MARK CUTLER STYLE GUIDE: Make it Look Effortless

I was having lunch with a friend of mine, who I totally find inspiring, the other day. She has two beautiful kids, keeps an immaculate home and still has found time to be on the board of her favorite charity, I couldn't help but ask, "How do you do it?"

"I just MAKE it look effortless; underneath the water, the swans' feet are moving like mad." I think a lot of people who design could take a page from this book because in my mind, the best examples of design are the ones that look effortless. Good design should appear easy and natural, not forced and contrived. This can sometimes take a herculean effort, but in the long run, you will be happier with the results, just don't let them see you sweat.

Here are some tips to create a room that will be the envy of your friends:

Simple Color Palette
Try and keep the color palette simple. When I design a room, I will usually pick a single patterned fabric, that I will use for accents and then build a pretty simple collection of textures and solids around that. Although it is usually a small part of the room, a pillow or a drape etc, I will use this as the guiding idea for the other colors.

 Varying Texture
If you are going to go this route of simplicity, don't forget to mix up the textures of the fabrics to stop it from getting too similar. The ideal is a space that allows the eye to roam effortlessly, but not fall asleep!

Budget Concerns
This is especially important when you are working on a tight budget. Try to have one significant piece in the room. Whether it's a great antique from Grandma or a collection of fine china, one or two nice pieces will raise the sense of quality in the room immeasurably.

Remember that this is only meant to look effortless! Making it work is the tough part so be hard on yourself; if a piece doesn't feel like it's perfect, get rid of it. If you are anything like me, you probably have a tough time being subjective, so one trick I use is to take snapshots of the room, it will reveal all the things that you may have trouble seeing when you stand in the space.

Mark Cutler
Interior Designer,
MarkCutlerDesign.com