Design Principles To Make Your Home Look Amazing
Designing your home's interior is more than just choosing colours and furniture — it's about creating a vibe that is both comfortable and welcoming. You don't want your space feeling too cramped or conversely, too bare, right? There’s a fine balance between the two so consider these interior design principles and how to incorporate them, to turn your place into your dream home.
1) Splash of Colour: Colours are like the magic wand of interior design. They set the mood - warm and cosy or cool and distant. Earthy tones like browns, greens, and oranges bring in that snug feeling and are very on trend right now. If you're aiming for a modern, airy vibe, throw in some whites and greys with a pop of vibrant colour.
2) Let There Be Light: Lighting is the unsung hero with natural light the VIP. Functional (aka task lighting) and ambient lighting are also essential to create the perfect look and feel. Brightening up a room not only makes it look bigger but also more inviting.
3) Create Balance: Balance is key in home design. Mix up colours, textures, and patterns to create harmony. Don't let any one thing overpower the room, although there should always be one ‘hero’ piece for your eyes to rest upon.
4) Keep it Authentic: Trends come and go, but your own style is forever. Stick to what you love, and your home will always be amazing. Ask yourself, "what do I like?" and "how to I want to use this space?" A home should be a reflection of you.
5) Layer It Up: Mix different colours, textures, and materials to add depth and interest. Think of it as ‘dressing’ your room. Start with the basics, add a textured throw, some cushions and some nice decor. Voila!
6) Aim High: Want to make your room look higher? Hang curtains from the ceiling, use tall lamps, add tall joinery (or panelling), and vertical artwork. Light colours like white and grey can also give the illusion of an airy, lofty space.
7) Mix and Match: Blend high-end pieces with some more budget-friendly items for that perfect combo. This not only saves you some cash but also gives your space a one-of-a-kind style. I love using new with old too, it adds interest and mixes things up.
8) Get into the Rhythm: You might wonder what rhythm has to do with interior design, but just as in music, there cannot be harmony without rhythm. In design, rhythm involves using colours, patterns, and textures in repetition or contrast, to create visual interest and guide your eyes through the room. For instance, you can repeat a colour at different intervals—a blue wall paired with blue cushion covers on a sofa against a different-coloured wall, with artwork featuring blue accents elsewhere.
9) Proportionally Perfect: Proportion is is all about the general relationship between differently sized objects. Scale is how the size of one object in the room complements or contrasts the size of all the other objects in the space. To achieve proportion, consider the size and scale of each element. For example, if you have a large sofa, balance it with a coffee table that has a similar weight and size. Pair tall bookshelves with a substantial floor lamp to maintain vertical balance. This creates a cohesive look where no single piece overwhelms the space, maintaining a harmonious proportion throughout the room.
Designing your home doesn't have to be overwhelming. By using these proven principles, you can transform your space into something stylish, functional and inviting that looks and feels just right. Make sure you let your personality shine through! Give it a go and see what a difference a few changes can make.
…..and make sure you send me your before and after shots!
- Janine Nairn
Creative Director