There is the phenomenon known as too much of a good thing.
While one item can be the perfect accent piece or the perfect bite to satisfy a craving yet too many of these items and suddenly it’s overdone and not desirable.
I have a box of coconut Turtles sitting on my coffee table because, even though I love Turtles, these are too sweet and after two bites they are just not enjoyable at all.
It makes me sad looking at them knowing that I won’t eat them when a normal box of Turtles would have been consumed before New Years!
Having seen many homes over the years I am sometimes taken aback at too much of a good thing.
Design is meant to be stunning and beautiful but also functional and I think that people often get ahead of themselves when working on their homes.
I have often worked with clients who are frustrated when a design plan doesn’t work out and it is usually because they have overdone the design.
Lighting is often one item that can be easily overdone; it is fine to have one large statement piece in a room but be careful that the lighting in the adjoining rooms (especially on the same floor) be congruent with all the other lighting fixtures.
I recognize the allure that lighting fixtures have and that it can be tempting to pick and choose various and beautiful products for your home. Once all these glittery fixtures are hung you are left with a mess of different styles, colours and even lighting colour.
The shades and glass coverings all reflect different colours so be very careful when choosing lights to make sure your lighting story is consistent.
While tile is beautiful and very fun to design, be careful when choosing your tile story.
It is easy to be transfixed by the glitter and the glass but keep in mind that tile is a very permanent fixture and is difficult to replace. Make sure tile is timeless and beautiful and something you will want to look at for years to come.
It is important to choose tile with subtle patterns or use bolder patterns in smaller quantities to keep the tile from overpowering the space. If a little is good, more must be better – right?
Not necessarily. The tile you love on a small sample may overpower on a larger scale such as a full wall, backsplash or fireplace.
I am of course going to talk about clutter, as I tend to do.
It isn’t necessary to buy ALL the pieces of furniture in a collection. Be careful to choose furniture that is to scale with the room you are putting it in and watch for styles which compliment each other, not just the colours or fabrics.
Arm styles, leg shapes and colours are all important when choosing furniture and vital to making them well co-ordinated. Try to not overstuff your room with furniture or it will look congested and small.
Go easy when it comes to design, easy on the fabulous points and easy on colours and co-ordinating products. Too much of a good thing can be can be detrimental if you aren’t careful with your choices.
Kim Wyse is a local freelance designer. Find her on facebook at ‘Ask a Designer’.
