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! 

Layering patterns – the art of adding a unique dimension to the room

Layering in interior design is the method by which you add elements to the room to create interest, texture and depth. Creating layers make the design more appealing to the eye because it gives a multi-dimensional illusion. Plain colors look classic but might also make the room look bland and the design look flat. Adding layers can magically trick the eye and create appropriate distractions so as to make the room look artistic.

Here are a few things to consider when you select patterned fabric and colors to create layers:

Make use of different colors
When you layer patterns, there are four essential elements that need to be considered – the color, the scale, the shape and the texture. Using a single color for all the fabric makes the room look dull and lifeless, however, mixing colors and creating ‘layers’ that give a more appealing look. This is more of a trial and error method. Mix and match fabrics until you get a perfect combination of color to layer. Select the combination that evokes the right emotions in the room. For example, a study will have a different combination of colors than a living room. It’s also a good idea to use varying intensities of the colors.

Changing scales create an impact
Color and contrast may be simple to select, but selecting the scale and creating layers requires an artistic eye. It’s just a little more complicated. When you select patterns, there are three scales to consider – small, medium and large. If you select all fabric with patterns of the same scale, the complete decoration looks too alike. So, make sure that you mix the size of the patterns and select fabrics with different patterns of different scales altogether.

Add some contrast
Once you have selected the color you wish to use, it’s time to add a dash of contrast. Even if you use the same color in various shades and intensities, adding some contrast could make the room look more alive. For example, if you have an olive green colored pillow, you can add a super white fabric to the second pillow and so on.

One large scale fabric can be limited to just one
Large scale patterns tend to form a center of attention. Especially from far away, they totally mess up the look if not used judiciously. So, when you are mixing fabrics with different patterns and different scales, make sure that you select one of each scale.

The perfect mix
The point is to create a perfect look with either geometric patterns or traditional patterns. Arrange them vertically or horizontally. Create a mixed feel so that it eliminated the monotony of the design.

Layering patterns enlivens your room – as long as the patterns work harmoniously and create a bold, sophisticated look. Perfectly created layers trick the eye and adds dimension to the room.

If you are looking for that layered look that gives a charming touch of elegance to your room, select professional designers from Ahmedabad’s largest interior designer directory – IDprop!

Interior Design Tips That Will Transform Your Homes!

When it comes to creativity, there is no rule book! There are no calculations and absolutely nothing that is ‘exact’. It’s a world of wild imaginations or subtle dreams that are turned into masterpieces. With interior design, even the smallest and seemingly insignificant things could create a great impact on the overall design. It just requires the ability to dream, explore and follow your intuitions. Well, whether you are looking at a quick rearrangement, a simple redecoration or a significant transformation of your homes, here are a few interior design ideas to get you started. Well, you can also hire a designer from the largest online interior design directory – IDprop. We have some of the best designers registered with us.

However, here are a few tips to get you started:

Smaller rooms must be painted with soft, light colours
Smaller rooms tend to seem cramped and cluttered. For such rooms, make sure that the walls have light colours. Dark paint on the walls will make the room look even smaller. Further, large windows and strategic positioning of mirrors will ensure that there is abundance of natural light pouring in, and the mirrors give an illusion of space. This makes the room look larger and kind of spacious. Dark colours make you feel like you are ‘boxed-in’ a place of absolute clutter.

Mirrors add instant light
As mentioned earlier, mirrors add instant light to your living spaces. They can be effectively used to make small spaces look larger. It’s a good idea to place mirrors directly across from windows. Decorative mirrors can be used as pieces of art too.

Create a perfect mix of patterns and textures
Mixing and matching styles sometimes create a greater impact rather than sticking to one particular approach. There’s nothing wrong in using patterns with the very modern couch you recently purchased. In fact it will add a personality to the design and reflects your lifestyle. Even when it comes to pieces of art or textures, modern, contemporary and traditional can co-exist in harmony and add that extra charm to your room. When selecting fabrics too, whether it is for the furniture or the rugs or pillows, mixing various colours and patterns can bring unique warmth to the room and make it look picturesque.
 
Use stuff that you already have – no need to buy everything new!
The idea of interior decoration is not to swap out everything to get new stuff. Before you begin, take a good look at everything that you already have and own. Trays, wooden artwork, acrylic, metal or silver – anything that could be used to add beauty and some sort of functionality. You will be amazed at what you had stashed away and how you can put those seemingly insignificant items to good use!

Area rugs to soften the ‘feel’ of the harsh floors
Rugs can add a sense of warmth to the room. They also add texture and give your rooms a personality. You can use rugs with various patterns and designs and add versatility to your decor. The good part is that area rugs can be easily changed!

If you are looking for interior designers to completely transform your homes, check out the Ahmedabad interior design directory – IDprop. We have some of the best designers registered with us. You can browse through their profiles, take a look at their previous work and select the one that suits your requirements.