Over the years, I’ve found myself returning to the same handful of design principles again and again — not because they’re strict rules, but because they consistently help a room feel balanced, welcoming, and thoughtfully put together. Whether you’re furnishing an entire home or simply refreshing a room, these are the design guidelines I rely on most at Old Silver Shed.
1. Float your furniture
One of the most common mistakes I see is furniture pushed against every wall in an effort to make a room feel larger. In reality, the opposite is often true. Pulling furniture away from the walls and creating breathing room around it helps a room feel more spacious and intentional. More importantly, it creates intimacy. When seating is arranged closer together, conversation feels easier and the room instantly becomes more inviting. As a general guideline, leave about 14–20 inches between your sofa and coffee table, then use a generously sized area rug to anchor the entire grouping. I also like to incorporate vertical elements — such as a bookcase, wall sconces, or a tall lamp — to draw the eye upward and add dimension. And don’t feel obligated to fill every corner. Negative space is one of the most underrated design tools. A thoughtfully edited room will always feel better than one that’s overcrowded.
Above: Allow for positive and negative space — not every wall or area needs to be filled.
2. Plan the room before you buy anything.
Before purchasing a single piece of furniture, take a step back and think about how the room will actually be used. Who spends time there? What activities happen in the space? What do you want the room to feel like? One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is designing a room based on what it “should” be rather than how they actually live. A formal living room that sits empty most of the year isn’t doing its job. Instead, think about what would make you want to walk into that space every day. Maybe it’s a cozy library, a reading room, a lounge, or a home office. Every room in your home should serve a purpose and earn its place in your daily life.
Above: Keep the surrounding spaces visible from each room in mind as you design.
3. When it comes to rugs, bigger is usually better.
When selecting a rug, I always start by measuring the sofa since it’s typically the anchor piece in the room. Ideally, the rug should be large enough to accommodate the sofa’s full length and extend beyond it on both sides, with at least 8–12 inches of rug visible past each arm. I also like to leave about 15 inches of bare floor between the edge of the rug and the walls whenever possible. Within the furniture arrangement itself, aim for roughly 12 inches of rug visible around the pieces so the rug frames the grouping rather than disappearing underneath it. If your space or budget doesn’t allow for a larger rug, consistency becomes the most important factor. In that case, place the front two legs of every furniture piece on the rug and apply that same rule throughout the entire seating arrangement. Choose the closest available rug size and center it evenly within the space. You also don’t want to go too small. When in doubt, I almost always recommend sizing up. A larger rug helps anchor the room and makes the entire space feel more cohesive and intentional.
4. Hang art lower than you think you should.
If there’s one decorating mistake I see more than any other, it’s artwork hung too high.
The goal is for art to feel connected to the room, not like it’s floating somewhere above it. A good rule of thumb is to hang artwork so the center sits roughly 60–65 inches from the floor, which happens to be the same standard used in many galleries and museums. Personally, I like to think about placing the center of a piece about five inches above my own eye level.
When hanging artwork above a sofa, console, or bed, leave approximately 6–8 inches between the bottom of the frame and the furniture below. This helps visually connect the two and creates a more cohesive look.
A simple test? If you have to tilt your head upward to comfortably view the piece, it’s probably too high.
5. Use the “3 to 5” rule when styling.
Whether I’m styling a coffee table, shelf, mantel, or console, I often work in groups of three to five objects.
Odd numbers naturally feel balanced and visually appealing without looking overly symmetrical. They create interest while still feeling relaxed.
This rule is also a helpful reminder to edit. Empty space isn’t something that needs to be filled. In fact, giving the eye a place to rest often makes the objects you’ve chosen feel even more special.
Rather than scattering accessories across a large surface, try grouping them together. A collected arrangement feels warmer, more intentional, and far more inviting.
6. Keep chandelier height in mind.
As a general guideline, hang a chandelier 30–36 inches above a dining table or kitchen island. The fixture should feel connected to the surface below without blocking your sightline.
In rooms with very high or vaulted ceilings, don’t be afraid to go larger and hang the fixture slightly lower than you think you should. Oversized lighting can help visually pull a tall ceiling into the room, creating warmth and intimacy.
7. Hang curtains higher and wider.
One of the easiest ways to make a room feel larger is to hang curtain rods higher and wider than the actual window frame.
I typically extend rods about six inches beyond the window on each side and mount them about six inches above the top of the frame. This simple adjustment draws the eye upward, makes windows appear larger, and allows more natural light to enter when the curtains are open.
That said, every home is different. I had to adapt this rule in my own home because the original cottage trim had been preserved. Each window features a six-inch header board just above the frame, and mounting the rods above it would have meant covering or competing with that architectural character. Instead, I mounted the rods directly onto the header itself. This allowed me to keep the integrity of the original trim while still achieving a polished, intentional look.
The goal is always to make the right decision for your specific space, and sometimes the house tells you exactly what to do.
The best rooms know when to break the rules…
At the end of the day, design rules are really just guidelines. In fact, some of my favorite spaces exist because I chose to ignore them.
A perfect example is my library. Above the coffee table, I grouped three Bolle pendant lights and hung them at varying heights. Technically, they’re lower than many designers would recommend, but because the coffee table itself sits low, the proportions feel right.
In the evening, the glass globes seem to float like bubbles in the center of the room. They add character, movement, and a little bit of magic.
So learn the rules, use them when they help, and don’t be afraid to break them when your space calls for something unexpected. Sometimes those are the details that make a home feel most special.
