BG FRIDAY. JULY 5, 2024 STRATFORD BEA OVERLOOKING SCAL Scale is an eee Ang of how the size of one item ina space relates to the size of anoth- er item in the same space as well as the space itself, explains Aman Than, founder and principal designer of Aman Than Interiors in Brampton. Examples of poor scale include oversized furniture forced into asmall living room ora single small piece of art ona large wall. “lL always recommend paying close attention to scale when designing your room,” she says. That’s not the only problem with overlooking scale, says Eugenia Triandos, principal designer at Montreal-based Hibou Design & Co. “Ill-fitting furniture not only disrupts the spatial harmony but often blocks off the flow of rooms. Make sure that when purchasing furniture that you're considering all entry points of your room and pay meticulous attention to propor- tionality,” she says. “Try not to be overcrowded.” POOR FURNITURE PLACEMENT Well-placed furniture is one of the differences between a carefully thought-out room and one that’s poorly planned, Than maintains. “In my experience, most people like to push their furniture against the wall think- ing it makes their room look spacious. In fact, it does the opposite” viting and cold.” The solution: ull furniture away from the walls and add something like a sofa table behind it to frame the room. “This placement instant- ly makes the room cosy an welcoming, and you don’t have to yell to have a conversation.” OVERLOOKING FUNCTIONALITY Catering to an esthetic appeal is great — so long as you've con- sidered a space’s functionality. “Remember to consider your needs and what your furniture’s have a very bustling household with younger ones running around, maybe opt for some darker furniture pieces or ones that clean easily.” Designer ‘Aman Than suggests buying rinse one piece at a time to av COMMON DESIGN MST HKESE If your furniture is matchy-matchy or area rugs are too small for the space, you're guilty of some of the most common design mistakes that make interior designers cringe. Linda White askeda couple of trusted interior designers to share some of their biggest pet peeves and their solutions. Here’s what they had to say: CON HERALD BARE WINDOWS Clients always ask Than if they need drapes. Her answ‘ is a resounding, ‘Yes.’ “I believe drapes are essential in the overall design of any space. Window treatments add softness to any space, and can be ideal for adding attern and colour, and empha- size tall ceilings,” she says. But hanging drapes immedi- ately above the window frame will visually shorten the height of aroom. Than recommends hang- ing drapes as close to the ceiling as possible. Doing so frames the window, completes the look and gives the room a luxurious feel, she explains. FLOATING RUGS “One could have all the beau- tiful furniture but if the area rug is too small, it takes away from the beauty of the room,” says Than. “The right rug can pull your room together and serve as abase upon which you can layer your entire room.” In living and family rooms, for example, the front legs of your furniture should sit on the rug. In bedrooms, the bed should sit on the rug and extend out at 186 Napier Street, Mitchell 67 Earl Street, Stratford 65 Elizabeth Street, Stratford 15 Kastner Street, Stratford Lot 1 Nelson Street, Mitchell GARY | oid the all- Ba pee bien e can be ori PHOTOS: MIKE CHAJECKI 4 aN - Nester 3 econ Suits}. least 12 to 18 inches. “Large rugs are space feel well-designed,” she says. POOR LIGHTING mproper lighting placement and functionality will detract from a room’s overall ambi- ence. Proper lighting, on the other hand, is key to creating a “well-balanced and comfortable” _ Eugenia Triandos. Layered lig! environment, Triandos notes. Her solution: layered lighting. “In order to really elevate your we recommend incorpo- ratinga blend of ambient, task and accent lights across your space, from sconces to standing and so on,” she says. “This will yield a multi-dimen- sional esthetic that will cater to various functional require- ments.” rush to buy the sets.” Instead, take time to see how you want to feel in your space and how your space should look. “If hiring a designer is notin your budget, buy one piece ata time, do your homework, and browse Pinterest or Google to see images that catch your eye. I believe that you can always imi- tate before you innovate.” MATCHING FURNITURE “Matching sofa, loveseat and chair, bedroom sets or din- ing room sets scream a lack of creativity and are purely Lda in my opinion,” Than say: LACK OF COHESION At the opposite end of the matchy-matchy spectrum is an excess of different styles, colours and patterns. “Try finding a theme or style that you like prior to setting off into designing your space in order to find that when you don’t t think through what it is that you want to achieve in your space, you BALM d, til et tea oe to teen Poor lighting detracts from a room's ambience, says interior designer ig elevates a room. ensure that when sourcing piec- es they all blend well together,” says Triandos. She also recom- mends browsing Pinterest to find what design style best suits you. 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