Top Decorating Problems Solved

FT MEWS

Setting up a new home or simply re-designing your current one can induce a number of decorating dilemmas. What’s the best colour for an accent wall? How to hang artwork? Asking friends (or Pinterest) can leave you even more confused than when you started. Here, we decode some of the most common design-related predicaments.

What is the best colour for an accent wall in a neutral coloured bedroom?
The good thing about neutrals is that they match with most colours. However, it’s best to avoid energetic shades in the bedroom – your private space should be calm and restful. Cool colours (as opposed to warm colours) from the family of blues and greens are a good option. Teal blue, particularly, makes for a great accent colour amidst neutral shades – it’s a sophisticated hue, neither too masculine nor too feminine, giving your shared space just the right amount of pop.

How high should I hang artwork?
The rule of thumb is to hang art at eye level. Ideally the midpoint of your art work should be 60–65 inches from the floor. In rooms with ceilings higher than the usual 8 feet, you can go a few inches higher than 65 inches. If you have a collection of different-sized pieces, simply envision the cluster as one single piece of art.

What are some pocket-friendly solutions to give a living room a makeover?
The easiest way to a makeover is a lick of paint. Paint adds colour; and colour adds ambience. Go all out and create a strikingly coloured feature wall and highlight it with an oversized piece of art. To hold the look together, add a couple of cushions or a rug that match the accent wall. If painting is too much work, use decals instead.

How can I make the TV less obtrusive in the living room?
The most obvious way would be to hide the TV inside a cabinet with sliding shutters. If it is mounted on the wall, create a gallery wall around the screen – this camouflages it and tricks the eye into looking at things other than the TV. Another option could be to create a different zone, however tiny, within the living room. Demarcate the zone with either a folding screen, a decorative hanging divider, or even a bookshelf.

How to decide between ceramic or vitrified tiles for flooring, considering they are both similar in properties?
It’s true that both types are extremely hardy (vitrified a tad more so), durable, and low on maintenance, so deciding which to use where can get a little confusing. Ideally, use a mix of the two types to their best advantage – vitrified for high-traffic areas such as the living room and bedroom, and ceramic for the kitchen and bathroom, as it can be used on walls, countertops and backsplashes, too.

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