DESIGN CHEATSHEAT

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RUG GUIDELINES

General rules

  • Always leave a bit of the floor beneath exposed around the perimeter of the rug. A rule of thumb is 18” off the wall in larger rooms down to 8” off the wall in smaller rooms.

  • Combine rugs in open spaces to define specific areas.

Living rooms

  • Select a rug that is bigger than your seating arrangement. It’s not necessary for all legs of furniture to be on the rug, but it’s a good idea to have at least the front legs on.

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Bedrooms

  • Make sure the rug is extended a minimum of 18” out from the sides and end of your bed if you have a king or queen, and a minimum of 12” for twin. Also, try placing the back edge of the rug a few inches in front of the nightstands.

Dining rooms

  • Make sure the rug extends at least 24” past the table on all sides to accommodate the chairs being moved in and out.

Hallways

  • Cover the majority of the walkway, while leaving exposed floor on either side.

LIGHT FIXTURE + FANS

Determining Fixture Size 

  • Diameter: Measure length and width of room in feet, add length and width together and then convert to inches (Ex: Room is 10’ x 14’, the fixture should be approximately 24” in diameter). *For dining rooms, make sure the fixture is not wider than the table.

  • Height: Measure floor to ceiling in feet and multiply by 2.5 and 3, then convert to inches, the height should be between the two numbers (Ex: Floor to ceiling is 10’, the height of the fixture should be 25” to 30”)

Determining Hanging Height

  • Dining: For ceilings 8’ and under: 30-34” from the top of table to bottom of fixture. For ceilings above 8’: 36” - 40” from top of table to bottom of fixture

  • Kitchen Island: 30-32” from top of island to bottom of fixture

  • All other areas: 7’ of clearance for ceilings up to 8’, then add 3” of hanging height per additional foot (Ex: 11’ ceilings calls for approximately 7’9” clearance.)

FAIL-PROOF BEDS

King

  • 4 king pillows stacked 2x2

  • 3 Euros

  • 1 lumbar, approximately 18x44, or 2 throw pillows, approximately 18” x 30”

  • Quilt or comforter

  • Duvet + cover folded at the end of the bed

  • Bedskirt, if applicable

Full/Queen

  • 4 standard pillows stacked 2x2

  • 2 Euros

  • 1 lumbar, approximately 18x34

  • Quilt or comforter

  • Duvet + cover folded at the end of the bed

  • Bedskirt, if applicable

Twin

  • 1 standard pillow

  • 1 decorative standard sham + pillow

  • 1 24” square pillow

  • Quilt or comforter

  • Throw or duvet + cover

  • Bedskirt, if applicable

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CURTAIN RULES

  • Always hang curtains at least halfway between the top of your window casing and your ceiling - err on the higher side if in doubt. Just make sure you are 2-3” below the molding or ceiling.

  • A clean, safe bet length is just off the floor (less than a 1/2”) to a 1” break on the floor. Never have them any higher then less than 1/2” off the floor. For a whimsical look, let them pool 6-8” on the floor.

  • Make sure the curtain rod is wide enough. You want to be able to open the curtains all the way to the casings, having the full window showing.

  • Panels should be 2.5 x the window width so when pulled shut they still appear full.

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GENERAL PAINT RULES

Low Traffic Areas: EGGSHELL

  • Adult Bedrooms, Living Rooms, Dining Rooms

High Traffic Areas: SATIN

  • Children’s Bedrooms, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Hallways

Ceilings: FLAT

Trim + Molding + Cabinetry: SEMI-GLOSS

For a lacquered look any surface: GLOSS

Thanks for checking out my Design Cheat Sheet. If you have any questions about the info above, feel free to reach out to info@boorandle.com