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Understanding a few basic design techniques can help you create a beautiful, personal space. Whether your style is ‘all white minimalist’ or ‘bohemia meets Hamptons,’ following some of these basic designer techniques will help you achieve that cohesive, ‘feels just right,’ sense to each room.
Displaying:
When everything is out – nothing will stand out.
Instead of filling the entire length of a shelf or wall, try creating small groups or clusters of items. Think about height, colour and the relationship to each other. One trick designers use is to create a cluster that forms a ‘triangle shape’. Place the largest item towards the back, then one or two medium items in front, and finally, the smallest items are placed to finish off that triangle shape. Immediately, the eye looks from the top and back down again, creating a feeling of balance.
For a more dramatic effect, find that one piece that deserves to be featured and let it stand alone.
Identify or create a focal point:
Some houses have an obvious focal point, such as a large window, framing beautiful gardens, or a stunning view. In most houses though, a focal point, or feature of a room can be created with some clever styling tricks. Using art is an obvious choice; a large artwork can become the crowning glory of an otherwise lacking room. Other ideas include a feature wall, either painted or decorated with wall paper, a single classic piece of furniture, or a sculpted floor lamp. Once you have identified or created your focal point use it as the basis for the rest of the design, placement of furniture, and the colour palette. Ensure that any decorator items are complementing, not competing with, the focal point.
Using Colour:
Have you ever walked into a room that was all purple? (I have)
We all have a colour we are attracted to. We are drawn to that colour, whether it is in clothing, cushions, art, or linen. The trick is to find balance.
A simple tip is to give the room at least 3 colours. Your primary colour in a natural tone and then your favourite feature colour. Then add a complimentary colour to finish the scheme.
If you love purple; team it with greens. If you love blues; add yellows for punch or beiges to soften the impact. If you love burnt orange; add olive. You will be amazed at how much more beautiful your favourite colour will look when teamed with a complimentary colour. There is no limit to how many colours can be in one room – just remember the final look should feel balanced and cohesive.
Negative Space:
I believe creating ‘negative space’ is the single most important factor in Interior design.
This is a term that is often used by artist, photographers and graphic designers, but the principle is the same in Interior Design. Negative space gives the eye a ‘place to rest’ therefore creating a feeling of balance and calm in a room. Not every corner or wall needs to be filled. Consider the neutral background or unfilled space as the negative space that will in-turn, increase the appeal of the focal point in the room.
If you have a styled interior that feels ‘not quite right;’ perhaps it is missing negative space? Try removing some items or furniture, or even keeping a wall completely free of art. It will feel empty and strange at first, so take a few days to get used to it.
Balance:
It is a word that is thrown around a lot by Interior Designers, but balance is the key to a perfectly styled interior. Whether your style is minimalist or eclectic, without balance the finished result will always feel slightly off or lacking. Balance is about creating equal distribution of visual weight in the room. There are three categories of balance.
Symmetrical: Where a space is evenly split down the middle, that mirror each other. A symmetrical design is often used in a formal or traditional styling.
Asymmetrical: Commonly in Asymmetrical design a centre point in the room is still used, however the items either side of the centre point do not mirror each other. Asymmetrical balance will create a more casual, interesting style to the room.
Radial: Radial balance is an arrangement of items around a central focal point that move outwards or inwards in a circular direction. For instance, dining chairs around a circular table.
