What other ways do you know of to make your home look cohesive? Comment below and let me know! 👇 Note by the way that you can repeat things that are similar to each other but not the exact same. Creating a unique space that is still cohesive means bringing in elements that speak to each other, without always being the same colour or the exact same material. I hope this video helps!
Repeating elements of your personality throughout a space. Like a watercolor artist who has a small gallery on one wall and a few others spaced through the house, or someone who loves midcentury as an overall design style but happens to LOVE fabric prints inspired by French styles of the early 19th century. Or a minimalist neutral/Scandi space + super funky light fixtures because those make someone's heart sing.
To design and repetition, I feel you also need to add balance. You need to have a serene of how much of repetition you need of one element and how and what is the most strategic place to have these elements, so they don’t overwhelm or underwhelm their space. While at the same time, tying the place together.
I am slowly starting to practice minimalism and going for a highly edited space. Repeating a minimalist aesthetic across the home (including bathrooms and kitchens), regardless of style, can also help achieve cohesiveness!
One thing I feel you forgot to mention was patience. Don't head out and feel the need to accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Take time to allow items to fall into place. Feel how the lighting changes over the year. Take time to find hidden treasures that fit in perfectly. Let your space open up to you ♡
@@chandaharkins4418 cheers to that. I think the biggest shift for me was our ability to buy a home. I've had over 20 addresses so I was turning over items I had purchased, never painted anything beyond an accent wall and never was picky about light fixtures and faucets. Now that I get to settle, I'm forcing myself to let things come to me.
The educational is fun too. Even when sassy, you are never bitchy. That's why I subscribed. You give information, advice and opinion and always differentiate between them. Too many content creators basically say "if you have this in your home, you're an idiot" without respect for their viewers varied needs and tastes.
I would enjoy seeing a video on how to incorporate what you have even if it doesn’t match. Also would like to see a video on managing and using many different things in a room. I guess this is maximalism. Yes please. We need help.
This was very useful. Thanks. Maybe in the future you could feature some photos of hodge podge messes and suggest a few changes that would make them less horrible? I feel like that would be useful too.
Oh please Nick, do this. I think it would be even better to present solutions for those of us who can’t realise “I hate it, I’ve goofed”. However we can’t dive in and in a week have new paint, new rugs, new furniture. It would be great to have someone like you detail, (eg) The most urgent thing is…, It will immediately improve the space, until you can…”
Nick PLEASE do more educational videos. You are a gifted teacher. This is the first time I’ve been able to truly understand these concepts. More, please!
I could hug you right about now… Feel free to skip the long-read, just know that you are so very appreciated. Your advice has flipped my mood completely and ultimately helped me continue to claw myself out of a dark pit of depression. Anyhow, I work full time as a 911 emergency police dispatcher, and though I love my job I’ve still been coming home from work nearly every day feeling more worn-down than the last. It got really bad and it was no longer in my control after a while. Then about two months ago I found your channel and ever since then I’ve been making changes to my home environment (and even some of my workspace) little by little, I can already feel the difference it’s made just in my mood. I feel genuine gratitude and I’m happy to be alive again, which is something I had not felt in quite some time. I come home to a place that actually makes me feel good now and it really let’s my *mind* rest itself after a stressful workday. It’s not just the place I plop down to sleep and store my junk at anymore, it’s my *home* ! 🏡 It sounds silly and dramatic but I don’t care, because that’s my true experience. Once I found your channel I felt inspired to make changes to my space for the first time since my depression overtook my will to do just about anything for myself years ago. For whatever reason you made it seem like a simple task I could take on but by bit as I watched your content and it’s made all the difference for my mental health. And at just the right time, too. I was hanging by a thread for so long and I’m freaking blown away by how different I feel today just after upgrading my interior design a bit. Honestly blown away. I guess I just never realized how important aesthetics are to us humans. The psyche is a delicate thing - especially when it comes to visual stimuli. The fact that we have the power to manipulate our environment and cater to our minds’ needs is a very beautiful thing 🌱🪞🛋 Thank you for sharing your insights here. You are very good at what you do, Nick.
