Interior design may seem easy, but in reality, interior designers follow a set of principles and elements to help them create a perfect space for any client.
Interior design follows five principles and seven elements of interior design, with inspiration for design being pulled from mother nature herself.
The five principles of interior design are:
- Balance
- Rhythm
- Emphasis
- Proportion and scale
- Harmony
The seven elements of interior design are:
- Space – Space is your primary element for interior design, and it shows you what’s available for you to work with.
- Line – Lines are creative interior design tools that let you shape rooms and set the focus and movement of the eye.
- Form – Form points to the shape of your room and the objects you put in there.
- Light – Lighting is an essential feature of any space, and it is crucial for design and functionality. Properly lit rooms will always be inviting and invigorating.
- Pattern – Patterns add appeal and focus to a room or object.
- Texture – Texture adds yet another dimension to your space
- Colour – Colours can create mood. It can stimulate the body and the mind. It can also alter the eyes’ perception of any room.
On top of this, interior designers follow a 60, 30, 10 decorating rule which states that 60% of the room should be the primary colour, 30% should be a secondary colour, and 10% should be an accent colour.
Let’s look deeper into the five principles of interior design.
There are three types of Balance used by interior designers, symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial. Symmetrical balance is where a room mirrors itself precisely on either side and is the most commonly used form of balance. Asymmetrical balance is used by designers to create a feeling of spaciousness and gives a contemporary feel. A designer may balance one large object on one side of the room with two smaller ones on the other. The final type of balance is radial. The interior space radiates from the centre of the room. It could be as simple as chairs around a circular table.
Rhythm is the flow from one design element to another, allowing the eyes to move freely throughout the room. You can create rhythm within a space through repetition, for example, matching cushions on either side of a sofa and matching them with the rug on the floor. A transitional rhythm uses strong lines and is used to implement a free flow between elements. Graduation is the use of graduating spaces or colours to add a unique touch to a room.
The emphasis or focal point leads the eye to a particular point within a room. This could be an architectural feature or a piece of furniture. By adding an element to the focal point, you can create dominant and sub-dominant features.
The proportion and scale both relate to both the size and association with an object. When using a designer, they may use a scale plan of your room to see how things will fit and how all the furniture will flow.
Harmony within a room will always be achieved if the other four principles have been followed.