7 Design Rules You Should Totally Break, According to Designers

Stop Striving for Symmetry

According to Homepolish interior designer Jennifer Wallenstein, creating a perfectly symmetrical design creates a flat, boring space. Instead of focusing on symmetry, we should be striving for balance, she says. Wallenstein challenges rules of symmetry by encouraging odd numbered groupings, hanging artwork off-center, and grouping mismatched chairs. "Sometimes, nothing achieves balance better than something being a bit askew," she explains. Asymmetrical elements help draw the eye around the room, lending to a multi-dimensional, lively space.

02 of 07

Go Ahead, Mix Metals

Creating a cohesive design often begins with selecting materials that flatter one another. While it may be tempting to base your design choices around a showroom model, it certainly isn't your only option. "Instead of having all of your bathroom fixtures from the same collection and in the same finish, opt for drawing attention to a special feature in the space," suggests Wallenstein. "Maybe you've invested in a killer freestanding tub," she says, "so go the extra step and make the tub stand out." A faucet in a different finish will draw attention to this feature. To keep mixed metals from becoming overwhelming, choose just two or three kinds and repeat them throughout the space.

03 of 07

Use Big Furniture in Small Spaces

You may have heard (or at least intuited) that you should use small furniture in a small space. Well, some designers are throwing this rule out the window. Katie Hodges of Katie Hodges Design encourages playing with scale regardless of room size. "A small space with too many small furniture pieces can look uncomfortable and unwelcoming," she says. Hodges warns against falling into the trap of buying too many small items in an attempt to create an illusion of space, as it often just leads to rooms that look overcrowded with furniture. "Try to incorporate a balance of both visually heavy and light pieces," she recommends. One or two larger, heavy-looking pieces will help anchor the room, while the smaller pieces will help make the most of your limited square footage.

04 of 07

You Don't Need High Contrast

Contrast is an essential design principle that adds visual interest to a room. By using a mix of lighter and darker hues, contrast can make certain elements in the room stand out. But, more important than emphasizing one element over another is the overall feeling of the room. "High contrast can yield a strong impact, but some of my favorite spaces employ a tonal aesthetic, which creates a sense of calm and ease," says Hodges. For example, a bedroom designed around a palette of blues in various shades evokes a more relaxing vibe than a high-contrast black and white bedroom. Too much contrast throughout a room can be overwhelming, so stick to contrast in small doses.

05 of 07

Forget About Matchy-Matchy Decor

"The rule that you need to match everything has to go," says Nicole Gibbons, founder and CEO of Clare. "Whether you're talking prints and patterns, furniture styles, or old and new, mixing is always so much more interesting than matching." Her secret for making sure mismatched decor doesn't feel too busy or jarring? "Keep your patterns in the same color family and vary the scales," she says. "A large scale and smaller scale print will complement each other nicely, whereas two large scale prints would compete." When it comes to combining old and new, Gibbons suggests juxtaposing ultra-modern furniture in a space with older, ornate architecture. When carefully planned, these contrasting elements compliment one another.

06 of 07

Rich Paint Colors Can Work in Small Spaces

Color has the ability to dramatically transform a home. In most cases, designers will shy away from painting small rooms with dark colors because of the shrinking effect these hues have on a space. But this rule doesn't hold true in every case. "Understanding space and light is far more important to choosing the right paint color than the size of a room," assesses Gibbons. "When done right, a deep, rich color can look so chic in a small space. It can make the space incredibly dramatic and sophisticated in ways that an airy, bright color never could," she adds. A small bathroom is the perfect place to try breaking this design rule, such as with a trendy navy or deep green hue.

07 of 07

Yes, You Can Use Black and Navy Together

These neutral, dark colors have always been separated due to their similarity. "In fashion and interiors, there's an unspoken rule to never mix navy and black. Turns out we actually love this look!" admits Shea and the designers at Studio McGee. In the past, pairing navy with black was perceived as a poor attempt at matching, but nowadays, this aesthetic faux pas no longer holds true. "Pairing the two together creates more dimension than a monochromatic palette and more definition than using a variety of different shades of blue," explain Shea and the designers.

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