This was really helpful. The blue/orange example made me realize that accent colours look good when there's perhaps one large object in the colour (ex. the blue couch), but the other repeating elements of the colour are more subtle and smaller (a bit of blue in the pillows, a bit of blue in the rug etc) so that it doesn't become overly match-y looking. I didn't quite make this connection before.
You can also see that the orange carried over into the wooden furniture! The side chairs have an orange undertone, and they also echo the tree trunks visible through the window. It’s a neat touch!
I love that you say how it is!!! You're honest and I agree with you on almost everything. PS- I had my partner watch your last video and he FINALLY agreed to throw out the ugly toilet seat cover. From the bottom of my heart, thank you! ; )
This makes me feel old, but do any of you remember how you used to be able to buy bathroom "carpet" (rubber-backed) by the square foot from Penney's, Sears, etc? And there were about 10 colors to choose from. Then you could also buy a matching toilet cover--to cover both the seat AND the entire tank, as well as small rugs to put on top of the carpet that was the exact same material...LOL, ugh!!
@@Nick_Lewis I do lol. I do my makeup on the vanity while sitting with the toilet lid down ( thought that needed to be specified lol) I tell myself I need it because it’s softer on my bum. Can you work with that?? Or does it have to go immediately??? 😂
Nick, would you ever consider doing a video on maximalism? Particularly the maximalist, colorful interior design that's popped up on Instagram and a few blogs here and there? I almost never see it here on RU-vid. Plus, it seems to be very concentrated in the UK. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I absolutely love it and draw inspiration from it. I'm very much a maximalist and can't wait to design my future home with some of what I've seen in mind.
I really wanted to get this video out first because I think it will really help with Maximalism. So yes! I have so many of these videos to do... Art deco, post modern, coastal and glam (not cheesy), Industrial...
I am WITH YOU. It’s not clutter…it’s cosy, interesting, warm, enveloping… in my quest to simplify my things to a volume I can manage, I am not willing to give up these feelings. I don’t want airy, open, neutral. I want closeness, reminiscence, humor, but livability and (literal, not figurative) cleanness.
I really, really enjoyed this format with you pointing out specific examples of exactly what you meant while explaining, instead of just ‘blah, blah, blah’ with us only seeing your face and barely any snippets of the actual style like a lot of RU-vidrs do. 👍
Nick, this was one of the best video I’ve seen on your channel and one of the best on decorating I’ve ever seen. Don’t hold back on the educational videos - this was gold!
This video reminds me of the colors videos (e.g., tints/tones/shades) that first made me a fan-useful information, concise explanation, & effective visuals backing it up. Thanks, Nick!
Thanks so much! Yes I love these educational videos. I love the commentary stuff too, but this is more where my channel started and where I love to go back to from time to time. It's such a fun challenge to think of how I can demonstrate and edit a video to help others learn. Class is in session! 🎓
As a musician, I was always SO confused when designers would reference things like flow and rhythm. Both of those things conceptually have an entirely different meaning to me but their explanations of the two were always relatively vague, which only confused me more. I really appreciate how you've taken the time to really break down the components of a room that make up the rhythm and flow. It helps me reframe my perspective on what those words mean through the lens of design.
Once RU-vid is done, please consider teaching or having an online master class on interior design. I think you’d be a great at it and I would very much enroll and pay for it 💚
I used colors and materials and almost everything in my home is handmade so it really gives it that original artistic boho vibe. There's natural wood colour in each room, metal art pieces, there's something cane and rattan in each room, plants.
uuh, yes, plants are also a great way to tie different rooms together! Plus they will produce offshoots themself, that you can place throughout your home.
LOVE your channel Nick. I've been a single mum for 20 years living in crappy rentals and I'm finally building my own home. It started as industrial decor and has morphed into mid century boho eclectic. I've curated the entire house online (it's not even finished yet). People think I'm nuts with all the vintage pieces I'm buying and the colour combos but you've convinced me my instincts are actually on point. I'm not beige and my house won't be either. Making my own design boards for each room as I bought pieces really helped so I could see how the room was starting to look.
