Do self-edit
Never be afraid to self edit and be your sternest critic. Sometimes it is good to stand back and ask yourself “is this the best I can do?” If you have any doubts scrap the ideas and start again.
Do look to art for ideas
Look for inspiration outside the images you see online and on social media. 17th- and 18th-century portraits will have fabulous and unexpected juxtapositions of colour in costumes and clothing. John Fowler often used costume detailing as a catalyst for curtain ideas, so put aside Instagram and take a trip to an art gallery.
Do mock things up to give you a sense of scale
For example, ask your curtain maker to make a toile in calico so you can see how a pelmet might sit, how the curtains hang on the floor, how much fullness you need. Better to make a mistake in cotton rather than taffeta. Similarly a local print shop could blow up line drawings full-size; this way you could pin a fireplace, a mirror or a piece of furniture to a wall to see if it sits well.
Do customise your fabrics
Look closely at the furnishing fabrics you are using and see if there are ways to customise them. Could you cut off a stripe border and use it as a trim along the base of a pair of curtains ? Could you use a fabric on the reverse for a different texture ? Could you cut and join two complementary fabrics together to make something entirely new?
Do paint the insides of lampshades a soft pink
It makes the light very flattering.
Don't slavishly copy what you see on your travels
Don’t be fooled into thinking that the fantasy hotel you stayed in on holiday has a look you can translate into your own home when it's thousands of miles away and in a different climate. Having a tropically-inspired interior in an English climate will never look good.
Use the best timber mouldings you can that are appropriate to the period of the house
Nothing looks worse than a mean architrave or skirting, and this is especially important if the interior architecture is on show. Atkey & Co have an amazing range that covers all periods. Remember there is no obligation always to have curtains, especially if you have a beautifully proportioned window with the correct period detailing.
Always use silk flex on table lamps
Never use plastic! Get an electrician to fit torpedo switches on the flex, this is by far the easiest way to turn lamps on and off.
Do put in a 5-amp lighting circuit
If the budget allows, this is a helpful device that will let you control the lighting in a room from a wall switch.
Do lay pictures out on the floor before hanging them on the wall
Stand on a chair and look down on the arrangement to see how it looks.
Only choose paint colours in the room they are destined for
Paint up the biggest sample card you can and move it from wall to wall. The colours will change depending on the orientation of the wall.
Get the architecture right before you start
You cannot cover up bad proportions and layouts with decoration.
Do the garden first
If you are a planning to landscape or plant your garden as part of your renovations, do it first. Having a garden that is a few seasons old by the time you finish the interiors will be worth the early investment. There is nothing worse than looking out on a mud patch from your newly decorated sitting room.
