Myth: You must have furniture that matches, typically from the same period or style.
On the contrary, some of the most successful rooms are a blend of periods and styles and colors that for all practical purposes don’t match — but they complement each other. The key is to find one strong unifying element (a color, shape or finish). I advise my clients to mix not match items based on things they love.

Myth: Darker colors make a room look smaller
Across the board, most people think lighter colors open up a space, but it has nothing to do with the actual colour and more to do with contrast between colours on the walls and ceiling.

When there is a stark change in color, the eye registers a boundary or stopping point which then defines the room by its actual size. The key is to minimize contrast or break in color so that the corners or boundaries between surfaces vanish. This is why I always paint the ceilings a similar color to the walls to maintain flow and open up the space.

Myth: Lining furniture up around a room leaving the center empty will make the space look larger
Avoid lining furniture up against the walls as it underutilizes the true space in the room. You must look at space three-dimensionally — its width, length and height. I maximize volume by floating furniture in the centre of a room (for example, two sofas facing each other in front of a fireplace, a desk turned L-shaped so that it faces into a room) and use at least one piece of oversized piece of furniture to trick the eye into thinking the room looks larger than it actually is.

Myth: The only place to shop for dining room furniture is in the dining room section of a furniture store
Do not limit your shopping and sourcing by virtue of the name of the room. So many fantastic items are available for use in multiple spaces; it's all depends upon your imagination. For example, use a church pew or farm bench for seating at a dining room table or place a beautiful damask bed coverlet on the table as an overlay.

If you shop outside the room when sourcing pieces you'll be amazed at how original and interesting rooms can be. Better yet, swap out an item from another room and repurpose it. This is a simple and affordable way to liven up a space.

Myth: Each room has only one focal point.
The problem with thinking this way is that most people give all the attention and visual interest to one wall often leaving the room looking visually lopsided. True focal points are discovered by observing where the eye naturally falls when moving through a space. Take a walking tour of your house and see what a guest would see upon entering each room and at every turn. Then create interesting compositions for each focal point. Suddenly, the entire room will look well-balanced.

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