Are you looking to upgrade the appearance of your home or even your business? Adding style, personality, and functionality to your home come more naturally to some than others. So, if you have trouble picking out things like furniture, paint, and decorations, knowing a bit about interior design will help it seem less overwhelming.
While each interior designer and style expert approach things from their own point of view, there are some best practices and tips you can follow from the experts.
From color theory to furniture arrangement, these design principles can help you improve or change the style of your space. Get started with the guide below and jump into decorating.
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Three Overall Points To Know
Design experts from HGTV point out that much of interior design can fall into three categories: function, mood, and personality. Here’s a bit of info on each and how to use these elements to your advantage:
- Function: This design element refers to anything that makes the room usable, including furniture, lighting, and more. When designing for function, keep the room’s focal point in mind. The focal point is where your eyes will naturally be drawn. It’s often a television or fireplace. You can use this point to design around.
- Mood: While function is about designing the room to fit your lifestyle, the mood is the feeling or vibe of a space. Mood includes elements such as color, pattern, and theme. Using a theme or specific piece of furniture as your inspiration moving forward makes designing simpler.
- Personality: Lastly, personality is the design factor that adds flair. Adding personalized elements is best done through wall decor, knick-knacks, and other accessories.
While these three aren’t the only design rules to go by, they are foundational steps that are easy to remember. You can start with these three forms in mind and use them to create a room that’s usable but also beautiful.
Notes On Color
Adding color to your design is essential to understand, but it can be easy to go overboard. While you can always break the rules, it’s best to know them first. If you’re new to interior design, think of color in three steps.
The first is picking a color for the walls and floors. Then, choose a mid-level color for fabrics and decor. Third, pick a pop of color or accent to add more selectively.
Balance in Design
Another important factor in interior design is balance. There are three primary ways you can use the balance in a room. You just have to determine which makes the most sense for the space and the items you want to put in it.
- Formal balance: This more traditional approach includes mirrored design elements. Think of having one chair on either side of a table or two couches facing one another. It’s easy to use balance this way, but it can become boring.
- Informal balance: Conversely, you can use a less straightforward approach to balance for a more eye-catching look. It’s a bit harder to define and is more about finding a natural flow.
- Radial balance: Lastly, you can use a more circular balancing where you use the main point and then have everything move away from it like rays from the sun.
There is no correct answer to any of these design rules. But, knowing what they are can give you ideas.
Wrapping Up
Even if you don’t consider yourself a natural decorator, the steps in this guide will hopefully inspire you to revamp your home or business. Now that you know the basics, you can use them to spark your creativity.