Guides
Interior design basics
The ideas designers use in every room, explained plainly: how to build a palette, light a room in layers, get scale right, style a shelf, hang art and make a small space feel bigger.
Design basicsWhat size rug do I need? A room-by-room guide
Rug sizes for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and hallways, in cm and feet, with the placement rules designers use and the mistake to avoid.
Design basicsThe 7 principles of interior design, explained
Balance, rhythm, emphasis, contrast, scale, harmony and detail: the seven interior design principles explained with examples and a room checklist.
Design basicsSmall room ideas: how to make a space feel bigger
Make a small room feel bigger with smarter color, light, furniture scale, mirrors, storage and layout. Practical rules with measurements in cm and inches.
Design basicsScale, proportion and flow: room layout basics
The furniture spacing rules designers use: walkway widths, coffee table and rug sizes, art and lighting heights, in cm and inches, plus a layout method.
Design basicsRental decorating ideas: changes you can undo
Renter-friendly decorating ideas you can undo: rugs, plug-in lights, removable hooks, leaning art, curtains without drilling and furniture that moves with you.
Design basicsInterior design glossary: the terms you'll hear
A plain-English interior design glossary: 70+ terms from accent wall to zoning, covering color, lighting, furniture, architecture and style names.
Design basicsHow to style shelves and bookcases
Style shelves and bookcases that look curated, not cluttered: the order to place things, how to arrange books, spacing rules and a step-by-step checklist.
Design basicsHow to read a room before you decorate
Before you decorate, read the room: measure it, follow the light through the day, find the focal point, map the paths and note what can't change.
Design basicsHow to mix patterns like a designer: 7 simple rules
How to mix patterns in a room: vary the scale, share one color, start with three, give the eye solid places to rest, and combine florals, stripes and checks.
Design basicsHow to mix materials and textures in a room
Mix wood tones, metals, fabrics and stone with confidence. Simple rules for contrast, repetition and balance, plus a pairing table and checklist.
Design basicsHow to make over a room on a budget
A budget room makeover in the right order: edit, rearrange, paint, fix the lighting, size the rug and curtains, then buy a few key pieces secondhand.
Design basicsHow to light a room in layers
Layered lighting explained: ambient, task and accent light, where to put each, which bulbs to buy (color temperature, CRI, lumens) and room-by-room plans.
Design basicsHow to hang art and plan a gallery wall
How high to hang art, how big it should be, spacing for gallery walls and how to plan one with paper templates. Measurements in cm and inches.
Design basicsHow to find your interior design style
A practical way to find your interior design style: collect images, spot the patterns, name them, check them against your real life, and try before you buy.
Design basicsHow to choose paint colors: undertones, tests and sheen
How to choose paint colors that work: read undertones, test samples on several walls and at different times, match the light, and pick the right sheen.
Design basicsHow to arrange living room furniture: 3 layouts that work
How to arrange living room furniture around a focal point: three proven layouts, walkway and TV distances in cm and inches, and how to zone an open-plan room.
Design basicsHow high to hang curtains (and how wide and long)
How high to hang curtains, how far the rod should extend, how full and long panels should be, plus hardware, sheers and small-room tips, in cm and inches.
Design basicsHouseplants by light: what grows where indoors
Which houseplants suit bright, medium and low light indoors, how window direction and distance from the glass change it, and the signs a plant needs more light.
Design basicsColor theory for rooms: how to build a palette
How to choose room colors that work together: the color wheel, undertones, the 60-30-10 rule, five classic schemes and how light changes paint.
Design basics12 common decorating mistakes (and the fixes)
The decorating mistakes designers see most: rugs too small, art too high, curtains too low, one ceiling light, matching sets. Each with a simple fix.More guides: StylesRoom ideasDesign gamesPlaying Cozee
