My Simple Design Rules To Make Homes Feel More Curated

large white living room with white sofa in a bay window and white armchairs — (Image credit: Christopher Stark)

One of the questions I’m asked most often is how to tell when a room is truly finished. And honestly, it’s rarely about adding one more thing. More often, it’s about having the confidence to take something away.

Restraint isn’t the same as minimalism, and it’s certainly not about following rigid rules. It’s about clarity. It’s about recognizing what’s working, what deserves attention, and allowing those key pieces to lead the room. When you edit your home ideas thoughtfully, the space breathes – and that’s usually when it finally feels complete.

large gray bedroom with black canopy bed in the middle

I always start with the architecture. In this bedroom, the room’s structure does most of the work – the sweep of the ceiling lines, the symmetry of the windows, the strong, grounded silhouette of the bed. Those elements set the tone before anything decorative is added.

Once those bones are clear, everything else can soften. The layers become intentional rather than busy – tactile fabrics, subtle pattern, a restrained palette. Nothing fights for attention. The space feels calm because it’s anchored. It understands its own proportions and presence, and the design simply supports that.

large living room with twin white arm chairs and twin blue sofas

Restraint doesn’t mean boring. It means being deliberate.

In this living room, the space is anchored by sculptural cream chairs and a green patterned rug. The palette is restrained, but the forms are expressive. The chairs hold their own. The rug brings movement and energy underfoot. Because the surrounding elements are carefully edited, those two moments are allowed to shine. When everything is special, nothing is. But when just a few pieces are given room to stand out, the entire space feels more considered – more intentional.

Symmetry in interior design is another tool I lean on when editing. Here, mirrored seating and balanced artwork create a sense of quiet structure. The eye knows where to land. That order gives you permission to push a little further elsewhere – a brass table with warmth and weight, a saturated green dining room unfolding beyond, a sculptural light fixture overhead.

Restraint sets the foundation. Within it, personality feels purposeful rather than overwhelming.

white living room with symmetrical art either side of the doorway and twin white chairs in front of each art piece

I also think about restraint in terms of layering – letting the materials carry the weight of the design. Pale woods, soft upholstery, woven textures. There may be very little overt decoration, yet the room never feels bare. The richness comes from what you feel as much as what you see.

Often, the restraint lives in the color story. When the palette is quiet and cohesive, texture and light have space to step forward. Grain, weave, shadow – they become the interest.

This is where it’s easy to tip too far. One more pillow. One more object. One more 'finishing touch.' But more often than not, the room was stronger just before that final addition. The discipline is knowing when to stop – and trusting that it’s enough.

white living room with white furniture and travertine coffee table

Designing with art is often where I lean most into restraint. One strong piece can carry an entire room. When the furniture is quiet and the palette soft, art becomes the emotional anchor – it brings depth, tension, personality. But it only works if you let it breathe. Surround a powerful piece with too much, and its impact fades. Give it space, and it transforms the room.

And editing isn’t something you do once and declare finished. Rooms shift as you live in them. You notice what draws you in, what feels unnecessary, what quietly doesn’t belong. Sometimes restraint simply means waiting – letting the space settle before deciding what comes next. More often than we think, the answer isn’t adding something new. It’s appreciating what’s already there.

San Francisco-based interior designer Tineke Triggs runs a a full-service design firm by her own name, partnering with clients from concept development to final installation. Dedicated to transforming the client’s vision into a tangible reality, every detail is thoughtfully considered and meticulously executed.

The veteran of seven San Francisco Decorator Showcases, her award-winning work has been featured in numerous publications including Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Veranda, Dwell, Luxe, California Home & Design, Modern Luxury Interiors, California Homes and Sunset Magazine. Her first book ‘Design Mixology’ was published by Gibbs-Smith in the Fall of 2023.