Photo: Austin Day Writer: Bryce Jones Rules are made to be broken, even — and especially — in interior design. While it can feel scary to reject norms, the pros want you to remember that style is personal, and your space should reflect that. After all, you’re the one who lives there. So whethe r you’re a rule follower or a natural rebel, your home is the place to push boundaries. “Design rules, lots of times, stem back to those seven principles of design,” said Emily Renze-Crouch, principal designer and co-founder of B Street Design. Those principles refer to balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, proportion and unity. “It’s really hard for me because, generally, I’m a rule follower,” she said. “But there are a few things that come to mind when clients say, ‘Well, isn’t it supposed to be done this way?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah … but no.’” OK, but what about guidelines that circulate online? You can reject those, too. “I hate rules,” said Jessi Economos, interior designer and owner of Jeid Studio. “I think there are things that are tried and true for good reason, like with circulation, ergonomics, that type of thing. But on Pinterest, you’ll see [posts detailing] exactly how big your light fixtures need to be and how your art should be scaled and certain things like that. But it’s not one size fits all.” So here are seven rules Economos and Renze-Crouch constantly break. They encourage you to take a risk and do the same. 1. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines Over 20 years designing kitchens, Renze-Crouch has almost always broken the rule about placing a hood vent no higher than 30 inches above the cooking surface. “Of course, [manufacturers] are going to say that, because it’ll help with the performance of their product,” she said. “But because hood vents are so deep, for most people, it’s a head-banger. It looks really low, especially in a space that has tall ceilings.” Breaking this rule can lead to a more natural-looking proportion, she said, and it’s never caused her any problems. In the kitchen pictured here, her team installed a vent in the ceiling and concealed it with wooden trim. 2. Stay to scale with lighting With lighting, playing with the rules of scale allows you to create a striking centerpiece. If you have a larger space and love a bold, bright look, don’t feel confined to a single fixture. In a recent project, Economos found herself trying to make a room with grand 20-foot ceilings feel more cozy and intimate. So instead of adding one light fixture like she typically would, she staggered three chandeliers that measure about 4 feet across. “We also have a project in Cedar Falls right now, with a spiral staircase going from the lower level all the way up, and there will be five chandeliers cascading down that,” she said. Photo: Golden Photos 3. Stick with a single style “Just because Nike sells a matching sweatsuit doesn’t mean you have to wear them together,” Economos said. In the Jeid Studio showroom, she has mixed all kinds of styles while maintaining the overall flow. She hopes to give clients the confidence to combine aspects of all the aesthetics they love to add character and personality. “You can lean toward mid-century, but not every single piece has to be mid-century,” she said. “Or you can be transitional, and you can pull from four different styles and bring it all together, and it can just be you.” 4. Follow the Golden Ratio The Golden Ratio is a time-tested principle in which two proportions relate to each other in the same way the larger relates to the whole, creating a naturally pleasing sense of balance. The notion started as far back as 300 BCE with Greek mathematicians like Euclid and Pythagoras. In the 1500s, it inspired Leonardo da Vinci to write a book called “De divina proportione,” which suggest the ratio represents “divinely inspired simplicity and orderliness.” But just because a few geniuses like it doesn’t mean you have to agree. “When you’re doing a wainscot, for instance, people will say you have to follow the Golden Ratio proportions, whether a third or two thirds, but that’s not always true,” Renze-Crouch said. “Golden Ratio proportions really should be looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many times, that’s where I start. But often I find myself adjusting heights of things that are not following that rule.” 5. Don’t mix finishes Renze-Crouch won’t pair certain finishes, like raw brass with satin brass, or reddish oil-rubbed bronze with stainless steel, but she firmly believes in mixing and matching. Doing so “creates more depth in a space,” she said. To make sure your ideal finishes work together, look at them together in person before adding them to your space. 6. Pay attention to trends With microtrends and “cores” and viral products constantly barraging social media algorithms, it’s exhausting to try to keep up. It’s also risky, Economos said. She recommends investing in high-end upholstery and furniture, “and doing that while leaning into trends is completely dangerous,” she said. “Our goal is to provide our clients with timeless design. Regardless of the style, it needs to be timeless. So if it’s been around for 10 years, it will likely stay for the next 10 years, and you’re not going to get sick of it.” Renze-Crouch agrees. She stops using products by the time they’ve gone mainstream and can be bought from retailers. She said choosing things with interesting details will stand the test of time. To avoid falling into the trend trap, define your personal style and stand by it. If you’re working with a designer, they can figure it out for you. But if you’re on your own, look at inspiration photos and study the elements and shapes you find appealing. “Sometimes I see something and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love that, and I will never get sick of it. And I don’t care if other people don’t like it,’” Economos said. “I think being true to that will give you a product that actually is meaningful and something you’re proud of. That’s how you get your personality to show through in your house.” 7. Buy only neutral furniture Both Economos and Renze-Crouch are pumping their fists in celebration now that color is back in style — goodbye, millennial gray — and they want you to embrace it for more than just your decor and accent pieces. While sourcing upholstery for her showroom, Economos fell in love with a buffalo check sectional. “Pitching a client on that would be incredibly difficult, but if you see it in real life, you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s kind of cool,’” she said. “So I’m trying to show them: You can do a red velvet sofa and it’s ultra sexy. You don’t have to be so scared of doing that.” ...read more read less