Use the principles of interior design to improve your home

For many, our home is the most important investment. It is important not just because of the value and costs involved but also because it’s a place we can go to relax, explore new ideas, and be at peace. A house’s interior should reflect our style and taste.

The design of a room can have a profound effect on moods and feelings. You’ll need to change the aesthetic of your home if you want it to emit the right energy. We’ll go over the ten principles of interior design in this article so you can use them to make your home feel like yours.

Balance

Each element of a room adds visual weight, whether it’s a rug on the floor, a lamp, or a couch cushion. Balance is the act of distributing weight evenly in order to control chaos. This weight is determined by shape, color, texture, and lines. You can spread out similar elements so that your aesthetic doesn’t ‘topple in one direction’ or wobble all over the place. You can balance your aesthetic using three different approaches:

Symmetry

When one side of a room has a weight that is similar to the other, it’s called symmetry. Consider a coffee table with two chairs matching on either side or a bed flanked by two side tables that carry the same lamps. This is the approach you use when you want to make a room look formal, clean, and crisp.

Start by dividing the area in half along its middle using an imaginary line. Mirror any element that you have added on one side with an exact duplicate on the other. The objects don’t need to be identical, but they must have the same weight. Two lounge chairs of the same color can mirror a couch with two seats. To achieve true symmetry, use exact replicas.

It can become stoic and is better suited for offices than homes. It’s not recommended to use too much symmetry in your room. This approach is flexible and adds little imperfections to make a room feel more cosy.

Asymmetry

This approach, while similar to symmetry, is flexible. The weight or form of objects on either side of your mirroring lines doesn’t need to match. They need to be paired together. A chair can balance a bookshelf, or a painting can offset the weight of a light. Asymmetry can add energy and liveliness to a space while keeping visual chaos in check.

Radial Symmetry

In the same way as the previous two examples, we are referring to adding weight at one end to counterbalance the weight on the other. However, instead of using a straight line, we go around in a circle. Consider a chandelier, for example. You’ll need to place similar weighing objects at equal distances from it to achieve racial harmony. By adding different items, you can create asymmetry and break up the monotony.

Harmony

Harmony brings together all the elements in a room and adds cohesion. It’s important to choose a common characteristic that all objects share. We are not just talking about color or shape.

Let’s take, for example, a bohemian theme organic living room. Earth tones, wood materials, and liberal use of greenery will all work together in harmony. This space is perfect for a green wall, a beige bookshelf with terracotta pots, a rattan sofa, an abstract painting, and a beige bookshelf. In contrast, a red glossy chair won’t quite fit.

If you are designing an area for a specific mood, the same rules apply. If you want a bold look, a red chair might be a good choice for your makeup room. But it won’t work in your garden, which is themed with faeries.

Rhythm

Repetition is the key to rhythm. Rhythm helps you create patterns that will help steady the perception of your viewers. You can use a visual property or element to create cohesion by duplicating it in your space. Consider our organic, bohemian living room once more. Here, wood is a great element to use. You can create a rhythm by using wooden items such as a vase on a table, a stool in the corner, and a coat hanger next to the door.

Contrast

The same is true for design. By adding dimension to spaces, contrasted elements can elevate them. Contrast can be achieved with color, but other elements, such as texture, space, and light, are equally effective. The addition of dark furniture to pale walls, the use of matte, glossy, or velvet finishes, and the combining of fuller and empty patches, sharp angles, and rounded corners all add drama and remove monotony.

Remember that two different elements do not necessarily contrast. Silk and Velvet are not contrasting materials. They’re just slightly different.

Focus

Your eye will look for rest as you enter a new room. The focus or emphasis of a space is what you should be looking for. The focus anchors the space. To draw attention to it, you can use bold colors, large proportions, or stark contrasts. You can use an elaborate fireplace or a solid dining table. A large chandelier is also a good choice. Using a statement wallpaper to make a wall different can be a good start. Windows and art pieces are also excellent choices.

Scale & Proportion

We are concerned with the ratios between all objects within a room. It wouldn’t look good to have a room with a big bed on one wall and a small painting on the opposite. Small stools won’t look right in a room with high ceilings, nor will a fireplace that is too large in a small closet. Each element or group of elements must be similar.

Details

Here, you can add all the finishing details. You can make it as personal as possible. You can embroider rabbits onto those cotton cushions or add shiny copper handles to that white bathroom door. These little details will bring out the patterns and broad strokes that the six previous principles have laid down. They will also make your space uniquely you.

Endnote

It is not easy to design and arrange your dream interior. If you are doing it yourself, create a plan for your space. Then, proceed from room to room. Start by deciding on a theme, then work to set up the focal points of each room. As time passes, you can add details and finishing touches, such as rhythm.