If you’ve ever walked through your front door and immediately noticed something wasn’t right, this post is for you. It’s such a frustrating experience to know that your space is off without understanding what the fix is. Our spaces consist of so many components so trying to identify the things that are wrong is a big task.
As a designer, I see homes in various conditions and while I can always tell immediately when a space isn’t working it can also be perplexing to me initially. It’s only when I apply my experience to the issue that I can work it out. Today I’m sharing my experience and all the reasons your home may not shine.
Table of Contents
The Reasons Your Home Doesn’t Feel Right
1/ Lack of Cohesion Between Rooms
If you are a DIY decorator there’s a high likelihood this is your issue. As a designer I always consider the entire space even when I’m only working on a single room. It’s this approach that creates cohesiveness and gives a polished look to your home.
When we tackle a single room at a time we tend to forget about the big picture. We work diligently to create a beautiful space and even when the result is 10/10 you can still be left feeling like something’s wrong.
HOW TO FIX THIS ISSUE:
Every space in your home should speak directly to the other rooms. This is what creates cohesiveness. Designing spaces that are distinct and separate will leave your home feeling disjointed. The exception to this rule is bathrooms and bedrooms which can be a little more unique and individual.
While it can be tempting to start each room with a brand new colour palette and design, this is creating confusion in your home. Read this post to learn how to create a colourful space you’ll love..
Before you start to focus on the room in question, walk through your entire space. What colours are already present? What are the finishes and how do they relate to the plan for your new space? Each time we create a design for a room we need to be working to incorporate the rest of the space at the same time.
Instead of starting from scratch with each room, build on the palette and style that already exists. This is how you’ll create a room that feels connected to the rest of your home.
2/ Clashing Undertones on Your Finishes
Undertones are the hidden puzzle piece that may be keeping you stuck. The issue is that for most DIY decorators they’re not fully aware of how undertones work and specifically how they work together (or against each other).
Let’s start at the beginning, what is an undertone? Essentially it’s a tone hidden within a colour. Undertones are everywhere but they’re most obvious when selecting neutral colours. The reason they can be so difficult is because when you look at a colour in isolation you won’t see the undertone. It’s only when compared to other similar neutrals that you’ll start to see the undertone appear.
If you’ve ever stood in a paint store staring at the long wall of paint chips, only to get home and find that your perfect selection doesn’t look the same, this is because of the undertone.
HOW TO FIX THIS ISSUE:
You want your undertones to work with the colours and undertones that are already present in your space. Everything in your home has undertones. From the fabric on your sofa to the countertop in your kitchen, it’s all around us. Before you begin selecting your colour palette, you want to try and find coordinating undertones so that there’s nothing that appears off.
The simplest way to find the undertone is to compare paint samples. Start by picking up as many paint samples as you can get your hands on. Lay them out side by side and immediately you’ll start to see the undertones. Now pull them aside one by one and you’ll see them return to their original colour. This is the point where a lot of my clients pick up the phone and schedule a colour consultation. It’s overwhelming to say the least.
If you can manage to find the undertones in your paint samples you’ll be able to solve the issues of the clashing undertones.
3/ Scale and Proportion Issues
Scale and proportion are two design principles that help create balance in your space. They work interchangeably but they’re distinctly different principles.
What Is Scale?
Scale refers to the size of an object (sofa, rug, etc) in relation to the overall space. How does your sofa fit into the space parameters of a room? It’s essentially the comparison of object to space.
What Is Proportion?
Proportion is how the objects in a space relate to each other. This isn’t about the size of the entire space but instead, it’s about how the sofa feels in regard to the coffee table or the chandelier as it relates to the dining table.
The reason that scale and proportion matter so much is because they relate directly to furniture and the architectural features of a space. It also considers the room’s negative space and how it compares to the finished areas. Lastly, the visual weight distribution throughout the room affects how you see the space.
HOW TO FIX THIS ISSUE:
Start by looking at the space while considering the scale and proportion. Does your furniture feel like the perfect size for your room or does it feel like an oversized doll house? Does your rug size feel appropriate to the room’s size or is this a leftover from your last house?
Once you truly understand the importance of scale and proportion you’ll see that you can sort out a lot of your room’s issues just by correcting those concerns.
4/ Mixing Too Many Styles Without Clear Direction
You might call it eclectic but is it that or did you move too fast without a plan? While I do love most design styles I don’t see them as compatible together. A room with too many styles is never going to feel finished. Instead, it might end up feeling like an aesthetically chaotic space in need of help.
It’s ok to recognize that our design style can change and evolve over time. We may have begun our design journey when we loved traditional design but now we’re moving in the direction of modern farmhouse.
Another reason this happens is that we’ve received furniture, artwork, etc from others that doesn’t align with our current style. You may feel obligated to keep the hand-me-down gifts and this can leave your space feeling chaotic.
HOW TO FIX THIS ISSUE:
It’s not always possible to get rid of our belongings and start over but let’s begin by taking a thorough examination of our space. How many design styles are represented in the space?
The best way to deal with multiple styles is by incorporating the 80/20 rule. One style should dominate the space and represent around 80% of the room’s aesthetics. A secondary style can be incorporated in small amounts equalling closer to 20%.
This will create a space that feels like it has both a dominant and secondary style that are defined and represented in appropriate quantities. If you’re not sure of your own design style,take my free quiz.
5/ Renovating in Stages Without a Plan
This is a hard one to deal with because it may require redoing some of the work you’ve previously done. Renovating without a plan means you’re likely buying things on sale or pieces that are conveniently located close to home.
For example, if you’re working on a small bathroom and haven’t created a plan first you’ll likely find yourself at your local tile store. How will you begin to look for the perfect tile without a plan? You won’t and so instead you’ll gravitate to tiles that catch your eye, are well priced or are currently in stock.
That means the tile you go home with may or may not match the floor tile and the vanity. When we don’t have a greater plan in place we’re buying piece meal and praying that the pieces all work together.
HOW TO FIX THIS ISSUE:
Start by spending time considering what you want to include in your space. What’s the style you’re trying to achieve, what are the colours you want to use and how much money do you have to spend?
When these are established you can create both a plan and a budget. And as tempting as it may be, don’t deviate once you’ve created a plan. It’s tempting to fall in love with something outside of the plan when you’re shopping but stay focused. The plan will keep your space looking grounded and it will feel truly cohesive.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your own home and need a professional to help out, reach out to me. I’d love to discuss how I can help you with your design or decorating needs.
