Interior design tips that work in UK homes
The measurements and habits designers use, each shown on a room we designed, one change at a time. Every tip comes with its numbers and where they come from.
The renovating.co.uk team
Space and layoutWhat size rug for a living room?Get a rug big enough for the front legs of the sofa and chairs to sit on it. A small rug floating in the middle makes the whole room look smaller.
WindowsHow high should you hang curtains above a window?Put the pole half to two-thirds of the way between the top of the window and the ceiling, wider than the frame, with curtains that just touch the floor. The window looks bigger and the ceiling higher.
Colour and paintWhat is colour drenching?One colour on the walls, skirting, doors and ceiling. With no lines to stop at, the eye reads the room as bigger, even in a darker shade.
Colour and paintShould you paint the ceiling the same colour as the walls?A painted ceiling pulls a room together. A shade lighter than the walls lifts it; a shade darker makes a big room feel cosier.
Space and layoutHow high should you hang a picture above a sofa?Art over a sofa looks right at about two-thirds of the sofa's width, hung 15 to 20 cm above its back.
Colour and paintDo dark colours make a room look smaller?Not if you commit. A deep colour on every surface blurs the corners so the room reads as bigger; it is dark walls against a white ceiling that box it in.
LightWhat colours are best for a north-facing room?North-facing rooms get cool, flat light all day, so pick colours with a warm base. South-facing rooms get warm light that can take cooler colours.
Space and layoutHow can I make a small bedroom look bigger?Match the ceiling to the walls, hang one big mirror opposite the window, choose furniture on legs, and take the curtains high and wide.
Space and layoutHow do I make my living room cosy?Deepen the walls, bring the ceiling down with colour, light it low and warm, and use a rug to pull the seating together.
LightWhat lighting do you need in a living room?Swap cool white bulbs for warm white ones and put the big light on a dimmer. Then light the room in layers: the ceiling light for general light, a floor lamp, and something small and low for a warm glow. Three sources at different heights.
Space and layoutHow much space should you leave between furniture in a living room?Keep 75 to 90 cm clear for the main path through a room, and 35 to 45 cm between the sofa and the coffee table.See the tips in your own roomUpload a photo, pick a style, and get it redesigned with things you can buy.
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