No budget concerns? Hire an interior designer. But if this luxury is not open to you, read this post to give you the confidence to do a DIY home project.
Understanding the foundation of a successful space will give you the road map to think about the fundamentals right from the start. There are three building blocks you have to consider…and no, it’s not the color of your walls. Although important, because color is energy, this decision comes after you’ve given these three Fs your careful consideration.
Function
What is the purpose of the space?
Most Pinoys have small homes so a room may double up to serve several needs. That’s OK. We’re a flexible bunch and doing this should be a walk in the park.
1. Zoning
Be intentional about the zoning, like bundling up social functions in an active zone, and a quiet zone for activities that need focus. For example, make the living room the entertainment center with the possibility to hold movie nights or home concerts. Pursuits that need quiet, like sleeping, meditating, reading, studying, could take place in a bedroom.
2. User-centric layout
Provide space for the activities you are thinking of doing in this bedroom. This could be where you read your book before you sleep. The partition between the bed and desk provides the demarcation between rest and work. A space is provided for activities like meditation, yoga, and other physical exercise. Note that furnishings are tailor-made to the occupants needs.
Flow
If you live with other people, this is important to consider. If you live alone, it is still important. You need to make cues to guide people, even if it’s only you, how to move in the space. Think about flow and circulation between zones and rooms.
1. Intuitive paths
An example of an intuitive path would be a hallway which doesn’t need an explanation. This space gets you from one room to another. Just make sure you don’t put obstacles in the space. I have seen piles of old newspapers and magazines parked outside the bedroom door in a friend’s home. Another friend told me her husband, who is a pack rat that hoarded anything and everything, had placed piles of things in their hallways and staircase. I don’t think Mr. or Mrs. Feng Shui would approve of this. You are cluttering the space where energy is supposed to flow. I don’t think the fire department would approve of this either. Don’t put obstacles in paths that are supposed to bring you around, and in and out of your home.
2. Visual cues
An example would be having visual cues that zone areas, especially in an open space.
This is an excellent post to read because it provides you guidance on how you can create flow in open concept homes by using paint. From choosing a base color, having the same flooring for the open space, making accent walls, to using color zoning, paint is a good partner to have to create visual cues.
Feeling
Having that emotional connection to your home is essential for your health and optimal well-being. I wrote about emotional interior design early this year.
1. Materiality
Colors, materials, furniture, home accessories, and lighting significantly influence how we feel in a space. A successful space is one that engages all the five senses.
Do you agree that homes have their distinctive smell, like a unique perfume? Or do you feel the comfort of the feel of warm timber under your feet when you take your shoes off in the hallway? What about seeing your favorite color on the wall, the hue that may remind you of the warm and cozy home of your childhood? Does the sound of your children’s chatter become the healing balm for your heart that reminds you to leave the day’s stresses by the front door?
List the many things that you love about your home.
2. Lighting
Lighting in a home is very important. We’ve written many articles about this. Layer your lighting—ambient (primary illumination), task (focused lighting for activities), accent (lighting that focuses on architectural features and furnishings). Combine these three different types in varying heights to create a cozy space.
3. Proportion and scale
Scale is how an object relates to the room or the human body. For human scale, ask yourself whether an object, like a sofa, is too big or too small for a space. For visual scale, consider whether the size of something looks too big and heavy because of its material or color, even if its measurements are right for the space.
Proportion is how the sizes of different objects in a space relate to each other. An example would be having a coffee table that looks too small for a sofa. A coffee table should be about 2/3 the length of the sofa in front of it. Another example that I see often is to have a rug that’s too small for your living room seating group (sofa, coffee table, accent chairs, maybe even side tables). Ideally, you should have all the furniture on the rug. A budget option would be to have the front legs of the sofa and chairs on the rug.
The Fundamental Principles of Interior Design
Remember these three Fs when you are designing your living space:
- Function
- Flow
- Feeling
These three principles will help you make sound decisions on the elements of design, like space, color, line, and light.
Read more about the 7 elements of design and the 7 principles of design. Better yet, read this interior design toolkit for DIYers.
To reiterate, if you can afford to get an interior designer, especially if your renovation or build is big and complex, I recommend that you do so. Otherwise, read the links given here. You can also subscribe to the blog to learn more about home inspiration, tips to beautify your home, color inspirations, and the correct use of our products.
If you have any technical questions about Boysen products, drop us an email at [email protected], or call our technical team for real-time, free one-on-one consultation. You can reach them at (02) 8363-9738 local 417 to 418 during office hours.
