Do:
Do take measurements before heading out furniture shopping. It is crucial to have room measurements when heading out shopping because the last thing you want to do is invest in a large scale sofa or king bed only to find out that you don’t have enough room for it.

Do a furniture layout. Get some graph paper and draw out your room. Each square should represent a foot. Look up furniture sizes on the Internet and then start plunking pieces on the page to see what will fit. Keep in mind traffic zones, as they will require at least three feet for movement.

Do have a colour scheme in mind. The best suggestion I have is to start off with a certain colour or fabric. This makes it easier when selecting other colours to work off in the scheme. For example, if you have a highly patterned fabric with a mix of four colours, then you can pick up on those colours as accents in the space.

Be sure to leave the bold patterned fabric for accents such as pillows and accent chairs. This way your large pieces of furniture can be left more neutral so you can easily change up your scheme.

Do work off of inspiration. Inspiration can come from many things: a magazine, photo, or fabric. This will really help you in pulling the whole look together and making sure that it is cohesive and unified.

Do think outside the box. People who know my designs know that I love to think outside the box. Walking into a space that has no character hurts me a little. When thinking about designing your space, step outside the box and your comfort zones. Experiment with colours and patterns. Go with items that you would not normally pick and, if you want to, seek expert advice to help guide you.

Be consistent. It’s easy to get off track when decorating and using all sorts of colours, textures, and accents. Staying consistent through out your space will help the eye travel more seamlessly. Choose colours that work well together. If you have an open concept, space, then continuity, is key.

Don’t:
Don’t replicate design. It is very hard to replicate a certain design style and look. Trying to copy something out of a magazine is not easy and can look contrived. Your space should reflect who you are and incorporate your favourite things. Photos in magazines are homes that belong to someone else — you can definitely find inspiration from these, but don’t replicate.

Don’t do the “matchy matchy” thing. There is nothing worse than stepping into a space where all the furniture is matching. Buying furniture in sets is never a good idea and will make your space look like a show room and you don’t want that. Stay away from buying sets even though it might be more cost effective. If you are going to do this, separate the items from room to room.

Don’t be too trendy. Changing up your interiors is not cheap. Keeping away from making your space too trendy will really help in saving you money in the long run. I have always said that it is easier (and less expensive) to re-paint or re-wallpaper a wall rather than getting a new sofa. Keep trends to accessories and feature walls as they are easily change-able and cost effective.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match. The best thing about design is in the mix. Mixing old and new, different styles and especially patterns and fabrics makes spaces visually interesting. It is not always easy to pick the right fabrics but remember that consistency is key. Keep the colours the same and you won’t go wrong!

Don’t buy all new. It’s easy to go out and buy all new furniture for your space but if you are on a budget, like most of us are, then re-using some of your existing pieces is great. I am a huge fan of DIY (Do It Yourself). The new term for this is Up Cycling. It’s a great way to revamp old dated pieces and breathe new life into them. A new coat of paint can go a long way!

Happy Decorating! 

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Alykhan Velji
Having a successful design career for the last several years, Alykhan Velji has definitely made a name for himself on the Alberta design scene. Coming in as one of the top three finalists for HGTV’s Designer Superstar Challenge in 2006 and then landing a role as a Stylist/Design Assistant on The Style Dept. also was a great boost to his career.
As well as having his own design business, Alykhan Velji Design, Alykhan has been featured in many local and national publications, offering his expertise on design and trends. Finding inspiration in his travels and keeping abreast with the design industry’s new and innovative trends ensures his design esthetic is always fresh, all the while remaining original and timeless. In its fourth year as a design firm, Alykhan Velji Design specializes in both residential and commercial projects.
http://www.alyveljidesigns.com