Its fun to be creative, even more so when you’re looking to put your own stamp on your brand new home.

Remember, rules are made to be broken, so why not have a little fun with it?

Knowing when to break with tradition can take your decor style from predictable to one of a kind. The key to success is picking and choosing where you want to go against the grain and how it’s going to benefit your space.

Below, we have come up with a range of traditional interior design faux pas where we think the rules could be bent.

1. Never put large furniture in a small space

It kind of makes sense when you’re looking to furnish a small room, however, by using super small furniture, you might just be emphasizing the fact that there is no room. It seems counter intuitive, but often a single large piece, such as gorgeous Flamant sofa, will ground the look of the entire room.

2. Never paint the ceiling

Put simply, why not? By painting the celling, you can add an interesting dynamic to the room. If you have high ceilings, painting it a dark colour such as black or brown will make it look lower.

3. Always match your wood tones

A mix of grains, stains and finishes creates an artfully curated look that feels both natural and welcoming. While mixing and matching is good, there should be some continuity: You don’t necessarily want to be mixing extreme opposites like poplar and walnut, but do go for wood combos like cherry, birch and poplar.

4. Never mix patterns

While we recommend that you err on the side of caution with this one, mixing patterns, the right way, brings style and flair to any space. Try to stay within the same colour palette for a unified look.

5. Always match your colour tones

There’s an art to monochromatic decorating. Mixing shades of the same hue is essential, especially if you want to avoid a static, one-dimensional look.

Aside from the fact that it’s basically impossible to perfectly match a colour whenever you buy something new for your space, it’s important to incorporate a range of shades. This will ensure it doesn’t look like you tried to match and failed.

Need a little help with your space? Contact LOFT for full comprehensive interior design services in Malta.