There is a very fine line which separates stylish interiors from disastrous ones. The skill lies in knowing when to stop placing more into a room; when to say no to yet another frame on the wall; when to avoid including another pattern in the pillow assortment on that divan; and subsequently when to determine how to maintain that happy balance that allows you to feel at ease in your room rather than on edge and irritable. Because what we feel inside our spaces are key indicators of what they transmit to us and our guests.

Indeed, upon entering a room you may get one of two very distinct feelings...it either feels incomplete and somewhat lacking character or it feels cluttered, noisy and painful to look at – somewhat overwhelming. How can a home owner balance this out in simple ways that do not demand great investment?

Kenneth Tanti has had his fair share of situations where less is more and where furnishings must avoid clashing in order to be coherent. He recommends, “The right balance can be created especially by balancing the modern style with other styles – mix Retro with contemporary; or vintage with antique; or antique with contemporary. Another trick is to stop yourself from cramming in everything that you like, possess or get gifted. This is a very common mistake. In order to balance things out, use the height and not just the surfaces of furniture and furnishings, so that the room does not feel lopsided. If you look at interior decor magazines, you can observe pictures which show that whatever is placed inside a room is balanced out, that there is symmetry of sorts. Be inspired by this. And remember to use the centre of the room for placing furniture as well.”



A common question made by home owners to Kenneth concerns just what are the easiest things to add or remove to give a room instant charm. Kenneth says, “The easiest things to make more or less of a statement are the largest items, the big furniture pieces that can stand out like a sore thumb or give a room instant character. Then consider the whitewashing/painting of walls and changing wallpaper. Curtains also have a big impact on change and by replacing them or dressing a window differently, the entire feel of your room will be transformed.”

About Tanti Interiors
At Tanti Interiors, we offer professional interior design in Malta and overseas and pride ourselves in having worked on some of the most exclusive homes and commercial properties. Backed up by almost twenty years of experience we have built up a name on trust and knowledge on how to get it right.