness of soap and lemon, woodsmoke curling from a crackling fire, a basket of apples ripening on the counter, and always, always the sun-warmed perfume of a geranium on the windowsill.
Don't succumb to the siren call of grocery store Phalaenopsis orchids
These ubiquitous blooms are peddled mercilessly and look cheaper by the dozen. Nothing says ‘I didn't try’ quite like these tired tropicals. One elegant fern frond has more style than a fleet of these fluttering imposters.
Do embrace a canopy bed
It needn't feel like a coffin—think airy and architectural instead. A canopy transforms any bedroom from mundane to magnificent in one swooping gesture.
Don't hang your television on the wall—and especially not over the mantle
They ruin a room's proportions and leave you craning your neck in agony. But don't dismiss screens entirely! We adore them on low skirted tables or tucked discreetly into bookcases, surrounded by books and art, blending rather than blaring.
Do decorate your doors
White trim and white doors shouts ‘unconsidered’ - unless that's deliberately your point. Consider the drama of black, the warmth of red, the cheer of yellow. If your door is flat, give it dimension with upholstery, grasscloth, and nailheads. Do not neglect the door. It alone can make a room.
Don't put a measly eighth-inch piece of glass atop a skirted table
So parsimonious, so sad. Just embrace the fabric and the inevitable stain—let everyone know you're rich enough not to care.
Do consider straw matting installed wall-to-wall
Nothing renounces grandeur or creates instant relaxation quite like it. Layer old rugs on top for extra hush and visual interest—they're also remarkably useful for concealing the occasional dog mishap.
Do have many sources of light, all with low-wattage bulbs
Picture lights, task lights, discreetly placed uplights, and plenty of lamps create a rosy glow. We want to feel like we're swimming in a giant snifter of brandy held up to firelight.
Do spend proper money on a beautiful lampshade
Oyster pongee silk lined in pale pink with a fringed edge will make you feel like a well-heeled Edwardian. Don't discount simple brown craft paper either- but getting the shade right in shape and colour can make or break a room.
Do make your bathroom feel like a living room
Let's be honest—most of us spend more time there than anywhere else, so it might as well be comfortable. A lamp, a rug, a tray, a slipper chair—these luxuries matter more here than in any other room.
Do consider scale from both perspectives
Include something tall and something low—this makes a room feel simultaneously grand and cozy. Isn't that what decorating is all about?
Do corral your clutter, sunglasses and keys on a tray
Nothing tidies a counter or entrance console faster or looks more considered than a well-chosen tray gathering your daily essentials.
