When you look at images of the perfect home, it can be tempting to think that you’re seeing something that you could replicate. Take, for example, this stunning interior:
Who wouldn’t want that? The room is bathed in light, it’s pristine and white, stunning in its simplicity. Or perhaps you prefer something a little busier? Something like…
There’s a lot going on here and the color palette is more vibrant, but the impact is still the same. It looks amazing; you see it and you think… I want my home to look like that. The problem? Your home will never look like that. The reason? People.
Yes, it’s the one thing that is always going to let down your decor choices: people. People, you see, make mess. Even a fastidiously tidy person verging on being a neat freak is going to make a mess, thanks to the simple fact that they are alive. That means their footprints can be imprinted onto wood flooring, their fingerprints will alight on any glass surfaces, their skin will shed to create dust.
So if you want to get a photo-perfect interior, how do you go about it?
Accept Near Perfection Don’t expect that your future contains a home that looks spotless all the time, unless you want to consign yourself to a life of cleaning. Close to perfection is as good as you’re going to be able to get – so give yourself a break every once in awhile!
Choose Your Interiors Carefully Never choose your interiors solely due to the way they look. Something may appeal to you in an aesthetic sense, but it would actually be ruinous to live with. For example, this may look like the perfect bathroom to start your day in… but then think about how it’d be to live in it. For a start, that mirror is going to be covered in dust and fingerprints faster than you can brush your teeth. Then, the all-white fixtures and fittings will show every speck of dust, debris, and water staining that comes into contact with them.
Texture Is Better Than Smooth The beautiful glossy surfaces of interior design magazines and Pinterest appeal to us. To begin with, there might be a biological reason we like shiny things – because our ancestors used to associate shimmering surfaces with clean water.
However, you have to fight biology on this one, because the maintenance of shiny surfaces is a nightmare. This is especially true of flooring. It looks great for all of ten seconds, but then the footprints and the dust will begin to settle.
Texture is the best way to combat this, especially in high traffic areas like halls and the kitchen. Losing that shiny surface might feel like a big loss, but you’ll think yourself over and over when it comes to maintenance. You can still use whatever cover you want, but look for something with a slightly rough feel to the touch, and you can be sure it’s going to look good when it’s put into action.
Mitch, you’re so right about the textures. What gives a space more character and warmth is always mixing different surfaces, fabrics and shades. I also believe that lighting plays a big part. Using different light sources gives a space its unique touch too!