Every industry has their fair share of misconceptions and the interior design world is no different. In fact, design rules that were once followed have been tossed out the window. I took to Instagram to ask you what common misconceptions exist. Here are five that we selected at random.

Misconception #1: A dark paint and bold wallpaper makes a small room feel smaller.

Clients often don’t want to entertain the idea of a dark small room or wallpaper in a small space because they feel it will make the space feel smaller, when in actuality, it has the opposite effect. A small space thrives with the unexpected, creating drama and making your eye focus on the room itself rather than it’s size!

Pop a dark color or patterned wallpaper into a small space for instant drama and that wow factor.

Misconception #2: You can’t mix metals.

We hear this so often and it couldn’t be farther from the truth! In fact, we feel it’s boring to keep the same finish throughout in a single space. This misconception tends to be one that we hear a lot when it comes to kitchen finishes. Appliances are stainless, the hardware is nickel, so there is no way we can add black or brass cabinet hardware or lighting, right? WRONG. Mix in 1 other metal/finish to instantly elevate your space. What we don’t recommend is mixing the same color in different finishes such as polished nickel and brushed nickel or chrome and nickel. If you’re going to mix, make it contrast!

Brass cabinet hardware adds interest to a kitchen with stainless steel appliances.

Misconception #3: You don’t need an area rug when you have carpet.

This is a misconception with a little bit of truth. While we do like to layer area rugs on carpets, it has to be the right type of area rug.

Grounding a space is very important in any room and while some bedrooms have wall to wall carpet, it’s still ideal to place an area rug under the bed or a sitting area. It can get a little tricky when you have to consider the pile heights of both the carpet and the area rug. If you carpet has a high pile, a thiner area rug will crumble and fold or crease in some areas, while an area with a hard backing will lay better. If you aren’t working with a design professional this could be a trial and error situation. The perfect rug will elevate any room.

Misconception #4: Instagram accounts often say you can renovate a kitchen under $25k.

This misconception is mixed. Yes, depending on the size of your kitchen and the scope of work, you can do this on a budget. However, you cannot fully renovate a kitchen on a $25k budget.

Instagram and network shows create a false sense of costs by breakdown. While you will see how much the physical items cost, what you don’t see are the labor/professional fee’s involved. Some network home renovation shows and “influencers” get paid with goods and services to renovate their own homes. A sponsored renovation may be broken down to show it cost $25k, but they don’t tell you that the ad they post includes free plumbing, cabinets or tile. Sometimes this can also include installation fees.

Misconception 5: I can’t afford to hire you to help our family create our perfect home.

Not true! While our firm designs mostly new builds and larger scale renovations, we also offer furnishings, redesign and styling services. We are able to offer help for those with tighter budgets through our concierge and virtual design services!

You can make an appointment to come into our flagship store, Abode Shoppe, to go over your design problems/needs with one of our designers, who will review your supplied photos and layout issues. This can also be done over Zoom. In addition, we can also design a space for you virtually, whether you are near or far! Reach out to us at hello@ginabaran.com to learn more about our budget friendly design options.

Don’t let any misconceptions about interior design overwhelm you or deter you from creating the home of your dreams and elevate your life.

Want us to answer your design questions? Email us hello@ginabaran.com and we’ll add your question to our monthly Q+A!

Project image features: Avery | Middle | Hunter
Photography: Freebird