The questions of our followers can be the doubts of many and to keep you up to date with everything you may not yet know about interior design, decorating tips, curiosities and inspirations, our team of interior designers will now answer the questions most frequently asked by those who follow us on social networks.

Find out all the answers to your questions with Maria Gonçalves and Vera Sousa.

The Interiors Mind Podcast

1 | How long before building my house should I hire an interior designer?

Maria Gonçalves: This is a good question to start this podcast. The ideal would be to get in touch with the construction of the architectural project, this is the ideal, it is not always possible. In this way it is possible to design a much more complete interior project. This means that an interior design project includes thinking about a consonance of flooring materials, carpentry and the details that prepare the building for later decoration, such as the marking of light points. The lighting project is essential in a well-executed project for a good environment and all the details that are up to the interior designer to enhance greater comfort for the client, in the culture of living.

2 | Do you believe there are rules in decoration?

Vera Sousa: I believe that the only rule that should be followed is that there are no rules for a more interesting decoration, that is, nothing has to follow a specific path, there will always be an architectural condition and the inhabitant of the space and with this it is up to the interior designer to reconcile these constants that dictate guidelines and premises of the project. Architecture does not always correspond directly to the client’s needs, so it is up to interior design to find these solutions. It is important to help the inhabitant of the house to find an aesthetic reconciliation between the interiors and architecture of the house.

3 | What do you think doesn’t work in decorating? What decorating mistakes should we avoid in our home?

Maria Gonçalves: There are a few. To achieve a harmonious and personalised result, we believe that care should be taken in the composition of all the elements that will live together in the space. We do not have to have all the elements with the same aesthetic line and the same finishes, but we must combine pieces in a fluid way as well as different textures, that is, we do not have to have the entire collection of furniture with the same finishes all in the same colour. There has to be a dynamic of textures and finishes, so each element will have a different visual weight and thus we will achieve a much more balanced environment.

Vera Sousa: Another very recurring mistake is the disproportion of the elements in relation to the areas, for example, the placement of carpets with smaller dimensions and disproportionate to the area, creates a feeling of empty space, the carpet and the pieces around it suddenly seem displaced from the space. And another of the points that we also consider very important are the spaces for circulation. They must never be compromised, all the elements present in the space must respect the circulation lines, otherwise the functionality and daily comfort in the home are jeopardised.

Maria Gonçalves: This is one of the essential points that should never happen in an interior project, is to compromise circulation spaces.

4 | What makes a house cosy? How should we choose the lighting?

Maria Gonçalves: These are two questions that work very well with each other because in fact the fundamental aspect to make a house cosy is undoubtedly the lighting. The lighting plan must be very well studied according to the layout of each house and this is very simple, there are different activities throughout the house and in this way provide throughout the space different temperatures and more suitable for each task, for example the bedroom should have a warmer and cosier light that provides rest, in the kitchen a colder and clearer temperature for a better performance of the tasks. It is essential to play and work with the right light temperature for each environment and each task.

Another example, the living room, turns out to be a hybrid space where various activities take place and therefore require ceiling lighting with a slightly lighter shade. I consider 3000k a good temperature, and in the living room we have moments of rest where there is a need for a lower light, an ambient light and here it is interesting to place floor and table lamps. These decorative elements are fundamental elements to create a much more cosy environment, the temperature of the light makes all the difference in the environment.