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The journey of mastering interior design is filled with valuable lessons, evolving tastes, and hard-earned insights. We chat with Contributing Editor for Style at Home Magazine, Karl Lohnes about some of the most impactful lessons and tips he’s learned over his storied career, transcending trends and serving as timeless principles.

1. What is the biggest decorating lesson you've learned over the years? Something that transcends trends or style? 

A: One of the biggest decorating lessons I’ve learned over the years is to wait to choose the paint colour until near the end of the decorating process. That way, you can choose the exact shade and tone of green, blue, beige — whatever colour you’re looking for — to balance all the different decorating elements you’ve fallen in love with for the room.

2. How has your approach to design changed over time? 

A: I used to start designing a room with wishes and dreams. Now I start designing a room with design rules and principles. It helps to put me on a straight and narrow path towards a successful ending. As the project progresses, I bring inspiration and thus dreams and wishes. 

3. What advice would you give someone struggling to find their personal style? 

A: Personal style always seems so difficult, but it’s not brain surgery. We’ve had style our whole life. Recognizing it is the most difficult part, but just look at decorative things in your home that you’ve gravitated towards, your travels, collections and your happy rooms wherever you’ve lived.

4. What are one or two common design “don'ts” that make you cringe? What are some easy modifications people can do to avoid them?

A: Mixing patterns of similar size and proportion in rugs, drapes, wallpaper or upholstered fabrics makes me cringe. Every room needs three proportions of pattern (think small, medium and large). Without different sizes of patterns, everything presents itself looking the same. 

Designing a space can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to tackle your home project on your own. Head down to the 2024 Edmonton Fall Home Show running October 18-20, 2024, at the Edmonton Expo Centre to meet with design experts like Karl Lohnes to help make your dream project a reality. With over 175 exhibitors, celebrity guests and a slew of inspiration at every corner, there’s something for everyone. Buy your tickets online at www.edmontonfallhomeshow.com.