Questions Answered
Real answers from real designers. No fluff, no filler. Just the stuff you actually need to know.
What size rug do I need for my living room?
For most living rooms, you need an 8x10 feet (240x300 cm) rug. It fits a standard sofa plus two chairs with all front legs on the rug. If your room is under 12 square meters, go with 6x9 feet. If it is over 20 square meters, go with 9x12 feet. The rug should always be large enough that at least the front legs of all seating touch it.
Should curtains touch the floor?
Yes, in most rooms curtains should just touch the floor or hover 1 cm above it. This is called a clean break and it looks the most polished. Curtains that stop mid calf or at the window sill make the room look shorter. The only rooms where shorter curtains make sense are kitchens and bathrooms where moisture and splashes are a problem.
How do I choose a paint color for a room without buying 20 samples?
Start with your largest fixed element like the floor or a big sofa and pull a color from it using the 60 30 10 rule: 60 percent walls in a neutral, 30 percent furniture in a supporting tone, 10 percent accents in a bold color. Test at most 3 finalists by painting A4 size patches on two different walls and checking them at morning, afternoon, and evening light. That eliminates 90 percent of regret.
I have grey walls. What color sofa actually works?
Navy blue, mustard yellow, or a deep forest green are your strongest options with grey walls. They add warmth and contrast without clashing. If you want something safer, go with a warm cream. Never a matching grey unless the textures are completely different.
How far should my sofa be from the TV?
For a 55 inch TV, your sofa should be 2 to 3.5 meters away. For a 65 inch TV, aim for 2.5 to 4 meters. The formula is simple: multiply your TV screen size (diagonal, in inches) by 1.5 to get the minimum distance in inches, and by 2.5 for the maximum.
How do I make my IKEA furniture look more expensive?
Replace the hardware with brass or matte black pulls, swap the legs for tapered wood or hairpin metal ones, and paint flat surfaces matte black or sage green. These three changes cost under 80 euros total and instantly upgrade any IKEA piece from budget to mid range.