When “Perfect” Pieces Don’t Create a Perfect Room
Picture this: Sarah stands in her newly renovated living room, surrounded by carefully chosen pieces from her favorite home décor stores. The sofa is exactly what she wanted, the artwork is beautiful, and each accent piece was thoughtfully selected. Yet something feels off. The rug that looked perfect in the store now seems lost in the space, and her neck aches after watching movies because the newly mounted TV sits awkwardly high above the fireplace. The “open concept” renovation she invested in has left her with a space that feels cavernous and uncomfortable for conversation, and by afternoon, the paint color she loved in the morning has taken on an entirely different character she’s not sure she likes.
This scenario plays out in homes across the country, where well-intentioned renovations and decorating efforts sometimes create more problems than they solve. It highlights a fundamental truth about creating beautiful living spaces: interior design is far more than the sum of its decorative parts and getting it wrong can be a costly mistake.
Before (Left): The reality of selecting pieces without a comprehensive design plan: a room that feels disconnected despite quality furnishings
After (Right): A masterfully balanced space that serves multiple purposes: comfortable dining, intimate conversation, and entertainment. The TV (not pictured) was thoughtfully relocated and upgraded, eliminating neck strain while preserving the fireplace as a natural focal point. Designed by Jennifer Fordham, Pembrook Interiors; Photography by Peak Visuals; Styling by Kristen Alcorta Interiors
Beyond the Instagram-Perfect Room
In our Instagram-perfect world, it’s easy to believe that creating a beautiful home is simply a matter of collecting the right pieces or following the latest trends. We’re surrounded by carefully curated photos of gorgeous rooms, and stores offer endless options for home décor. Yet professional interior designers know something that many don’t: true interior design is an intricate dance between art and science, where aesthetics meet functionality in perfect harmony.
Think of it this way: if decorating a room is like choosing ingredients for a meal, interior design is the entire culinary arts. A chef doesn’t simply gather beautiful ingredients—they understand how flavors interact, how temperature affects texture, how presentation influences experience, and how to create a memorable dining experience. Similarly, interior designers don’t just select beautiful pieces; they orchestrate entire environments that enhance how we live.
When Trends Lead to Costly Mistakes
We recently worked with a family who had invested in installing a television above their fireplace – a popular trend seen all over social media. The problem? The mounting height forced everyone to crane their necks uncomfortably during movie nights, and the heat from the fireplace wasn’t ideal for the electronics. Thoughtful space planning revealed a more comfortable viewing solution, that enhanced the role of the fireplace in the room and increased the room’s seating and viewing capacity. We have never seen a room where beauty and function were enhanced through the placement of a television above a fireplace.
Another crucial aspect of professional design is preventing costly renovation mistakes. We’ve seen too many cases where homeowners invested in trendy modifications – like removing walls for an open concept space—only to find themselves missing the coziness and functionality of defined rooms. At Pembrook Interiors, we help clients understand how architectural changes will affect not just the look but the feel and function of their spaces. Sometimes, the best design decision is knowing what not to change.
The Details That Make All the Difference
The magic of interior design reveals itself in the many details that are easily missed: lamp heights, seat heights, table heights, kneeholes, paint undertones, light bulb kelvin, rug sizes, furniture scale, chandelier size and height. Take rugs, for instance. It’s fun to select a rug solely on pattern and color, when size and fiber content are primary factors that must be right for the room to function well. Getting the “wrong color” rug to work in a room, in many instances, can be a simple and affordable design fix. The only way to fix the wrong size or fiber content rug—a new rug.
When we walk into a room, we see invisible pathways—the natural flow of movement that people will follow as they navigate the space. We understand how the placement of furniture can either facilitate or hinder conversation, how the height of a coffee table affects comfort, and how the scale of pieces influences the emotional feel of a room. These considerations form the foundation of a well-designed space, long before any decorative elements enter the picture.
The Invisible Work of Design
Think of the last time you were in a space that just felt right. Chances are, it wasn’t just the beautiful objects that created that feeling—it was the thoughtful integration of every element, from the layout to the lighting, from the color palette to the texture combinations. This is the invisible work of interior design, the careful orchestration that transforms four walls and some furniture into a space that truly enhances life.
The difference between interior design and home décor shopping isn’t about the price tag or even the exclusivity of the pieces chosen. It’s about the depth of thought and expertise that goes into creating a space that works in harmony with your life. While anyone can shop for beautiful things, creating a space that truly enhances your daily experience requires a deeper understanding of both the art and science of design.
Ready to Transform Your Space?
When you begin your journey with Pembrook Interiors, the first step in our design process is our comprehensive Home Review, an in-depth assessment to explore and unlock your home’s potential. During this review, we’ll examine how light moves through your spaces, assess traffic patterns, discuss your lifestyle needs, and identify opportunities to enhance both the beauty and functionality of your home. Together, we’ll create a vision for your rooms that look beautiful and truly enhance how you live.
Contact us today to start your interior design journey with Pembrook Interiors. Let’s create spaces that tell your story, support your lifestyle, and bring you joy every day.
