Interior Design – A Beginner’s Guide

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The mysterious world of interior design can seem a little daunting; when you walk into a stunning room, consider the fact that someone somewhere, put a lot of thought into the layout and decor. Everything man-made begins with an idea, every room is planned prior to decorating and with that in mind, here is a beginner’s guide to interior design.

Create a large floor plan

Each room should be represented by a ‘to-scale’ floor plan; a sheet of A3 would be perfect; draw the room outline carefully, adding doors and windows. It is important to make the floor plan to scale, which allows you to accurately measure curtains/blinds/carpet etc.

Interior design principles

As you would expect, interior design works on the following principles:

• Balance – In a visual sense, achieving a level of balance in a room is an important aspect of interior design. Take a look at the best interior design in Sydney and you will see a balanced layout, with an emphasis on proportion.
• Unity – This refers to numerous aspects coming together to create a unique ambience. Colour, shape, texture and material can all be combined into your design. Unity can also mean maintaining a theme throughout the house, which is an art that can take a while to master.
• Rhythm – Rhythm can also be described as ‘repetitive decorative processes’, materials would include brushed aluminium, textured finishes, treated timber and when used in multiple rooms, a rhythm is achieved.
• Scale & proportion – It is vital to maintain scale and proportion, which can be challenging with a small or very large room. The web can assist you in sourcing specific size furniture and make sure you check the dimensions with your floor plan before ordering. Here are a few great kitchen design ideas to consider.
• Contrast – Contrast is a very powerful element that interior designers use to add texture; shapes, textures, materials and colours can match by choosing the right combinations. Light-dark, rough-smooth, and straight-curved are effective contrasts that you can add to give the room some depth.
• Emphasis – This is all about creating focal points that attract the eye; be careful not to overdo statement pieces, as this makes the room look crowded and busy. Provocative art can be displayed in a central location, making for a perfect statement piece that draws the eye to the centre of the space.
• Details – The little things make all the difference; it might be classy embroidery on cushions or antique handles in the kitchen; there are many ways to add detail and your interior designer can show you a huge catalogue of fixtures and fittings that you can add. Lace is the designer’s favourite, which can enhance any furniture item.