Whenever you're designing a room, you’ll often find that its success comes down to a few elements. If you can get these right, you’re off to the races.

But what should you be focusing on? That’s the big question.

Fortunately, we have some answers for you. Here’s what you need to know:

Color Palette

You’ll want to start by looking at the color palette and asking if it is right for you. Even if you get the specific tones correct, you can still get into trouble with the wrong approach.

Interior designers like to follow the 60-30-10 rule. The idea here is to apportion 60% of the color to one dominant shade, 30% to another, and then 10% to accents of various kinds. These prevent the room from looking out of control.

Scale And Proportion

You also want to think carefully about scale and proportion in your rooms. Everything should be the right size for what you want to do in them.

For example, if you have sofas and beds, look for ways to bring them into the center of the room if you have space. This prevents everything from looking pushed up against the walls.

Texture Mix

Also, think about the texture mix in the room. Does it make sense for the aesthetic you want to achieve?

For example, you could mix carpet with shiny brass, or you could add velvet to jute. Over time, you should get a sense for which of these pairings work best, and which you might want to avoid. It’s really a matter of personal preference and, ultimately, how you want your rooms to appear.

Focal Point

Of course, the focal point is an element in the room that can make or break it. Sometimes, it can work fantastically well, but sometimes it doesn’t, and that’s a shame.

The focal point should be something recognisable that makes a lot of sense. For example, using TVs, mirrors, or neon signs can work well. You can also organize the room around the oven (if the kitchen) or an ottoman/ coffee table/ fireplace if the lounge.

Window Treatments

Also, think about your window treatments in detail when designing a room. You want to ensure that they make sense for your setup.

You can start this process by hanging curtains high and wide. You can also get automated blinds if you want to spend the extra money, which can be a time-saver in the mornings if you’re having to rush out to work.

Traffic Flow

You should think about traffic flow, too. If you can get this right, you can massively upgrade how your room feels and what it’s like to move around in it. You don’t want people having to clamber over things or walk extra to simply get what they need. Make sure that the coffee table is around two feet from the edge of the sofa so that people can move in and out easily when they want. Don’t put ottomans or sideboards in front of doorways.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.