Hiring an interior designer can be pricey. Depending on the project, charges can run into thousands of dollars, but that doesn't mean beautiful designs are only for the wealthy.
Not every interior design task needs a professional. Many jobs are simple enough to do yourself, even if you're not design-savvy. You don't need any training to give a room a smart upgrade or apply a designer's trick or two.
If you want to give a room a makeover, perhaps a section of a room, or even your whole home, the questions and answers below will help. Some tasks, like electrical or plumbing work, do need a licensed tradesperson, but for everything else, you can save money and do it yourself.
Interior Design Questions, Answered
Below are some common interior design questions with simple, straightforward answers.
Q: Before you design a room, what should you consider first?
The theme. A good design starts with a style: country, art deco, Hollywood glam, Asian, feng shui, or minimalist. Once you know your style, choose colours, textures, furniture, and lighting to match it. No clear theme in mind? Mix no more than two, such as modern with a touch of the traditional.
Q: What key elements uplift a room?
Accessories. If you're keeping your furniture but want a fresh look, accessorise. Plants, water features, cushions, throws, framed art, and metal accents all make a room feel elegant without a big spend.
Q: How do you design a small space well?
Use colour. Light, soft paint makes a small room feel bigger, and white works well too. Paint one wall a complementary feature colour. Avoid cheap paint. Don't over-furnish and choose small-scale pieces.
Q: How do you design a large room?
Create zones. Break a big living room into two or three seating areas using small-scale furniture rather than large pieces. For example, one zone for six people, one for four, and one for two.
Q: What's a good way to light a room?
Mix your light sources. Use roughly 70% overhead lighting (pendant, ceiling, recessed) and 30% free-standing (wall sconces, table lamps, floor lamps). Add spotlights for wall art.
Q: How do you create a standout feature in a room?
Build a feature wall. Use colour, texture, or a mirror on the main wall or the one you face on entry. Large artwork, decorative stone, wallpaper, or wall panels all work.
Q: How do I choose the right furniture?
Get the scale right. Measure the room first and sketch it out if you can. Don't put oversized furniture in a small room or small pieces in a big one, and don't over-furnish.
Q: How can I use dead space, alcoves, and corners?
Add shelving. Wall-mounted shelves free up floor space and work well in small flats. Use them for books, decorations, and collections in niches and between windows.
Q: What countertop material works for a kitchen upgrade?
Stone, wood, or man-made materials. Granite and quartz cost more but last a very long time. Marble and limestone stain easily. Wood is affordable, but it dents and scratches easily. Stainless steel is water- and heat-resistant.
Q: What is green interior design?
Eco-friendly design. It focuses on furniture and furnishings free from pollutants, such as organic upholstery, natural wood like walnut, oak, and teak, and rugs made from jute, wool, or cotton.
Q: Can I turn a balcony or porch into a garden?
Yes. Use vertical plant walls, stacked planters, and hanging baskets. Add faux grass flooring and a garden stool if space allows.
Q: How much does an interior designer cost?
A single room typically costs between $2,000 (£1,500) and $15,000 (£12,000), including design fees and furnishings. Design fees alone usually range from $ 1,000 (£800) to $5,000 (£4,000) per room. Most designers charge $100 to $350 (£80 to £250) an hour, or a flat project fee. Whole-home projects generally start at around $10,000 (£8,000) and can run well into six figures for large or luxury homes.
Q: Should I choose paint or furniture first?
Furniture first. Pick your large pieces, fabrics, and rugs, then match your paint colour to them. It's far easier to colour-match paint to a fabric than the other way round. Treat paint as the last, most flexible layer.
Q: What size rug do I need for a living room?
Go big enough that at least the front legs of your sofa and chairs sit on it. Most living rooms need an 8x10ft or 9x12ft rug. Leave 15cm to 20cm between the rug edge and the wall so the room doesn't feel boxed in.
Q: What size rug do I need under the dining table?
Add at least 60cm beyond the table on every side. This keeps chairs on the rug, even when pulled out. A 6-seat table usually needs an 8x10ft rug; an 8-seat table needs a 9x12ft rug.
Q: What is the 60-30-10 rule in interior design?
A colour formula. Use one dominant colour for 60% of the room (walls, large furniture), a secondary colour for 30% (curtains, accent chairs), and an accent colour for the final 10% (cushions, art, accessories). It keeps a room balanced instead of chaotic.
Q: How do I find my personal design style?
Save images of rooms you love and rooms you dislike. Don't overthink it, just trust your gut reaction. Patterns will emerge fast; you'll notice recurring colours, shapes, or moods that point to your actual style, not just what's trending.
Q: How much space should I leave for walking around furniture?
Leave at least 75 to 90cm for main walkways, and 45cm around furniture for everyday movement. Coffee tables should sit 35cm to 45cm from the sofa, close enough to reach and far enough to walk past.
Q: Do I need a rug pad?
Yes, on hard flooring. A rug pad stops slipping, protects the floor, and helps the rug lie flat instead of curling at the edges. It also extends the rug's life by reducing friction underneath it.
Q: What's the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator?
An interior designer works on the structure of a space: layout, floor plans, and sometimes building work, alongside a design or architecture qualification. A decorator focuses on the finished look: colour, furniture, and styling, without structural training.
Q: How long should my curtains be?
Three options: floating (just under an inch above the floor), kissing (barely touching), or puddling (2 to 4 inches pooling on the floor). Kissing suits most living rooms and bedrooms. Floating is the practical choice for kitchens and high-traffic rooms. For a taller-looking room, hang the pole close to the ceiling rather than right above the window frame.
Q: Can I mix metal finishes in one room?
Yes, and most designers recommend it. Pick one dominant metal (roughly 70-80% of fixtures) and one accent metal for contrast, such as brushed brass with matte black, or chrome with bronze. Stick to two, occasionally three, finishes per room, and repeat each one at least twice so it looks deliberate rather than accidental.
Q: What size sofa do I need for my living room?
Aim for a sofa that fills about two-thirds of the wall it sits against. Leave at least 75 to 90cm of clearance around it for walking space, and 45cm between the sofa and coffee table. Standard sofas run 180 to 245cm long, so measure the wall you are placing it against before you shop.
Q: How high should I hang artwork?
Centre the artwork 145 to 150cm from the floor, roughly at eye level. Above a sofa or console table, leave 15 to 20cm between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame. When hanging several frames together as a cluster, don’t measure each frame individually to 145cm- 150cm. Instead, treat the outer edges of the whole arrangement as if they were one big frame. Find the vertical centre point of that overall shape and put that centre point at the 145cm - 150cm.
Q: Which paint finish should I use in which room?
Eggshell for living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways: low sheen, forgiving wall imperfections, wipes clean. Satin or semi-gloss for kitchens and bathrooms: better resistance to moisture and grease. Matte for low-traffic, formal rooms and ceilings, since it hides flaws but marks easily. Gloss for trim, doors, and cabinetry only.
What to Consider When Designing a Room
- Lighting affects more than visibility. It changes how walls, ceilings, and furniture look and feel.
- Hang artwork at eye level, not too high and not too low.
- Use ambient lighting to set the mood; you don't need every light on at the same time.
- In small or awkward spaces, decorative mirrors create the illusion of a larger room.
- Shop smart. Flea markets, estate sales, and garage sales are where designers find their most unique pieces.
Work at Your Own Pace and Budget
For more inspiration, check Pinterest and look for e-books and online resources that even professional Interior designers check out to stay sharp and current.
(Article originally published by the author at Hubpages.com on 01/28/20)
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