Nick, I went through and binge watched all of your videos. I’ve made my fiancé watch because we’re slowly upgrading our new plain builder grade house. You’re great at concisely explaining things. You rock and are my fav RU-vidr! ❤️
I’m so glad you did this video. Yes to cohesive. Cohesive is my type of “fengshui”, I personally don’t believe in fenfshui, but I do believe having repetitive colour / theme/ texture can really makes the space harmony and looking peaceful and stylish. It’s the same concept when styling fashion too. I just love when I see colours being cohesive in the space/ painting/fashion, and often admire those designers clever work. Great video as always
I am in love with Japandi, having learned about it here. I'm getting ready to start redoing my entire space (1 room at a time). I've learned so much today and on this channel that I can't wait to get started. ❤
I truly wish I could *like* this 5000 times. I'm just about to start a whole house renovation and I woke up this morning feeling so defeated - lost in a myriad of ideas and obligations to existing furniture and objects. But this was JUST what I needed. I'm going to start from scratch, thinking about these principles (I've just written them down) and I'm going to spend my evening going to each room to sketch out and list every element I want to include in my new cohesive living space. No lie - I feel as though you just saved what's left of my sanity! Thank you so much Nick.
Love how you break down everything into simple terms so us newbies can understand it! Even if I don't like the rooms style, it's easy to appreciate the design of it based on the explanation
Nick, One of the main reasons I love your channel is there’s always a 50-50 chance I have just purchased something you’re not…fond of? Lol, But that’s OK. I still adore You and your channel. Thanks Nick.
In my first apartment, I had a counter in my kitchen that doubled as an eating area. My husband decided to split the living room into two separate spaces. We had a big window so that opened up the space. I used natural colors wood, plants, etc. My clients who would come over for massage always complemented our space. We just move across the country starting ALL OVER again. Patience is key happy decorating!
This video reminded me of my art class in the best way! Many of the elements you discussed are also applied to art when you break it down. Design is art, after all🤗
'The kitchen looking like a farm and the bathroom looking like a beach'... Nick, you seriously crack me up. I love interior design - have a flair for it - and am getting addicted to your channel. My wee place was finished a year ago but it's interesting coming here to see if I do in fact tick those boxes. I have rooms painted in different colours but even these need to flow together. The bits of yellow you refer to at the end of the vid, I call the accent colour. Mine is burnt orange. The thing is not to overdo it.
I love learning from you! Lots of designers just put out their personal opinions out there without explaining the principles. I prefer the way you do it.
Something I’m doing to sort of nail down my style and taste into something I can better define for myself (instead of just getting what is the best quality item I can find within my budget and making it work) is that I’m making little shopping lists on retail websites of items that I like first, without looking at the price at all. I will just go through and pick out all of the things that I find visually appealing and save them separately and then I can look back later and get a clearer picture of what I like and what I need, and I can specify these in my newer searches that include my budget limitations. I’ve already been working on defining my rules/needs for the item so now I can be sure of the aesthetics as well.
Trim, molding, casements etc are excellent ways to keep cohesive look too. We’re in a Georgian colonial with dentil carried throughout spaces. Our kitchen reno will incorporate it into the range surround and headers over some cabinets while colors used will carry the very BenMoore Williamsburg palette we inherited.if designing just a kitchen, I may not choose these elements, but it’s a part of a home so should flow.
You've provided value to the whole world. You have character, but professional and organized in your delivery. I like your teaching style. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. ❤️
I always find myself nodding to myself (not nodding off) when watching your videos. You're very common-sense and practical, yet with an artist's eye. Love your channel.
This is exactly what I needed! An easy way I made my place feel cohesive was matching light bulbs and light fixtures. Simple, cheap update that my guests always compliment and notice.
We just bought our first house! It was built in the 70's and it's still in the 70's. I am taking notes every video and they have all been so helpful. I think you should add wood paneling to your list of things that need to go. While house hunting I was surprised by all the wood paneling that's still around.
