10 Interior Design Basics & Tips

It is important to know the basics before jumping into your interior design project. Read along for some design basics and tips for your next project!

Start With the Basics

Focus on the essentials first— define your design style and vision prior. Consider which styles you like and what you dislike to narrow down your choices. From there you can solidify what your goals are for your home.

Create Focal Points

Try to incorporate a focal point within each space - this could be an architectural element, a statement furniture piece, or a striking lighting fixture. Standout features can add personality to a space and can be visually impactful.

Incorporate Natural Elements

Natural materials can add texture, warmth, and long-lasting value to an interior. Natural materials such as wood and stone bring the beauty of the outdoors into the home. Organic shapes and textures can also create a more calming and stimulating interior environment, overall enhancing a person’s well-being.

Add Texture and Interest

Texture refers to the tactile quality of a surface - how something feels to the touch or how something appears to feel. Visual interest is anything that draws the eye, creates depth, or adds uniqueness to a space. Both of these principles can be implemented through materials, finishes, architectural elements, decor, and accessories.

Layered Lighting

It is important to implement layered lighting into the design of your home by using a combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting. Ambient lighting provides the overall illumination of the space, while task lighting focuses on specific areas, and accent lighting highlights decorative elements. Layered lighting enhances the functionality and visual appeal of an interior by adding depth and dimension.

Embrace Natural Light

Integrating as much natural light as possible within an interior enhances both the aesthetic appeal and the well-being of occupants. Natural light makes a space feel larger and brighter, improves mood, reduces stress, regulates sleep patterns, and can even boost productivity. By maximizing natural daylight, you can also reduce the need for artificial lighting contributing to a more energy-efficient home.

Layout - Function - & Form

The layout, function, and form of an interior are all connected to one another. The function of a space dictates the layout, and a well-planned layout ensures smooth traffic flow and logical placement of items. Form is where aesthetics come into play. Form enhances both the function and layout of an interior. By balancing all three of these design principles, your home will not only look aesthetically pleasing, but function well.

Balance - Scale - & Proportion

Balance is the visual equilibrium of a space - it is about distributing the visual weight of objects, colours, textures, and forms in a way that feels harmonious. Balance can be symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial. Scale is the size of an object in relation to other objects, the rest of the space, and the human body. Proportion is about the ratio of sizes and the arrangement of shapes and forms. Examples include the “golden ratio”, “rule of thirds”, and “grouping items”.

Colour Theory

The colour wheel is the foundation of colour theory. Important factors to consider include colour temperature - warm or cooler colours, colour harmonies - monochromatic, analogous, complimentary, split-complimentary, and triadic, and the psychology of colour - individual colours evoke specific emotional and psychological responses. By applying colour theory to your project, interiors can evoke specific feelings.

Unique Personality

Make sure to infuse your own unique personality. While it’s fun to be aware of current design trends, focus on creating a space that is timeless and reflects your individual style!

By implementing some of these design principles, your next project will not only look beautiful, but also serve as a functional interior.

Visit our Instagram page for more tips, tricks and inspiration!