Ever walked into a house or workspace that looked so aesthetically pleasing that you were tempted to have a second look? Usually, it’s hard to pinpoint why. Good interior design tends to have that impact.
What is Interior Design?
Interior design is the art of designing the interior of a building to give it an aesthetic appeal while ensuring enhanced functionality for the people using that space. With people spending more time indoors, it has become a necessity to create an environment where one would want to live, not just exist.
Often confused with decoration, interior design is so much more than just the perfect colors, plants, and carefully placed furniture.
People often look at interior designing as a romanticized version of home interior deco which couldn’t be any further from the truth. There is a vast difference between interior decoration and interior design, they’re two very different professions.
In interior decoration, an interior decorator furnishes the interior of a house with beautiful objects and furniture, by taking into account its color scheme and style inspiration. They may suggest some changes but are not authorized to design them.
On the other hand, an interior designer is more hands-on with the entire designing process of the house. Interior design is a multifaceted profession.
A lot of research, conceptualizing, analysis, etc goes into the interior designing process, keeping the clients’ needs, preferences, and budget in mind. The end goal is to provide complete satisfaction to the clients and match their expectations.
What Does Interior Design Mean?
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, interior design is “the art or practice of planning and supervising the design and execution of architectural interiors and their furnishing.”
Interior design is closely related to architecture. In the past, architects were the ones in charge of seeing through the interior decoration design of the spaces they built. The branching out of interior design as a separate field and profession is comparatively new.
How to do Interior Design?
Interior designers put in a lot of hard work and consideration to create a beautiful and comfortable home. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to hire an interior designer and that’s okay. We can always learn.
Here are some tips that can help you rock that home interior design-all on your own!
Invest in 3D Rendering
3D rendering can bring your project to life. It’s one of the coolest benefits of CGI. Before you go head straight into designing, find a firm that provides the best 3D rendering. You’ll be able to look at the minutest details and change or edit your plans according to your preference.
Use Pinterest
It has amazing recommendations and links to blogs that can be quite helpful for those attempting interior design for the first time. You can even create folders to save ideas for every room in the house.
Give It Time
Don’t just buy anything you come across. There’s more than one variety available. Browse through the stores and markets. Look at the options you have and analyze them accordingly. Make a purchase that fits your budget, requirement and stylistic needs.
Wallpaper Your Walls
Wallpaper can level up the look of the entire house. Experiment with designs, colors, and patterns. If you’re good at art, why not make your wall a masterpiece in its own right? Go wild, use your imagination.
Repurpose Furniture
You can change the look of a good piece by fitting new doors and hardware into it. You can look at kitchen upgrade companies to look for parts instead of buying a whole new unit. Repainting and upcycling old furniture is a great way of incorporating them in your home design.
Choose a Good Color Palette
The design and style of the rooms in your house are flexible and can be changed according to your preference. The color scheme? Not so much. The colors you opt for can make or break your interior design.
Opt for neutrals if you want to keep it subtle and minimalistic. If you want your décor to stand out, choose colorful patterns that are pleasing to the eyes.
Install Hardwood Flooring
This is probably the one step you’re less likely to see through on your own. Hire a professional contractor who knows their way around installation.
Hardwood floors are very easy to clean and don’t accumulate dirt, stone, or other allergens. You can switch it up any time you like. For example, OG Hardwood Flooring can be repainted 10 times during its lifetime.
Invest in Murals and Art Pieces
Murals and art pieces add subtle elegance and an element of style to interiors. Choose pieces that complement your overall color theme and design style.
Go Green
Choose ecological products and items to decorate your home. Passive houses are also a good option. Environment-friendly interior designs are all the rage now. You’re contributing towards a safer, healthier environment by going green.
How to Decorate Your House?
Being a house decorator all by yourself can be tricky. Either you get it done so well it looks like the work of a professional or your house looks like a jigsaw puzzle, with elements, articles, timepieces that don’t match your vibe.
Professional decorators play to your house’s strengths and cover the apparent faults. The result? An aesthetically pleasing house custom-decorated for you and everyone who comes to visit. But, getting an interior decorator can be expensive.
The good news is, with some careful considerations, you can do it all by yourself! If you’ve ever wondered how professional decorators spice the whole look of your house, you’re in for a treat. We’ve investigated, discovered their secrets and brought them to you. You can now decorate your house without breaking the bank.