The quickest, easiest fix for wood paneling is paint. You need to use some sheen in the paint, at least an eggshell or satin - not a flat. If flat is used, it will need a finish of polyurethane or polyacrylic. (Keep in mind polyurethane-which is cheaper- will age over time, developing an amber hue. Polyacrylic does not change color.) Flat paint on paneling will give the walls and the room a "dead" feeling/look. Make sure the paneling is clean and free of grease, a product like "No Sand" can be very helpful. If there is a shiny finish, like a semi-gloss poly, that should be lightly sanded first. Then each groove needs to be trim painted with a brush before using a roller to complete the task. Hanging new drywall is pricey (and messy!) and in an older home, or one that was framed poorly to begin with, hanging drywall is beyond the skill level of many DIYers. This is why there is still paneling on walls! As a house ages, it settles, causing studs and joists to sag and bend almost imperceptibly- until you try to hang drywall on them- and then every minor flaw becomes visible and must be dealt with. Professionals know how to deal with these issues. Before you do anything, figure out a way to loosen and peek behind the paneling. A surprising number of people hung that silly stuff over perfectly good drywall! Holes can be filled and mildew spots cleaned and treated. (Common in a basement) If musty smells are a problem in a basement, paint can have extra protection added to it to stave off mold/mildew. Hope this helps.
I have to tell you I was so inspired because for years I have made so many mistakes. It seems so simple the way you have shown how to coordinate pieces , but I feel I’m stupid as I never got it until now. Im looking around my home and seeing what works. Thank you soo much I love your videos.
Nick . We just moved a few months ago and I just wanted to tell you that your advise has been key in the decoration of our home. Your advise is great for non experts like us. What you do matters and improves the lives of people. Thank you!!
Loved this episode. I decided last week that 2 rooms in my basement need a budget make over. I have been tearing up nasty old carpeting. I am going to live with the concrete floors for a year, but plan to paint over the next few weeks. I cannot change out the faux wood paneling, but I can paint it all the same colour. I can replace the ceiling fixtures and make new window coverings. I had not thought of cohesion between the rooms, as they have very different functions, one wine and TV room, the other a sewing room. One will be a calm space and other a work zone that will get messy. You have given me lots to think about.
Brilliant episode! As a photographer, I consider Composition 101 to be the most important class I took as an occasional night student at our museum art school. Rules about rhythm and repetition and encouraging the eye to move around the composition were basics which I’ve long used in my semi-open plan city home. Over time I learned to adapt these “rules” in ways that are not matchy/matchy, but echoing in more subtle ways - that’s when it really gets fun (balancing weights rather than perfect symmetry, referencing hues without using the exact same color, etc. ) My only regret is that I didn’t take the class on 3D composition - would love to hear your ideas on how to use such principles in interior design.
LOVE the educational side of your videos. I also appreciate so much how you include suggestions about trends that you don’t care for personally. That just makes me trust you even more because it’s important to be objective when talking about design and obviously not everyone has the same taste. Unless it’s regarding furry toilet seats.
I love the educational videos. They explain the design principles I learned back in the 70’s in an easy and entertaining way. I’ve been sharing them with my daughter who is a real estate broker. She has some natural design instincts. She uses it when renovating her rental properties and often provides some design consulting for friends and clients. I think these videos help her fine tune her design choices.
My signature style definitely is what I call Modern Craftsman. I'm trying to use straight lines, natural woods, leather, darker metals. It is a lot harder right now because so much farmhouse everywhere with the natural woods, but I'm trying to keep things more Morris Chair and less barndoor...
Your videos are so good. No music was the best part. Your knowledge is the next best. I watch decorating videos all the time and I'm stuck on yours now. You did it all the very very best! Thank you
When you said "calm down" I laughed out loud! Thank you for the informative and delightful video. Anyone who can make me look around my space, wondering where I can fix problems, has my respect.
I think you are brilliant, Nick-not only as a designer, but also as a teacher. As a teacher educator, I recognize all of your many teacher strengths and am impressed. (As a non-designer, I am also very impressed! ;) Thank you for teaching me!
I am seeing a lot of triangles that connect each piece and color. That concept is used in Japanese gardening. It feels cohesive and that the designer really knows what they are doing.
In the past my rooms were defined by what colour I painted the walls. God forbid you toss your sweater on a chair and have it clash! Now my room envelopes are more neutral and I change out slipcovers, accessories and pillows for a new look and it works so much better! Thanks for another master class on design!
