“Interior design is the process of shaping the experience of interior space, through the manipulation of spatial volume as well as surface treatment. Not to be confused with interior decoration, interior design draws on aspects of environmental psychology, architecture, and product design in addition to traditional decoration.
An interior designer is a person who is considered a professional in the field of interior design or one who designs interiors as part of their job. Interior design is a creative practice that analyzes programmatic information, establishes a conceptual direction, refines the design direction, and produces graphic communication and construction documents. In some jurisdictions, interior designers must be licensed to practice.” – Source :Wikipedia
When doing interior design it is necessary to think of the house as a totality; a series of spaces linked together by halls and stairways. It is therefore appropriate that a common style and theme runs throughout. This is not to say that all interior design elements should be the same but they should work together and complement each other to strengthen the whole composition. A way to create this theme or storyline is with the well considered use of color. Color schemes in general are a great way to unify a collection of spaces. For example, you might pick three or four colors and use them in varying shades throughout the house
Successful architecture and interior design projects aren’t based purely on creativity, although that’s a very important part of it. There are some basic principles every design professional must keep in mind, which are the cornerstones of flawless interior spaces.
- Balance: Whether your artistic style is all about structure or you prefer an organic “feel”, there has to be some balance in your design. Use one of three types of balance – symmetrical (mirrored/matching objects and elements), asymmetrical (dissimilar elements that share one or more common aspects), and radial/circular (a central element with others radiating outward).
- Rhythm: To create rhythm in a space means to repeat certain elements throughout. In music, rhythm is a repetitive beat that creates a musical pattern. In interior design, rhythm can be achieved by the repetitive use of elements. We’re programmed to look for recognizable elements within our visual range and react to them. Just like our ears respond to the beat of a song, an interior space seems more appealing if it has repetitive (similar colors, etc.), progressive (varying in size) or transitional (curves that lead the eye to another point) elements that create a sense of movement and flow.
- Contrast: This is the placement of dissimilar or opposite elements close to one another. An interior designer can achieve an interesting contrast through elements like color, form and space. Try the classic combination of black and white for striking color contrast, round and square furniture for contrasting form, and pair negative (empty) with positive (filled) space for greater visual impact.
- Emphasis: To give emphasis to something means to give it particular importance, value or prominence. In interior design, it’s about giving importance to a particular area or object. It’s about creating a focal point within the space. The best designers know how to capture and hold attention, and the most effective way to do this is by creating a focal point of interest. Pick an object, element or architectural aspect that you’d like to emphasize, and design the rest of the space around it. Common focal points include large fireplaces, sculptures, mosaics or paintings, furniture, etc.
- Scale & Proportion: This principle incorporates some aspects of balance, using objects that look like they fit or belong together. Balance the measurements and dimensions of the space as well as the elements you’re planning to use in it. For instance, do larger items dwarf smaller ones? Does the length of the walls clash with the height of the furniture?
- Details: Any design professional knows the impact that even the smallest details can make. The right finishing touches accentuate the style of a space, but they can also add some personality and life to it.
- Unity: This is the goal of all the other principles: to achieve a unifying and harmonious space. Each of the interior spaces involved in a project should be linked, working together to create a harmonious whole. Of course, that doesn’t mean they should be exactly the same (boring!), but some unifying visual element needs to run through every room. Create a smooth transition with similar or complementary elements, so the overall effect isn’t random or disjointed.
Image source: https://medium.com
