Even if you feel confident in your design choices, wouldn't you consult an expert if given the chance? We thought so. There's something about running paint swatches or tile options by an interior designer that makes you feel like you can do anything. Every design lover can benefit from having a pro in their corner, cheering them on.
Even people who have an expert eye for interior decoration look to their Pinterest boards for confirmation before committing to a change in their home, right? It takes special expertise and years of experience to develop interior design sources and knowledge about things like lighting and floor planning. A professional's input is helpful, whether you're a DIY genius or a novice.
Hear It From The Professionals!
If you want to learn from the best, you’re in the right place. We’ve scoured through the ideas and tips from the world’s leading designers to share their expertise so you can embark on your next room remodel with additional design savvy.
These interior design tips will help you discover the secrets of decorating success from the world’s best interior designers.
1. “It’s deeply important to mix in vintage things. You can’t have everything new and have a home that feels layered with all new things off the shelf, whether that’s adding a vintage mirror or some old lighting and having it rewired – or even a pair of antique lamps.” - Nate Berkus
2. “By combining contrasting motifs which are less eclectic and more cohesive, the designer's creations are full of life without being overbearing. Geometrics, gestural paint strokes and natural patterns—think veined marble and wood grain.” - Kelly Wearstler
3. “Think about what you look good in and bring it into your house. If you look great in blue, you’re going to look good surrounded by it.” - Martyn Lawrence Bullard
4. “Just steer clear of anything that is going to be visually overwhelming or feels cold or sterile. You may love a chair or painting, but if they don't feel good or keep pulling your focus, they're not the right fit.” - Bobby Berk
5. “For one week, keep track of things that you see and like—out in the world, on Instagram, on TV—and find common threads between them.” Justina Blakeney
6. “Adding a lot of styles/themes to the same space is a design no-no. Try to find your own style and stick to that theme. In this way, you will stay in your comfort zone, it will feel personal and you will like spending more time there.” Gauri Khan
7. “Choosing light, neutral colours for the primary features of a space with black accents would undoubtedly provide a greater sense of depth and opulence to the space.” - The Karighars
8. “A large room should have large furniture, medium rooms should have medium-sized furniture, and a small room, should have more petite furniture. Once the sofa is chosen, scale the rest of the furniture and accessories to that sofa.” - Emily Henderson
9. “When you lay out a room, it needs to be practical, first, then beautiful. The best-designed rooms are the ones that feel layered, assembled over time, and beautifully edited. To get there, you have to be prepared to experiment.” - Nate Berkus
10. “Every space should be extremely eclectic and personal and inspiring." - Jonathan Adler
11. "Purchase a few matted frames and pop in your own sketches of abstract art. The picture mats will look expensive, and you'll have your own personal touch on the walls for guests to admire.” - Eneia White
12. "Small, outdoor ceramic stools are great pieces of furniture that perform double duty. They can be used as extra seating or when placed close to a chair or sofa, they can serve as an additional surface to place your laptop during work hours or cocktails and small plates of food during an outdoor hangout." - David Quarles IV
13. "Murals are a way of bringing more people into the house, so even when it's just the two owners, it never feels lonely." - Raji Radhakrishnan
14. "Old and new belong together. A mix of modern pieces and antiques never tires." - Caleb Anderson
15. "Choosing the right light bulb is very important. LED bulbs are energy efficient, and they can look great." - Paloma Contreras
16. "Update your light switches! Elegant controls add a spectacular element to an older home or character to a new one." - Courtney Hill
17. "Follow your gut. If you have to talk yourself into liking something, you probably don't." - Olivia Erwin
18. "Every house should have a great bar. It is the central point of a party, and if you entertain a lot, it will be celebrated, so put some thought into it." - Jordana Joseph
19. "Use tall pieces in a low-height room. Short furnishings would make the ceiling feel that much lower to the ground." - Jason Oliver Nixon
