The Dos and Don’ts of Interior Design

When it comes to interiors, there are many tips and tricks on how to decorate your home. Some tips can help with colour, some with size and shape and some with design styles. Of course, everyone has their own opinion on what should and shouldn’t be done in their home. However, interior design principles definitely give the best advice!

Scroll down to find out how you can use a few design principles to give your home a better look and feel.

Do: Balance the space

When most people think about balancing a space, they think of symmetrical balance. Symmetrical balance is characterized by each side of a room being an exact mirror of the other. This type of balance reflects the human form, so we are drawn to symmetry and feel comfortable in a balanced setting. However, this look can seem a bit forced.

Think outside the box with balance. Asymmetrical balance can be more pleasing to the eye than symmetrical balance. Asymmetry is achieved with some dissimilar objects that have equal visual weight or eye attraction. It is a lot freer and feels more organic and natural. To learn more about this concept, head to Feathr’s ultimate guide to interior design. 

 

Do: Create a focal point

Interior design’s biggest enemy is boredom. A well-designed room always has, depending on the size of it, one or more focal points. A focal point must be dominant to draw attention and interesting enough to encourage the viewer to look further. A focal point thus must have a lasting impression but must also be an integral part of the decoration linked through scale, style, colour or theme. An obvious example of a focal point is a fireplace.

However, if you don’t have an obvious focal point, think about using a statement piece of furniture or an interesting piece of artwork.

Do: Think about Scale and Proportion

These two design principles go hand in hand since both relate to size and shape. The proportion has to do with the ratio of one design element to another, or one element to the whole. Scale concerns itself with the size of one object compared to another.

One key thing to think about is the size of the room. The smaller the room is, the more petite or delicate the furnishings and decor should be. For example, a huge corner sofa will be too big for a small room and will end up dominating the space.

Don’t: Ignore Architectural Details

One of the biggest interior design mistakes is to ignore the architecture of a space. That’s not to say you can’t be surprising — for example, you could use modern furniture within a period space, but make sure the lines shapes work in the period setting. The whole room has to hang together.

It can also be fun to accentuate architectural details in a property as it gives the room visual appeal. Who says wall panelling has to look old-fashioned?

Don’t: isolate rooms

Harmony and unity are very important principles in interior design. When doing interior design it is necessary to think of the house as a whole. Create flow from one room to the next by visually linking adjacent spaces by using a common motif. Repeat a pattern or carry an accent colour or another visual element (such as a leg detail or furniture style) from one room to another.

A very common way to create unity is with a considered use of colour. Colour schemes, in general, are a great way to harmonise a collection of spaces. For example, you might pick three or four colours and use them in varying shades throughout the house.

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