A home is meant to be a comfortable space to recharge after a long day. However, having that ideal space is often intimidating to those who are not acquainted with the world of interior design. Intimidation can come from not knowing how to pair furnishings and objects to pull a room together, but it does not have to be a challenge. Even if you are not an expert in this area, here are 5 interior design tips sure to get you started.
Play with Colour
The beauty of interior design is that it is versatile. The old trick of simply making everything the same colour is outdated. Modern interior design features bursts of colour to awaken the senses and bring life into the space. Bright blues, greens, and even yellows can be a part of the space, but the key to consistency and a warm inviting space is not overpowering colour, but bursts here and there to bring interest into the space. We have all heard the concept of accent walls, but walls are only the beginning. Play with colour with doors, chairs, throw pillows, and little elements throughout the space to bring life to any room.
Play with Perceptions
In any home, there is only so much interior space to play with. Rooms can often feel closed in and small and therefore uninviting to guests. There is no need to buy the adjoining home and burst through a wall for added space. The perception of additional space is usually all that is needed. Interior design professionals use a number of tricks to achieve an expanded space feel without removing any walls. Mirrors used in a home extend the space and trick the eye and the use of low to the floor furniture will add height to a room with low ceilings.
Beauty and Functionality
Rooms are not merely one function. Living spaces are often used for entertaining, relaxing with family, or a variety of reasons. Multi-functional furniture is essential to get the most out of a space. New designs for convertible sofas and mean that a living space can be converted into a comfortable and stylish sleeping area for additional guests. Position pieces throughout the space that work on a multi-functional level.
Another form of multi-functional furniture that often is overlooked is a wood burning stove. New designs are not merely functional offering exceptional heat quality for any size home, they are also very beautiful. Varieties of colours and styles work best with any space offering a range of options for homeowners looking to maximise the use of their living space. As a bonus, the scent of wood burning in the stove permeates the entire home with that warm, inviting aroma
Do Not Forget the Ceiling
Although the floor and walls of a living space tends to get most of the attention, the ceiling deserves to be part of the show as well. This is another area in which the designer can use colour to their advantage in changing the perception of the space. Many rooms are naturally dark making them feel cramped and uninviting. A trick that expert interior designers tend to use is to paint the ceiling just a few shades lighter than the walls. This adds depth to the space, but also provides a bit brighter feel for added comfort.
Rugs
In any home, a floor can begin to look old and damaged before its time. Hardwood floors and the very modern concrete floors seem to be all the rage at the moment, but the feel of a carpet or rug in a living space adds that little bit of extra comfort. The best thing about a rug is that when the décor changes, a simple change to the rug pulls everything right back together. Bringing furniture to the edge of the rug provides separation without the room feeling overcrowded. For example, we have a kitchen / dining room in one but have divided it up by adding a rug to the dinning room section which makes it feel more like two rooms rather than one. A simple way to create a divide in a room without having to put up walls!
Skirted Furniture
Have you ever entered a room and felt nervous, but did not exactly know why? The next time this happens, look around. It is likely that most pieces of furniture in that space has exposed legs. Too many chair legs for some reason have a feeling of over formality. Almost like an office setting. Take the time to examine your living space and determine if it falls into the office setting genre. There is an easy solution to this issue. A simple furniture skirt offers a homey feel to combat the stagnant nature of a chair leg epidemic. It also offers an additional out of the way storage area.
The interior of your home can be warm and inviting with just a few steps. These 5 tips should give you a substantial head start on your interior design adventure, so get out there and make your living space all it can be.
In Collaboration with – Lions Home
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