20. "Don't settle. If you have your heart set on a piece, don't try to find something similar just to save money. Chances are, you'll never be completely satisfied with the substitute (or its quality)." - Brian Watford
21. "Buy one good piece of furniture every year, and in five years, you'll have five pieces. Everything else may change, but these will remain constant." - Jeffery Bilhuber
22. "Embrace mixed metals. It can feel like the fixtures are curated and bespoke." - Shelley Johnstone
23. "Don't be afraid to use inherited antiques. Add a backdrop with exciting wallpaper: The combination is simply the best." - Sara Gilbane
24. "Straw, jute, rush—natural materials and neutral tones are always chic. They're the white T-shirts of interior design." - Meg Braff
25. “Avoid overly ornate furniture and architectural details and stick with clean, classic lines that won’t date.” - Tiffany Brooks
26. “Wherever your eye takes you when you enter a room, something strong should be there. It could be a piece of art, a lamp, or a wall painted in a colour. Place two sofas facing each other in a living area. Two sofas together are like the eyebrows of space: they make everything sit better.” - India Mahdavi
27. “Being creative with storage can make a room feel larger and let the finishes come to life” - Phillippa Thorp
28. “Choose splashes of red for a feeling of joy.” - Kathryn M. Irelands
29. “Texture is a bullet train to a sophisticated neutral palette. Woven pieces, hand-knotted rugs, fringed accents—these invigorate and add dimension to any space. They pair nicely with crisp contemporary pieces, as well as with antique furniture and vintage items. And then plants and flowers make a space feel alive. They just make you breathe a little different.” - Nate Berkus
30. “Think about how you can play around with dimension, colour, and texture—like incorporating seasonal accent pillows or a new throw blanket, or simply adding a new vase with large, fresh-cut stems to your cocktail table. It’s often those small additions that become big shifts in how we feel about our homes.” - Janona Gaines
31. “Never choose textiles or finishes from an image on a screen. You need to see colours in person, and touch any textiles or rugs.” - Vicky Charles
32. “Reduce the amount of things in the home. Simplifying the background makes the furniture look a little more sculptural and creates a lighter overall aesthetic. It’s all about editing.” - Michael S.Smith
33. “A great hack to enhance the feeling of space is open-plan layouts and the clever placement of mirrors to reflect light, volumes, and greenery.” - Kavya Sheth
34. “Select a room that offers ample space and can be dedicated solely to entertainment purposes. Consider factors such as size, layout, and proximity to other rooms to ensure a comfortable and immersive experience.” - Rashi Bothra and Ruchi Gehani of Azure Interiors
35. “Balance playful and sophisticated. You can mix colours and patterns that'll push the envelope but still remain stylish and authentic.” - Anthony Gianacakos
36. "Great art and fabulous antiques only get better with age.” - Chandos Dodson Epley
37. “Embrace a classic white kitchen.” - Alexandra Kaehler
38. "In an open seating plan, always use a well-proportioned statement coffee table to ground the arrangement and give it a sense of place." - Sean Michael
39. "Get creative when thinking about form and function.”- Kate Coughlin
40. "The most important first step in design is a good floor plan." - Jessica Helgerson
41. “If your space feels small and cramped, opt for some overhead or sconce lighting—or both!” - Joanna Gaines
42. “For making a small space feel larger, consider legs on everything. Because if you have furniture that’s rooted to the ground and you can't see under it, your eye’s not going to travel beyond the lines of the front of the piece of furniture.” - Kelly Wearstlers
43. “Adding pretty-toned pillows in linen or cotton will announce the summer months immediately, whilst some darker tones in velvets or even faux fur will give cosy warmth to your room during autumn and winter.” - Martyn Lawrence Bullard
44. “A lack of adequate space for walkways in an interior will not only look and feel crowded, it won’t function well either. As a rule of thumb, try and leave 36 inches of space anywhere that functions as a path of egress in and out of a room. “ - Bobby Berk
45. “Create a visual effect with stripes of different scales on a horizontal and vertical.” - Andrew Griffiths
46. “Incorporating a mix of pattern, print and texture creates a space that feels layered and nuanced, allowing key pieces and features of the room to come to the foreground. This can be particularly effective when curating different areas within one large open-plan living space.” - Katie Lion
