Why Designers Cry at the Word 'Decoration'

Dmitry Sivak has already talked about how ambiguous (to put it mildly) floor plans can be and why builders shouldn't always be trusted. Today we'll talk about the importance of decoration.

Dmitry Sivak — designer, founder of S&T Architects studio (Kyiv)

When you want to make a designer's beautiful face sad, ask him about decoration. Even the biggest studios and famous designers sometimes bring their own decoration for interior photoshoots, but then take it back because the client doesn't need it. That's a problem.

Convincing someone to buy decoration is a whole battle. Some designers immediately include this in the contract — though I've never heard of lawsuits over a missed vase. By the end of renovation, clients often have no desire or money left. Yet decoration is like a cherry on top of the cake.

In these photos, I've retouched the decoration to clearly show how important it is.

Both interiors are decent, but with decoration they're better. How much money does it really take for these flowers, wall posters, and decorative pillows?

Decoration is not just a carpet or a wall frame. Sometimes the entire interior is built around it. In Russia and neighboring countries, designers know that decoration may not even be reached, so they don’t rely on it much and try to design based on wall coverings and furniture. Yet decoration only makes the interior better and more interesting.

If you know that the client won’t escape buying all these little things, you can just paint a wall. If a painting never appears on the wall, some will want to cover it with wooden panels or marble, which is more expensive and not necessarily better in design.

In the past, you had to wander through flea markets in search of something interesting, but now you can find entire stores with decoration in one style.

On the photo below, despite the beautiful green sofa, wall poster, and flowers, everything looks livelier.

Of course, you can make an interior without decoration at all, but that takes skill — it’s harder.

Not everyone finds such spaces cozy, although what "cozy" even is, is a mystery. You can argue about it just like you do about beauty.

Sometimes you just need to remove a little decoration. For example, this hat.

Of course, if the interior is poor, no amount of decoration will save it.

On the cover: Dmitry Sivak’s design project.

Also read:

• Secrets of Interior Photography: How Decoration Changes the Space
• Mirrors in Interior Design: Necessity or Just Decoration?
• Working Mood: 4 Ideas for Home Office Decoration