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Five Myths About Home Decor
Publish Date: December 26, 2009
Rigid beliefs do kill the creative instinct and make the home look mundane, uninteresting and certainly not unique. It is time to shake off such beliefs, dispel commonly held myths, and make a clean break with tradition while finalizing the décor of the home. Some of the myths that need to be dispelled are:
“Rooms look bigger when painted in light colors”. This is one of the most commonly heard comments but the truth of this statement is questionable. A small room can have the semblance of space or spaciousness not with the shade that it is painted in, but the furniture and decoration pieces placed in it and how. Lighter colors may make the room brighter but the sweeping glance can take it all in one glance. But it is a uniform color that makes the room seem larger, irrespective of whether it is light or dark.
“Traditional means old and outdated”. For many, the word traditional is considered to be synonymous with old-fashioned and outdated things. The actual meaning of traditional is “customary” or something that is usually done. Home décor is considered traditional if classic styles are emulated from and used with modern furniture and furnishings, contemporary shades, fittings and accessories. It has little to do with a bygone era or an old world method of decorating homes, nor does it imply using ancient accessories.
“Sofas must be placed against the wall”. A sofa is the most usual furniture item found in living rooms and even large bedrooms. Since it is large and occupies more space, the sofa is placed inevitably against a wall, to clear floor space. But this myth need not necessarily be followed since a sofa placed elsewhere can look as stylish. Kept at an angle between two walls, it leaves space for a tall lamp at the back, which enhances the aesthetic appeal of the corner. Placed in the center of a large living room, it serves as a partition between two sections, or can even transform the flow of the room.
“Small rooms mean placing smaller pieces of furniture in them”. Modern homes are all compact and less space is used to accommodate bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens etc. A spacious fell and appearance then becomes important, and residents go to all lengths to find the best way of creating the spacious look. The commonly held myth is that small rooms must have smaller pieces of furniture and decoration. However, this may not be exactly true since multiple small pieces can give the room the same cramped look. Fewer but bigger pieces kept with gaps with space to spare will make the small room seem more spacious.
“Decorating the home must be completed in one session”. Most interior designers convince clients to start the job of doing up interiors and see it till the end. This will bring the best results and there will be uniformity in design. However, this may be more of a myth since homes that are decorated bit by bit often look more tasteful and beautiful with all the time and effort that goes into every part of the house. People may complete one room, wait to see how they like it, then move to another room, giving a lot of careful consideration to their requirements, their likes and preferences and not repeat the mistakes they may have made with the previous room.
The interior design of a home must be in compliance with individual tastes and preferences and not be influenced by myths and set standards.
“Rooms look bigger when painted in light colors”. This is one of the most commonly heard comments but the truth of this statement is questionable. A small room can have the semblance of space or spaciousness not with the shade that it is painted in, but the furniture and decoration pieces placed in it and how. Lighter colors may make the room brighter but the sweeping glance can take it all in one glance. But it is a uniform color that makes the room seem larger, irrespective of whether it is light or dark.
“Traditional means old and outdated”. For many, the word traditional is considered to be synonymous with old-fashioned and outdated things. The actual meaning of traditional is “customary” or something that is usually done. Home décor is considered traditional if classic styles are emulated from and used with modern furniture and furnishings, contemporary shades, fittings and accessories. It has little to do with a bygone era or an old world method of decorating homes, nor does it imply using ancient accessories.
“Sofas must be placed against the wall”. A sofa is the most usual furniture item found in living rooms and even large bedrooms. Since it is large and occupies more space, the sofa is placed inevitably against a wall, to clear floor space. But this myth need not necessarily be followed since a sofa placed elsewhere can look as stylish. Kept at an angle between two walls, it leaves space for a tall lamp at the back, which enhances the aesthetic appeal of the corner. Placed in the center of a large living room, it serves as a partition between two sections, or can even transform the flow of the room.
“Small rooms mean placing smaller pieces of furniture in them”. Modern homes are all compact and less space is used to accommodate bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens etc. A spacious fell and appearance then becomes important, and residents go to all lengths to find the best way of creating the spacious look. The commonly held myth is that small rooms must have smaller pieces of furniture and decoration. However, this may not be exactly true since multiple small pieces can give the room the same cramped look. Fewer but bigger pieces kept with gaps with space to spare will make the small room seem more spacious.
“Decorating the home must be completed in one session”. Most interior designers convince clients to start the job of doing up interiors and see it till the end. This will bring the best results and there will be uniformity in design. However, this may be more of a myth since homes that are decorated bit by bit often look more tasteful and beautiful with all the time and effort that goes into every part of the house. People may complete one room, wait to see how they like it, then move to another room, giving a lot of careful consideration to their requirements, their likes and preferences and not repeat the mistakes they may have made with the previous room.
The interior design of a home must be in compliance with individual tastes and preferences and not be influenced by myths and set standards.