Decorating Rules I Love to Ignore

There are decorating rules that make a house cosy and provide the wow factor when you walk into a room. They’re the backbone of a scheme. Then there are the decorating rules that were made to be broken. And you know me, I love to ask your advice and then promptly do the opposite. Rules were made to be broken! Below are the decorating rules I break on a regular basis and why I think it works when they are broken.

Everything Should Match

Okay, I’m admitting it. Nothing matches in our house except the colour scheme. The rule of ‘everything must match’ is one that went out with Laura Ashley all over schemes in the 80s and 90s. (Not that I’m against Laura Ashley, I actually LOVE IT) The idea of everything being a set has never appealed to me. You only have to look at our dining room to see that. The sofa is Victorian. The cabinet is a mismatched Depression piece built from scraps of timber. Our dining chairs don’t match each other or the table. The china and napkins are different.

So why does it work?

• The colours blend and coordinate with each other.
• The upholstery is the same
• A neutral backdrop ties it all together
• Things don’t match but they do coordinate with each other.

If you are wanting to create a more traditional kind of home with country or farmhouse vibes, having mismatched items that have been ‘collected’ over ther years is essential. It’s these collections that give your home personality.

Trim Should Be White

In someone else’s house, yes. But in our farmhouse, this decorating rule was thrown out the window. Much to the surprise of our trades, the bulk of the trim is charcoal and the walls are cream. The colour carries through to the farmhouse kitchen where the cabinets and shelving in the butler’s pantry are the same colour.

I’m not saying paint the skirting red or green (unless you want to, your scheme might call for that) but trim does not have to be white. In fact, it shows a lot more dirt and dust than our dark trim.

Why does it work?

• We have very high ceilings so the room can take a dark colour.
• The colour is consistent throughout our home.
• And lastly, it’s a neutral colour. I don’t even notice it.

Dark Walls Make Rooms Looks Small

Actually, they don’t. We recently painted our loungeroom a very dark navy blue and if anything it makes the room feel bigger. Clearly, the room above is not ours but it’s a good illustration of dark walls and the impact they create. The walls recede if they are dark. Furniture pieces and art become statements. Dark rooms are cosy. We feel like we are in a Victorian smoking room when we sit in our little snug. But we don’t feel hemmed in or claustrophobic.

Granted dark walls are a big step and they are not for everyone but if you want something bold paint one room dark.

Don’t Mix Metals

This decorating rule is one that can be used to your advantage if you think carefully about how to do it. Back in the day, you went to a showroom and picked a finish, probably brushed chrome. Every handle, shower rail and knob in your home had the same so the look was cohesive.

This is no longer the case. It’s perfectly okay to mix metals if you do it well. In our farmhouse, we have a number of differing metal fixtures and accessories. The kitchen is predominantly brushed/antique brass. Our appliances are stainless steel though. Our main bath has matt black fixtures but the ensuite is brushed brass.

Why does this work?

• There is one predominant style or finish that acts as a thread of cohesion
• The differing finishes cannot be seen from another room (with the kitchen being the expception).
• Other metal tones are used seasonally like a ‘pop’ of colour. Eg: using warm copper in winter.
• The metals have the same amount of bling or sheen :0)

So, tell me? Do you like to mix metals or do you prefer the matched coordinated look?