47. “Earthy colours, natural materials and humble and exquisite objects alike come together to create what he himself defines as “harmonious living.” - Axel Vervoordt
48. “Lighting really is everything and the way you light your rooms can make or break an interior. With a dimmer switch, you can add ambience in a second, or create romance or drama.” - Martyn Lawrence Bullard
49. “Don't hide everything in a drawer or cabinet. Just don't limit yourself to a single type of open storage—opt for wire baskets, clear bottles, and glass containers. The more storage options you have, the better." - Joanna Gaines
50. “Don’t be afraid to mix different colours or a variety of textures because, when you do so, the product will be incredibly Ken Fulk-esque. If you’re intrigued by a certain wallpaper, buy it. If you love dark turquoise, adorn your walls with it.” - Ken Fulk
51. “Artwork is a great place to mix high and low, allowing one-of-a-kind paintings to live with family photos or sculptural elements that you love. Framing some of your favourite book pages is a great way to introduce affordable artwork that speaks to what you love.” - Thom Filicia
52. “It’s almost always a good idea to trust your eye – especially when it comes to hanging artwork. The ideal height for almost all artwork is eye level (about 60″ above the floor). Placed any higher, and you’ll be awkwardly looking upward.” - Bobby Berk
53. “Natural Lighting and artificial lighting complement each other. Whatever lighting you keep, lighting plays a very important role in the interiors.” - Sussanne Khan
54. “Lighten up a room with woven cane.” - Ashley Montgomery
55. “Combine strong colours and prints.” - Leah Ring
56. “Add charm with a cabinet skirt in your kitchen.” - Meta Coleman
57. “In a basement room with no windows, combine two mirrors to fake a window. It brightens up the space and makes it feel bigger.” - Camila Pavone
58. “Create what you love, not what your neighbour loves. Be individual, trust in your own style and execute it in the way you want to see and live with it. If it looks good to you, then it is good.” - Martyn Lawrence Bullard
59. “A radiator can easily throw off your design vision. Make it a part of the room by building a cabinet over it.” - Leanne Ford
60. “Create a personal oasis. Don't underestimate the importance of a personal sanctuary.” - Melissa Rufty
61. “Don't be afraid to DIY.” - Max Humphrey
62. "Never underestimate the power of paint. You don't have to break the bank to achieve a new look. A fresh coat in a vibrant colour takes an old piece of furniture or empty white room and gives it new life." - Chauncey Boothby
63. “Don't be afraid of dark colours.” Jean Larette
64. “Invest in upholstery. They help anchor a room” - Ashley Darryl
65. "Make sure you're having fun. What's more fun than making your own home more beautiful?" - Eche Martinez
66. "When you're given a dark space that doesn't have great light, create your own light.” - Matthew Boland
67. “Bring the garden inside. In lieu of a typical foyer, visitors step into a greenhouselike space that flows into a long gallery punctuated with skylights and flanked by the kitchen and master suite.” - Kelly Wearstler
68. “Swap out big pieces to get a new look.” - Tina Ramchandani
69. "In the primary suite, decor can deviate from the common areas and really reflect your personality." - Ali Vanderpool and Ariana Villalta
70. "Faux paint, lush lacquer, or wallpaper on a ceiling will garner that 'Wow' response." - Leslie May
Conclusion
The exhaustive yet compelling interior design ideas condensed down to 70 points from the most popular interior designers are your ultimate comprehensive guide to transforming any space at your home into a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing environment. Not only will these expert recommendations act as the tools to navigate your way through the intricate and comprehensive world of interior design, but they will also resonate with your personality, lifestyle, and functional needs. From the timeless principles of balance and proportion to the nuanced use of colour, texture, and lighting, these tips serve as a roadmap for creating spaces that not only look stunning but also enhance the quality of daily life.
If you are planning to spruce up your living space by following these expert interior design ideas, we have the best decor collection for you, including stunning decor objects, wall art pieces, wall decor items, photo frames, rugs, curtains, and more.
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