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    8 Secret Design Tricks from Interior Designers

    August 11th, 2016 , Last Modified: August 11th, 2016

    There's a reason why no matter how much you try your interior, it never seems to quite match up with the rooms you see in magazines. Here are here 8 foolproof design formulas to follow that interior decorators will never tell you for free.

    1. The Pillow Equilibrium Instead throwing any pillow you can find on your couch, place two matching boldly patterned large pillows in the corners of your couch, and then overlap them with a set of slightly smaller pillow of a coordinating color. Finally place a lumbar pillow in between the two sides to further balance the look out.

    2. The Right Height to Hang Artwork

      The average person typically hangs their artwork too high. On average, artwork and frames should be hung three to eight inches above furniture-lower for large pieces and higher for small pieces. The reasoning behind this is that when there is too much space between the furniture and the wall decorations, the eye rests on the blank wall instead and any artwork loses its purpose.

    3. The Bookshelf Equation

      Use your bookshelf not only to store books, but to decorate your room by using these tricks. Organize 60 percent of you books vertically and 40 percent of your books horizontally. Remember to stack horizontal books lower than vertical ones. For example, if your vertical books come out to be 12inches tall, your stack of horizontal books should be around 4 inches tall. This creates a look of both balance and spontaneity. Lastly, add some green plants to soften the bookshelf, but avoid flowers to keep your look from becoming too cluttered.

    4. Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall

      There is actually a magical number for how high to place mirrors-about 57 inches high. Combined with mounting a mirror across a window to further bounce light, using this easy, eye strain free height, a mirror can magically create the illusion of more space.

    5. Rug Based

      Use a rug for an easy and aesthetically pleasing way to dictate the way you decorate and situate your furniture. For example, with an eight-by-ten-foot rug, situate the sofa and any chairs so that the front legs of each are somewhere on the rug but the back legs are not. In a large family room, use two rugs to create two separate living areas.

    6. Size your dining table

      Despite how adorable a miniscule dining table is, make sure you measure your dining table when buying and make sure it's at least wider than 36 inches. This gives room to eat even when the center is filled with centerpieces and dishes. A trick for more space is to use a round table versus a square one as it fits well into a small corner and with no edges, offers you dinning space.

    7. Go-To Color Scheme

      Not too sure where how much of what and which colors your room should have? Always assign 60% of your room to a dominant color, this might be the walls. Then, assign 30% to a secondary color, typically to furniture. Lastly 10% of your room should be an accented color, usually decorations such as a floral arrangement or pillows.

    8. Coffee Table Times

      For ideal comfort and style, choose a coffee table that's two thirds the length of your sof and 15 to 20 inches tall. One you have the right coffee table place it 18 inches away from the couch, this gives the plenty of space for everyday lounging and walking around the furniture.

    Tags: Secret, Design, Tricks, Interior, Decorators, Pillow Equilibrium, Hang Artwork, Bookshelf, Mirror, Rug