Pay Attention to Measurements
Don’t just skip to the furniture store as soon as you start decorating. Take measurements of every nook and cranny that could use some decoration and note it down. You don’t want to be stuck with furniture that not only does not fit but spoils the overall look of the room.
Take into consideration the measurement of the floor, ceilings, and columns. Measure everything that may come in the way. Unless you have flexibility in decorating the house and can suffer losses, don’t opt for furniture a size too big or a size too small just because it’s cheaper.
Make a Budget Plan
Now that you already know what items you need to decorate your house, divide the costs. You don’t want to purchase an unnecessary piece worth an arm and a leg. Save it for other necessary accessories and furniture.
Plan Room-By-Room
Don’t try to decorate the entire house simultaneously. Remember, big journeys begin with small steps. Start with the biggest room of the house, the one that holds the most priority in your book.
The design of your house doesn’t have to be the same. You can switch up styles and techniques as long as you keep a unifying element common to all rooms, maintaining a flow.
Paint the Wall in Light, Neutral Colors
Hear me out, a dark red or purple is appealing, yes, but it takes too much attention and makes the house appear smaller. Color has been known to impact the moods and emotions of individuals. So, choose wisely.
Your safest bet? Neutrals, whites, and brown tones. These colors give immense flexibility in switching up furniture, accessories, and redecorating any time you wish.
Use Multiple Types of Lighting
Lighting complements the overall look of the house. At the very least, use 3 types of lightning in every area.
General lighting for overall illumination
Task lighting for reading, sewing, cooking, and other activities
Accent lighting for creating visual interest by adding drama to the room
Layer Your Room Over Time
Decoration doesn’t have to be a one-time task. Only when you start living in the house will you understand its needs and requirements. Take your own sweet time and decorate it bit by bit. If you tend to switch it up a lot, try checking out furniture at the second-hand store. It’s a cost-effective option.
What Do Interior Designers Do?
Interior designing is a skill. For the selected few who’ve studied extensively and made it their profession, there are a lot of facets to consider, a lot of rules to abide by, and a lot of reworkings of their models.
Interior designers can make any place functional, comfortable, and easy on the eyes. They do this through a set of requirements, based on the space available and their clients’ budget.
They usually work alongside architects, civil and mechanical engineers, and construction laborers to determine how a specific place can be furnished to enhance its appearance and functionality. They’re involved in drawing, reading blueprints and implementing building codes, regulations, accessibility standards among other considerations.
Here’s what they generally do:
- Try to determine the clients’ wants, requirements, and budget for a specific project
- Take into consideration how a space can be used to maximize its benefits and do that while maintaining free space for easy movement and navigation
- Make simple and detailed plans, focused on each part of the house, even paying attention to the smallest details
- Figure out what materials will work best with the house
- Find out the best way to furnish it, including but not limited to flooring, furniture, and lighting
- Give the project a timeline and a cost estimate
- Oversee installation of ordered materials and furniture
- Keep the client updated on the progress of the project at every step to ensure client satisfaction
As with everything else, the best interior design comes with its share of branches. There are interior designers specializing in residential properties only, there are interior designers who work well with commercial properties, then there are interior designers who opt for sustainable home designs.
There are a wide variety of areas interior designers specialize in. Some of them are:
Corporate Design
Corporate design is like brand identity building. Every feature and functionality is centered around the brand image. Corporate designers create professional and practical workspaces.
It’s not just about how aesthetic and cool the interior design looks, but how well it reflects the brand’s ideals and characteristics.
Corporate designers don’t just pick a color palette, furnishing items, and start working. They also try to optimize the space for employees who work long hours at a desk job.
This is why computers, desks, and chairs need to be placed strategically. A lot of focus is put on toning down stress, fatigue, and other factors that impact employee wellbeing.
Sustainable Design
We live in the 21st century, if there’s one thing we know, it’s how important it is to build a space sustainably, using products and materials that do not have adverse environmental impact.
Sustainable interior designers usually obtain a certification from the U.S Green Building Council in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
The main objective of this design is to reduce the negative impact on the environment by making use of renewable sources as an alternative, minimizing waste, and reducing energy consumption. The good news is, it does so while ensuring good indoor air quality, energy and water efficiency.
One can even say sustainable designers build the future, not just a structure.
Healthcare Design
Healthcare designs make use of evidence-based design. The evidence-based design utilizes data acquired in the designing process, ensuring the decisions are based on the best information available via project evaluations and research.
It helps healthcare interior designers to create a welcoming and positive space for patients, residents, and staff alike.