Another year is almost over, and some of us may already have firmed up their new year’s resolutions. Some homemakers may also be deep into the dreaming stage to get ready manifesting a refreshed home of their dreams in the beginning of 2025. If the shoe fits, we’d like to arm the DIY divas and newbies with some tips on how to go about doing the project with this interior design tool kit. Should you get a professional interior designer to help you, knowing the design principles and elements can focus you, and also ensure that you can clearly and succinctly express your ideas and wishes to your designer using his or her own language.
The 7 Elements of Interior Design
The 7 elements of interior design are:
- Space – This is the two-dimensional floor space, as well as the three-dimensional volume in a room.
- Lines – There are three types of lines – horizontal, vertical and dynamic. Usually, they are used to indicate different architectural styles.
- Forms – Forms are the shapes of the objects in a room.
- Light – Light is illumination. There is natural light and artificial light, which have three kinds—ambient, task, and accent.
- Textures – Textures mean physical or visual tactility found in a space.
- Patterns – These are repetitive designs that are composed of lines, forms and textures.
- Colors – Colors are the hues found in a space.
Click on the image or the link above to get a more detailed explanation about the elements.
The 7 Principles of Interior Design
The 7 principles of interior design are:
- Balance – This refers to the visual weight of objects in a room. There is symmetrical, assymetrical, and radial balance.
- Scale and Proportion – Scale is the relative size of objects in a space. Proportion is the relative size of objects which are next to each other.
- Rhythm – This refers to the repetition of certain elements in the room, like patterns, colors, lines, forms, and even textures.
- Emphasis – This refers to focal points in a space that draws the eye.
- Contrast – This is the balance and cohesion achieved in a space when two or more opposing or different things are placed together.
- Details – These are small, “micro” things that can make or break the design in a space.
- Unity – This is the art of combining elements in a space to achieve a cohesive look.
Design elements are the basic components of a design, while principles are guidelines that help you how to use those elements. As an analogy, if you compare designing interiors to cooking, the elements are your ingredients, and the principles are the way you use and combine your ingredients to make a perfect dish.
Click on the image or the link above to get a more detailed explanation about the principles.
60-30-10 Rule in Painting a Room
Borrow the 60-30-10 Rule of Interior Designers for Your DIY Painting
Usually, interior designers choose a 3-color palette for a room makeover to create a balanced look. You then can achieve a cohesive look without being too matchy-matchy:
- 60% comes from the dominant wall color and big furniture pieces,
- 30% can be from accent furniture pieces, lighting or soft furnishings,
- 10% are home accessories, textiles, patterns, or textures.
The 80-20 Rule in Interior Design
Confused which interior design style you want? Just remember the 80-20 rule in interior design. This means that you don’t combine more than 2 interior styles in a space. Pin down your main interior style first before adding the other through your accent pieces.
If you give in to every little design whim, your home will look as confused as you are.
Interior Design Tool Kit
This interior design tool kit is for DIYers who want to create a home this coming year that would look cohesive and balanced.
The four posts above are short reads but they give a lot of tips and guidance on how you can make a beautiful and comfortable home that will shelter you and your loved ones.
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