Interior Design Myths, Busted: 5 Rules That Aren’t as Absolute as You Think
If I had a nickel for every time I saw an Instagram video with an interior design Do or Do Not that is false, well, I would have a lot of nickels. This “information” trickles down to my clients thinking they are not allowed to design their house in a certain way or thinking they MUST take their cabinets all the way to the ceiling because that is what Facebook says.
Yes, there are wonderful guidelines out there to help you achieve a cohesive and designer-look to your home; but that’s just it. They are JUST GUIDELINES. I cringe when I hear “experts” sharing absolutes without any context for the person on the other side of the phone.
I will say there are situations where these “absolutes” are most definitely applicable, but they are not the end all be all for every home on the planet.
Let’s review the top 5 absolutes I hear repeated most:
Myth #1: Kitchen Cabinets should always extend to ceiling. Do I agree that kitchen cabinets look stunning when they extend to the ceiling? Heck yes! Does this work for every one of my client’s kitchens? Absolutely not! In fact, I met with a client this week that had incredibly high kitchen ceilings. If her cabinets extended all the way up there, it would certainly feel like her walls are closing in on her, the cabinets would look heavy, and she would need scaffolding to get anything up there. That would just not work for her kitchen.
Myth #2: You should never mix metals. Do not make me pull my hair out with this one. Cohesiveness is great, but it is not an absolute for every space! I LOVE mixing metals. Yes, I typically keep it to two types of metals, BUT the depth it gives to the design of the space is chef’s kiss.
Myth#3: Sofas should never be against the wall. This one just makes me mad. There are thousands of ways rooms across our country are laid out. What makes one think that a sofa has enough space to sit anywhere but against the wall. Yes, if you have the opportunity where the layout makes sense, there is enough travel space, and you like that look, go for it. Again, it is not the end all be all rule of interior design.
Myth#4: Always avoid furniture sets. This one is tricky. A lot of times, it can be a good idea to add some complexity to look of your space by changing up the furniture. Think: dining table with chairs that did not come as a set or from the same line. This does help avoid the big box store look; however, there are some great manufacturers out there that understand homeowners do want their pieces to coordinate (as they should) while also achieving a “collected over time” look. While I do agree in many instances that this is a good idea, it is not a rule that must always be followed.
Myth #5: Purchasing organization bins will instantly fix your clutter problem. M’’am or Sir, please do not fall into this trap. Yes, organizational bins are incredibly helpful tools to organize our spaces; however, organizing junk & clutter will not fix your problem. The junk will still be there, and it will make your problem worse if you do not address it first. The magic is in the decluttering process. If you skip this vital step, you will continue to buy more and more bins for the additional junk you keep collecting. Once you have completed the steps of decluttering, donating, and tossing, then you may skip down the aisles of The Container Store and organize your belongings.
I hope this helps you stop comparing your home to what the random people of the internet are telling you. If your space makes you feel safe and happy, that’s what really matters. I am so glad there are people wanting to help you achieve a beautiful home (there really are AMAZING & helpful experts out there!), but please know a sofa placed against your wall is not going to make your home any less beautiful. Take the advice you hear as a suggestion and know there are exceptions to almost every design guideline.
