In this episode of the Uploft Interior Design Podcast, I hosted a lightning round of listener questions and shared my practical interior design advice on three common dilemmas. First, I explained that kitchen islands should prioritize function over decoration, recommending useful items like trays, herbs, oils, and tools while keeping surfaces mostly clear. Next, I discussed dining room rugs, saying that formal dining rooms with hard floors should usually have a rug that extends 30–36 inches beyond the table, unless space, vents, or nearby rugs in open-concept layouts make it impractical. Finally, I gave my strong opinion on accent walls, arguing that they often look dated or unfinished and that it’s better to commit to painting or wallpapering the entire room unless you’re in a temporary space like a rental.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Summit Your Design Questions!

1:55 – Lightning Round Kickoff: Three Listener Questions.

2:05 – Question 1: Miguel's Kitchen Island Styling

7:25 – Functional First Rule

9:09 – Question 2: Alexis asks, "Should Dining Rooms Have Rugs?'

10:00 – Rug Sizing & Placement Tips

12:56 – Question 3: The Accent Wall “Smackdown”

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Accessorizing Islands, Dining Room Rugs, & an Accent Wall Smackdown | Uploft Interior Design