Wednesday 22 February 2017

Back to the basics of Interior Design

Although interior design is all about creativity and when it comes to creativity, there are no binding rules, there are some design principles that need to be followed to create a great design – one that’s aesthetically appealing.

Interior design is a process that shapes the experience of a living space and transforms it into a place of beauty.  The interior design marketplace is so full of tips, tricks and techniques that it’s sometimes worth going back and revisiting the basics.

Here are a few basic principles of interior design:

Create a sense of unity and harmony in your designs
To begin with, always think of the house as a totality. Think of it as a series of spaces that are linked together by staircases and hallways. The most appropriate way to go would be to select a common style that runs throughout the house. Select themes such that they complement each other and strengthen the entire composition and create a sense of harmony. Using the right color scheme is a perfect way to unify distinct spaces. For example, you can pick a combination of three or four colors and use them in varying shades throughout the house to make the design look unified and make all elements look in harmony with each other.

Designs must reflect balance
Equal distribution of the visual weight in the room creates balance in the design. However, it’s up to the designer to choose from symmetrical, asymmetrical or radial balance to make the room look aesthetically appealing to the eye. Traditional interiors usually look good with a symmetrical balance. This essentially means that an imaginary vertical axis is used to place various objects in the room such that the visual weight is distributed evenly and symmetrically. Usually similar objects are used on either side of the axis. With Asymmetrical balance, different or dissimilar objects are used to create a visual balance that seems livelier.  With radial symmetry, all the design elements are arranged around a central point.

Create a focal point
Monotony and boredom can easily seep into a design if not planned well. Creating a focal point is hence important. It must be dominant enough to draw initial attention and then disperse into the other elements of the design. Make sure that the focal point creates a compelling first impression, but also ensure that it looks an integral part of the design with respect to color, style and theme.

Create a rhythm 
Repetition, progression, transition and contrast – all impart a sense of movement in the design that leads the eye from one design element to another and creates a ‘rhythm’.  Repetition is the use of the same element more than once in your design. For example, you can repeat pattern, texture or color etc. With progression, you can take one element and either progressively increase or decrease one or more of it’s qualities. For example you can use progression of colors with a monochromatic color scheme where each color is slightly lighter or darker in shade than the previous one.  Transition creates a smoother flow from one element to another. An onlooker’s gaze automatically glides from one area to another without any distraction. An arched doorway is the most common implementation of this concept – or a winding path.

Use contrast wisely
Creating a contrast is pretty easy. One of the most common examples is the use of black and white pillows on the sofas. Contrast is usually used to enliven the living space.

Pay attention to the details
Well, pay attention to everything – even something that seems lacking in importance as the color of the light switches in the room, Cupboard handles, fabric on the scatter cushions and the lamp shade that you choose. Small details like these enhance the overall ‘feel’ of the room. Scale and proportion is an important detail. Make sure that everything in the room fits to scale and is proportionately arranged. Select the color that matches the ‘atmosphere’ you wish to create in the room.

Incorporating all the above principles in your design will ensure that your designs look simply great!

If you are looking at hiring interior designers for your next project, take a look at the largest Interior Design Marketplace and select the one that suits your requirements! 

No comments:

Post a Comment