My aspirational cohesion is hoarder junk in every single room of my house. Until I can attain that goal, my current unifying factor is dust and dust bunnies for a cohesive “texture” throughout! 😉 (Don’t worry about the educational aspect, I brought the sassy. 😎)
I never knew anything about interior design. I’m so happy I discovered your channel. It is entertaining and informative. Thank you for the great content! I will keep watching.❤
Great video Nick. I think it's really important to decide in a colour palette and then literally carry little painted chips with you when you go shopping to get extra pieces. my colours are tied in a little 2" x 2" fan tied in the corner so no mistakes possible!
Thank you for these great examples of design principles. We moved into our new home ten months ago. It is flimsy and cheap, but I like to say that at least it’s consistently flimsy and cheap. Pretty much everything we do (on a low budget) only improves our space. In a way, that’s liberating in comparison to the architect-designed house we owned before.
I love your content, we moved homes recently and I wanted a start over as our old home was just a mish mash of stuff. I went with mid-century and I know that I have absorbed soooo much from your channel it’s feels innate now. I am very considered about the pieces that I acquire, cohesion and flow. So many compliments and I hate leaving my house now😊. Ps Your delivery is perfect, subtle sass 💁♂️ but with a calm energy that’s really enjoyable to watch. (I’ll stop fan-girling now 😂)
Seriously 👏🏻 love 👏🏻 all 👏🏻 your 👏🏻 examples. Your videos are actually helpful and not just a designer talking. They make sense when I’m watching the video, but as soon as I’m trying apply their advice I get lost. I actually remember what you say and show!
Thank you for another great video Nick! I love these educational videos just as much as any of your other videos. You explain things in such a clear and informative way. I've learnt so much from your videos - I feel like I'm taking a design course when I watch your videos! I really appreciate the details of your videos because it's not really helpful when someone says "this is a pretty bedroom" or "this is a nice couch" and leaves it there without explanation. I've wasted so much money buying stuff thinking it will improve the look of my space just because it was "pretty" or "nice" and not really understanding what I needed to make things more cohesive. You've gone through the reasons why a space or item works (or doesn't!) and that is invaluable advice!
Loved this nice strategy involving repeating color, texture, shape, and other material around the house. I realized at the seasoned age of 53 that I have liked the same colors, shapes, and textures since I was 4. I have never shaken an image of my grandmother's earthy flowered 1970s cloth napkins (dark brown, tiny pastel flowers). Nor have I shaken this fairy tail image c. 1980 of a women in a light blue green gray cotton/ linen/ or hemp capped sleeve, button down dress that was in Life magazine when I was 10. I have I also have loved copper and brushed nickel since I first saw them in the 1990s on fixtures. I put blue grey on all of my interior doors and orange and linen show up frequently. I was enamored with arts and crafts homes when I moved to a Frank Lloyd Wright area 30 years ago. I feared that my stickly pieces would go out of favor, so I gave them away. I get embarrassed about it, and a bit teased by family for being predictable. I resisted buying more white oak furniture, but gave in recently. Your implicit message, Nick, seems to be to identify your personal motifs and distribute them around your home to connect your style... When they fall in favor, buy. When they fall out of favor, who cares? Ive resisted putting up these little owl pictures, since owls were a thing, but I also have my grandmother's piece of hanging owl ceramic art. I think I'll add all of these when I finish painting.
Really love your videos! We are in the process of building a little house in the mountains and are using black metal throughout - door hardware, faucets, towel hooks, cabinet pulls, the metal parts of light fixtures and black stainless steel appliances. It is nice to hear that there’s a sound reason behind doing that.
This was wonderful! I'm 43 and still learning about home decorating. I've always loved it, but I cringe at some of the things my past self thought was cool. :) Thanks for sharing your tips!
Thanks! Yeah I like the fun stuff, but I love the educational stuff too. This type of content is more in line with what I did when my channel started and I like doing these videos.
Thank you so much for all of your videos Nick! I love how you explain everything and break down complex design theory into a easy to follow tutorial for those of us who either have not gone to school for design and/or those of us who want a beautiful home but don’t understand how to get there. I try to tackle a tip from each video once a month to slowly transform my space and I am loving it! You are my favorite designer on RU-vid (even with your unpopular opinions-which I am totally here for just to see the comment section 😆). Much love! Keep up the great work!
