Home design has all sorts of rules and trends that tell us how to position our furniture, what colors to use, and what materials to choose.
But in many cases, following the rules too closely can stifle your creativity and self-expression. There are times when breaking the design rules not only helps you create a space that’s better suited to your preferences and routines, but can also surprise you in a good way.
Here are a few times when you should ditch the design rulebook and try something new.
Try Unexpected Color Palettes
If you’ve been keeping up with modern home design trends, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that neutral tones and carefully chosen accent colors are a popular choice today.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t use bold colors in unexpected places to transform an otherwise bland, personality-lacking space. If you’re not a fan of the minimalist style, adding bright feature walls or bold-colored kitchen cabinets will give your home a more exciting vibe. Just make sure to use these strong colors in moderation so they don’t end up clashing and overwhelming your senses.
Choose Function Over Convention
While many design rules are about aesthetics, sometimes the most practical solution is the best one. With that in mind, avoid cluttering your space with unnecessary furniture and decor just to keep up with trends, particularly if you have a small home, like an apartment.
Breaking the rule of “decorating for looks” in favor of maximizing storage and using multi-functional pieces means you can enjoy a much more livable space. Don’t be afraid to prioritize comfort and practicality!
Embrace Imperfection
Many home design rules push for perfection—symmetry, clean lines, and a polished, curated aesthetic. But sometimes, imperfection adds charm and character to a space. A home that looks too staged can feel cold and impersonal, while one with a mix of textures, asymmetry, and well-loved pieces feels warm and inviting.
Instead of striving for a picture-perfect home, embrace slight mismatches, organic shapes, and personal quirks. A slightly uneven gallery wall, handmade ceramics with unique textures, or a vintage rug that doesn’t match the couch perfectly can make a room feel lived-in and authentic.
The Japanese concept of wabi-sabi celebrates the beauty of imperfection, valuing natural materials, weathered finishes, and the passage of time. If you have furniture with minor scratches or fabrics that aren’t perfectly ironed, don’t rush to replace them—sometimes, these imperfections tell a story and add depth to your home.
Likewise, don’t stress over making every element of your decor fit together flawlessly. A mix of high and low-end pieces, old and new, or soft and rough textures can add visual interest and keep a space from looking too rigid.
At the end of the day, your home is meant to be lived in, not just admired. By letting go of the pressure to make everything look perfect, you create a space that feels comfortable, inviting, and uniquely yours.
Practical Design Elements Are Best
On the subject of decorating for aesthetics, there’s so much focus on looks that we often forget about the design features that serve a practical purpose.
For example, solar panels were once seen as big and ugly, and not an attractive design feature for your home’s exterior. Thankfully, with advances in modern technology, today’s solar panels are slim, discreet, and could even be considered stylish, and the solar power cost is more affordable than ever. Even so, investing in solar technology might not be the most aesthetic-focused design decision—but its practical benefits, such as reducing your carbon footprint and helping you save money, make it more than worthwhile.
Mix and Match
Another rule you might be tempted to break is the idea that home design has to be one style. There are plenty of ways to mix and match multiple styles in your home whether you’re combining vintage with modern or treating every room as individual rather than carrying design features throughout your house.
Mixing styles is far more fun than sticking to a single style, helping you establish a visually striking space that feels personal to you. When you do it right, mixing materials or different periods of design will create an eclectic space that still feels cohesive.
Listen to Yourself
When it comes down to it, breaking the rules of home design comes down to listening to yourself.
Your design choices should reflect your own taste, so don’t get too caught up in the rights and wrongs of home decor. While it’s helpful to understand the principles of design, remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
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