1. Dollhouse furniture: “We often make the mistake of creating miniature versions of the bigger rooms we really want,” says Vos. Instead of picking mini rugs and sofas, dare to make a few risky statements: Pick an oversize sofa, go for a large bold rug or push your furniture away from the walls. Give your room less but use more impactful pieces.
2. Poor lighting: “Almost nothing has the power to transform a room like good lighting can,” Vos claims. By the same token, bad lighting can quickly ruin a room. The designer recommends using as much natural light as possible and steering clear of downlights. Instead, a good variety of sconces, table, and floor lamps arranged around the room cast a much more flattering glow and contribute to making the space feel more intimate and comfortable.
3. The white myth: “Sure, painting a room white is safe but it’s also boring,” says the designer. “While the general rule is that lighter walls and floors give the illusion of more space, our aim is to create depth and to do this we need to layer tones and textures.” Instead of painting everything white, he recommends creating subtle tonal disparities with surfaces like whitewashed floors and pale fabrics. As for small rooms that have very little natural light: going dark is the best option.
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