"If you see it there, you'll also see it over there" - Arnold Lowrey, in explaining how to tie the elements of a painting together and make it cohesive. Creatively repeat your colors, textures, and shapes without exactly duplicating them.
This is the best interior design video I have ever seen, i finally know what it means when they say this ties with that, or there’s flow and cohesion in this space.
LOVE this video! (The more educational the better's my vote! )Totally agree and have been attempting to apply these concepts with all my decorating projects for a long time. I think they really work - especially with color, and also with tying in all your rooms and spaces in some kind of cohesive way I would add that a rug is probably the most essential element to any room and can really serve to bring everything together. I think of it like a pair of shoes: the best way to begin to assemble an outfit!
This is very helpful. We're finishing up a remodel and getting ready to move in. I've been trying to figure out how to make the space cohesive with decor. I never thought to use texture in this way so thank you.
Nick - lighting designer here, so I do a little of this. The term I like to use with my clients is dialog. All the table lamps in a suite of rooms may not match, but they should share common elements like material, shape, glow, etc. A viewer may only subconsciously realize the relationship, but that dialog is there. And as an interior designer, you have to balance everything a dozen times over!
I love your channel, how you explain in detail in a fun/easy to understand/ learn. I’ve looked on many sights and nothing has helped. I binge watch your channel 🙌
That palm bathroom is from my very fav Vietnamese restaurant in Vancouver (Anh and Chi) whose overall design is glorious and food is amazeballs. They have a stained glass motif behind the bar that is to die for
My problem is that I love so many different styles. From rustic(lightly modern) Provence country villa, to Greek island villa, to modern desert, to pleasantly Mid Century(with some Art Deco). I don't want a cut and paste house from these styles but rather a house that represents my favourite elements from(not all of) them. I guess an eclectic assortment that has some common theme. It's tricky though.
I didn't realize that is what I was doing e.g. my kitchen has stainless appliances, 3 spaced out light fixtures have either a stainless/chrome rod or a line at the top, window pulls same etc. Thank you.
This was fascinating and what you said about repetition of colour, textures and finishes makes sooo much sense. I am looking around my condo and I can see for the first time why certain pieces just aren't working and feel "random." Well, the colour and texture of a few of my pieces don't match anything else and I realize that I bought them more with an eye for utility than how they would actually work in the space. Much to think on - thanks a million!
Like a few other commenters I have items that I love and have for 50 years. I love cobalt blue, walnut, glass and copper. I try to create vignettes with a combination of some but not all of the design elements that transition to another vignette with a similar but different combination of the design elements. My kitchen has all four of these elements. I have a collection of blue ceramics made by local artisans, vintage prints with small amounts of blue that also introduce some red which is repeated in other artwork and my red/white Italian splash mixing bowls. I do like a touch of whimsy that is expressed in a custom mug collection made by a local artisan. They are rustic and have either sarcastic messages (“bite me”) or a nod to Dr Who (“spoilers”, “don’t blink”, “timey wimey”. I also have a TARDIS cookie jar that was given to me that holds dog treats). I have walnut countertops, glass storage jars and a few copper containers. I have another vintage print in the transition to the living room that includes the blue but also touches of “walnut” brown, black and a golden tan color. The room contains some walnut furniture, golden woven baskets with plants, various blue ceramic plant containers on the bookshelves and black metal lighting fixtures. design elements. All the rooms in my tiny condo contain some elements of blue color and walnut to tie them together but each room has a different color element introduced to distinguish them from the other rooms and use the various items I’ve accumulated over the decades. (Red in the kitchen, tan in the living room and terracotta in the bedroom). I chosen black metal fixtures that are used in all rooms. My home is never going to be featured in a magazine but it is filled with items that are personal and meaningful to me. I’ve tried to use the design principles I learned in college to organize the spaces and bring a non cluttered, non chaotic ambience.
Great video. Most people do not understand this. I always had my home flowing and cohesive. I have Stickley walnut wood mid century furniture and 1930's vintage art deco accessories including art. Your space looks very cohesive.
Great timing for this video! My living room is so tired and needs a total makeover. Saving this vid for future reference! I'd love to see a video about wall decor. Best ways to decorate walls. Tips on displaying art whether it be photography, paintings etc.